After concerns were raised at a recent meeting, council representatives organised a site meeting and agreed the first steps in a plan of action.

Tenant Neville Cope had branded the allotments between the industrial estate and Sands Lane playing fields “a disgrace”, but the local farmer has since been helping the parish council mark out and plough the plots.

Following the site visit, it was decided that five of the 12 allotments were completely water-logged and needed to be moved, another two were in need of demarcation and ploughing over and only five were fit for use at the present time.

Other issues included the state of the access gate, which needs repair and adjustment and the unfitness of the access road causing vehicles to stray on to the neighbouring playing field. This had not been helped by a number of bricks discarded by fly-tippers.

The parish council agreed the area around the fencing needed strimming and there would have to be a full assessment of the site before any final decision was made.

Since then, Cllr Eddie Flory has spent three days clearing and burning rubbish left on one of the plots and parish clerk Sarah Jack and a resident spent a morning clearing rubbish and bricks from the hedgerow and surrounding area.

Two plots have now been marked and ploughed ready for use, the village caretaker is looking into the gate and some small aggregate will be arranged to cover the access road.

All plots are currently let and a waiting list has been drawn up for anyone who would like an allotment.

Ms Jack said: “It is hoped that with the help of our councillors and tenants that a good line of communication could begin to keep abreast of issues on these allotments. So far the feedback has been encouraging and we as a parish council are making positive steps to address this situation.”