Cotherstone Parish Council

Waiting list

If you'd be interested in putting your name on the waiting list for an allotment at either of the sites, please email clerk@cotherstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk or call 07980 631280.

Statement about asbestos-containing material

June 2026

The Parish Council wishes to inform allotment tenants and residents that a small quantity of asbestos-containing material has recently been identified on one allotment plot following the dismantling of a shed by the former plot holder.

Laboratory analysis has confirmed the material to be chrysotile (white asbestos), which is generally regarded as the lowest-risk form of asbestos. The material is not currently considered to present a significant risk to public health, provided it remains undisturbed. There is no evidence that asbestos-containing material is present elsewhere on the allotment site.

The plot holder has surrendered the tenancy with immediate effect. Following inspection, the Parish Council has decided that the affected plot will not be re-let and will remain out of use for the time being. The area has been clearly marked and access restricted while the Council considers the most appropriate course of action.

The plot is currently heavily overgrown, making it difficult to identify and safely recover any remaining fragments of material. The Council's current intention is therefore to leave the plot undisturbed until later in the year, when vegetation levels have reduced and a more thorough assessment can be undertaken. This approach reflects the widely accepted principle that asbestos-containing materials present the lowest risk when left undisturbed.

The Council has no reason to believe that allotment tenants, visitors or members of the public are at risk, provided the affected area remains undisturbed. As a precaution, allotment holders are asked not to enter the restricted area and to report any material elsewhere on the site which they believe may contain asbestos.

The Parish Council takes its responsibilities for health, safety and environmental management seriously and will continue to monitor the situation. Appropriate professional advice will be sought before any further action is taken.

Further updates will be provided if and when any additional action is required.