ALLOTMENT holders in Skipton face having to reduce the number of animals they keep on their plots.

Skipton Town Council has sent out letters to the 200 tenants telling them they will not be allowed to keep more than 12 hens or rabbits unless they get special permission.

In the long run, it could also mean that those tenants who want to keep more animals will be offered land under a different agreement.

The council has stressed that the intention is not to "evict" animals but to tackle any animal welfare issues.

The council is inviting people who keep livestock in excess of the limit to fill in a form detailing what they keep. They have until August 31 to comply.

Ultimately, it wants to see plots used only as allotment gardens for the cultivation of crops to be used by the allotment holder and family.

The council says it wants to "protect against the use of council's land for business or commercial purposes", to monitor the amount of livestock being kept, to limit the quantity and type of livestock and to look for more appropriate locations where livestock could be kept.

Andrew Hinkinson, who keeps hens and cockerels at Middletown allotments in Skipton, has branded the council's actions "undemocratic" and says there has been no consultation with allotment holders.

"I can't afford to move lock stock and barrel to another site. And how are they going to organise this mass exodus? They haven't explained that at all.

"This is totally undemocratic and I believe they have other motives - they want to dispose of the land for housing. We will keep fighting to keep our allotments used in the same way they have for over 60 years," he said.

Skipton Town Council's chief officer, Dave Parker, said: "We're working towards ensuring that allotments are used for the purpose for which they are designed and also that we cater properly for those people who wish to use council land for other purposes.

“The council will consult fully with tenants. It has no intention of evicting existing livestock provided it is being looked after properly and the council has no intention of disposing of its allotment land," he said.