Lib Dems welcome "Gating Orders"

12.00.00pm GMT Thu 15th Mar 2007

Cllr. Richard Church

Councillor Richard Church, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Councillors on Northamptonshire County Council has welcomed the decision of the County Council to make use of the "Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005" to introduce "Gating Orders" which allows back alleyways and footpaths that are part of the public highway to be gated to prevent crime and anti social behaviour.

In welcoming the decision Cllr. Church said: "This is a long awaited and overdue decision. The gating of back alleys was pioneered by the Liberal Democrats in Liverpool and has been very successful there in reducing anti social behaviour and particularly burglaries and flytipping.

Liverpool now boasts one of the largest alley gating schemes in the country with in excess of 5,400 gates covering a total of 62,000 properties benefiting over 148,000 residents thus making for safer, stronger communities, cleaner and safer neighbourhoods.

It is good to see that the County Council has adopted this measure."

The Council may consider the gating of a highway when satisfied that:

i) premises adjoining or adjacent to the highways are affected by crime or anti-social behaviour;

ii) The existence of the highway is facilitating the persistent commission of criminal offences or anti-social behaviour; and

iii) It is in all the circumstances expedient to make the order for the purpose of reducing crime or anti-social behaviour.

Anyone wishing to have a back alley gated should obtain an application pack from the Community Safety Department of the Borough or District Council, the Community Safety Team at the County Council, the Local Crime Prevention Officer or the Highways Department of the County Council.