A meeting is to be held at Boroughbridge Social Club on Wednesday, December 16, at 7pm and anyone interested in taking an allotment is encouraged to attend.

Boroughbridge resident Tim Tribe, who is organising the meeting, said: "There are currently only a handful of allotments in Boroughbridge, and these are privately owned. None is currently vacant.

There are six in Aldborough, and there is a waiting list for them.

'considerable demand'

"It is clear that there is a considerable demand for allotments in Boroughbridge itself – certainly more than the six required to approach the council with a request to provide allotments."

Mr Tribe said: "Boroughbridge is a thriving and expanding town with many new residents in the recently completed housing developments.

Modern houses generally have only small gardens, which means that most of these new residents are denied the simple pleasures and healthy exercise that growing one's own flowers and vegetables can bring."

Advice has been sought from the national Allotments Regeneration Initiative and Mr Tribe said initial discussions with Boroughbridge Town Council had been very positive.

A suitable site to provide additional allotments has not yet been identified, but the town council does have powers to compulsory purchase or lease land if necessary.