A resident has been left ‘disgusted’ at a North East council’s ‘failure’ to maintain allotments left ‘infested’ with pests.

Neville Sanderson, 77, a former senior officer of Cleveland County Fire Brigade, from Thornaby, has claimed many allotments in the town have been left empty over the past eight years despite there being demand.

He criticised the council for withholding allotments and their care of the Harewood site – adding that allotments at the site had become “overgrown, infested with rats and pea weevils.”

The Northern Echo: Mr Sanderson says there are remains of a caravan at the bottom of the plot Credit: NEVILLE

Mr Sanderson added he had contacted the council several times and met with officials to raise the issue – and has since contacted them about a burst water pipe at the site.

He said: “Everybody is just fed up. I’ve been trying to communicate with the council, who are an utter waste of time. I’ve sent emails, letters, sometimes they reply, but the majority of times they don’t.

“I have been involved with allotments for over 70 years and I am appalled at what has been allowed to happen to the allotments in Thornaby whilst we had Covid, a cost-of-living crisis and wars breaking out all putting demands on food banks.

“Sheer incompetent management. People [are] crying out for allotments, Stockton Borough Council haven’t a clue how to manage them, how to organise them.

“[I feel] absolutely disgusted. We’ve got people coming down, wanting allotments, we’ve sent them off to get registered, we’ve told them there’s a big waiting list. Why haven’t they been occupied?

The Northern Echo: Mr Sanderson said the holder of this plot passed away two years ago Credit: NEVILLE SANDERSON

“Get the [allotments] cleared up, get them occupied with people.”

The council have said they are aware of Mr Sanderson’s concerns and discussed the issue with him.

They added plot holders are expected to maintain their plots under a tenancy agreement, and said it is the responsibility of plot holders to maintain the common areas as well.

They also said it is the responsibility of plot holders to treat pea weevils, and remove food sources which could attract rodents.

The Northern Echo: Credit: NEVILLE SANDERSON

They added they must balance managing vacant plots and allotment provision with other essential services due to “limited council resources.”

Councillor Clare Gamble, Stockton Borough Council's cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “Allotments are a valuable community resource and have significant environmental benefits for our residents and the wider Borough.

“We’re aware of this resident’s concerns and officers have written to him and met with him directly to understand and discuss his concerns.

The Northern Echo: Credit: NEVILLE SANDERSON

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The Northern Echo: Credit: NEVILLE SANDERSON

“Plot holders, under their tenancy agreements are expected to maintain their plots and have responsibility for common areas too. It is the responsibility of plot holders to treat pea weevil on their plots and to remove food sources, such as rotten vegetables, which may attract rodents.

“Limited Council resources means that we must balance managing vacant plots and allotment provision with other essential services.

“However, we are committed to providing a service to plot holders and potential plot holders in the future and work has recently been carried out to clear rubbish from three vacant plots and bring them back into use.”