Northamptonshire village rallies to save 200-year-old allotments

About 700 people have signed a petition in an attempt to save 200-year-old allotments.

The landowners of the site in Brixworth, Northamptonshire, served plot holders a "notice to quit" in September.

Green-fingered tenants said the Northampton Road allotments were an important part of the village.

Cross Brothers, which owns the site, said the allotment association had not responded to its recent requests.

The allotments are spread across four acres and date back to the 19th Century, with the earliest recorded mention being in a 1822 parliamentary document, Brixworth Allotment Association (BAA) said.

Phil Pinder, secretary of the association, said: "Many of the people who manage the plots are third or fourth generation.

"It's important that we do maintain that - not just for ourselves, but our sons and daughters coming in the future."

Association treasurer Ken Nikel said: "The landlords have, for the last few years, been trying to persuade us to leave the allotments so they can build on it."

About 40 people tend the allotments, including retired people and young families.

Mr Nikel said the site had shrunk over the years due to a lack of use, but now interest was high with a long waiting list.

A petition to save them has been organised by Jonathan Harris, who is a Liberal Democrat councillor for Brixworth on West Northamptonshire Council.

He said the 700 signatures demonstrated a "significant amount of people wanting to protect the allotments".

The landowner said representatives of the allotment group were in discussions "concerning possible development of part of the allotments" in early 2022.

Its statement said: "Discussions seem to falter; no further response was received from the Brixworth Allotment Association, subsequently, in 2023 a firm of solicitors was engaged to update and regularise a lease with the association.

"Despite the offer to the association for a lease on the allotment area, no response was, or has been, received by the solicitors.

"Following further advice from the solicitors a decision was then taken to give the required 12-month notice to vacate the area."

Mr Nikel, from the allotment association, said: "If you had seen the terms offered [to us] then you would realise that they knew we couldn't possibly accept or afford them.

"We felt it was an insult so we didn't reply."

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