Some of the district’s most high-profile allotments have been handed over from Bradford Council to parish councillors, who want to make sure they show off their village rather than detract from it.

Haworth Parish Council has now taken over the operation of the village’s two allotments – at West Lane and Rawdon Road – and will be speaking to plot holders in the next few weeks to ask for help in tidying up the sites. The parish council have good reason to care about how the allotments look – the West Road allotment is directly opposite the entrance to the Bronte Parsonage Museum, birthplace of the literary sisters and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the district.

And the Rawdon Road site is on a picturesque spot overlooking much of the village.

Parish councillors have been pushing for control of the allotments for several months.

There are 24 plots on Rawdon Road, and 17 at West Lane, although there is a predicted waiting list in the village of 200 people.

Despite their popularity, the parish council recognised many plots had seemingly been neglected in recent years.

Councillor Alan Woodward, the parish councillor behind the scheme, said they could do a better job of making sure the allotments are kept tidy and act as a credit to Haworth.

He said: “There will be a few changes – they’ll be inspected much more regularly and we will probably be a bit more robust with plot holders who don’t cultivate them very often or keep them in a good condition.

“We want to make sure everyone looks after them.

“There are a few that are a bit overgrown at the moment. We’ll be going out in the next couple of months to try and speak with all the allotment holders, get them to take pride in their allotments and keep on top of things.

“All due respect to Bradford Council, but they sit in an office in Bradford, they don’t see these allotments every day. We can manage them better and we are more local, so people have a face they can come and talk to.”

Parish Council chairman John Huxley said: “We’re looking forward to working with the plot holders. Hopefully we can look to invest in these sites in the future.”

Councillor Andrew Thornton, Bradford Council executive member for environment, said: “We can confirm that from this month, the allotments at Rawdon Road and West Lane, Haworth, have been transferred from Bradford Council to Haworth Parish Council.

“We wish them good luck for the future and we know that they will remain a popular amenity for many years to come.”