Vandals smash up allotment site
PLOT USED BY DISABILITIES
VANDALS have trashed an allotment site which is used by people with learning disabilities.
Yobs smashed several tables and chairs and broke into a shed at the Freedom Support site in Stevens Street, Market Harborough.
Bottles were also smashed and left strewn across the area, along with the contents of a number of first aid kits. Police said the damage is believed to have occurred between March 28 and April 1.
Freedom Support, which provides training and support for adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs, has had to stop using the site until the damaged items can be replaced and the plot tidied up.
Manager Marie Norman said her clients have not been told about what happened, as they were left upset when a similar vandalism attack happened a few months ago.
She said: “We are coming out of Covid lockdown now and are trying to remain positive and we don’t want our clients to come down here and see that.
“Some of them have just come off isolation as they had to stay at home until the end of March.
“They should have been going off to do their allotment projects today, but they can’t go because it’s in a mess.
“The vandals have smashed chairs up, they have broken the seating areas up.
“They have broken into the shed and made really quite a bit of a mess this time.”
The cost to replace the damaged items is expected to be between £200 and £300.
John Feavyour, chairman of Market Harborough and the Bowdens Charity, which owns the site, said: “We were very disappointed to hear about this and anything that spoils the huge enjoyment all our allotment-holders get from their allotments, particularly at this time.
“All our allotment-holders can be reassured that we take security very seriously and it is something we are looking to improve during the year.”
A spokeman for the police said: “Officers have received a report of criminal damage to garden furniture at allotments on Stevens Street, Market Harborough.”
The police can be contacted on 101.
PEOPLE WITH LEARNING