Housing trust threatens to dig up Tattenhall grandad’s onion patch

Jun 13 2008 Chester Chronicle

Housing trust threatens to dig up Tattenhall grandad’s onion patch

HOUSING chiefs have threatened to destroy a grandad’s tiny onion patch he converted from an overgrown strip of land.

Ten years ago, Donald Davies, 84, cleared the 22-inch wide strip between his garden flagstones and perimeter fence, turning it over to vegetables.

But Chester and District Housing Trust sent him a letter saying if he does not remove the “unauthorised” strip of garden, it will do it for him.

Mr Davies, from Ravensholme Lane, Tattenhall, said: “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous. All my neighbours in the village are aghast – the strip of land is only 22 inches and it was derelict.

“I’ve been cultivating it for 10 years. It was briers and nettles. I should be commended rather than scolded.”

The letter from community housing officer Paula Marshall reads: “Whilst visiting in the area I noticed that a patch of ground running along the path is being used as a vegetable patch. I would like to ask the person(s) responsible for this to stop immediately and remove all unauthorised plants.

“Should these plants not have been removed, I will arrange disposal.”

Mr Davies, who worked for GWR in Birmingham during the war before joining De Havilland then British Aerospace, grows shallots on the land because his daughter and granddaughter love pickled onions. He is a founder member of Tattenhall horticultural society.

He said: “I’ve been gardening all my life. I still keep pot plants but I don’t have a garden. I do get a lot of enjoyment out of it and I still like to keep the enthusiasm for it.

“What’s going to be next? We share a communal yard – are they going to object having a few pot plants?

“I can only say I’m completely disgusted.”

Housing Manager Julia Nundy said: “The area where the onions are planted is a communal part of Ravensholme Court and unfortunately the land is unsuitable for the cultivation of vegetables because it is very close to other accommodation.

“We are more than happy to wait until the end of June for the removal of the onions, so Mr Davies can harvest them.”