It’s a plot to get rid of her, say fellow allotment owners

Members of a Canterbury horticultural society engulfed in scandal were due to meet last night (Wednesday) following complaints about the way it runs its allotments.

Last week the Kentish Gazette revealed that the St Dunstan’s Horticultural Society tried to evict a retired teacher from the Victoria Park allotments after she complained about the management of the Rheims Way site.

Despite the threat of eviction, Kathleen Parkin stood her ground and sought the advice of lawyers, who wrote to the governing committee to explain it does not have the power to remove the 64-year-old.

The committee had tried to remove Mrs Parkin, who is originally from the Seychelles, on the basis of allegations, including making “racially divisive comments” to other plot-holders and taking photographs.

She was also accused of not smiling and breaking the site’s 5mph speed limit in her car.

Terry Ware, a former detective who has had an allotment there since 2011, branded the allegations “ridiculous”.

He says Victoria Park was trouble-free until a handful of new plot holders arrived in the last two years and were allowed to break the rules.

“Kathleen stood up to them – that’s why they’re trying to get rid of her,” Mr Ware said ahead of the meeting.

Glenn Bowman, a University of Kent professor of anthropology, has had an allotment on the site for 29 years.

He said: “There are serious concerns about the way the allotments are run.

“The society and its committee seem to think that they are distinct from the allotment holders and can more or less do whatever they like.

“Kathleen is a very nice lady. She is a symptom of the situation – not the cause.”

The society was due to meet at the Thanington Resource Centre.

Kathleen Parkin at her plot and our story last week