Clare Coulson was an allotment holder at gardens on Osborne Terrace, Leeholme, for more than 30 years.
The allotments were sold in lots, with those in lot three, which Clare was a part of, told they would have to move out by January 30 by the new landlord.
Clare, whose parents also had an allotment at the site for more than 20 years, said people are upset they now have to move from their sites.
She said: “People are devastated. Me and my husband had ours for nearly 30 years. My parents had the house and garden for just over 20 years before us. Between two families, we’ve had the allotment for almost 50 years, as have most of the street.”
Clare feels the process of selling the allotments was not handled properly by H&H Land and Estates, the agents selling the land, and expressed her disappointment at how it was handled.
“About a year-and-a-half ago, we were hand-dropped letters that were not addressed to us. Somebody sent it through the door from H&H, who dealt with the gardens,” she said.
“They were selling them, but not individually. They were in lots where you couldn’t buy individual ones. Ours was lot three with 30 gardens in it, so it made it difficult to buy them.”
She claimed plot holders had tried to get advice or information about what they could do, but never received any.
She added: “On a number of occasions, H&H has told us that we’ve signed contracts that has come out annually. We’ve never had a contract from them, the only thing we’ve had is an annual invoice for the gardens.”
Clare and a group of allotment holders tried to buy their lot because, as she explained, everyone had a sentimental attachment to their site.
She said: “We have been on those gardens for nearly 50 years, we’ve got buildings, greenhouses and everything on there. I had two little hens, but that has all had to go.
“I also have things on that allotment that my family had, that my dad also built.”
Clare and the group tried to buy the lot for £61,000, but were unsuccessful. The sale fell through and the bid was re-entered.
She addeed: “Then we were told we hadn’t been successful and somebody else had purchased them. H&H wouldn’t tell us who our new landlord was, we were told we had to wait until they informed us.
“Now the new landlord has turned out to be a man that actually already rented two of these allotments and he only came forward with a letter in November giving us two months to vacate the gardens and take everything out.”
Clare said the allotment holders were under the impression they would be given 12 months to move out, but they have now had to abandon their plots.
However, H&H Land and Estates refutes the claims and said it has conducted everything above board.
Tim Sedgewick, a director, said: “Following an increasing number of incidents of anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping on the land, our clients instructed H&H Land & Estates to dispose of the land on the open market. The land was publicly marketed from April 17, 2024, with offers invited by tender by June 12, 2024.
“All existing tenants and occupiers were formally notified in writing at the outset of the marketing process.
“The sale was widely publicly advertised, including on Rightmove, other such property portals and the H&H Land & Estates website, and full sales particulars were made publicly available.”
Mr Sedgewick said the land was offered in seven separate plots, and more than 40 offers were received. He also said six of the seven plots were purchased by individuals who were already occupying part of the land.
He added: “The allotment land was sold subject to the existing tenancies.
“Following completion, decisions regarding the future management of the allotments sit entirely with the new owners. H&H Land and Estates has had no involvement in matters following completion of the sales.”
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