Chorlton has plenty of alleyways, (or ‘entries’ or ‘ginnels’), that is, narrow passageways with walls on both sides, usually between or at the back of rows of houses. They are not usually used by traffic and many have their origins as a way of delivering coal to terraced houses. Originally, many of these alleyways had gates, but most were removed during the Second World War, to allow access by air raid wardens, and were never replaced.
Type in “alley gating” into GoogleUK and on the first page of 100 entries (out of a total of 41,000) over 60 refer to Local Authority schemes to fit “climb-proof, lockable gates as a tried and trusted way to keep out unwelcome visitors – like burglars, stray dogs and fly-tippers”. Manchester City Council are encouraging alley gating as a place where “Alley gates give your kids a safe place for kids to play. You and your neighbours can muck in together to paint the walls or put in pot plants to make the alley a place to be proud of”.
The hope is that putting gates is part of a ’situational crime prevention’ and ‘target hardening’ initiative which will help ‘design out’ crime, reduce litter and encourage neighbourliness. Such schemes have been going since 1998
The initial emphasis on Alleygating schemes were in Neighbourhood Renewal schemes where specific funding was available for community safety initiatives under the Reducing Burglary Initiative. It seems to work too, for example, a “33% reduction in domestic burglary in target areas after gates’ installation” was noted in a review of Manchester alleygating in a recent report. In some parts of London, it has been demonstrated that a gate can bring down the number of rear access burglaries by up to 90%
Alleygating is not without its problems
Originally, all householders directly backing on to an alleyway had to give consent. Also the main act used, Section 129a of the Highways Act (1980) required crime figures or anti social behaviour to be high. This has been made easier since new legislation came into force on the 1st April 2006, from the Clean Neighbourhood Act 2005, which allows local Council’s to grant ‘gating orders’ for alleyways, if for example just one householder’s refusal to consent is blocking a scheme. The rule of thumb used now by the Council is that 80% of residents must be in favour for a a scheme to go ahead.
There can be practical difficulties too, for example, with contacting absentee landlords or where there are a high number of short term tenancies. They also might involve right of way closures if the alley has been ‘adopted’ by the City Council
Not everybody is in favour of Alleygating
The Institute of Public Rights of Way views Alleygating and the associated closing rights of as disadvantaging the public and having little effect on crime. They make the point that:
- Closing off exits does not automatically stop crime, or criminals
- Alley closures remove what was a lawful, and often useful, access for the public.
- Disabled people will often have to go a longer way round on their journeys.
They view alleygating as an example of a ‘knee jerk’ reaction by a Government wanting to be seen to be doing something, but in effect addressing the effects of criminality rather than the causes of it. Using the new legislation an applicant does not have to show that a path is not needed for public use before it can be closed. They can simply maintain that a criminal might find it useful as a short cut. However, if it can be used as a short cut by a criminal, it could also be used in the same way by someone with a mobility impairment, who might find the short distance saved provides a valuable gain in terms of energy saved.
My view is that on the whole Alleygating is generally a good thing with research showing that its effects are largely positive. Indeed, the alley behind my own house in Chorlton has been approved for Alleygating and will get its gates soon.
What concerns me more is how this restriction on public access is extended to communities rather than just alleys. There are gated communities beginning to spring up in Chorlton and I think that the implications of this trend is far more serious. In my next article I will discuss the implications of gated communities as moving towards a ‘fortress city’ approach to urban living
For further information about getting your alleys gated go to Manchester City Council website: www.manchester.gov.uk/housing/privatesector/homeown/allygate.htm
or contact the Private Sector Housing Alley Gating Team on 0161 234 4904.
Mark Youlden is the Technical officer with responsibility for the Chorlton area
Bernard Leach, 28-10-06
