Alleygating is ‘not sole way to stop tearaways’

ALLEYGATING to combat burglary and anti-social behaviour has been named as a major issue for East Oldham District Partnership.

A list of priority alleyways was presented to last night’s meeting, but Councillor Jackie Stanton warned that all available money should not be spent on the scheme.

She pointed out alleygating was just one of a number of ways to combat local problems, and said she would be disappointed if other options were not considered and funded.

Mike Farrell, crime reduction team leader for community safety services, told the meeting that alleygating was popular with residents and had proved successful in cutting burglaries in hot spots across the borough.

He pointed out that Oldham now had 367 gated alleyways, which, for their total £1.2 million cost, provided not only protection but peace of mind and reassurance to people living in more than 10,000 homes.

He added that the borough is seen as a national leader in alleygating.

Of that figure, £219,708 had been spent in East Oldham on 63 projects in which 193 gates had been installed. Although heralded as an anti-crime success, Mr Farrell reported that some residents failed to lock gates despite them having been installed for their protection, and warned that in such cases gates could possibly be removed.

Besides providing access for burglars, dark, ungated alleyways, also provide the ideal area for anti-social people who can make residents’ lives a misery through practices such as drug abuse, fly-tipping, dog fouling and arson.

Alleyways targeted as a priority in East Oldham are Hanson Street/Arundel Street, Raper Street/Taurus Street, Prince Edward Avenue/Hillside Avenue/Cedric Road, Grasmere Road/Foster Street, Brewerton Road/Huxley Street, Gordon Avenue/Cranbrook Street/Kew Road/Salisbury Road, Wren Street/New Earth Street/Quail Street.

Hillside Avenue/Clarksfield Road/Grasmere Road, Cow Lane, Stoneleigh Street/Afghan Street, Ripponden Road/Pierce Street/Broadbent Road, Abbotsford Road even numbers/Mayfield Avenue, Brewerton Road/Tyndall Street/Fulham Street/Huxley Street, Swinton Street/Roundthorn Street, Game Street/Salford Street, Melling Road, Littlebank Street and Waterloo Street/Brompton Road/Retford Street.

They have the highest levels of burglary, and many of the areas have connecting alleyways.

Each district partnership has also been awarded £14,500 for each of its wards to tackled “clean and green” issues, which can also be used for alleygating in areas where it would improve quality of life for residents.

Priority areas are Brewerton Road, Tara Street, Raper Street, Spring Street, Helmshore Avenue, Ripponden Road, Gibraltar Street, Vigo Street and Littlebank Street.