Allotments temporarily closed
Soil Samples taken in the Parish Council's allotments, as part of a routine risk assessment, have come back with levels that are significantly higher than the recommended safe levels. It has been recommended by Environmental Health @ DDDC that a more detailed investigation should be undertaken.
Published: 22 April 2025
We live in an area with a long history of lead mining and in November 2024 the Parish Council decided, as part of it’s routine risk assessments, to check that there were no problems with the Allotments. (See: https://greatlongstone-pc.gov.uk/appendix-h-item-12-plan-to-assess-risk-of-possible-lead-contamination-within-the-soil-of-the-parish-allotments/ )
The Council has no alternative sites for allotments, so there was no intention to either close or re-site them. However, if contamination was found the aim was this information will be shared with allotment holders so was they are able to make their own personal decisions with regards to ways of minimising potential exposure.
Unfortunately the results, when they came in, were a lot higher than had been expected and the Environmental Health Department at DDDC advised that they be closed whilst further investigations are undertaken.
The Clerk prepared a report for the council https://greatlongstone-pc.gov.uk/report-on-investigating-the-risk-of-lead-in-the-soil-of-the-great-longstone-village-allotments/
A special meeting of the Parish Council was held on the 16th April and it was well attended by the allotment holders.
Unfortunately the allotments will have to remained closed whilst further testing is undertaken.