Working in partnership with the Health Protection Agency (HPA), City of York Council has concluded its investigation into potential land contamination in and around the city's Fulford Cross allotments.

Last August the HPA advised that the consumption of produce from the allotments should stop until the investigation had been carried out. A series of tests have now been completed and the results thoroughly analysed. The council and the HPA are now happy to advise people living in the area and using the allotments that the growing and consumption of produce can resume, so long as the following basic hygiene practice is followed:

- Hands should be washed after handling soil, particularly before eating, drinking or washing.
- Where possible, gloves should be worn when gardening and gathering produce.
- Fruit and vegetables should be washed and, where practical, peeled before eating to remove any attached soil.
- Extra care should be taken when children visit the allotments - this means preventing them from putting soil or dirty fingers and toys in their mouths, and ensuring that they wash any exposed skin after playing in the soil.
- Care should be taken to avoid carrying soil from the allotments into homes on dirty shoes and clothes.
- It would preferable if bonfires were not lit on the allotments. However, any allotment holders who do choose to have a bonfire on their plot should try to make sure that it is away from their growing area and not dig ash into the soil.
- Anyone who comes across something in the soil that gives them cause for concern should contact Jason Drake, the council's contaminated land officer, immediately on 551533.

Both the council and the HPA would like to stress that these measures are precautionary and reflect the sort of common sense approach that applies to all gardeners. The council and the HPA are satisfied that there is no significant risk from substances found in the ground at the allotments during the course of the investigation.

Jason Drake explained: "Investigations into potential land contamination are complex and existing government advice is currently being reassessed, which means that there are currently no guidelines available for some of the substances identified at the allotments. However, following our investigations, we are happy that the substances present in the ground will not pose a risk to people using the allotments as long as our advice is followed."

"We will reassess the results of the allotment sampling once the review of government guidance has taken place."

Ebere Okereke, consultant on communicable disease control for the HPA, said: "We would like to thank allotment holders and residents of the Fulford Cross area for their patience and recognise that this has been a frustrating and stressful period for them.

"However, it was essential to ensure that the investigation was thorough and robust so that we could be satisfied that we are offering the right advice to people."

Anyone with queries about the investigation should contact Jason Drake on (01904) 551533.