THIEVES who have targeted allotments in Nythe could soon be on the back foot thanks to a decision to purchase five ‘wildlife cameras’ to detect activity at night.

In recent months, gangs have smashed their way into sheds, ransacked plot owners’ belongings and sprayed graffiti in mindless vandalism sprees.

The attacks rocked the close-knit community that has worked hard to make the allotments a relaxing and enjoyable environment to spend time in.

Despite the raids being investigated by the police, no suspects were ever identified. But now the fight to stop the gangs in their tracks has been given a boost.

At a meeting of the Nythe Parish Council on Monday, councillors agreed to purchase five motion activated ‘wildlife cameras’ to help tackle the allotment raiders as well as people fly tipping their rubbish in known hotspots around the parish.

The idea came up following an emergency meeting with local police officers.

Newly elected parish councillor Gerry Cruse, who is also chairman of the Nythe Allotments, said: “The police recommended that we use some sort of surveillance if possible.

“The advantage of these cameras is they can be used around Nythe, Eldene and Liden - they’re multi use and should hopefully help to tackle all sorts of crime in the area.

“As an allotments committee we also held a meeting to see what more we could do, we’ve looked at using anti-climb paint and planting thorny bushes to provide a natural barrier.”

Dale Heenan, chairman of Nythe Parish Council, also welcomed the decision.

“There are no excuses for fly tipping or breaking into allotments to cause problems,” he said. “But proving exactly which toe-rag does it is very hard.

“Nythe Parish Council has agreed to purchase five wildlife cameras for placing covertly near known hotspots where mattresses, rubbish and other items have been dumped recently and near Nythe allotments.

“If the camera happens to capture an individual fly-tipping or breaking into Nythe allotments, rather than local foxes and deer, then we will work with Swindon Borough Council and police to see a prosecution happen backed by this solid irrefutable evidence.”

The meeting also saw the councillors agree on the amount they will charge as part of residents’ council tax in the coming year.

The decision will impact on those in Eldene and Liden too when their merger with Nythe is completed from April.

The average household will pay £49.15, up from £41.86 last year owing to the transfer of a number of frontline services from Swindon Borough Council to new and existing parish councils.

Coun Heenan added: “The 14p a week increase for a Band D property will see local residents in Nythe benefiting from a parish being able to do more, including contributing towards the cost of Nythe Community Centre and keeping the local libraries open in Covingham and Liden as well as further improvements to keeping our streets clean, tidy and safe.

“Residents of Liden and Eldene will see better maintenance of their green open spaces and an amount has been set aside towards helping Eldene Community Centre.

“No one area will be subsidising another and we have been transparent through the budget process.”

“Nythe Parish Council did not support its expansion, but we have worked hard to set a budget that includes Liden and Eldene and continues the good foundations of the last two years, whilst at the same time keeping the council tax to one of the lowest in Swindon and Wiltshire.”

In addition to agreeing to support the purchase of five wildlife cameras, the meeting also saw councillors award grants of £1,250 to Nythe Allotments and STEP, a youth charity based at the Nythe Centre.