Alley gating is a crime prevention tool that can reduce burglary, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour by restricting access to the rear of terraced houses.
Lockable metal gates and fencing are erected strategically, allowing unrestricted access to the residents while keeping out anyone else.
Requesting alley gates
Residents should contact their local Councillor who may be able to fully or partially fund alley gating using their personal budgets, but this funding is limited.
Residents may be advised to form constituted groups, which will allow them to access various funding streams, or to fund the gating schemes themselves.
Keys
All of the residents affected by the alley gates will receive keys.
There is one key per household, and residents can get more keys cut for anyone residing with them.
The council do not re-issue keys if they are lost, residents must borrow a key from their neighbour and have a copy made.
Maintenance
If Oldham Council installs alley gates, they remain the property of Oldham Council, who retain responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of the gates.
If the alleyway is part of an adopted highway, the Local Authority retain the responsibility for its upkeep and maintenance.
If the land is unadopted (which means the Council do not own or maintain it), the responsibility for its maintenance remains with the landowner/s.
Damage
Damaged alley gates or alley gate locks can be reported by:
- Email: css.admin@oldham.gov.uk
- Phone: 0161 770 1573
Gating Orders/Public Spaces Protection Order
Gating orders were used to restrict access to public rights of way to assist in the reduction of crime or anti-social behaviour within a designated area.
These were subsequently replaced by Public Spaces Protection Orders.
- Public Spaces Protection Orders (formerly 'gating orders')
Public Spaces Protection Orders also make provision for preventing other unwanted behaviours within an alleyway, including but not limited to;
- Restrictions on the storage of bins and other items
- Restrictions on the building of structures
- Restrictions relating to dogs e.g. must be on leads, must be cleaned up after
Breach of a Public Spaces Protection Order is a criminal offence.