Bury St Edmunds Town Council agrees to extend period of CCTV at Cotton Lane allotments after break-ins including at Suffolk Mind plot

A charity has said it is ‘greatly saddened’ by a break-in at its Cotton Lane allotment plot in Bury St Edmunds.

Suffolk Mind’s plot was among those targeted in a spate of break-ins at the site a few weeks ago.

Last week, Bury St Edmunds Town Council agreed to extend the period of CCTV at the allotments for three more months, taking it up to the end of March, at a cost of £2,000.

The camera was installed over the summer following repeated criminal damage involving greenhouses being smashed with stones.

And, following the recent spate of crime at the site since the clocks changed, town clerk Jodie Budd said it was important to have the CCTV camera there for longer.

Claire Stone, GreenCare and Ecotherapy manager at Suffolk Mind, said: “We are greatly saddened by the recent break-in.

“Our allotment is designed to be a safe space for people who have experience of mental ill health, providing them with somewhere to meet new people, and enjoy the outdoors.

“Our participants love spending time at the allotment and share our pain and frustration – especially after we were also victims of antisocial behaviour in the summer.

“We have taken additional steps to further secure our plot to prevent this from happening again and will work with Suffolk Constabulary in any investigation.

“But we are not letting these events break our spirit – and we continue to make great strides as we prepare for another brilliant year of GreenCare in Bury St Edmunds.”

Malcolm Waller, chairman of the Cotton Lane Allotments Society, said around six sheds had been broken into about four weeks ago.

Mr Waller, who has reported the incidents to the police, welcomed the extension of the CCTV period, adding: “We are very grateful for that.”

He said the CCTV had ‘definitely made a difference’ at the site.

“It’s stopped all the antisocial behaviour along the road [stones being thrown over], now we don’t have that,” he said.

“It’s also stopped the flytipping. We haven’t had any flytipping for months now. And it’s stopped the drug dealing that was happening in Cotton Lane.”

He also praised the police for having a presence at the allotments.

He added: “I would say, on the whole, this year has been the most positive year for a long time. It’s a good spirit down here now.

“Earlier in the year when the greenhouses were getting smashed that was disappointing, but it’s all calmed down and most people are very happy down here.”

He said Bury town council, which is responsible for managing the allotments, had been ‘very helpful’ this year, supporting the allotment holders to maintain and improve the site.

Of the CCTV period being extended, Mrs Budd said: “Some faces have been recognised, and the police are investigating, which is why it is important for the CCTV to remain for a bit longer.”