HISTORIC allotments in Maldon are now owned by the town council after the land was donated by the previous owners.

The 130-year-old Warwick Crescent Allotments are now officially owned by Maldon Town Council.

Previous owner Moat Housing Association decided to transfer the ownership of the land to the town council.

As a condition of the transfer, Maldon Town Council will continue to use the site for allotments, preserving a much-loved community space for residents.

Maldon residents can contact the town council to express an interest in having an allotment.

By donating the land, Moat has restored ownership to the town.

The allotments were owned by Maldon District Council until 1995, when the land was included in the transfer of council housing to Plume Housing, and both the land and housing were later transferred to Moat.

Maldon Town Council also owns and manages the Maldon Hall allotment site off St Giles Road and manages the Brickhouse Farm allotments.

To have a tenancy at the allotments the rules state the tenant has to live in Maldon.

But allotments can be let to people outside of the town provided there is not a waiting list of Maldon residents.

Maldon mayor Andrew Lay said: “The Warwick Crescent allotment holders are a great community and I know that the action taken here will help continue this allotment for the next 130 years and beyond.

“I am really pleased with this outcome and would like to thank the team at Moat and all the councillors and staff at Maldon Town Council for their encouragement and support.”

Tony Long, head of Neighbourhoods Essex at Moat, said: “Over 2,000 of our customers live in the Maldon area, so we understand the great importance of these allotments to the community.

“Giving the allotments over to Maldon Town Council was absolutely the right thing to do.

“They’re now in the hands of those who are best suited to manage them and can be preserved for our customers and the wider community for many years to come.”

To find out more about the allotments and to join the waiting list, contact Maldon Town Council at environment@maldontowncouncil.gov.uk or call 01621 857373.