Advice When The Barbarians Are At The Gates: Just Give In

Tenants have been warned that padlocks can lead to thieves forcing their way through doors and windows of the council-owned sheds to steal garden equipment.

A council is urging allotment holders not to lock their sheds in case thieves damage the structures while breaking in.

Pretty staggering. And what of the items the thieves may steal? Oh, well, the council could care less about that:

Terry Nichols, 71, a retired engineering consultant, who has rented a plot at the site for more than 25 years, said: "It beggars belief that the council is telling us to leave our sheds wide open so that anyone can get in them.

"Everyone who has an allotment has been sent a letter. I have never read anything so ridiculous in all my life.

"I doubt the council would pay up if the sheds were burgled while they were left unlocked."

And indeed, the council admit that no, they wouldn’t:

A spokesman said: "Where sheds have been repeatedly broken into, our advice, and it is only advice, is not to padlock them as forced entry often results in the doors being jemmied off.

"The city council takes security at the site seriously and this year has improved fencing."

The council acknowledged that not locking the sheds could leave expensive equipment uninsured.

The spokesman added: "It would be a matter for discussion between the allotment-holder and their insurance company which would be able to advise them on the conditions of their policy."

In other words, we could care less if your tools aren’t covered.

My advice, and it is only advice, is to tell the council to stick their advice where the sun doesn’t shine and carry on padlocking the doors.