HC Deb 29 July 1918 vol 109 cc24-5
29. Mr. ROWLANDS

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that seven allotment-holders, working land at Glenesk Road, Eltham, under the Cultivation of Land Order, have received notice to give up their land on account of the sale of the land to another owner; that the land had previously been unused building land; is he aware that the allotment-holders have cultivated their land well, and that it is not immediately required as building land or for any other national purpose; and can be say what action be intends to take in order to prevent these men being dispossessed of their land?

Sir R. WINFREY

This is a case in which the London County Council took possession of some vacant building land at Eltham belonging to Lord Rowallan and let it in allotments. A quarter of an acre has recently been sold by Lord Rowallan to a local resident, and the purchaser proposes to build a house thereon after the War, and meanwhile desires possession of the land in order to plant fruit trees and prepare his garden. The London County Council have, therefore, given notice to the allotment-holders of this piece of land that they must give up their plots on the 29th of September next, and the local allotment society and the Vacant Land Cultivation Society have appealed to the Board to prevent the dispossession of the allotment-holders. Four of them would lose almost the whole of their plots, and three others would be less seriously affected. The Board is endeavouring to arrange between the parties, and, until negotiations are concluded, it seems inadvisable to discuss the matter further.

Mr. ROWLANDS

Do not the Board consider it important that these men should continue the cultivation of this land, which they have done very thoroughly, and cannot the new owner of the land wait for his fruit trees until after the War, when he puts up his house?

Sir R. WINFREY

We are going to press that.

Colonel THORNE

Will the holders not be compensated for disturbance?

Sir R. WINFREY

Yes.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Have not the Board got these powers to keep this land under the original Act?

Sir R. WINFREY

No, Sir; I am afraid they have not.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Do you mean to say that these men will have the land sold over their heads?

Sir R. WINFREY

I am afraid that is so.

Mr. ROWLANDS

Do I understand the house is not going to be built until alter the War—therefore the land is not wanted for building purposes within the Order?

Sir R. WINFREY

That is the point we are going to press again upon the new owner.