Allotment thieves and vandals costing council £30,000 a year

The city council is now spending about £30,000 a year repairing damage and improving security, and says the money could be spent on repairing roads.

The authority has now installed the “highest levels” of security across its 22 allotment sites, and has joined forces with allotment holders and the police to call on the public to report any break-ins or suspicious activity.

The council said in a statement: “Vandalism and break-ins at allotments are becoming a serious problem in Hull and across the country.

“Making good the damage is costly to the council and for allotment holders there’s the expense of fence and lock repairs, replacing equipment and personal effects, all this plus the misery of seeing the destruction caused.

“With 22 allotment sites incorporating over 1,600 individual plots, Hull City Council has installed the highest levels of security to try and deter criminals.

“The majority of serious break-ins appear to be pre-meditated, using heavy duty professional equipment.”

Andrew Wilson, parks and open spaces manager at the council, said there was little more the council could do after installing barbed wire, razor wire and heavy duty locks at the sites, and supplying anti-vandal paint to tenants.

“There isn’t really a great deal more we can do, short of gun turrets and searchlights,” he said.

“But we really need to work in partnership with tenants because it’s very frustrating if you turn up and find the gate has been left open.”

He added: “We get a lot of requests for improvements to the roads but security is high on the list of priorities.

“Money is in short supply and it could be being spent on other things.

“We would like to develop more sites because we have a big waiting list and we would like to improve the amenities.”

After peaks in use and popularity in the 1920s and post-Second World War in the 1950s, allotments are again proving to be sought after pieces of real estate as residents want to grow their own produce, live healthier lifestyles, or simply enjoy a patch of countryside in the city.

The council now has a waiting list of about 1,300 people who would like to have an allotment, but only 100 to 200 plots become available each year.

Mr Wilson said: “It’s booming now and we could fill quite a few sites twice over.

“It’s great exercise and people are keen to do it. It also creates very good communities.

“But it’s very disheartening for tenants to have property stolen or damaged. A lot of them spend a lot of money on the seeds and tools.”

Mr Wilson said he did not want to discourage people from becoming tenants, however.

Steve Hildyard, secretary of Hull and East Riding Allotment Society, said the thieves were prepared to steal anything, from panes of glass and potting compost to large items including whole greenhouses and rotavators.

He said: “A lot of it is just mindless vandalism but now we are finding they are breaking in with heavy equipment to steal rotavators, or they are looking for petrol or fuel or tools they can sell on.”

But he said allotment holders were a resilient bunch, adding: “It’s a great way of life. You see people coming at the end of their lives when they have retired and youngsters come down because they can’t get a job and are looking for something to keep themselves occupied. They enjoy it the same as we do.”

A spokeswoman for Humberside Police said: “Humberside Police is advising allotment owners to review the safety measures they have in place at their allotment, and to remain vigilant.

“Owners are asked to report anything suspicious to the police by calling 0845 6060 222.”