ALLOTMENT holders have been left without water because of a major flaw in a multi-million pound project.

The mains supply was disconnected at St Ann's Allotments as part of renovation work, which was partly made possible by a £2.5 million windfall from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A borehole was installed to supply the allotments instead but there is not enough water to go around.

Colin Haynes, chairman of the Nottingham Garden Holders' Association, said: "STAA are being paid to manage the site but say they did not know there was a daily limit on water until this year's dry weather.

"Gardeners are still being charged a water charge in line with other allotments in the city, so we expect a consistent supply.

"With millions of pounds of public money being spent on the site it is unbelievable our basic garden need of water has not been guaranteed."

STAA Ltd is a not-for-profit company responsible for the letting, management and maintenance of the historic allotments, which have recently been renamed St Ann's Heritage Gardens.

Some gardeners at the top of the site said they had been left without water for three or four weeks at a time.

One of those, Ian Rodgers, 56, of The Arboretum, said: "I'm quite high up so because of the pressure we got less than everybody else. I had to bring water in bottles and containers from home."

Some gardeners said STAA had asked them to stop growing certain exotic vegetables, which needed more water.

Among them is Sid Fuller, 81, of The Arboretum, who said he had been asked to stop growing exotic pumpkins and callaloo.

Mr Fuller, who is originally from Jamaica, said: "I was so upset to see my garden going like a pigsty; so upset I just gave up."

Mr Fuller's hose pipe was pulled off from the water supply.

"That's why the pumpkins burn," he said. "They cut the water off. I left it about three weeks. I didn't put any water on it. They can't grow bigger."

He added: "My wife died in a tragedy and this allotment helped me a lot. I'm working away and I feel good. I forget all my sorrow and my trouble."

STAA denied the claim that people have been asked to stop growing certain kinds of vegetables.

The mains water supply was replaced because it cost between £10,000 and £14,000 for water each year, depending on the weather and how much water people used.

An extraction licence for the borehole was agreed with the Environment Agency. This has a daily limit on how much water can be taken out of the ground.

The pump was set up to supply this amount.

When the borehole empties of water a safety mechanism switches off the pump to stop it overheating.

The pump does not work again until an STAA staff member switches it on.

In the meantime, people continue to use water already in the underground pipes, causing airlocks in the system, which exacerbates the problem.

Peter Maxfield, chairman of the management committee for STAA, said: "During June when we had a long hot spell the new borehole water system at St Ann's Allotments came under pressure as gardeners attempted to water their vegetables.

"STAA, working with the city council and the Renewal Trust, have attempted to solve this problem. Unfortunately this took a few weeks to resolve, leaving gardeners without water.

"The long-term solution to this problem has been to reduce the water pressure on the taps. This will ensure that all gardeners get water.

"STAA is encouraging gardeners to conserve water by using water butts.

"The Renewal Trust, STAA and the council are looking at ways to make the borehole more efficient and are in discussion with Severn Trent."

Mr Haynes added: "Their answer to the shortage is to reduce water pressure but, with more people taking on gardens and the prospect of warmer summers in future, this is not a long-term solution."

A video of Sid Fuller talking about his allotment and the water problems can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=SeDTnOm2E04