ALLOTMENT holders are hopping mad about wild rabbits eating their crops.

The town council heard how the rabbits were destroying and eating crops in the brick yard allotments.

A representative for the allotment association said: "The problem is getting worse. The crops are growing and are getting ready for harvesting but they are being eaten and demolished by these rabbits. The association wondered if the environmental health department could look at the problem?"

Coun Gwen Porter said she had spoken to an environmental health officer who said Stockton council could not deal with the problem.

He had said that it was illegal to snare them, trap them or shoot them but that a private contractor could be hired to deal with the rabbits.

The council agreed to contact a private contractor to address the problem.

Twinning signs. - Coun Majorie Simpson said Stockton council had agreed to pay for the two Yarm twinning road signs.

Hanging baskets. - The council authorised a payment of £104 to buy four hanging baskets for the town hall from Yarm Hardware.

Roundabout. - A letter from Stockton council regarding the appearance of the roundabout at the Worsall Road and The Spital junction was noted.

It explained that a time scale for the feasibility study and design work to be carried out on the roundabout could not be given, because the officer responsible had other work commitments.

Coun Porter said: "Stockton council has promised us for years that something would be done for that roundabout. We still get complaints. "When the officer came last time, we were fully promised it would be done through the winter for the spring. Will it be done for next spring or will we still be sitting here?"

Meeting postponed. - A meeting between the council and David Morgan, headteacher of Conyers School, was postponed to Tuesday July 13.

Window boxes. - Coun Simon Gurd raised a concern that the town council had paid for a number of window boxes for the town hall in a contract with Stockton council, but that it had not received them.

Coun Simpson said: "We've been paying money for the last four years and it's got worse and worse."

Coun Porter said: "The council hasn't given us boxes because it hasn't included Yarm in its Northumbria in Bloom entry.

The clerk said that the borough council had taken the old boxes away to measure for new ones.

Members decided to write and ask the Council to abide by the terms of the contract.

Overgrown hedges. - Coun Gurd said he had noticed overgrown hedges around the parish and that he had spoken to residents about them.

"I've had a good response from residents," he said.

"I've noticed that nine out of the 15 houses I visited have cut their hedges back."

Willey Flatts. - Coun Simpson reported that some new dog and litter bins had been installed in Willey Flatts Field.

Trees. - The council agreed to look into hiring an expert in the autumn to examine and carry out any work needed on the trees in Snaith's Field.

Ketton Ox. - Coun Andrew Sherris notified the council that planning permission had been granted to Barracuda for two new signs for the Ketton Ox, and for one double sided free-standing panel to be placed on the pavement outside the building.

Meadowings. - Coun Sherris reported that a planning application to build four detached houses including a new access on the Meadowings estate had been withdrawn.

Next meeting. - Tuesday, July 13, in the town hall at 7pm.