Durham County Council row with widow over Blackhill allotment

Pauline Chilton, who lives in Blackhill, Consett, worked on the garden at nearby Mortimer Street with David, a lifelong pigeon fancier, and the couple grew their own vegetables.

David, who was 72 and died in July, was listed as a ‘co-worker’ at the allotment with his friend, Clive Steadman, as the tenant.

Pauline Chilton at the allotment (Image: Gavin Havery)

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Pauline, 69, said Mr Steadman has not used the land since they took over and said the couple have tried numerous times to get the lease transferred into their name by informing the local authority of the situation.

She said she received a call from Durham County Council recently after the authority was informed Mr Steadman was giving up the lease.

Pauline, a grandmother-of-ten, said: “They phoned up to offer it to David and I told them my husband has passed. Straight away they said I would have to vacate it.

“I told them we had had that garden for 15 years and I was not giving it up.

“I said we still have David’s pigeons on there and she said 'well I am sure someone will have them'.

“I told her I was not parting with the pigeons.”

Pauline with one of David's beloved pigeons (Image: Gavin Havery)

Pigeons in the cree at the allotment (Image: Gavin Havery)

David’s brother Keith has been helping Pauline look after the pigeons and the garden has been planted up to provide food for the family.

Fruit and vegetables are now ready for harvest with sweetcorn, onions, rhubarb and pears among the crops ready for picking.

Pauline said: “I enjoy the garden and have done it for 15 years. We have paid the tenancy for it for years. I have still got every receipt.

“I love my allotment. Why should I give it up because my husband has passed away?”

Pauline said the lease should have been transferred by the council years ago.

She said the couple filled in forms and cannot understand why the documentation was never changed.

She said the stress of being told to give up the garden is compounding her grief at the loss of her husband.

David Chilton died in July (Image: Contributor)

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She said: “I know David was just listed as a co-worker but the guy he had the garden with never went near it for 15 years. It was our garden. I have never understood why they did not just give David the allotment. He loved it and had spent his whole life racing pigeons.

“We have been trying to sort it out for years. This should have been done before David passed away. It should have been done long before now. It is not on.”

Pauline is determined to keep the allotment garden (Image: Gavin Havery)

Pauline is being supported by Councillor Stephen Robinson who called on the authority to let Pauline continue to lease the garden.

He said: “It has been handled terribly. They have not handled it with any sympathy whatsoever or a common sense approach.

“It is disgraceful.”

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Durham County Council agreed to meet with Pauline to discuss the matter after the authority was contacted by The Northern Echo.

Ian Hoult, the council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “We would first like to express our deepest condolences to Mrs Chilton for her loss and apologise for any distress she has experienced regarding the plot.

“We appreciate that this is an incredibly difficult time for her and do not wish to create any additional stress, so we have suspended any further action in relation to vacating the plot.

“We will be meeting with Mrs Chilton to review the situation and explore potential solutions.”