Gardener, 74, Faces EVICTION in Adjudication Rules Row

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A gardener is being kicked out of his 28-year-old assignment, after leaning his tools against other tenants’ fences. Campbell Road Allotment Association accused John Silvester of breaching rules 12 and 17 at the Stoke site.

And the 74-year-old is also alleged to have breached rule 14 with ‘verbal abuse’. Now John refuses to leave his plot after being ordered out by May 15.

The retired handyman, from Trent Vale, grows onions, beets, potatoes and broad beans on his plot.

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John said: “The allegations are totally unfounded. I have no idea what to do.

“They sent me a letter and I was under the impression that I would go before them to plead my case. That never happened. The board told me ‘you’re on your own’ because it’s a self-managed development. The accusations made against me are frivolous and without foundation.

“I have been on this plot for 28 years without complaining. They have accused me of hurting, mistreating and taking things from another plot. I have not done it. It’s nonsense. 28 years with nothing and now suddenly I’m the bad guy. It’s a full time job for me. It keeps my mental health stable.”

John added: “I want a proper meeting, not a kangaroo court where the outcome is already decided. It’s up to them what they do. I’ve worked 28 years on that plot. Doesn’t that count for anything? I haven’t had any complaints. People a often stops and asks me what I’m doing

“It’s like they’re trying to lure me out. The eviction date is over, but all my stuff is still there. I’m trying to see if I can push the eviction date back. I’ve been there for 28 years, it’s like moving out of the house. The garden is planted, there are greenhouses there, and my dues are paid until March of next year. I’m not hurting anyone. I haven’t heard from the council or the committee. They don’t have any proof.

“I felt suicidal. It has been my life, it is like throwing myself away from my own life. I’m not a dangerous person, I don’t know where they get this from. I am a taxpayer, I am of good character. And suddenly I’m John Wayne destroying everything. The fact is that I don’t seem to have anything to say.”

StokeonTrentLive has seen two letters sent to John by the committee.

The first reads: “The committee has been notified that under rule 12 you have been causing damage to the fences by placing items against your fences from your side of the fence erected by the tenants. When they have conveyed your concern to you, they have received verbal abuse from you, thus breaking rule 14. There are also claims, again from more than one tenant, that rule 17 has been broken, in that you removed items from their parcels without their permission.”

The eviction letter added: “We have informed Stoke-on-Trent Council of our action and they agree we have followed the correct procedure. In addition, he has suffered several heart attacks and works alone on the property, often with his closed door. The council agrees with us that this puts him at risk and it would be prudent for him not to have an assignment with such health issues, regardless of non-compliance with rules and regulations.”

Adjudication site manager Terry Davies said: “The person in question broke all the rules. We’re a self-managed site. We’ve been through all the procedures. He broke the rules and cursed people. We went to council and it’s all gone.” done smoothly. We have the rules for a reason and he broke them. We stand by our decision and the rules are the rules.”

The council is aware of the dispute.

A council spokesperson said: “The Campbell Road allotment is a self-managed allotment site. The allotment team has asked the committee managing the site to meet with the parcel owner regarding completion. The allotment owner plot has been made aware of this. Due to the tenancy legalities associated with self-managing sites, Stoke-on-Trent Council are unable to provide further comment.”

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