Hill Farm residents' £2m appeal amid 'immediate eviction' threat

The Hill Farm Residents' Association claim that a recent change in the land's ownership has led to "unprecedented challenges," including a 300 per cent rent increase for a 12-month contract.

The group claims that this has resulted in several eviction notices. They also claim that despite new demands, there are several issues at the site including roads being left in "disrepair."

The Bewdley residents have started a GoFundMe page hoping to raise funds to take their case to the High Court in London to protect 163 families and their "right to remain in their homes". The appeal can be viewed via gofundme.com.

The bungalows at Hill Farm, located in the Severn Valley, were established in the early 1900s, born out of necessity during a time of housing shortages and economic uncertainty following the First World War.

The group has said they are a "testament to the ingenuity and determination of those who built them, providing a refuge for families seeking stability and a connection to the land".

As part of the appeal, the group said: "Our parents and grandparents settled here under informal agreements, creating a haven of peace and nature away from industrial life.

"However, we now face a significant challenge following the sale of the site on which our homes stand, heightened by an imbalance of power and resources.

"Our community ranges from the elderly, disabled and vulnerable to families with young children, all of whom deserve to live a life free from fear and homelessness.

"We need to raise £2.5 million to secure our tenure in court and protect our right to remain in our homes.

"This is our last chance to ensure that our homes, and the history they embody, are preserved for ourselves and future generations".

We have searched for a contact number for the landowner, who has been named by residents as Michael Wenman, but have not been able to find it in any documents.