“RESPONSIBLE” owners of poultry are to be allowed to keep up to six birds on their plot at village allotments.
Changes to the current tenancy agreement for gardeners at Gainford allotments were discussed by parish councillors at this month’s meeting.
The issue of allotment holders keeping larger numbers of birds at the site, next to the now-derelict St Peter’s school, coupled with outbreaks of bird flu, had resulted in tenants being told they had to reduce numbers.
Caroline Squires, one of two plot holders who liaise with the parish council, told members, that having taken advice, the agreements should allow for six birds to be kept.
“We have spoken to some of the responsible chicken owners and they have said they have reduced numbers, but could they keep six,” she told the meeting.
Information received from Defra had indicated this was a suitable number, the meeting was told.
Meanwhile, efforts are being made to improve plots that have been abandoned or simply left uncultivated.
A skip is to be hired for a day to help with efforts after councillors were told broken glass was covering one plot, while a mattress had been dumped in another.
It was reported that fowl had been left to breed in one plot, while another plot and a half had not been cultivated for at least four years, despite being let.
Another two plots had not been worked for the past two years by their tenant.
It was agreed that letters would be sent.
There was also discussion of a tenancy’s direction that 75 per cent of a plot musty be cultivated.
Ms Squires said this had caused some confusion.
“Most people ask what this means,” she said.
Ms Squires said a better alternative would be to suggest that the wording be changed to “most of” the plot being cultivated.
Parish council clerk Martin Clark explained the 75 per cent figures had come from the national Allotment Association and had been used when drawing up the tenancy agreement.
