Policy for temporary gating of alley ways

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	Policy for temporary gating of alley ways - Consultation.

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Have Your Say about Policy for Temporary Gating of Alleyways

When temporary gating should be considered.

We can only install alley gates where there is persistent crime or anti-social behaviour. The Council has a legal duty to do all that it reasonably can to prevent crime and disorder. The Council also has a legal duty to assert and protect the rights of the public to use the highway and to prevent, as far as possible, the obstruction of the highway.

When should temporary gating be considered?

Only for paths wholly used by residents

Only after all other measures have been considered

Only when supported by the police and all local councils

Only when the problems of crime and anti-social behaviour significantly outweigh disadvantages to users of the path

Whenever there is a persistent problem of crime and antisocial behaviour, irrespective of path users.

Q2.	Please enter any comments you would like to add:

Factors that influence a decision to introduce a particular scheme

Before deciding whether to install gates, the Council must ensure that this is an appropriate course of action. This will include gathering evidence of crime and anti-social behaviour, undertaking surveys of the amount of use of the alleyway, consulting residents and ensuring that there is an appropriate alternative route.

Q3	When comparing the advantages and disadvantages of a particular gating scheme, how important are the following factors
Q3		Very important	Quite important	Not very important
	Number of incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour
	Impact of crime and anti-social behaviour on nearby residents
	Impact of crime and anti-social behaviour on wider community
	Number of people experiencing crime and anti-social behaviour
	Effect on property values
	Number of people using the path for legitimate purposes
	Length of the alternative route

Q4	Please add any comments you would like to add here:

Whether gates should be locked 24 hours a day or only at certain times

Many other authorities have introduced gating on a 24 hours a day basis. This is usually in respect of traditional alley ways that only provide a second access to property, rather than part of a through route for pedestrians. In Leicestershire there are relatively few traditional alley ways. 24 hour gating of paths that are part of a through route or short cut would effectively close the path. In order to strike an appropriate balance between combating crime/anti-social behaviour and inconvenience for path users, gates could be locked only for periods when crime/anti-social behaviour is a problem.

How long should gates be kept locked?

24 hours a day

Only at times when crime or anti-social behaviour is a problem

Varies depending on situation

Q6	Please add any comments you would like to add here:

Keyholders

If gates are locked, access would still be needed by residents and businesses with property on the gated path, emergency services, utility companies etc. The more keys in circulation, the greater risk that they will fall into the wrong hands. Similar issues apply to a numeric pad instead of a traditional lock.

Which of these should have keys or access PIN details? (select all relevant)

Only those with property on the gated path

Emergency service

All utility companies

Trusted users of the alley way

Parish, District, Borough or County Council

Other

	Please specify other:

Q8	Please add any comments you would like to add here:

Arrangements for locking/unlocking

If gates are only locked at certain times, reliable arrangements need to be in place to ensure that they are both locked when they should be (to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour) and open when they should be (to allow passage). If local residents take responsibility for un/locking they may not be particularly interested in having the gates unlocked. If users have the responsibility they may not be particularly interested in locking gates. If a local authority (Parish, District, Borough or County Council) is responsible, there would be more reliability but there would be a cost. If automatic un/locking (e.g. an electronic timer) there would be issues of cost and safety (someone could get locked in).

Who should be responsible for un/locking gates?

Residents

Users

Local body

Automatic

Other

	Please specify other:

Q10	Please add any comments you would like to add here:

Funding of Schemes

Temporary gating of alleyways is largely of benefit to a limited number of residents. There are costs associated with: carrying out surveys to establish the need, legal processes, design, installation of gates, un/locking, maintenance and repair. These can be quite significant and may be greater than other methods of addressing crime and anti-social behaviour.

Q11

Who should meet the cost of introducing a scheme? (select all relevant)

County Council

District/Borough Council

Parish Council

Police

Those likely to benefit directly (full cost)

Those likely to benefit directly (part cost)

Q12

Who should meet the cost of operating a scheme? (select all relevant)