Grandfather overwhelmed by 'astronomical' support following allotment fire
Alan Coulter's allotment in Whitehaven went up in smoke following a battery fire from a power-bank which was thought to have failed.
Speaking to ITV Border about the situation, Alan Coulter said: "I got a phone call out of the blue and one of the guys down here on the allotment site gave me a ring to say it was on fire.
"I rushed up here and of course all of the traffic lights were on red and it felt like it took me a lifetime to get here."
Alan explained the reasons behind what started the fire, he said: "We believe that what happened was I had a power-bank in one of the far end sheds and it was being charged by solar panels and I think the battery management system has failed and allowed electricity to come into fully charged batteries.
"They overheated, melted the plastic and then I believe it ignited which caused the devastation."
The general public have rallied around Alan and provided him support since the fire.
He said: "I was ready to throw the towel in but thanks to the generosity of the general public and my family and the support that I have had from the community which has been astronomical.
"We have decided now we are going to make it bigger and better and onwards and upwards.
"It was never a paradise but it was my paradise, it was like any allotment really, cobbled together with the best I could with what I could afford."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
4 days ago
- ITV News
Grandfather overwhelmed by 'astronomical' support following allotment fire
A west-Cumbrian grandfather has said that he is overwhelmed by the "astronomical" support shown to him by members of the public following a fire which destroyed his allotment. Alan Coulter's allotment in Whitehaven went up in smoke following a battery fire from a power-bank which was thought to have failed. Speaking to ITV Border about the situation, Alan Coulter said: "I got a phone call out of the blue and one of the guys down here on the allotment site gave me a ring to say it was on fire. "I rushed up here and of course all of the traffic lights were on red and it felt like it took me a lifetime to get here." Alan explained the reasons behind what started the fire, he said: "We believe that what happened was I had a power-bank in one of the far end sheds and it was being charged by solar panels and I think the battery management system has failed and allowed electricity to come into fully charged batteries. "They overheated, melted the plastic and then I believe it ignited which caused the devastation." The general public have rallied around Alan and provided him support since the fire. He said: "I was ready to throw the towel in but thanks to the generosity of the general public and my family and the support that I have had from the community which has been astronomical. "We have decided now we are going to make it bigger and better and onwards and upwards. "It was never a paradise but it was my paradise, it was like any allotment really, cobbled together with the best I could with what I could afford."
ITV News
03-07-2025
- ITV News
Ravenglass residents 'left in the dark' over Network Rail repairs to footbridge
Residents of a Cumbrian village say they're being left 'in the dark' about major repairs to a footbridge being carried out by National Rail. The bridge, which crosses the railway to provide pedestrians with access to either side of the village, was initially closed in April 2024 for repairs. It was later removed entirely when engineers discovered that more extensive work was needed to make the crossing safe. National Rail indicated the bridge would be reinstalled by May of this year but have now said that the repairs will be completed in the Autumn. Chair of Muncaster Parish Council, John Chapman, said: "We were promised May this year. Obviously that's been and gone. So we're really in the dark here. We don't know what's happening." The railway line runs through the centre of the village, meaning the bridge is an important route for pedestrians getting from one side to the other. Currently, pedestrians are having to walk undernearth the train tracks and along a main road. Local resident, Ingrid Robson, said: "We are an elderly population in the village and we have ambulances coming quite often and fire engines. It's not good at all. It's quite frightening at times." Bobb Tebb, who lives locally and uses a walking stick to get around, said: "It now means that it takes me three times as long often to get across from one side to the other. Because I've only got one speed. "Effectively, I'm tending to use the car just to get within this little village from one side of it to the other." The bridge dates from 1849 and Network Rail says that its restoration is costing £500,000. They say they've had to recalculate the design and order more steel for a safe reinstallation, because the repairs have added weight to the structure. A Network Rail spokesperson said: 'We are sorry for the time it is taking to repair the Ravenglass station footbridge. 'Due to increased lead times in the steel supply chain we expect this repair work to take several months and we aim to reinstall the footbridge later in the Autumn. 'Keeping this much-loved heritage asset in safe working order is a complicated and unique process." Local MP Michelle Scrogham said: "I'm not comfortable that as quickly as possible is good enough.
Scottish Sun
26-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Alan Titchmarsh's top 7 plants that ‘transform ugly fences with gorgeous flowers & fragrance' & they grow for years
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THEY might not be the most instant transformers. But climbing plants can be a brilliant way to hide ugly fences or walls, and there are seven in particular that gardening pro Alan Titchmarsh recommends. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Alan Titchmarsh has revealed the seven climbing plants that are perfect for covering up ugly walls and fences Credit: YouTube 3 They provide pretty flowers and gorgeous fragrance when trailed on fences Credit: YouTube "Climbing plants are wonderful for transforming ugly sheds, walls and fences with a mass of flowers, foliage and fragrance," he said in an installment of his Gardening With Alan Titchmarsh video series on YouTube. "The wonderful thing about climbers is that there's a climber for every situation!" The former Ground Force presenter went on to detail his favourite climbing plants, as he explained where and when they can be used. At the very top of his list is the Clematis 'Shimmer', which is perfect for growing in full sun or partial shade. It produces large flowers, in this instance purple, and does that a couple of times per year. Second on the list, the Clematis 'Montana'. These "very, very vigorous" plants will "cover the side of a cathedral", Alan said, and can grow up to 12 metres in height. So they definitely aren't the ones to choose if you've got a small area you want to cover. With both the Montana and Shimmer varieties, they like their "roots in the shade and heads in the sun". "When you plant them, a little bit of flagstone laid on the area around the roots will stop the sun from striking it and drying the soil out," Alan explained. The four easy steps to get your tired lawn lush for summer & you don't need to worry about pigeons ruining it either If you've got a spot in the shade that needs covering with a climbing plant, it's worth considering Lonicera 'Scentsation' (Honeysuckle). The "woodland native" that's "happy in dappled shade" produces spidery flowers and "the most glorious" honeysuckle scent. It can grow to between four and nine metres, and flowers the most during spring and summer. "It has twining stems, so loosely loop them in as they grow to cover the area you want to," he added. Or, if you want a "reliable" climber, then the Hydrangea petiolaris is a good choice. It's suitable for shade, and can grow up to eight metres wide. How to encourage wildlife into your garden THE Woodland Trust shared five top tips 1. Grow wild Let nature take its course to create a more attractive environment for all things wild. You don't have to leave your plot to develop into a small jungle – wildlife will thank you for just a small corner, border or planter. 2. Plant trees and shrubs Research has shown that gardens are more attractive to wildlife if they have trees. And those trees can bring a host of other benefits too, from reducing noise and flooding to fighting climate change. 3. Create homes If you want to attract a particular species, a ready-made home can look especially appealing to any wildlife passing through. 4. Offer a water source Water is crucial for wildlife. Making some available in your garden could be a lifeline, especially in extreme weather. 5. Serve an extra meal One of the best ways to persuade a plethora of wildlife to your patch is to give them access to an easy meal. And the main draw of the plant is that it's a "self clinger", that "glues itself to the wall as it spreads". "It will cover quite a large area on a wall that's often too shady to cover with anything else," Alan continued. The Thunbergia 'Black Eyed Susan' is up next, and grows up to 2.5m tall. While the majority of the plants Alan has recommended are perennial, this is annual - meaning it only survives for one year. But it makes a pretty addition to a garden for "late spring, early summer and right through to early autumn". The sixth plant on Alan's list, which can top 9m in height, is the Rhyncospermum Jasminoides. "This is another plant for a sunny, warm fence," he said. "Give it sun and you'll get these glorious white flowers and a fabulous scent." The seventh and final climber Alan recommends is the Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin'. It's more of a "shrubby" climber that doesn't cling, you have to train it to grow where you want it to. And he added that it's also a good choice if you're short on space, as there's a nifty way you can train it for a smaller area too.
