Supermarket boss evicted from Enfield allotment for commercial storage

Öncü Food Centre and its director, Suleyman Tekagac, have been ordered by Wandsworth County Court to vacate an allotment site at Elliots Field Allotment in Aspen Way, Enfield. The court also mandated that the defendants pay Enfield Council £2,013 for legal costs incurred. The plot had been used for commercial storage, including the installation of large freezer containers and the creation of a paved driveway, all without the council's permission.

Discovery of Unauthorised Use

Enfield Council officers discovered the unauthorised commercial activity during a routine inspection of the allotment site. Investigations revealed that the land had been substantially altered, with trees removed, fencing erected, and the ground paved over to create a driveway for vehicle access. The allotment was being used as a business storage facility, despite the fact that neither Öncü Food Centre nor Mr Tekagac held a legal tenancy for the plot. The business, registered nearby on Hertford Road, had previously approached the council seeking to purchase or lease the land for commercial purposes but was refused.

Under the Allotments Acts and Enfield Council's tenancy agreements, allotment plots are designated solely for the cultivation of fruit, vegetables, and flowers. The agreements permit only limited structures, such as small sheds or greenhouses. The court initially appointed bailiffs to secure possession of the site and return it to the council after the defendants failed to comply with the initial order.

Council's Commitment to Protecting Assets

Maria Alexandrou, Enfield Council's cabinet member for environment, stated that allotments are important community resources intended for residents to grow food, enjoy outdoor spaces, and support biodiversity. She emphasised that the plot was unlawfully occupied and significantly altered, denying local people access to land designated for community use. Ms Alexandrou affirmed the council's commitment to taking action against the misuse or unauthorised occupation of council land, highlighting this successful outcome as a demonstration of their resolve to protect public assets and enforce the law.

The recovered allotment will be made available for legitimate allotment use by residents. This action follows a commitment made by the council's minority Conservative administration earlier this year to address long-standing misuse of allotment sites across the borough.