Couple evicted from Greenhill Gardens chalet after 30 years

David White, 75, and his partner Elaine Jepson, 68, say they were told they will not be allowed to continue the lease for their beach chalet at Greenhill Gardens in Weymouth due to the fact that they’re not from the local area.

The bombshell came in a letter from chalet owners the Greenhill Community Trust.

The Echo has been made aware of at least two other families from outside the Weymouth area who have also been told to leave after having chalets at Greenhill for decades.

Mr White has leased the chalet since 1997 when his mother passed away, and she had chalets in both the gardens and seafront since the 1950s.

He said: “I think we’re being discriminated against, and I don’t know why (the trust) chose to do it now, and not in 2019 when they took over the lease."

In a letter from the trust, which purchased a 30-year lease from Weymouth Town Council in 2019, Mr White and Ms Jepson - who are from Yeovil - have been ordered to leave their chalet when the lease runs out in March.

It said: "Regretfully, we are giving you advanced warning that your licence is due to expire on March 31, in accordance with the term 2.16 of your signed licence agreement. (We) will not be offering you the option to renew.

• Read more: Family 'heart-broken' to be kicked out of Weymouth chalet

"In accordance with our 30-year lease from the council, one of our conditions within the lease stipulates that occupiers must be residents from the local area. 

"This is in accordance with, and connected to, a covenant on the land, bequeathed to the council of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis 'in the early 1900s'. It was given by the council at that time for the health and wellbeing of local residents."

It is not the first time that the trust have hit the headlines. In May 2022, chalet tenants said they were being booted out without explanation. 

In October last year a man was kicked out of his chalet after 20 years for missing the chance to do a Portable Appliance Test.

The chalets in Greenhill Gardens (Image: Alfie Lumb) Mr White said of the trust's decision: “I think they’re using it as an excuse to clear the waiting list to offer the chalets to local residents but it’s terrible. It’s made me really upset and I feel as though I can’t get on with anything else.

“We had no choice as to who was elected to the committee, no consultation of who’s in charge, but they make all the decisions regardless."

Elaine Jepson and David White, from Yeovil (Image: Alfie Lumb) Miss Jepson said: “They’ve left it six years to tell us - it’s ridiculous.

“The place was like a real bolthole and would really be somewhere to go on a nice afternoon when the weather is good."

She added: “There is now this feeling like the locals are against us, there’s this massive rift. We went down there last week, and it just didn’t feel right. I don’t know if we’ll be wanting to come back to Weymouth after this."

View from Elaine Jepson and David White's chalet (Image: Alfie Lumb) A spokesperson for the Greenhill Community Trust, said: “The letter sent explained the position of the directors of Greenhill Community Trust C.I.C.

“The whole area of Greenhill, including the gardens was originally gifted in the early 1900s to the borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis at the time for the Health and Welfare of local people.

“The directors have worked tirelessly with no remuneration, or other voluntary help, to bring the whole area within their demise back into a good state of repair.

• READ MORE: Questions asked of Weymouth chalet decision making

“This has taken time to establish, the Directors felt the time had arrived to move forward and comply with the condition imposed on the GCT C.I.C back in 2019. 

“Chalet occupiers only have a licence. This is issued year on year. No one has a right of tenancy or occupancy without a signed licence agreement. 

“The directors are complying with one of the conditions imposed on them within the 30-year signed 2019 lease. 

“Our solicitor has been fully informed, and a copy of the letter issued has been copied to Weymouth Town Council who are the body that oversees the lease.”