A NEWLY-FORMED association officially took over the self-management of 35 allotments from Tavistock Town Council last week with the signing of an agreement.
The signing followed a year's negotiations between the two parties and now the Butcher Park Allotments Association will take on the responsibility of letting the individual allotments, finding new tenants and maintaining a waiting list.
As part of the agreement, the town council has promised to carry out work to the allotment site including upgrading the access road, trimming overgrown trees and tidying up the compost and car park areas. Secretary Alan Duncan said the association would try to point holders in an environmental direction.
'We shall encourage them to use less pesticides and chemicals where possible,' he said.
The plots vary from about 100 to 400 square yards and cost between £5 and £30 a year to rent.
'We are prepared to split up larger allotment plots into starter plots to encourage people to take them on,' said Mr Duncan. 'We are hoping to get younger gardeners to join our association.'