Bathhouse owners facing eviction “don’t give up”

Landowners facing eviction say it is a “sad day” for their community but refuse to “give up”.

A Liverpool landowner has served Bath and North East Somerset Council with a notice to vacate land on the Coombe Down sites in Bath, which opened in 1894.

For Jacqueline Burrows, the site’s owners have been family for 15 years. “Our son was four years old when we moved here and he grew up here,” she said.

“It was great to make some friendships,” Ms Burrows added.

“It’s great for your physical health and overall well-being.”

She said she was “really really sad” that they would have to lose all 64 sites.

“We will miss the sense of community,” she added.

Christopher Pearce of Friends for Coombe Down Allotments said they “knew this was coming” and “refuse to give up”.

“I have had the privilege of working on this site for 40 years, I can’t believe it. It was a joy to bring home the fruits of my labor,” Mr. Pearce said.

“I was surprised the council couldn’t pull something out of the hat. It was a shock.

“It’s a sad day for Coombe Down and I think for all of Bath, but we’re not giving up.”

The Combe Down site opened in 1894, but the landowner had already given notice that the long-term lease would expire in 2025.

Bath and North East Somerset Council attempted to buy the land in an attempt to save the site.

The council said all requests to meet with the landowner were refused through a solicitor and site owners were sent a notice to vacate last week.