(http://img210.echo.cx/img210/8503/allotmentshed6ed.jpg) (http://www.imageshack.us)
Council officials have also been threatened by the squatters
Allotment holders in Cleethorpes say squatters are "a menace" and are making many feel unsafe after they moved into a disused shed.
Two men moved into the council-owned shed on Carr Lane over four weeks ago and residents claim they are "abusive and threatening".
They claim syringes and other drug paraphernalia now litter the gardens.
North East Lincolnshire Council said it was working with police to devise a long-term solution to the problem.
 It astounds me that in this day and age people think they have the right to claim something as their own and destroy it for everyone else
Allotment tenant
The allotments, which are accessed using a single vehicle track at the rear of Havelock Secondary School, are managed by the council and sub-let to 644 holders.
One tenant who has held his plot for nearly eight years, said he felt intimidated by the men.
The man, who would not be named for fear of reprisals, told BBC News: "The squatters are abusive, threatening and a menace. We, the people who pay to have the right to be on the allotments, have been warned not to come back by these people."
Another resident said she feared for the safety of her husband who regularly went to his allotment.
BBC News approached the squatters who refused to comment on the situation.
'Dangerous situation'
Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Keith Brookes, urged residents to contact the police or the authority about their concerns.
"People in the area say they feel threatened and our own officers agree that the situation is dangerous.
"But if we evicted the squatters straight away then this would not be a long-term solution. They would either come back or move somewhere else.
"I know residents want an immediate fix, but we need a long-term solution not just short-term action."
A spokeswoman for Humberside Police confirmed the force was working with the council to try and resolve the issue.
Knock the darn shed down!
That's too obvious and easy for the council Ken?
The hut looks like it could be a danger to passersby, for safetys sake it should be removed and taken to the tip for burning. (Lock the doors before removing the hut)!
I was thinking the same (knock the shed down). If it belongs to someone they could lock it up. We got shed bars from Northumbria Police last year, and they are great. I do think the Council and Police could be a little bit more proactive in taking some action now. They are sending out the wrong message to the squatters. busy_lizzie
Isn't it strange..sometimes the Police say lock up sheds, mark tools etc, our local bobbies hosted a security seminar last year...great The Shed bars are good and did prevent a wouldbe vandal for me.
Then other Police officers say "don't lock the shed" in the belief that if it is open it won't be damaged.
Now, the point of all this... if its open and squatters move in then there is little anyone can do...now if they break in isn't this a criminal offence and action can/could be taken?
IDEA: Each site should sponsor a Rotweiller (or similar) which the plotholders could take turns in walking the plot....once off the lead....well ;)
Derek
I left everything open for several years and never had any problems until the Association secretary and his wife started their nonsense. These days I rely on a stout thorn hedge and a strong gate with a good lock. We do get periodic breakins round the site, but it's very noticeable that they go for plots which are going to be easy to get into.
I would love to see a picture of your plot Robert as I am very security conscious, at the moment I am leaving my shed unlocked and a wheel barrow less wheel and just the odd tools that I got cheaply at the car boot :-\
I know there are a few views about whether to lock a shed or keep it open. We have found at our Site that even if you are just storing old tools in your shed they can still be used as instruments for causing damage. A few people got their greenhouses smashed last year with an old rake and spade that had been in an open shed, and I found a fork had been used to vandalise my potato bed last year, and a wheelbarrow with soil in had been tipped over my cabbages. So perhaps they won't steal anything but they could use what is inside to cause damage. busy_lizzie
I'll try to sort something out over the holiday. Meanwhile there are pics on my blog at http://journals.aol.co.uk/rsbrenchley/ThisandThat/
We used to leave our front door unlocked. SAD!!
I'm thinking of moving back over to the UK. Could anyone here give me a list of the best Lottie shed's around the Midlands area. I would also require fresh food, and the shed should be close to social security offices. Thanks.
;D ;D ;D ;D
When I was a kid, the only time the door was ever locked was when we were away on holiday. You're right, it is sad. It's because people move around so much you don't know the neighbours any more.
My shed is going to be a contender in our allotment's best shed competition ;D I'm in the East midlands Glyn. We have some terrible sheds on the plots but most newbies might not be expert gardeners but they seem to have the best sheds ;D
Here's mine. My husband is on the plot now tittivating it. He's phoned me to bring him the drill so must be adding more shelves ;D
The newbies have the best sheds because they haven't had time to fill them with junk!
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on May 30, 2005, 19:14:29
The newbies have the best sheds because they haven't had time to fill them with junk!
You wanna bet? ;D
My OH keeps filling our shed with more and more wood which he insists must be kept dry. Tsk :(
;D Tee hee ;D same here ;D Tee hee, I love wood ;D
Got a calor gas fire in my shed, as well as books to read while it is raining! Ooo and cuppas, biccies (if my son hasn't left the lid off and made them go stale/sodden). He has a radio with clock in there!
My OH is now nuts about his shed and if squatters ever dared move in they'd soon regret it :( We were looking at gas stoves at Makro the other day but he resisted as he needed to buy more wood. He cadged some window frames the other day and made me a warm box for my cues and aubergines etc. It look very good - just screwed them all together. He's now got lots of fence posts and seems to be building a corale. Why, I don't know unless he's thinking of getting a horse. I think this new hobby is going to his head and he's got this mad urge to make things of wood. I hope it will soon pass ;D Made a table the other day for me to pot on and have lunch. I was going to use an upturned box but no he HAD to make a table ;D ;D ;D
I'm not of a violent or confrontational nature but I think you should torch the ar****les out
Quote from: Roy Bham UK on May 31, 2005, 23:33:43
;D Tee hee ;D same here ;D Tee hee, I love wood ;D
What is it with men and wood??
My dad hordes the stuff. A few years ago my mum suggested he make her a computer table for Christmas. He looked thoughtful for a few seconds then said "ok - but I don't know where I'll get the wood.....!"
Looks like there is some old shed wood going begging in Cleathorpes!
love my shed and feel very lucky that we do not suffer from vandalism/thefts round here (hope they weren't famous last words.... :-\). I have nice comfy old recliner deck chair and apart from the spiders it is very pleasant!
Im sorry, but if the authoroties wont do their job, plan action.
Id certainly torch the place, and if it persists, have some heavies organized.
These sort of people thrive on the ineffectual nature of beurocracy
Quote from: Multiveg on June 01, 2005, 14:06:49
Got a calor gas fire in my shed, as well as books to read while it is raining! Ooo and cuppas, biccies (if my son hasn't left the lid off and made them go stale/sodden). He has a radio with clock in there!
oooh - gas fire!
Round here that would make a lovely explosion.
I have a clip top jar of choc chip cookies in mine in case of the wobbles (of course) which, thanks to the seal, won't let the (small) pests in. The big ones with opposable thumbs would probably eat the lot. If I don't beat them to it!
moonbells
(off to look if Argos has any one-ring camping stoves)
suggestion
if they are druggies
well they are human and need to eat and drink
when they go out distroy there shed
if they moved int my shed when i get one my job as a rat catcher would be helpful as i would let them out in the shed and well no one likes wild rats
shall i send some down to you all
matt
If they do go out then all you need to do is secure the property. If they then re-enter they are committing a criminal offence and the police can take action without a court order. Make sure you have a witness to the fact you've secured the premises.
Step 1.when wind is blowing onto shed, a nice ornamental tyre filled with parafin "just" outside would be a nice free BBQ for them.
make sure there are about 10-20 plot holders there all singing a song about burning squatters or something :D
sneak up at 4am with an air horm wedge it in gap tape the button down,screw the canister on and run like buggery ;Dand try not to fall over through giggling.
Repair the shed a bit, you don`t need any nails or wood,just about 10 of you with hammers going round bashing all the nails to make sure they are in properly :P
Just before setting light to the shed,call loacl firemen and explain that they are smelly people and when they get the call they should concentrate more on "washing" the "smellys" than saving the shed 8)
It is all a pain though, we have just got young kids starting pulling things up again and smashing things.
Try asking nicely,doesn`t work,various people have tried all the approaches but all fail, last year some others were stopped in the end after about 50 calls to police.
This year well its early yet... The thing that frightens them most seems to be the fact that I took pictures :)The police of course all go on about the paediaphillic dangers etc blablabla but with them on one side of fence and me on the other without them knowing,their conversation told me that their biggest fear is getting caught(police/parents) and evidence/proof... we will see what happens
Good idea about the rats ;D
On of our vacant alloments has been taken over by 3 children. They've moved into the shed ( for an hour or two after shool each day ) with a bed, 2 chairs, some curtains and a candle. I feel like a real spoilspot having to block the hole in our boundary, but I'm worried they'll claim squatters rights lol.
:o Bloody hell :o Kids know their Rights` :o Try treading on them like snails 8)
i have had some success in dealing with this problem. A couple of years ago
an elderly fellow on our site had a similar problem. Rather than confront the culprits i gave him some renardine and he brushed it onto the outside of the shed, of course, when they were not there. We had immediate results!
i can't promise this will always work, but it did in this instance.
what is renardine???
An illegal and banned animal deterrant :o
Must be something that worked then!!!
Bet it smelt nice..... Can we make something similar?
;D
Butyric anhydride, AKA bee-go. It's a traditional bee repellant which has been disappearing from the market recently since less repulsive products were developed. Basically it's used by commercial beeks to chase the bees out of the honey supers quickly. It stinks repulsively, and it's impossible to get rid of the smell. Only drawback is, the shed would stink for evermore.
If you want something that stinks - but goes away after a while (quite a while really) - try this: Take one rather large bucket (I uses a 50 gallon water butt) and fill it with weeds and then pour in water until it covers all of the weeds - put a lid on the top.
Wait for a couple of weeks (the warmer it is the faster this works) the results as wonderful.
I did this in an attempt to rot down bindweed and couch grass instead of burning them - and it really works but the resultant liquid is a tad smelly - could easily fell a full grown Ox at 30 paces - don't ever, ever stir the lot up when you have your head over the top of the barrel - you will pay the price - I speak from experience - any try to avoid getting it on your clothes or you will be banned from the house when you get home.
good luck. I can vouch for the smelly weed liquid, i had a box of em over the plot, which had water in. My son tipped it over and was not happy for a long time afterwards. I'd pour a load on the roof, and down by the door. Phewie!!
Btw, when we call ourselves 'squatters' on the email campaign to save our plots thread elsewhere on a4a (basics i think), we are not actually living there. We only go over there to tend our weeds, sorry, veg. One of my neighbours met a huge deer over there and ran all the way home once, we leave the place to the wildlife at night.