Getty ImagesUp to 80 jobs are said to be at risk after Glasgow City Council issued an eviction notice to a local food company.
Locavore said the local authority had sent a notice of removal to its organic farm at Bellahouston Nursery.
The social enterprise said the move means it may be forced to close both its shops in Glasgow, risking dozens of jobs.
Locavore said the site is the city’s only organic farm and was set to harvest tonnes of tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and kale in the coming months.
But the firm will now have until the end of the month to vacate the premises, which it said are used for the majority of its work.
It comes after the group went into administration in January which left unpaid debt to the council.
It is now operated by Chard Holding Group CIC which the town hall officials say has not taken responsibility for the debt but wants to continue the previous firm’s lease.
Locavore said it has offered to honour its debts and added that while its liquidation voided the lease “assurances had been given that the new organisation would be able to continue to operate from the site”.
The company said that since October last year it had been encouraged by the council to apply for a £50,000 council grant, which it won, but was then “unexpectedly served with a notice of removal by yet another department” at the local authority.
The council later added that the £50,000 grant was ultimately not paid to Locavore.
Locavore said its farm hosts 120 community-growing plots and supplies nearly 2,000 households across central Scotland.
Reuben Chesters, founder of Locavore, said: “We are deeply disappointed and frustrated by the lack of transparency regarding the decision-making process, and the unwillingness of the council to explore solutions with us in spite of awareness of the existential threat this position poses to our social enterprise.
“The current position has been reached through a catalogue of delays and errors by various Council departments since October 2023.
“We’re exactly the type of organisation that is required to deliver local and national visions for a sustainable food future and we ought to be supported and celebrated by Glasgow City Council.
“It’s incredibly disappointing that we are not being treated as a valuable partner that can help realise their policies, plans and strategies.”
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: “Locavore ceased to exist owing hundreds of thousands of pounds to its creditors, including the Council which is owed £107,000 for non-domestic rates.
“As should be expected, Locavore’s lease also ended when that company was entered into administration.
“Chard CIC have not taken on liability for any of the previous debts of Locavore and ChardCIC has been unable to demonstrate appropriate financial governance following the collapse of the previous company, Locavore.
“The site at Bellahouston has not been developed as we had hoped and it is unclear why Chard CIC think they should be able to take on Locavore’s lease.
“Our Property Asset Management team, which manages rental arrangements in relation to council property, gave no assurance that the lease for Bellahouston Nursery would be transferred from Locavore to the new company, Chard CIC.
“We are committed to food growing and will work proactively with other organisations to ensure that the site at Bellahouston continues to contribute to the city’s food growing agenda.”
Locavore founder Mr Reuben said the social enterprise has been unable to demonstrate appropriate financial governance to officials because “the council has been unable to provide us the opportunity to do this”.
He said the company offered to do this both verbally and over email several times but was ignored.
He also disputes the council’s claims that Chard has not taken liability for Locavore’s debts, saying the firm had offered to honour unpaid Locavore rent. He said these offers were also ignored.
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