Furious Littlehampton growers vandalised again

Several plots at the Wor-thing Road site were damaged, with plants uprooted, fencing smashed and a plastic poly-tunnel slashed, during the attack last Tuesday night.

Allotment holder Bill Mason, 69, of Gloucester Place, Littlehampton, was the worst-hit during the latest attack. He fears that yobs are now targeting him.

He said: “The people who have done this are bloody hooligans.

“They’re not even stealing anything, they’re just wrecking it. About 90 per cent of the allotment has been destroyed. This is the second time my plot’s been attacked in the last three months.

“I’m a pensioner and I try to live off the land. These allotments are lifelines for me and my partner and mindless thugs are taking that away from us.”

Bill is now appealing to the town council to improve security measures around the allotment area, in a bid to deter would-be vandals.

However during a meeting between plot holders and town councillors, on Sunday, it was decided that nothing could be done in the near future to improve security.

Town clerk Peter Herbert said: “The council takes a very strong stance with regard to all incidents of criminality or anti-social behaviour at our allotment sites.

“This message was reiterated at the meeting of our allotments working group on Sunday night, when representatives of plot holders met town councillors.

“However, the council is not proposing to make significant changes in the near future on account of two factors. The first is that the site is very large and is accessible from many points to someone determined to do so.

“The second issue is that this horrific act of vandalism appears to be largely focused on one plot/plot holder.”

Councillor Joyce Bowyer, chairman of the allotments working group and community resources committee, also expressed her shock over the attack, adding: “It is so sad to see all that hard work destroyed.”

The council has contacted the police and is offering Bill the opportunity to relocate his plot.

Police are appealing for information. Contact them on 0845 60 70 999.