Alley Gating

Make your space safe – Alley Gate!

Introduction

Burglars prefer to break into a house through the back door or window. A criminal can use the alleyway at the back of a terrace without having to be seen, even in broad daylight. A lockable gate to an alleyway, that criminals cannot climb, helps to keep the number of burglaries down. In some parts of the country, it has been demonstrated that a gate can bring down the number of rear access burglaries by up to 90%.

Preventing burglary is not the only good reason for fitting an alley gate. It stops fly-tipping, littering, people using the alleyway as a toilet for their dogs, and noisy anti-social behaviour behind the houses. It can help the people in your street reclaim your alleyway. It also gives children a safe and secure place to play. It can stop them running into the road and strangers cannot just walk in.

What is Alley Gating?

Alley gating is a crime prevention method that directly tackles burglar, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour by restricting access to the rear of terraced houses. Lockable metal gates are erected at strategic points, allowing unrestricted access to the residents whilst keeping out criminals and troublemakers.

Why use Alley Gates?

Alley gates act as a security feature. The gates are designed to prevent unauthorised people gaining access. Research shows that three out of four burglars gain access to terraced homes via alleyways. Alley gates dramatically reduce the chances of becoming a victim of burglary and act as a deterrent to other forms of nuisance behaviour such as vandalism, drug dealing and dog fouling.

Alley gates also give children a safe place to play. You and your neighbours can even muck in together to paint the walls or put in pot plants to make the alley a place to be proud of.

Who pays for them?

The good news is residents do not have to pay anything. The Community Safety Unit identifies and attracts funding for the schemes. The funding mainly comes from Central Government who make money available locally to address crime and improve areas.

Who looks after them?

Once the gates have been fitted and the keys handed over, they become the property of the residents protected by them. It is a fantastic opportunity to turn the alley into a colourful, vibrant and safe community space. Many people have taken advantage of this and put in benches and planters.

How many people have keys?

All of the residents affected by the alley gates will receive keys. There will be one per household and residents are free to get more key s cut for anyone else living in their house.

What do they look like?

Alley gates need to be hardwearing and robust, but how they look is just as important. The gates will restrict access but they are designed not to restrict views. Before the gates are erected a full survey of the area will be carried out to ensure that all entrances to alleys are identified and that they meet the requirements of the area.

What happens next?

Once we have consulted with residents, the Community Safety Unit (CSU) will look into the technicalities of alley gating the area. There are certain legal issues to consider, concerning the status of the alley and who owns it. The CSU will look into all of these considerations for you. Please be aware that this can take several months. After this, if the scheme is still considered viable, the CSU will appoint a contractor and the alley gates will be installed.

Can I object?

Yes. If you have any objections to the scheme please let us know why. However, we have found that by listening to peoples’ concerns and providing answers to their questions we can overcome most objections.

Contact Information

Telephone: 0161 770 1573/1574/1575
E-mail: csu.admin@oldham.gov.uk
Address: Oldham Community Safety Unit, Chadderton Town Hall, Middleton Road, Chadderton, Oldham OL9 6PP