Anti-social alleyway in Northampton to be gated off for another three years

Northampton Borough Council closed off Marble Arch, an alleyway between Ash Street and Barrack Road, in 2018 as it was a ‘hotspot’ for street drinking, fly tipping and anti-social behaviour.

Proposals to gate the alleyway off dated back as far as 2010 – when it was ruled out for cost reasons – but was finally introduced thanks to a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) being implemented in the area for a three-year period.

PSPOs provide councils with flexible powers to address a range of anti-social behaviour issues in public places, and breaching regulations within their vicinity is a criminal offence with a possible fine of up to £1,000 or prosecution.

The existing PSPO runs out in January 2021, and a new one was needed prior to the expiry date or the gates would have to be removed.

Having won the backing of Northamptonshire Police earlier this year, residents also gave their approval in a 12-week consultation which ended in October. And on December 16, the council’s Conservative cabinet agreed to extend the PSPO for a further three years up until January 2024.

Councillor Jonathan Nunn, leader of the council, said: “I think it was one of the first PSPOs that we introduced. Many of us will remember the difficulties we had at the time prior to it being gated. There was a lot of anti-social behaviour and some really horrible things going on, which meant we had very strong support to instigate it.

“Obviously when you go out and consult to continue it, you will get some people will say they don’t think there’s an anti-social problem. Great, that means it has worked. There was a majority of people who wanted it renewed, and with the extra informed knowledge that we have through our community safety teams there’s little doubt it’s the right thing to do to continue this. Otherwise the anti-social behaviour will creep back and it needs to be kept at bay.”

Deputy leader Councillor Phil Larratt also wanted to see the council pursue removing Marble Arch as a ‘highway’ and hoped to see the issue raised with the county council – which is responsible for highways – as soon as possible.

He added: “It is highway land, and I think we should seek to close it as highway land so it can be used for something else otherwise interest in maintaining the gates might dwindle and we might not get the public support. If it reverts to how it was, all hell will break loose and we’d be accused of all sorts. So I still think we need to pursue the closure of Marble Arch as a highway and take it up with the county council as soon as we can.”