An 80-year-old granddad has been kicked off his allotment in Stockport after a row that he claims has become a 'war'. Rob McCurrie, who has had a plot at the Newboult Road site in Cheadle since 2018, says he has been forced off due to a 'propaganda war' waged by those in charge.
Allegations of harassment and intimidation
Mr McCurrie, a former construction worker, said he has faced libellous accusations and been the 'victim of accusations, harassment, and intimidation' over several years. He contacted the Manchester Evening News because he felt he had not been given a say and believes Stockport Council has 'ignored everything' about his side of the story.
The National Allotment Society North West Branch declined to comment, saying the matter has been dealt with and is now closed. However, Mr McCurrie said he was just 'asking questions people do not like'.
Dispute over water and plum tree
According to Mr McCurrie, the row started after he raised concerns over a water supply on the allotment and whether it posed a legionella risk. He said this escalated when his plum tree was 'vandalised and butchered' last year, followed by a formal process to kick him off the site in December last year.
A hearing was held that month over a single email, seen by the Manchester Evening News, which Mr McCurrie had sent earlier in 2025 to one allotment member and which was accused of being defamatory. A constitution for the allotment site said one of three reasons a plot can be vacated is 'any offence serious enough to warrant a notice to quit'.
Unable to attend hearing due to wife's funeral
Mr McCurrie said he was unable to attend the December hearing as this was within days of his wife of 63 years Lucia's funeral. He told the Manchester Evening News: "They have no mandate [to remove me]. They are building a case against me on gossip. It's propaganda."
He added: "Removal from the site is serious and they haven't proved anything against me and they have propagated this propaganda war against me."
Friend calls hearing a 'kangaroo court'
Mr McCurrie is being supported by his friend Roy Owen, who used to sit on the allotment committee. Mr Owen, who still has a plot on the site, called the December hearing a 'kangaroo court' as Mr McCurrie could not attend due to the funeral. He also claims the committee recently asked to 'have a word' with him, urging him to drop his own complaint about Mr McCurrie's treatment.
Mr Owen said: "It's an injustice. They have not got a case to put to him. What they said is he had something to answer over a complaint. That email is not sufficient to send anybody off site."
Council review sides with committee
Emails shared with the Manchester Evening News suggest the water issue was investigated and the plum tree was cut down for health and safety reasons. A council review of Mr McCurrie's appeal against the initial decision sided with the allotment committee.
The review, conducted by a council officer, accused Mr McCurrie of sending 'aggressive and threatening communications' and of failing to engage with the process. Mr McCurrie maintains he was unable to attend the first hearing as he was grieving his late wife and the latter due to prior commitments.
The local authority said the evidence 'demonstrates a sustained pattern of behaviour' and 'repeated unsubstantiated accusations against committee members'. They said there had been 'no acceptance of findings and continued escalation' by Mr McCurrie, and a further appeal was rejected unanimously.
Mr McCurrie says there is no evidence to support the accusations against him and he has never been aggressive. The Manchester Evening News understands Stockport Council's position on the issue remains unchanged and the issue has been considered through a now-finished formal process which has now concluded.
