Gardener calls for council intervention after Leeds allotments ruined by flooding three times in one year

Les Walker, 60, said seven plots at the Dewsbury Road allotments have been affected by flooding in the last 12 months.

Plot holders ranging in age from 20 to some in their 80s work hard to tend their crops all year.

However, heavy rain from Storm Darcy in early February caused the site to flood.

Vegetables including sprouts, cabbages and cauliflower were all destroyed by the torrential rainfall, with plot holders now fearing the risk of club root hitting the site.

Club root is a fungal infection of the roots of brassicas, such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, turnip and swede, leading to swollen and distorted roots and stunted growth.

The disease can cause havoc for growers for more than a decade.

Mr Walker has now called for the council to allow plot holders to lease some of the land and allow them to put in a safe gateway in order to ease the risk of flooding.

He said: "This has happened three times in the last year.

"The first was minor but the last twice it has got worse each time.

"This has affected seven plots, this one [February] was the worst I have seen it.

"The plot holders have put time and money in and can only watch as mother nature kicks them where it hurts."

Mr Walker said he believed the 'lie of the land' combined with the torrential rain cause the flooding across seven plots.

He said plot holders want to lease some of the land to put in a road and safe gateway but have hit a 'dead end'.

He added: "If we had this access we could do something about the flooding.

"At the end of the day, it is land we lease off the council so we are restricted.

"These plots will never get better as bad drainage affects the plants by causing mildew, club root and rot.

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said recent weather had 'proved challenging' across the city.

They added that officials had not been made aware of damage to the site.

However, they promised to work with the association to explore whether further work may be required to prevent the site from flooding.

The spokesperson said: “The recent weather has proved challenging across the city.

“We haven’t been made aware of any damage to this site, however we would be happy to work with Clarkesfield Allotment Association to explore whether this is just a seasonal issue due to the inclement weather that we are experiencing or whether further work may be required to help prevent the site from flooding.“

Support the YEP and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news and the latest on Leeds United, With a digital subscription, you see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.