COUNCILLORS are being asked to back a "root and branch" overhaul of City of York Council's allotments services.

A report, in response to dwindling demand for the council's 963 allotment spaces, will be put before the advisory panel for leisure and heritage on March 13.

Suggestions include setting up allotment tenants' associations to forge a closer working relationship with the council, and the instigation of a "buddy" system, to foster skills of new allotment holders. Other initiatives could see the closure of the redundant Eighth Avenue site, and scaling back underused sites such as Hempland, Glen/Scrope and Danebury Drive.

The council has seen a decline in take-up of its plots spanning the last 20 years. Some sites are at 100 per cent occupancy, while others fall into the 25 to 50 per cent range, and one is completely vacant. Now it wants to encourage people to use allotment plots to grow fresh produce and flowers, and to keep livestock.

Coun Alan Jones, the council's executive member for leisure and heritage, said: "The service now consists of a patchwork of sites, some in better condition than others.

"There is still clear demand for the service, but the motivations and the reasons for people having allotments, and therefore, their function, is probably more diverse than ever."

The report was drafted by allotment officer Angela Poole. It recommends the introduction of new updated tenancy agreements and a regular newsletter, plus site-specific improvements including a rolling programme to clear old plots and improve fire and safety measures to reduce vandalism and theft. There are also plans to broaden access by linking the service with the Walking to Health initiative, working with the Youth Offending Team, Burnholme Community College and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. Coun Jones said: "The sites themselves represent a considerable asset to the city, and this new programme of activities is a far-reaching plan designed to help us make the best of what our allotments have to offer."

Life On A York Allotment: See Weekender with tomorrow's Evening Press.

Updated: 08:17 Friday, March 07, 2003