Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources which gave Members details of an alley-gating scheme requested of Birchfield, Farnworth and Halton View Locality Area Forum.

The Board was advised that the Locality Area Forum for Birchfield, Farnworth & Halton View had received a request for the installation of an alley-gate from a resident of Elkan Road, Widnes, in January 2013. The request had been made for a gate to be installed between numbers 31 and 33 Elkan Road to reduce the incidents of anti-social behaviour on the pathway that runs between the two properties, through to Moorfield Road.

        The Board was further advised that the request had been made in light of a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour, criminal activity, and an armed robbery had taken place at retail premises on Moorfield Road in 2012, for which the pathway was used as an escape route. 

        It was reported that the gate had been requested on the basis that it would hinder access to and from a grassed area adjacent to the pathway, and would therefore discourage the congregation of individuals in that area.

A request had also been made that a gate be considered between the shops on Moorfield Road, to reduce access to the pathway from its other access point. It was decided that initially this aspect of the request would not be pursued, but could be revisited should issues remain following the installation of a gate between numbers 31 and 33 Elkan Road.

It was noted that during a discussion with Ward Councillors that residents in Elkan Road had been proactive and had set up an informal ‘neighbourhood watch’ scheme, but were seeking preventative measures.  The geography of the pathway and the desired location of the alley-gate was indicated on a map in the report.

It was reported that information provided to the Locality Area Forum by the Community Safety Team indicated that recorded criminal incidents were not notably high, there being 26 recorded incidents in the vicinity over a six month period. However, an analysis of the reported disorder within the vicinity indicated the presence of anti-social behaviour, affecting individuals and groups of people, as well as the wider community.  

Furthermore, it was reported that whilst the number of recorded incidents did not constitute persistent disorder, feedback from the resident requesting the alley-gate indicated that many instances were unreported.  In addition, in discussions between the Community Safety Team and the Area Forum it was concurred that the geography of this location does lend itself to encouraging anti-social / criminal behaviour, as there is no direct view of the land adjacent to the path from the Elkan Road end of the alley alleyway.

The Board noted the results of the consultation that had taken place with residents in April 2013.

It was reported that an article had been published in the Weekly News on the alleygate and subsequently, there had been two further objections to the scheme in respect of the cost and the design.

After considerable discussion, the Board unanimously supported the installation of the alleygate between 31 and 33 Elkan Road.  The Board also recommended that consideration be given to a spring lock and that the decision on a partial or full closure be decided by Ward Councillors.

RESOLVED: That

(1)        the report and comments raised be noted; and

(2)        the Board support the proposal to install an alleygate between 31 and 33 Elkan Road;

(3)        it be recommended that consideration be given to installing a spring lock on the alleygate; and

(4)        Ward Councillors make the decision on whether it is a full or partial closure.