PARISH councillors voiced concern that some of their allotment tenants are failing to make proper use of their plots.

Coun Pauline Bedford, of Oxenhope Parish Council, raised the issue at the council's latest full monthly meeting.

"A lot of the footpaths are very overgrown," she warned. "I do tell people before they take over an allotment that it is a commitment which will take up so many hours.

"I will contact [parish council chairman] Neal Cameron and we'll visit the allotments because it needs sorting out."

Coun Tony Jones said: "I think there's a good third of the plots which are not being properly attended to.

"I don't think people realise what a commitment it is. It's not as if we've been having bad weather either. These are not gardens, they are allotments, and they need to be cultivated."

Coun Derrick Hopkinson said: "If they leave it too long it'll become a wilderness, and it'll be a fairly daunting task to straighten out."

The council's deputy chairman, Coun Tony Maw, said: "Allotments have become more fashionable again, as people are interested in being able to produce their own food.

"That is a very positive development, but maintaining an allotment can be a lot of hard work."

Coun Reg Hindley said that while he did have some sympathy with tenants, they needed to understand that other Oxenhope people who are prepared to cultivate these plots remain on the waiting list for a vacant allotment.

"I don't think we should be too generous with allotment holders who are not carrying out the basic obligations of allotment holding," he said.