Ben claims a win in allotment war

FLASHBACK to last month as Ben Carcamo holds a giant pumpkin with partner Natalie Muir and their children Lucy Eaton (6) and Amadeus Carcamo (4)

A KEEN gardener has come up smelling of roses after winning an allotment row.

Last month Ben Carcamo (28) claimed he was unfairly threatened with eviction from Stotts Lane Allotments in Failsworth because other growers were jealous of the quality of the soil on his patch.

The allotment committee claimed he had not kept to their standards and the council, which leases the land to the group, was called in. Now, the council has ruled that it is happy that Mr Carcamo can stay on his plot.

The father-of-two — from Failsworth, but now living in Droylsden — got the allotment in February, 2010 following a two-year wait. He said he has big plans for his 26ft by 10ft plot over the next two years, and thanked the Oldham Chronicle for helping bring his battle to the fore.

He added: “This is a conclusive victory. I wanted to fight for my land and not back down. The council has been very fair all the way along and I’ve got to keep my plot.”

Due to the publicity, Mr Carcamo’s giant pumpkin was snapped up by Uppermill restaurant Dinnerstones and used in its autumn menu. He also donated most of his successful pumpkin crop to his children’s school.