HatterScaff
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Extract from Scunthorpe News ::sad:
Angling club hit hard by theft of scaffolding poles for wheelchair platforms
Stuart Fidling on one of the club's disabled access fishing pegs.
THIEVES have ruined a disabled anglers fishing retreat by stealing scaffolding poles used to build special wheelchair platforms.
The poles, some of which were 13ft long and worth about £60 each, were stolen from Trentside pond – a site on Black Bank Road near Messingham belonging to the Pisces Angling Club.
The club had hoped to let more disabled anglers fish by building more special pegs which improve access.
Stewart Fidling, a member of the club and a wheelchair user, said: "We're absolutely gutted. As a club we play a really active role in getting everybody involved in fishing.
"We're trying to build more pegs so disabled people can fish, and the scaffolding's not cheap."
Club members believe the thief may be known to them, as the scaffolding was stored out of sight. And the thief needed to open a combination lock on the gate, which known only to members.
It is understood the scaffolding was stolen on Wednesday, June 16.
"Where it was stored is two fields away from the road," said Mr Fidling. "They must have used a flat-bed truck to steal that amount of scaffolding."
Though the fishing club insist the disabled pegs will get built eventually, the thefts have caused extra delay.
The scaffolding poles were only bought at the start of June, so club members are disappointed.
"We hoped they'd be built by this Friday," said Mr Fidling.
"This is a real kick in the teeth for us."
The theft comes as a spate of metal thefts continues across North Lincolnshire. Les Shipp, general secretary of Pisces Angling Club, said: "They'll just sell it as scrap. It's just going to add to our costs."
He said work was being carried out through a contractor, so the platforms will get built, but work will be delayed while more scaffolding is ordered and the club will be hit harder.
There have been 822 reported metal thefts in Scunthorpe in the last three years and figures remain high across the region.
Neighbourhood Sergeant James Main said: "We would urge any members of the public seeing anything suspicious to report such incidents.
"Police continue to work with scrap metal merchants in ensuring correct policy is followed when cashing in metals.
"It's unfortunate this particular theft has been reported as it really does have serious effects on this one fishing club and the disabled individuals who are going to participate."
Angling club hit hard by theft of scaffolding poles for wheelchair platforms
Stuart Fidling on one of the club's disabled access fishing pegs.
THIEVES have ruined a disabled anglers fishing retreat by stealing scaffolding poles used to build special wheelchair platforms.
The poles, some of which were 13ft long and worth about £60 each, were stolen from Trentside pond – a site on Black Bank Road near Messingham belonging to the Pisces Angling Club.
The club had hoped to let more disabled anglers fish by building more special pegs which improve access.
Stewart Fidling, a member of the club and a wheelchair user, said: "We're absolutely gutted. As a club we play a really active role in getting everybody involved in fishing.
"We're trying to build more pegs so disabled people can fish, and the scaffolding's not cheap."
Club members believe the thief may be known to them, as the scaffolding was stored out of sight. And the thief needed to open a combination lock on the gate, which known only to members.
It is understood the scaffolding was stolen on Wednesday, June 16.
"Where it was stored is two fields away from the road," said Mr Fidling. "They must have used a flat-bed truck to steal that amount of scaffolding."
Though the fishing club insist the disabled pegs will get built eventually, the thefts have caused extra delay.
The scaffolding poles were only bought at the start of June, so club members are disappointed.
"We hoped they'd be built by this Friday," said Mr Fidling.
"This is a real kick in the teeth for us."
The theft comes as a spate of metal thefts continues across North Lincolnshire. Les Shipp, general secretary of Pisces Angling Club, said: "They'll just sell it as scrap. It's just going to add to our costs."
He said work was being carried out through a contractor, so the platforms will get built, but work will be delayed while more scaffolding is ordered and the club will be hit harder.
There have been 822 reported metal thefts in Scunthorpe in the last three years and figures remain high across the region.
Neighbourhood Sergeant James Main said: "We would urge any members of the public seeing anything suspicious to report such incidents.
"Police continue to work with scrap metal merchants in ensuring correct policy is followed when cashing in metals.
"It's unfortunate this particular theft has been reported as it really does have serious effects on this one fishing club and the disabled individuals who are going to participate."