Allotment holders in Dundee have expressed their shock after plots were repeatedly targeted by vandals and fireraisers.
Fire crews were called to reports of a blaze in a greenhouse on Gardner Street at around 7pm on Monday.
It was the latest in a series of incidents at the allotments in recent days.
George McGill, who helps let out the plots, says the latest damage will cost more than £2,000 to fix.
Greenhouses smashed ‘almost every day’ for a week
George, 76, said: “The vandalism started last Wednesday.
“There were several greenhouses that had their windows smashed in.
“Almost every day since Wednesday more greenhouses have been smashed.
“It is shocking – we’ve never had any problems like this before.”
George, who has rented his plot for nine years, says various tools, kneeling pads, pots, plans, seed trays and bags of compost were destroyed in the fire.
David Tosh, 64, says he was shocked to see his greenhouse had been destroyed by vandals just a week after he had upgraded to a bigger allotment.
He said: “I’ve had this greenhouse for just seven days.
“The allotment comes with our flat but I had decided to upgrade from my previous greenhouse for a bigger one to have more room to grow my tomatoes.
“I’d had my previous one for about five years before upgrading and never had any issues.”
‘It’s very soul destroying’
David, who is retired, said he is considering giving up his allotment altogether if the damage continues.
“I can’t take much more of the damage, they’re just coming every night at the moment.
“We’re going up tomorrow morning and if there’s anything else damaged I’m giving it up – I can’t afford the damage.
“I think we’ve roughly lost about £250 from damage to our soil and equipment – all my wife’s things were in there.
“It’s very soul destroying.”
Dennis Phillips 73, chairman of the allotments committee, says he discovered the aftermath of the fire on Tuesday morning.
He said: “The greenhouse will have to be rebuilt.
“We have no idea who has done this.
“There’s a few beer cans lying about so maybe they were drinking and decided to have some ‘fun’.”
The former Law Nursery building, beside the allotments, also had windows smashed on Monday.
There are 31 greenhouses on the site, with eight targeted so far, and plot-holders say they are concerned the vandals will return.
Dennis, who has rented his allotment for 40 years, added: “I am concerned it will continue.
Plot-holders expecting more damage
“Something has happened nearly every night now.
“I am expecting every morning I go up to see some more damage – unless we can catch them.”
The allotments are owned by Lawside Convent and Diocesan Centre.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “We received a report of a fire at a greenhouse in Gardner Street in Dundee which was reported to police around on 7.40pm on Monday.
“Inquiries are ongoing. Anyone who knows who is responsible should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting 3327 of 6 February.
“We are also carrying out enquiries following a number of vandalisms to greenhouses where windows were smashed which happened sometime between Thursday, 2 February and Monday, 6 February.
“Anyone with any information should call Police Scotland on 101, quoting 1099 of 5 February”.
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