Two tenants from St Ann's Allotments say they are still waiting for answers following their evictions from the site. Gisella Sobarasua and Fabian Francis were both given eviction notices for allegations they deny.
It comes after people leasing plots at the allotments raised concerns in the summer over how the site, located off Hungerhill Road and Ransom Road, is being run. Gisella Sobarasua rented a plot at the historic site and was given an eviction notice.
She has been locked out of her plot since July for allegedly breaking tenant rules, which she denies. The 60-year-old, who allowed people from her local community project to work on the plot, says there is no proof of the accusations made against her.
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Gisella has been trying to get answers through an appeals process for the past few months. She said: "I have got to say, it is so so so depressing. It is so disappointing that something that has been done unlawfully can take so long to be rectified. Not only that, the actual rectification looks like it won't happen."
She says she has been trying to contact the Renewal Trust, which runs the site, and has been offered a meeting with an outsider which is why it has taken so long. Gisella said: "I believe they have tried to play the game, they have tried to drag it out for as long as possible hoping that in fact it would go away. When they have seen that is not happening, they have gone okay we need to do something about it.
"It is really, really sad about a place that is supposed to be calming where people do positive things. The Renewal Trust has made it ugly." Gisella has not had access to her plot since the summer and is concerned about the welfare of her fish in the pond.
Gisella and Fabian both say others have been evicted for similar reasons. Gisella said: "It is ugly. It is ugly but it's true, I think it is discrimination. I do believe this is a personal dislike. These evictions are based on who they don't like, for who they are and how they react.
"It is ageism, there are older people who have had their allotments taken off them as well. I am going to fight this all the way. This cannot be allowed to happen anymore to anyone else."
Fabian Francis from Thorneywood had his site for nine years but was given an eviction notice. Mr Francis was told he had broken tenancy rules by keeping livestock on his plot, not cultivating the right amount of crops and building structures without consent.
He said he explained to the management that, although there were two chickens on his plot, they were only there as he was temporarily looking after them for a neighbour and he removed them once asked. Mr Francis denies that there is no cultivation on his plot as he grew fruit trees.
He was given a notice to quit letter following the breach in his tenancy agreement which instructed management would carry out a full inspection of his plot. The letter Mr Francis received dated the inspection as Wednesday, 23 February 2023.
Mr Francis said he queried this date but he received no reply. He was then told the inspection had been carried out without his presence on February 21 this year.
The 40-year-old is a carer for his mum and used the allotment to take time for himself. He been locked out of his allotment since March and is trying to carry out an appeals procedure like Gisella.
He said: "I fought for months for them to get a complaints procedure, then they made an appeals procedure and then an appeal. The dates on the notice were wrong.
"It is not good, I have done so much work and put so much energy into this place." Fabian previously said: “For them to take my garden is to take my everything. I am that passionate that I have not done anything wrong. I am righteous and I want to do the right thing. All I want to do is grow fruit and vegetables.”
Other tenants came forward during the summer to express their concerns at how the allotments were being run. A tenant who wanted to remain anonymous said he feels the management team are not good at communicating with tenants and that complaints do not seem to get addressed.
He said: “If I got evicted off there I would not know what to do with myself. It is my little heaven. What they don’t realise is that it is not just about growing things up here, it's people’s little getaway. I don't think they realise that people getting away from the stress of life is just coming up here.”
The tenant has had their plot since the early 1990s and added: “They just seem to be picky, some people can do what they want and others can’t. The biggest problem is communication.”
The Renewal Trust say they won't discuss individual tenants. Cherry Underwood CEO Renewal Trust said: “Hungerhill Developments Ltd provide a quality allotment management service in line with policies and procedures promoted by the National Allotment Society.
"As part of the management of this unique heritage site, action will be taken where tenants breach their tenancies. In some cases this may ultimately result in eviction.
"All tenants are issued with a copy of their tenancy agreement and Allotment Handbook to support and guide their tenancy and allotment experience. This can be found on the Renewal Trust website.
"Alongside essential site management, we secure external funding to support the site itself and the projects located here. Through our New Roots funded project we are able to provide training and skills development for young people readying them for a career in the ‘green’ sector, we have been able to offer ‘starter plots’ to those new to gardening and to accelerate their access to green space.
"We are a key partner in the Green Space, green social prescribing pilot for Nottingham and we offer numerous community activities including theatre performances, tea and toast and employment support through our Community Team at the Renewal Trust."
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