sheds or no sheds

[northmaid]

I've just come back from our allotment AGM which has been deferred as there weren't enough plot holders there.
One item up for discussion was whether sheds should be allowed on the site. It appears that the committee is dead set against the idea in the belief that it will attract vandals and encourage break-ins but their only evidence seems to be that the Secretary has spoken to a mate on another site that happens to have sheds.
For the re-scheduled AGM I'd like to have some facts to put to the plot holders to either prove or disprove the committees thinking. I've tried to get statistics of allotment break-ins but the crime statistics aren't that detailed, the local Allotments Working Group site doesn't help as it doesn't specify whether vandalism was on a 'shedded' or 'un-shedded' plot.
Do any of you grapes have any ideas where I can get some data, or have you had experience of a higher/lower incidence of theft or vandalism since acquiring a shed on your own plots?
I would add that the site is relatively secure with 10ft high metal fences around, hedges on three sides and lockable gates.
Any help would be much appreciated.

[Jeanied]

We have always had problems with vandals visiting the plots - even before we were allowed sheds. My shed has been broken into several times and now I leave it unlocked. I only keep old tools in there - my best spade and fork travel with me to the plot.
On balance the sheds are a target but things have died down this year - I think the local yobs have realised there is nothing valuable in there. The shed is more use to me to keep old stuff in - stuff they don't want.

[rustylady]

Try contacting your local police and ask them for vandalism statistics. I would think the area is more important than allotment statistics generally.

[binley100]

We have a shed, it's not locked there's nothing of value in it ......We do get the odd spate of breakins but I think if they want to vandalise they will whatever ...I couldn't be without my shed and my bucket....

[Snadger]

If there are no sheds allowed at present it's possibly best to leave it that way. There may be covenants forbidding any structures?

If there are sheds at present and they want to get rid of them I would say the sheds stay, and as such you can't curtail new plotholders from having a shed.
People could have invested heavily in a shed or greenhouse.

Our lease agreement states that any structure over one metre high must be sanctioned by the local council, but to be honest I don't know of anyone on our site who has obeyed this ruling.

[jackie j]

I have a shed on both my plots and so far so good, we dont get much vandalism. Have just added a greenhouse to one plot as well.

[Two_Sheds]

I couldn't manage without my shed; I'm on a bike, there's no way I could carry spades, forks as well as bags of composting stuff every trip

I leave my shed unlocked, and don't leave anything valuable in it (my good fork is hidden on the plot, and moved frequently). Some sheds on my site have been vandalised and/or burgled, but not mine for some reason (perhaps because my plots have always been overlooked by houses)

[Hans Mum]

sheds on our site are allowed, i leave mine unlocked and so do most others as the general consenscous is they do more damaged getting into a locked shed thinking there;s somethin worth nicking. Like TS I hide anything valuable around my plot and so far have not lost anything of great value, its the nuisance factor rather than anything else. We had a few months earlier this year with a chap coming every night & stealing any food, drinks and clothing he could find, and when we all stopped leaving anything remotely interesting to him he trashed sheds on a nightly basis which did get a bit wearing, he has now been issued with an ASBO and hasnt been back since

[weekendwellies]

No one on my site has personal sheds, but I don't know if that is because we are all still quite new to the whole allotment thing, and not willing to spend a lot of money on a shed, or even if we are allowed to put up a shed. What we do have is communal 'sheds' where we keep our tools. These sheds are in fact garages which have been utilised as sheds. They are secure with good locks and are built of brick and the whole site is protected by large metal gates and brick walls and is overlooked pretty much all the way around by houses. It is a bit of a pain having to get through so many locks and having to haul all the tools from the shed to my plot, which is furthest away from the gate. But we have had no bother with tools going missing as far as I know. We do have a good local community police and wardens who patrol the area and have got to know the local kids who hang around the streets so maybe that is a factor too.
I recommend you get to know your local bobbies and wardens and see if they have anything to say on the matter.

[northmaid]

Thank you all for your help and suggestions; a word with the local police is a good idea as is not keeping anything valuable in the shed. I'd already asked the committee if sheds aren't allowed whether they could provide some secure storage that all plot holders could use as weekendwellies suggests, but was met with stoney silence. To me it seems daft that greenhouses and polytunnels are allowed, (the council have no covenants forbidding structures but specify they can't be over a certain height), and there is no incidence of vandalism or break-ins to these, yet no sheds can't be put on plots. Suppose it must be that any potential breaker inner can't see what's there.

[weekendwellies]

I was wondering Northmaid, if you cant put up a shed, is it possible for you to dig down and put in a wooden or metal box underground to keep your tools in?

[postie_bear]

Hi I have 2 plots one of which we erected a shed on. The only damage i have suffered is a smashed window when kids got onto the site and smashed everyones windows. A few months ago we were visited by crooks who nicked everything not in a locked shed, i lost 3 watering cans, that i had left out.

Other people lost wheel barrows, tools and more watering cans, as it was the height of boot sale season we thinks that is where they were taken.

I would not be without my shed. I leave my wellies and overalls in it, somewhere to shelter when we get a downpour and a place to store my tools.

PB

[Alison]

One of the first things I did when I got my plot was put my freecycle shed on their. This gave me somewhere to shelter in the rain / sun etc and to keep bits and pieces. Initially I left it unlocked but got fed up with somebody visiting and moving things from my shed to somebody else's. The only thing that was nicked was a couple of very cheap plastic chairs but it was very annoying so I put a padlock on. No damage to the shed since, thankfully despite a real spate of vandalism early summer when my polytunnel was slashed and fruit and veg on several plots cut down. I also have a secure tool chest round the back of the shed which OH got very cheap of ebay for my better tools.

[gojiberry]

We have just been granted permission to put up either a shed or a greenhouse,no bigger than 6X4. Don't know if it will attract thieves or not. At the moment everything is just left out in all the elements including tools, watering cans and wheelbarrows and nothing ever gets pinched.

Ian