Barrow unfairness; Allotment holders in row over election of committee.Byline: By MARY MURTAGH A FEUD has broken out on allotments behind a quiet Bootle street. Battlelines have been drawn between two rival factions at the Gardner Avenue plots, and the usual wheelbarrow swopping, friendly hellos and cultivation tips have stopped as a gardening grudge grudge tr.v. grudged, grudg·ing, grudg·es 1. To be reluctant to give or admit: even grudged the tuition money. 2. grows. The roots of the feud began last year when a gardener's meeting sprouted into farce with abuse and accusations. The committee resigned and Sefton council temporarily took over the running of the allotments. In January a new six-person committee was established, but some gardeners say the election was unfair as not every allotment holder was present to vote. They have refused to join the new organisation, which oversees therunning of the plots, and are worried they are about to be kicked off the allotments they have so lovingly tended for decades. Retired BT engineer Don Jones grows prize Worcesterberries, a cross between blackcurrants and gooseberries. He said: 'There are a lot of family members and neighbours that haveallotments here. It used to be a tightknit community, with allotment holders and neighbours talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to one other, but this has divided us. 'There is a lot of bad feeling and people are upset and angry. It would be awful if I had to give my allotment up. 'I am up here four times a week or as long as the wife will let me! I love the fresh air and relaxation Only a handful of the 72 allotments are currently uncultivated. The rest are thriving and well tended plots with up to three generations of the same family tilling the soil. Bumper crops of organic and misshapen mis·shape tr.v. mis·shaped, mis·shaped or mis·shap·en , mis·shap·ing, mis·shapes To shape badly; deform. mis·shap fruit and vegetables have been growing there since 1925 with plots being passed from father to son over decades. Pensioner PENSIONER. One who is supported by an allowance at the will of another. It is more usually applied to him who receives an annuity or pension from the government. Peter Gibbons has tended his two allotments for more than 30 years. The 68-year-old retired tanker driver said: 'This allotment is my job now. When I am not watching Everton I am up here. This allotment keeps me out of the pub, in the fresh air and produces all fresh fruit and vegetables. 'It definitely does me good and I don't like what has been going on one iota.' Sefton council said it had received an official complaint about the situation at the allotments and an investigation was under way The seeds of revolution THE once friendly atmosphere between horticulturalists has withered on the vine as allegations of threats and bullying have been made between gardeners. In the past few months there has been more plotting than potting on the allotments Sefton council has promised that no gardener will lose his or her plot until the current investigation has been concluded. But nettled net·tle n. 1. Any of numerous plants of the genus Urtica, having toothed leaves, unisexual apetalous flowers, and stinging hairs that cause skin irritation on contact. 2. Any of various hairy, stinging, or prickly plants. gardeners have vowed to take their case to the Ombudsman, local MP and even the European courts if they lose their allotments CAPTION(S): BATTLE ZONE: Peter Gibbons has attended his allotments for 30 years. He said: ``I don't like what's going on What's Going On is a record by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. Released on May 21, 1971 (see 1971 in music), What's Going On reflected the beginning of a new trend in soul music. ; Picture: MARTIN BIRCHALL |
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