PLOT holders at Combe Down Allotments have been told to be “prepared for the outcome no one wants after a bid to buy the site by Bath and North East Somerset Council was rejected.

The owner of the land which has been used for Combe Down Allotments since 1894 is terminating the lease, and has handed the council an order to vacate by November. The council said all its requests to meet with the landowner to negotiate had been refused.

Deputy council leader Sarah Warren (Liberal Democrats, Bathavon North) said that the council had made “a reasonable offer” to buy the site following a professional evaluation but it had been rejected by the landowner - who said he wanted £1.4-million.

The allotments have been registered as an asset of community value, after an application by the Unincorporated Friends of Combe Down Allotments, which could delay the sale to give some more time for a community interest group to bid for the site.

As things stand plot holders have been given a deadline of October 31 to be out.

Ms Warren said: “Since we were informed of the landowner’s intention to end the lease the council has looked into all available avenues, under the statutory provisions it has, to retain the land for allotments. This included exploring any acquisition powers for the site.

“Running alongside this we have made repeated requests to meet the landowner to find a mutually beneficial solution. All requests to meet have, to date, been declined through his solicitor.

“Another option we have been exploring is a new site but we would not meet the November deadline. So, as you can see we have been trying to find a way through, however as it currently stands allotment holders will have to be prepared for the outcome no one wants.”