Plans by Dundee City Council to erect a new £29,000 security fence around city allotments following a spate of break-ins by desperate Dundonians have been welcomed by local gardeners.
The authority has revealed proposals to tighten up security measures around plots on City Road, after complaints from brassed off vegetable growers angered by a recent series of fires and thefts.
The move comes hot on the heels of similar improvements on allotments at West Law, Stirling Park and Old Craigie Road.
The works costing £29,794 will be paid for by the council’s environment department, with the future upkeep of the fence being left to Dundee Federation of Allotment Gardens Association.
The initiative has been met with delight by one of the allotment association’s most senior figures, 71-year-old Don Elder.
The chairman of West Law Allotment Association, Mr Elder, whose greenhouse was broken into late last year by vandals, insists that since security measures around West Law and surrounding allotments were ramped up, antisocial behaviour has fallen considerably.
He said: “Before the fence went up you could say it was open season. We used to get 30 huts broken into each night, but since the new fence was installed there has been a big improvement.
“People used to break in to West Law and Stirling Road before coming here and doing the same. It was happening a lot.
“We back anything that will improve the security around the allotments.”
Mr Elder is uncertain as to why West Law and nearby allotments were targeted for so long and baffled by criminals resorting to theft, stating he would have been happy to provide them with vegetables if only they had asked.
He said: “People would break in and steal potatoes and carrots.
“We had an issue with someone coming in and stripping 20 gooseberry bushes bare. They didn’t leave any.
“I’m not sure if it’s people who are hungry or just people who don’t want to pay for vegetables.
“If they’d asked any of us, we would have been happy to give them some. We quite often give spare food away. It’s better than it going to waste.”
Craig Melville, city environment convener, insisted that the improved security is proof that the council is listening to residents.
He said: “I’m pleased that people seem pleased with the improvements.
“This is a good example of the council listening to concerns and reacting accordingly.”