A GROUP of allotment holders in Westfield have said they feel 'let down' by the housing association who they claim are trying to 'kick them off' their much-loved allotments.

Allotment holders at the site say they have been told by Westfield Housing Association that their plots are only ‘makeshift allotments’ and they have no permission to stay.

The residents and a councillor representing the ward strongly dispute this and claim that the allotments are 'an asset' which have been in the community for over 60 years.

Workington town councillor for Westfield, Sean Melton said: “They are trying to say it is not an allotment and it is a bit of a waste ground... that’s rubbish, there are people who have got proof it has been an allotment for over 60 years.

“It’s planting season and people want to do it. We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. People are wanting to feed themselves.

“These people have been looking after this allotment site for 60 plus years and Westfield Housing are telling them it’s not an allotment site and it's waste ground... well it’s not, it’s a community hub and we need to develop it."

Cllr Melton suggested that Workington Town Council have expressed an interest in taking the allotment on, viewing the site as an ‘asset to the estate’.

There are conflicting views on the extent to which the site is used. Westfield Housing Association describe it as 'overgrown and not a community asset', with nothing but an 'unlawful makeshift use of a small part of the land'.

Ivana Nixon, a resident and allotment holder whose family have 'been on the site for over 60 years', has said that the allotment acts as a ‘good release’ for her, and she grows a number of different fruit and vegetables on her site.

“It was my dad's and when my dad passed away, me and my mam took it on. She passed away. I am in there all the time and, at the present time, I have got something planted. It’s the end of March... this is when we have got stuff in.

“It’s a good release. It’s good for my mental health and it's right behind my house. It’s not that I am having to travel, this allotment is right behind my house.

“The downside of having an allotment is everything grows at the same time, so I give it to everyone. I don’t keep it, I dish it all out.

Hilary Raggot, another resident and allotment owner said: “When we were younger and in our dad’s time, if we had a glut of something we would put it at the end of our plot and if other people did, we would take it or whatever... it was lovely."

Westfield Housing Association, which owns the land, said the plot is 'not accessible to the public' and it aims to build five bungalows for older people on the site to 'meet an identified need within the area'.

"There are over 150 people waiting for level access accommodation in the Westfield area. This development will allow older persons to stay in the community they are a part of with family and friendship ties and also vacate larger family homes for people wanting to move in to the area," they said.

"There are no historical nor statutory allotments on the site."

The association claimed there is 'just one small private allotment' on the site and the tenant received notice to vacate in October 2021.

"Westfield has since allowed the tenant to keep the allotment temporarily and rent free as a gesture of goodwill because the new development would not be started immediately," they added.

"However, Westfield Housing Association hopes to start building on the site this year and therefore has requested that the tenant now vacate the site before the growing season begins.

"There is also an unlawful makeshift use of a small part of the land and any items that have been placed there will shortly be removed by Westfield Housing Association if the unlawful occupier does not do so themselves."