News

Call to close off alleyways at night

By by Lindsey Eudo-Mitchell
October 30, 2007

GATING orders are needed to prevent antisocial behaviour, criminal damage and urinating in the street, according to North Town councillors, residents and the police.

North Town councillors, Keith and Sue Dibble are working with police to collect evidence that could prove an alleyway from Ash Road to Eland Road should be closed off at night.

New powers were introduced earlier this year allowing local authorities to close off alleys where antisocial behaviour is a problem.

Hampshire County Council, the authority responsible for such decisions in Rushmoor, has so far been reluctant to implement gating orders, saying the move could disadvantage pedestrians.

Cllr Sue Dibble said: “These alleyways cause a lot of distress to a lot of people that have the unfortunate position of living near them and we’re trying to alleviate that stress.

“The idea would be to have a night time gating order which would mean that the alleyway would be closed off just at night, not in the day, and there is legislation now that allows local authorities to do that.

“But the county council in its infinite wisdom don’t seem happy to take this forward.

“A lot of people are suffering through this behaviour from people who are using these places at night.”

She said the alleyway was a perfect place for people who wanted to drink without being seen from the road.

As a result broken glass bottles litter the streets and cars belonging to people who live nearby have been scratched and damaged.

Now residents are being asked to keep diary sheets so that they can record any incidents that they witness to help draw a better picture of the problem the alleyway causes.

Letters have been sent to all residents of Eland Road and those in part of Newport Road by North Town beat manager Pc Stephen McCoy, who says he has had complaints of antisocial behaviour, criminal damage and littering.

Cllr Keith Dibble said he hoped people would fill out their log sheets so that the true nature of the problem could be seen.

He said: “We’ve met with a couple of residents who represent the Eland Road group to talk about the alleyway because it is being used by undesirables at night.

“Rushmoor Environment Panel was very angry with the county for not moving forward with these gating orders and this is one of the alleys that Sue was very keen to get shut.

“The county are dragging their heels and residents are being left with the problems.

“With a gating system these problems could be alleviated in a stroke really.”

One Eland Road resident, who did not want to be named, said the alleyway between her road and Ash Road was a magnet for antisocial behaviour.

She said: “I usually take the long way round if I’m walking back from town up Institute Road rather than go down that alleyway.

“It’s quite an intimidating place, especially at night, as it’s so poorly lit. There’s always broken glass there and certainly not a place where you’d want to walk on your own.”

She was pleased that the police are consulting with residents, but questioned why the antisocial behaviour actually occurred.

“If there were more police on the beat then they wouldn’t get away with it,” she added. “It comes to something when residents have to keep a log of what’s going on.”

Robert Williams, who lives in Newport Road, wants the county council to take more action about yobbish behaviour.

“It appears that the authorities aren’t really interested in the problems residents face,” the 39-year-old builder said.

“If there were some cameras around then the troublemakers would at least think twice before causing havoc.”

A Hampshire County Council spokeswoman said: “Closing any part of the public highway is quite a serious move and can particularly disadvantage pedestrians.

“Any case would be decided upon its merits.

“We have not received any specific proposal from Rushmoor or the police and this would need to set out the evidence for such action.

“If there was a good case, this would trigger an extensive public consultation process.”