10:08am Wednesday 16th January 2008
By Craig Manning
ANGRY plot holders are threatening to abandon a Wirral allotment after years of vandalism and neglect.
In the latest incident, property and crops were destroyed and a shed burned down when a gang raided Thornton allotments in Bidston last weekend.
Two days later, four elderly allotment holders were subjected to a torrent of abuse while they tended their plots.
The site is regularly used as a meeting place for teenagers who drink and cause disturbance for those living nearby.
For Clive Ransom, secretary of the Thornton Allotments Association, enough is enough.
He is among those threatening to quit and has written to the council on many occasions for security fences to be installed. But his pleas have, so far, fallen on deaf ears.
He told the Globe: "The council holds regular meetings for allotment holders to try to find solutions to the problems, but the numbers attending these meetings is dwindling because nothing is being done."
The allotment opened 60 years and Mr Ransom became its secretary in March. He said: "We don't put locks on the shed doors anymore, because the vandals get them off with crowbars.
"Out of the 40 allotment sites, there are now only 15 people who regularly keep a plot. If nothing is done by the spring, I'll be going."
Mr Ransom said police have visited the site and advised the council that security is inadequate.
But it has not helped the situation, as he explained: "Wirral's town and country parks department have said there will no investment in fencing at our site and that there will be no action taken to prevent innocent citizens from the mindless vandalism inflicted upon us on a regular basis."
But a council spokesman said: "Measures are in place to improve security at the Thornton Allotment site.
"For instance, the council has arranged for the fencing to be repaired, and we are discussing a number of measures to help deter intruders.
"Council officers have met a representative of the allotment holders to discuss the problems on the site and these discussions will be ongoing," he added.
Neighbourhood Sergeant Graham Bell said: "The recent incidents have been brought to the attention of neighbourhood officers and the levels of patrolling have been stepped up in an attempt to prevent further offences.
"Criminal damage is a problem which affects many people in the community and offenders will be robustly dealt with.
"Recently we have worked with the allotment holders and other agencies in the area to address the problems of vandalism, which resulted in a security fence being put up, and that partnership work and advice is continuing. Other security measures are being progressed."
Anyone wishing to report any any information regarding vandalism should call Merseyside Police via the force's switchboard on 0151 709 6010 and ask for Laird Street Neigh-bourhood, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
If you witness any form of criminal damage being carried out, you should dial 999.
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