Chadwell Allotments the Quest Continues!

I attended a meeting on site at 13:00 today with Phil Walby from the ASBO Team and with Mark Lowrie Sergeant for Chadwell Ward. It transpires that the information provided by the council was incorrect and that the attack on the allotments was the result of youths entering from the side fencing of a residential premises the owner of the property have not been contacted and are fearful of the youths entering into the allotment via their property. the angle ground lock was a result of the emergency services requiring access and not being able to gain this due to the existing lock not being to FLB Standard which can be opened with a fire service maintained key. I have asked the Allotments Team to review this and to provide a lock to the are expediently. In the meanwhile the Police and I have met with the residents of the property mentioned previously and barring a letter that informs them that visits have been made to their property, no contact has actually been made. They have stated that they would be more than willing for the council to increase the existing fencing to the allotments. It would at this stage seem I have been misled twice by the Allotments section and I shall ask them for further info. This area is to have increased Police patrols and the ASBO Team have put the are on a waiting list for an overt camera ( they cannot use a covert camera due to legislation) in the short term, however in conjunction with allotment holders and CHAG, I intend to submit a funding application for more secure fencing to the next Area 5 Committee and hope other residents will come and support us. I will write to you all and intend to provide further details.

Something to make people chuckle and made a few of us laugh today, is the fact that 2 Councillors finally decided to visit the allotments today after I raised the issue and had police support at Monday's Area 5 Committee Meeting.....are they finally realising the issue is a serious one? Lets hope so!

I did have a picture of the meeting, however since returning, I cannot find my camera...if you do find it, please return it, or at least the memory card that has some sentimental pictures.