Brighton and Hove gated communities could block public routes

3:30pm Friday 5th September 2008

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Gated communities that would block off public roads or alleyways are being requested across Brighton and Hove because of a fear of crime.

Eight requests for streets to be gated have been received by Brighton and Hove City Council since the first was approved in September.

Brunswick Row in Brighton, a pedestrian route between London Road and Ditchling Road, was the first to be sealed off.

Gates were installed at either end after complaints from residents about noise nuisance, drug dealing, criminal damage, fighting, littering and antisocial behaviour.

The passageway is locked between 6pm and 8am each night.

The council refused to name the other streets, but they include Farman Street, Hove, and an alleyway off George Street, Kemp Town, Brighton.

The legislation, introduced in 2006, is aimed at crime-ridden alleys and twittens where closing the route would help to protect residents.

High demand for the gating orders has forced the council to draw up a check-list for applications so that work can be prioritised.

The council said its team could only deal with two applications at a time.

The check-list guidelines are expected to be approved by Geoffrey Theobald, cabinet member for environment, on Thursday.

A council spokeswoman said: “Gating orders are one of a range of measures which can be used to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour. However, they are only used rarely.

“The emphasis is always on keeping a road open if possible.

“As a result there is only one gating order in the city, in Brunswick Row.

“Gates are closed in Brunswick Row at night, preventing drug dealing, assaults, and disorder which has been a problem for residents.

“Following the introduction of the gating order in Brunswick Row the council has received other requests and the report going to next week’s environment cabinet member meeting is aimed at establishing a protocol so residents, councillors and other interested parties know how requests are dealt with.

“National legislation says sites can only be considered for gating if premises in the street or alleyway in question are affected by crime or antisocial behaviour, and the street itself is a factor in persistent problems of crime.

“For example, in the case of Brunswick Row, it is a narrow, secluded cut-through between two busy city centre routes.

“Any proposed gating order is advertised to give local people and others a chance to give their views before any final decision is made.”

Inspector Bill Whitehead, of the Central Brighton neighbourhood policing team, said that where the scheme had been used it had proved a success.

He said: “In the right place, gating orders can almost single-handedly solve an ongoing problem.

“They are not right for every road though.

“We need to balance the right of public access with the benefits that go with gates.”

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