Too many allotments in Scarborough are abandoned, derelict, or unused and should be brought back into use, the town council has said.
Since its creation last year, Scarborough Town Council has been in “ongoing discussions” regarding the transfer of North Yorkshire Council-managed allotment sites to the parish authority.
Following an inspection of allotments in the town, councillors have said that any transfer of the allotment sites is conditional on agreeing a “fully costed and funded remediation package” or NYC undertaking necessary remedial works prior to their transfer.
At a full meeting of the town council on Thursday, April 2, members were told that while dozens of plots are abandoned and unused, 340 people are on waiting lists for allotments in Scarborough.
Cllr Sarah Mason placed on record “serious concerns regarding the historic and ongoing management of allotment sites within the Scarborough area and the implications this has for any proposed transfer of responsibility from North Yorkshire Council”.
Speaking at the full meeting, she said: “I have undertaken a recent walkabout and inspections across all five sites, and it has revealed a pattern of long-term neglect, unclear tenancy arrangements, unmanaged risks and a significant number of plots are unused or abandoned despite long waiting lists”.
She said that one site contained “significant amounts of rubbish, including asbestos sheeting”.
Cllr William Stuart noted that “there are some very good allotment holders in Scarborough who are really committed and they are just as frustrated as we are”.
A motion approved at the meeting noted the financial, compliance, legal, operational, and reputational risks that the town council faced if an immediate transfer of allotments was undertaken.
It stated that in their current state, the sites could not be considered fully fit for transfer without substantial remedial works or a funded plan to address the highlighted issues.
Cllr Mason told colleagues:
“There is one structure of concern on a plot which is predominantly made with asbestos sheets and is on the verge of collapse, and this has been requested on numerous occasions to be removed.
“No regular checks have been carried out, even though this is part of the contract to the plot holders.”
“Across all sites, we have observed long-term neglect of maintenance, large numbers of unused or abandoned plots and unclear boundaries between plots, poor communication with plotholders and severe lack of management regarding clear tenancy terms, boundaries, responsibilities, and implementation”.
Town councillors pledged to send a formal letter to North Yorkshire Council setting out the authority’s findings and concerns and requesting “full documentation and clarification of responsibilities and seeking a clear proposal for remediation and/or funding prior to transfer”.
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