Angry allotment holders say their crops have been dying because a council’s new solar-powered well is unreliable.

Production of vegetables at the site in Folkestone Road, Dover, has “decreased significantly”, according to the exasperated gardeners.

The town council says it installed the eco-friendly borehole pump in response to the “climate emergency” facing the planet.

However, the residents say when there is a lack of sunlight, they are not getting any water pumped up - and some have lost all their crops.

The borehole at the Maxton allotments is supposed to provide a minimum of 6,000 litres a day.

But the tenants say the water pressure is too low - and are frustrated that the council is no longer turning on the mains for irrigation to make up for it.

David Lewis estimates he has lost 50% of his usual harvest, some of which he gives to the Dover Pantry and Sunrise Café, which offer cut-price food to those in need.

He told KentOnline: “The lack of a reliable source of water has dramatically affected tenants’ ability to grow.

“Seedlings are dying and production has decreased significantly.”

Mr Lewis does the work for the charities despite being registered disabled, with a spinal condition, and having to walk with the aid of a stick. Because of the low pressure, it takes three or four times longer for him to water his plot.

Tenants have now sent Dover Town Council, which manages the land, a 50-signature protest petition demanding proper watering in the growing season of June to August.

In 2022, the authority installed the borehole well, powered by solar panels, to pump groundwater to a tank for the 68 plots.

Last year, it was found that the water supply was insufficient during the growing season, so the mains was turned on to make up for it before being turned off as usual that October.

In April this year, the mains remained off and the borehole supply was still not working adequately.

The tenants - who grow vegetables such as lettuce, courgettes, beans, peas and potatoes - complained to the council but the mains was still not turned on.

Their petition calls for it to be switched back on until the intermittent borehole supply is fixed.

Mr Lewis said: “We are not asking for the borehole to be abandoned. We ask to be treated the same as all the other Dover council allotment sites who do have reliable water supply.”

Another grower, Vince Whittall, said: “The new system doesn’t deliver the water at the critical time when gardeners need it. As a result I’ve lost all my crops this year.

“The system does work partially but doesn’t deliver consistently. It works with solar power so if there is no sun we’re not getting anything pumped up.”

He also said there is a limited capacity in the tank, so if a gardener arrives in the evening there is no water left for them after others have used supplies during the day.

Ward town councillor for Maxton and Elms Vale, Graham Wanstall, has taken up the tenants' case.

He told KentOnline: “These people do important work, growing local food for local people.

“They are dedicated, they work hard and we should be supporting them.

“My concern is this dogma about self-sufficiency - we need common sense.

“The intention when the borehole was installed was to supplement mains water not replace it.

“I hope our staff will urgently take practical steps to overcome these serious problems.”

Dover Town Council says the borehole system at Maxton is a pilot one, which will eventually be rolled out to other allotments.

The authority also insists the solar panels can function on cloudy days and it is the stored battery power - not direct solar energy - that runs the pump.

A spokesperson said: “The council has recognised the climate emergency and, as part of our response, we are committed to making necessary changes to how we manage and use our resources, including water.

“Freshwater is a limited resource, and we must all adapt to use it more thoughtfully and sustainably.”

They said tenants are expected to collect and store rainwater and use conservation methods such as mulching - placing mulch, a protective layer of material, over soil such as grass cuttings, straw and bark chips. It said a number of the allotment holders are not collecting rainwater.

The spokesperson said the borehole system was designed to be the primary water source and they “believe it is sufficient when used correctly”.

They acknowledged the concerns raised and said tenants have been kept fully informed through letters and face-to-face meetings.

The spokesperson added: “We appreciate the tenants' concerns and are committed to working with the Maxton Allotments community to ensure that everyone has the resources they need while also protecting our environment.

“The council did supplement the borehole water supply with mains water in 2023 for the initial transition period and the tenants were still paying for water.

“However, in 2024 the council are no longer charging the tenants for water but still giving them access to it free of charge.”

Mr Lewis argues that many tenants cannot afford the equipment to collect rainwater, such as guttering and a shed, which can add up to £200 to £300.

He said it barely rained in August and rainwater cannot be kept for months, from the winter, to irrigate because bacteria builds up.