Pensioner is thrown off his allotment . . . in case he hurts his hip and sues

CAREFULLY tending his runner beans was one of the greatest pleasures of his twilight years.

But now the local council has banned pensioner Arthur Martin from his beloved allotment – in case he breaks his hip and sues.

Councillors say allowing the 3year-old to look after his vegetable plot would pose too great a health and safety risk.

They have given the grandfather of nine just three weeks to give up his allotment. Last night Mr Martin, who has been tending the plot for six years, said: ‘The allotment is one of my great pleasures in life. I can manage the gardening just fine.’

The former miner received a ‘bullying’ letter from Eastwood Town Council, in Nottinghamshire, earlier this month ordering him off the plot.

The extraordinary note stated the council were ‘aware’ he had hip problems and demanded a medical assessment to prove he was fit enough to garden. ‘It’s ludicrous,’ said Mr Martin. ‘I’ve not been given any information on the health and safety rules that I have supposedly broken.’

Mr Martin uses his plot to grow potatoes, runner beans, peas, onions, cucumbers and strawberries with his wife Jean, 2.

‘The allotment gives me a great deal of pleasure,’ he said. ‘After I retired, it gave me something to do with my hands and my mind.’

Mr Martin, chairman of the local allotment society, had a hip replacement in 200 , which was replaced again 18 months ago. He added: ‘I struggle a little at the end of the season when you have to turn all the soil over, so I asked a friend to help me.

‘But apparently that is a problem – it’s just pure petty-mindedness.’

On Monday night, the leader of Eastwood town council David Bagshaw said he had told Mr Martin to get off his plot. He added. ‘I don’t want this guy’s hip to pop out again due to neglect from this council.’

Mr Bagshaw was unavailable for further comment last night.