A member of the audience at a feisty Oxfordshire allotment association meeting has spoken out after being told 'I don’t want newcomers to the village'.

Anger was expressed after Chinnor Allotments and Gardening Association (CAGA) held a meeting on Tuesday, October 22 at the Chinnor Community Pavilion, drawing an unusually large turnout due to rising concerns about the future direction of the association. 

An anonymous whistle-blower told the Oxford Mail that tensions were raised over the condition of the shop and distribution centre (DC) and the leadership of CAGA. 

The whistle-blower said: “The atmosphere took a further turn when an attendee voiced, 'I don’t want newcomers to the village,' highlighting the long-standing tension between the older generation and newer arrivals.”

READ MORE: 'Toxic behaviour' as 'deeply concerning' allotment meeting turns feisty

Chinnor allotments (Image: Google Street View) Now Michelle Strauss, of Lower Road, Chinnor, has come forward, saying that the comment was directed at her. 

In a letter to the Oxford Mail, she said: “I was the person at whom those 'newcomer' comments were directed. I, and others, put forward nominations to join the committee to bring expertise that was needed to help with efforts to improve the allotment facilities. 

“We were also eager to host a series of events to foster a sense of community and create a more welcoming environment. 

“These were highlighted in a series of posts on Facebook to allow the community to understand what we could bring to the roles. 

“This is because we genuinely feel that the allotments are such a wonderful facility that has such promise.

"Unfortunately, in the last few years membership has been declining, turnover of plots has been high, and there are regularly a number of unlet plots.”

Ms Strauss added: “My view is that this is in part a consequence of a toxic environment within the committee and within certain groupings of longer standing members – there does seem to be an undercurrent of xenophobia. 

“I was not born in Britain and I do not sound British. When I stood to talk the people who yelled and heckled did not engage with my ideas, rather the comments were directed at who I am – they didn’t want to hear from a 'newcomer'. 

“It is difficult to put into words how sad it is to try to volunteer for a community group, and to be subject to this kind of abuse – it’s deeply unsettling to think that this is the community I have chosen to call home.”

The Chinnor Allotments and Gardening Association is yet to respond to the Oxford Mail's request for a comment.