Appeals for help for allotment holders devastated by arson attack

The incident happened on the city’s Fane Road allotments on the evening of Saturday November 23, according to tenant Rosemarie Wales, of Bretton.

She and her two friends Moira Jamieson of Werrington and Jackie Markley, of Hampton, have tended their shared plot for nine years and it is their pride and joy.

It was one of five plots targeted by the arson attack and Rosemarie says their shed has suffered three past break-ins too, but this time they have lost everything they had built up over the years.

The fire totally destroyed their shed, lean-to tool shed and a newly completed seating area. They lost their stove and kettle, netting, mats, hammers, saws, nails, lawnmower and strimmer which they had accumulated and stored inside.

They discovered the scene of destruction on the Sunday morning. Rosemarie said the sheds torched were randomly dotted around the site.

She and her friends are all over 60. “It is just awful as it has left us with nothing at all,” she said.

“Everything was burned to a cinder leaving just some metal. It is devastating for everyone and so senseless.

“People have taken things before when we had the break-ins, which was not nice, and once they just trashed the place and threw things around. A second time they took a camping stove and barbecue.

“Another time we wondered whether a homeless person had broken in as they took coats and kneeling mats and a carton of water.”

This time she believes it may have been youths breaking in through the fence and there are now plans to tighten up security fencing and leave far less valuables on site, although it is difficult to transport all they need each time.

Rosemarie said: “It’s very disheartening and you think, is it worth all the time and effort? We had made our shed really cosy. If it rained we could all sit inside and we had a little camping stove to make a brew and read books on gardening.”

One of her friends felt close to giving up, but friends and fellow allotment holders have rallied and donated a spade and fork, but other tenants have been left with nothing. Rosemarie has managed to salvage her wheelbarrow and the tenants have made a good start on clearing up the warped metal remains, but they will need a new shed and more tools as they start again from scratch. Her daughter Tracey hoped other kind-hearted readers may wish to help out with donated equipment.

Rosemarie also belongs to the Palmy Ukulele Band and members have suggested organising a benefit concert for the affected allotment tenants once pandemic restrictions subside.