Rent waived at toxic-probe allotments

The move follows the council’s advice to allotment holders in June not to eat vegetables grown at the Sowerby Bridge site after tests found the vegetables contained high doses of arsenic, lead and hydrocarbons.

The council is currently carrying out further tests, but the advice not to eat the produce remains in place.

Now, officers have told Milner Royd Allotment Association that 2011’s £305 annual rent has been cancelled

Councillor Pauline Nash, a member of the council’s cabinet said: “Like all allotment holders, those at Milner Royd will have been working hard on their plots in the hope of enjoying home grown produce.

“So it would be wrong for us to charge them for their plots, while on the other hand advising them that they can’t eat that produce.

“This decision in no way affects what action the council will take following the results of further tests, nor will it pre-judge any decision taken on the long term future of the site – this is simply about doing what’s right.”