A FORMER world champion kickboxer is being threatened with eviction from his farm unless he returns to loss-making dairy production.
Russ Williams has lost his appeal to remain on Gelli Fowler Farm at Brynford and his Flintshire County Council landlords say his wheelchair-bound father Glyn and mother Maraget must leave too.
Russ took over in 1994 and was forced to build a flat at the farm to include an adapted bedroom, bathroom and toilet after his father was struck down with multiple sclerosis.
'At the same time, the county reclassified the farm as a dairy rather than a mixed holding and also increased the rent,' said Russ.
But when he was forced out of milk production by growing 'butter mountains', unfavourable quotas and falling prices, Flintshire claimed he had broken tenancy agreements and ordered him out.
Russ has been told he must return to dairy farming by February or face eviction. Even if he is offered a smaller farm, Flintshire has indicated there will be no special provisions for his father.
Glyn, 71, a former Delyn and Brynford council member, says he had savings of more than £9,000 when he took over in 1979 but ended up with a £40,000 overdraft after investing in improving the holding.
In 1999, profits dwindled to just £6,877 which meant Russ could not even award himself a wage and last year he was forced to sell his 60-strong Guernsey herd to help reduce the bank debt.
The former world champion has survived by running kickboxing, fitness, self-defence and aggression control classes at a his own gym and at local leisure centres.
Russ has urged Delyn MP David Hanson to intervene and is also appealing to Chronicle readers to pledge support by writing to him at Gelli Fowler Farm, Brynford.
