Locked or not ?

[electric landlady]

Our site is large (140 ish plots) and 2 gates, and the rule is they are locked at all times, no exceptions! (Except the main gate is left open for 2 hours on a Saturday morning when the shop is open - the gate is in full view of the shop.) People do comply all the time as far as I know. If driving, they have to get out of the car, unlock, drive in, get out again and lock up and I've never heard anyone complaining about this. The site is in the middle of a housing estate and we have had various break-ins etc so I think people are happy to be as secure as possible.

The locks are huge padlocks (don't know what sort), welded to a thick chain which is welded to the gate. The keys are big chunky ones which can only be copied at the shop they were issued by. We pay £10 returnable deposit for them. There is a sort of metal casing over the padlock which stops it from getting wet (and also stops people from putting glue in it which is why it was installed).

For a large urban site with tall perimeter fencing I think the system works well. I always feel safe there even when I'm there in the evening when most people have left. However if it was a small rural site it might be overkill!

[electric landlady]

[tonybloke]

Thanks for reply Tony.
You must have a huge site if you need 21 locks and 900 keys, no wonder you did a lot of research.
The federal locks look good but we do not think they will fit on our gates.
There seems a varietly of views on what if any lubricant to use! :-\
We were sold a lock lubricant by the original locksmith in Sheffield,
the one OH went to in Chesterfield says use WD40 monthly.
Your locksmith says never lubricate
Federal say use a specialist liubricant (at least on the web page I viewed)

Anyway we are going to try using the lubricant from the same place we bought the locks and hope that works they have a 10 year guarantee.  so will take them back if they don't.
I would appreciate knowing how you get on with the Federal locks, Crikey how much is that lot costing you!!! ::)
Thanks Anne

we are purchasing the federal 250 brass lock (22 of) cost = £43.36 each, 831 keys @ £2 each(final number) plus 4 'master' keys (1 each for the 2 police stations that cover our sites) plus 1 for me, and a spare. (we got the keys @ £2 'cos we are buying them all at once, re-cuts will cost a lot more)
we've got 14 allotment sites to arrange security on.
latest from the locksmith r.e. lubrication is......................... once per year give a good blast with WD40, using the 'straw thingy'. blast it until liquid runs out of the lock. Never use 3 in 1 or other mineral oils on locks.
rgds, Tony

[Robert_Brenchley]

Our gate was left unlocked under the old regime; we used to get prostitutes bringing clients on the site, and occasionally we had visits from thieves who brough a lorry down and broke into a string of sheds. That changed when they went, and it's now locked all the time. The whores now stop at the gate, which can be a bit unpleasant, so we've been trying to get a second gate installed at the top of the lane. It was all agreed, and the thing was put in over a year ago. Then the Tennis Club put in a new committee, who went back on the agreement, and refused to cooperate. So the gate's sitting unused, while the strumpets still come down. The new plan is to move the gate to below the Tennis Club, and leave the drabs to use their car park. They'll love that!

[pumkinlover]

Our gate was left unlocked under the old regime; we used to get prostitutes bringing clients on the site, and occasionally we had visits from thieves who brough a lorry down and broke into a string of sheds. That changed when they went, and it's now locked all the time. The whores now stop at the gate, which can be a bit unpleasant, so we've been trying to get a second gate installed at the top of the lane. It was all agreed, and the thing was put in over a year ago. Then the Tennis Club put in a new committee, who went back on the agreement, and refused to cooperate. So the gate's sitting unused, while the strumpets still come down. The new plan is to move the gate to below the Tennis Club, and leave the drabs to use their car park. They'll love that!

Good grief- I thought we had problems with a few bare bums having a pee near one of the the gates!!!

Tonybloke -please let us know how you get on with the federal locks, and thanks again for the information you have given
Anne

[tonybloke]

Our gate was left unlocked under the old regime; we used to get prostitutes bringing clients on the site, and occasionally we had visits from thieves who brough a lorry down and broke into a string of sheds. That changed when they went, and it's now locked all the time. The whores now stop at the gate, which can be a bit unpleasant, so we've been trying to get a second gate installed at the top of the lane. It was all agreed, and the thing was put in over a year ago. Then the Tennis Club put in a new committee, who went back on the agreement, and refused to cooperate. So the gate's sitting unused, while the strumpets still come down. The new plan is to move the gate to below the Tennis Club, and leave the drabs to use their car park. They'll love that!

Robert, you seem to have an issue with the local 'ladies of negotiable affection'.  perhaps you should also have an issue with their clients, who won't pay the price of a room for an hour? ;)

[chairman]

[/Robert, you seem to have an issue with the local 'ladies of negotiable affection'.  perhaps you should also have an issue with their clients, who won't pay the price of a room for an hour?quote]



thats 120 times  ;)

[pumkinlover]

On a more serious note have you many female allotment holders? I would have thought the type of behavior you describe makes it somewhat intimidating for them.  Do you have local policing and council initiatives to help? We have community forums where local people can go to discuss issues which affect them and the area, where the local police go. Maybe we are lucky in our area?

[Ellen K]

Our gate was left unlocked under the old regime; we used to get prostitutes bringing clients on the site, and occasionally we had visits from thieves who brough a lorry down and broke into a string of sheds. That changed when they went, and it's now locked all the time. The whores now stop at the gate, which can be a bit unpleasant, so we've been trying to get a second gate installed at the top of the lane. It was all agreed, and the thing was put in over a year ago. Then the Tennis Club put in a new committee, who went back on the agreement, and refused to cooperate. So the gate's sitting unused, while the strumpets still come down. The new plan is to move the gate to below the Tennis Club, and leave the drabs to use their car park. They'll love that!

CCTV might move it on.  Or at least: a few bigs signs about CCTV in operation.

[Digeroo]

You do seem to have something of a problem Robert.  I am surprised that the tennis club do not want to cooperate.  May I suggest a camera.  Neither party whats to appear on pics.  I like the idea of some CCTV signs.  How about 'please smile you are being flimed.' 

[Unwashed]

Sorry Robert, but I don't think it's appropriate to use those hateful words here.

[Borlotti]

It is quite strange on our site because we have tall gates at the main entrance and the side entrances are low gates, which I sometimes lock, but if people forget their keys they jump over the low gates.  I suppose it keeps cars/vans out of the main gate but not people if they wish to get in. As we are not allowed sheds, the only break-ins have been in the Council shed with lockers which is locked and the lock broken and thieves disappointed as only a few spades, forks etc.   Because we overlook playing fields it would be very difficult to have security fences all round, but not too much to steal at present, apart from the Council compost coming on Wednesday.

[tonybloke]

   Because we overlook playing fields it would be very difficult to have security fences all round,

one of our sites boundaries onto a cemetery and the Yarmouth racecourse, no problem with putting up a 6ft fence along those boundaries!!

[saddad]

Our site "contains" a cemetry... ie we go round three of their boundaries... nice quiet neighbours... no complaints..  :-X

[tonybloke]

Our site "contains" a cemetry... ie we go round three of their boundaries... nice quiet neighbours... no complaints..  :-X

same on this site, Saddad, but it was the chosen route for burglars to access the allotments

[Robert_Brenchley]

I have a massive problem with prostitutes' clients, but the English language doesn't have the same wonderful range of words for them, and if I'm referring to hookers several times in a post, why not use what's available?

You're right, Pumpkinlover, it is intimidating for the ladies, and it's unpleasant for the men as well; I've caught them at it three times now. Once it was right outside my plot, and as they were inside the gate and there was nobody else on the site I locked them in. The guy won't have got his car back till the next day, and I hope he had an irate wife to explain that to!

We've tried the CCTV option, as the school have it on the tennis courts a few yards away, but the cost of an extra camera was prohibitive. As for the Tennis Club, I believe its down to a power struggle; the new committee came in with the attitude that everything the old one did was wrong. All very childish, but not uncommon. Once the gate's finally moved, they'll be finding used condoms all over their car park, and they'll soon change their minds!

[betula]

I used to have a plot on Robert's Lottie and he is right,you used to have a lovely range of condoms to wade through while opening and closing the gates.Sounds like it is still going on.  :(

[Borlotti]

Blimey sex at the tennis club, we only play tennis, must be getting too old for all that, but we do shake hands after every game, and someone (hush) sings to me on court.   Did think allotment sheds would be good for a bit of 'the other' but not allowed sheds and too old nowadays, a cup of tea is better, or a glass of wine.  I suppose with all the security cameras not too many places to go for a quickie (Epping Forest was good, years ago).

[cornykev]

The only shag on my plot is the old shag pile I've laid down to cover the weeds, sorry if I've upset anyone, am I eck.     :P ;D ;D ;D

[Borlotti]

Excuse me, it may have been me.  :) :)  Now this is getting silly.

[Ellen K]

You don't necessarily need the actual CCTV camera, just a few signs might help.

It sounds awful Robert.  I used to love visiting Groby Pool in Leicestershire - it's a SSSI and great for bird life.  But it is also advertised on the internet as a venue for the doggers and now largely a no go area for people outside their community.  They've completely ruined it as any sort place you can take the family, though marked Police cars occasionally make appearances and a big sign in the carpark that "police regularly patrol, etc" has helped.  I found your post factual rather than hateful.