ALLOTMENT-holders plagued by a string of arson attacks and vandalism are to hold a first bonfire next month in a bid to show the local community they are fighting back.

Those that tend plots at Bowling Allotments, in Bowling Park Drive, are to host the event to help raise money towards a community hub project they want to run at the allotments.

Site representative and committee member Marc Townson said the decision to hold a first official bonfire there was a “deliberate” one - given the arson attacks in July last year which saw sheds destroyed and chickens burned alive, as well as vegetable beds wiped out.

Mr Townson said that further vandalism and break-ins had taken place since the arson attacks, with one in December involving an entire garden shed being taken from one plot. More recently break-ins have involved gardening tools as well as tea and coffee being stolen.

“We’ve started advising allotmenteers to not leave anything in their sheds and to leave them unlocked. That way, if anyone does try to break in, there won’t be as much damage.

“A few people have left as a result of the break-ins and vandalism, but we want to let people know that we won’t be deterred.”

He described how disabled John Tatersall, whose allotment was destroyed in one of the arson attacks last year, had been able to rebuild after the community raised some funds to help him out.

“His plot always seems to be a target. One of the difficulties is that some of the more elderly allotment holders can’t carry their tools back and forth each time, so they do leave things in their sheds.

“We even had graffiti spray painted on the main wall at the weekend,” he added.

The aim of the event is to show how the allotmenteers have pulled together in spite of the setbacks and want to show off how much effort goes in to the upkeep of the allotment site, as well as to engage with the community.

It will take place on Monday, November 5, from 7pm to 11pm, and there will be food and stalls on offer, including Indian food and sweets.

All money raised will go towards the creation of a community hub area, with community planting beds and a shelter, that the society wants to create on the site of an unused plot.

They need to raise around £1,000 in total and have already been granted half the amount from the local Community Chest fund.

“There has been a lot of negativity around the allotments here, but we hope a community event like this will show off how much hard work goes into these allotments and that we aren’t going to be put off by the break-ins and vandalism,” he added.

In July last year the Telegraph & Argus reported how people were rallying round to help Mr Tatersall, then 56, of Tyersal, whose chickens had been burned alive on his plot at the Allotments. There were offers of a new chicken coop and a shed from members of the public after they read about his plight.