THE importance of allotments to the local community is coming under the scrutiny of councillors in Middlesbrough.

A panel of councillors will be taking evidence from a national society representing allotment holders, local gardeners, the Countryside Agency, councillors and council managers - and getting their boots dirty on fact-finding visits.

Scrutiny panel chairman Councillor Geoff Cole said: "Allotments have been part of the fabric of many communities for nearly 100 years. But there have been vast changes in attitudes towards them.

"There have also been changes in the way they are run, with some sites being managed by gardeners themselves, rather than the council.

"About 70 per cent of allotments in Middlesbrough are currently occupied so, clearly, they mean a great deal to many people.

We want to find out what people think of allotments and the service the council provides so that they remain an important and valued part of the environment.''

It is the panel's job to examine key aspects of the local environment and make recommendations for improving services to Mayor Ray Mallon and the council's executive.

The panel is also keen to hear from all interested parties who want to contribute to the study, before their report is finalised in November.

Councils were first given the duty to provide allotments under the 1908 Allotments Act.

Conservative Councillor George Rogers said: "It is part of our open spaces policy. All the open spaces in Middlesbrough are under an extensive review.

"There has been an enormous amount of work done in improvements in our parks, with parks refurbished, statues and other features cleaned up and brought back to how they looked in their heyday."