Gardeners' plea over leak at 'parched' allotments

Allotment holder Bruce Forbes says his plants are dying because of a lack of water

Allotment holders in Grimsby say they have been without water "for months" because of a leak.

The gardeners at the Carr Lane allotments have called for urgent action because their plants are dying in the hot and dry weather.

"The council is supposed to service and maintain the allotments. We feel let down," said plot-holder Bruce Forbes.

North East Lincolnshire Council, which owns the site, said work was under way to resolve the issue and water was available from standpipes.

Water butts on the Carr Lane allotments

Mr Forbes said the leak had been reported in February after a plot flooded. "We haven't had any water for months," he added.

According to the council's website, water is metered for allotment sites and the charge distributed between all tenanted plots.

The annual cost for a plot at Carr Lane, inclusive of water and rent, is £112.38.

'Working hard'

A spokesperson for the council said a water feed had been turned off on 7 June, due to a leak from underground pipes.

Anglian Water visited the site on Tuesday and started excavation work "to resolve" the issue, the spokesperson added.

Last Friday, the water was turned on for four hours to allow plot-holders to fill water butts.

"Water has been available on the allotment throughout, via other working standpipes," the spokesperson said.

"We are working hard to have the water leak repaired as quickly as possible, and we thank all of the allotment plot holders for their continued cooperation."

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