A FRESH bid is being made to ensure valley folk can grow their own vegetables as plans are unveiled to slash market garden rates.

Council environment chiefs are looking to overhaul the allotments service to offer greater choice to would-be gardeners, at a more economic charge.

Only three allotments exist in Rossendale – and all are in Haslingden at Free Lane, Prinny Hill and Kirk Hill.

There is a waiting list of 134 across the three sites, although some have their names down for more than one location.

But there are 67 smaller ‘garden lets’ around the borough, within and around Bacup, and the rest divided between Rawtenstall, Whitworth and smaller settlements.

The council aims to improve the service for current tenants and look into providing more allotments and garden lets in the future.

The tenancy charge for an allotment agreement though is £150 and council officials are now proposing this is reduced to £40.

Talks are also planned on how greater efforts can be made to help allotment associations to bid for external funding to improve sites.

The maximum term for tenancies is 12 months, which restricts the ability of keen gardeners to mount such campaigns.

Policy head Liz Murphy said in a report to councillors: “There are some key challenges associated with the provision of allotments.

“Only one site has an available water supply and there is no specific budget for the maintenance of allotments.

"The supply of allotments cannot meet current demand and allotments are currently not risk assessed from a health and safety perspective.”

Mrs Murphy is proposing a new allotments strategy and members of Rossendale council’s policy and overview scrutiny committee will debate the proposals at Rawtenstall’s Hardman’s Mill next Tuesday.