Anti-social alleyway to be gated off in Northampton after planning permission approved

Northampton Borough Council wanted to restrict public access to the Jeyes Jetty, which runs from The Drapery to College Street, with its cabinet agreeing the move in October at a cost of up to £20,000.

It followed a public consultation carried out between June and September last year, with 81.9 per cent of the 188 responders feeling that anti-social behaviour was a problem in Jeyes Jetty, whilst 47.9 per cent had directly experienced anti-social behaviour there.

Among those who had called for the jetty to be gated off was the mother of Bradley Matcham. The 24-year-old sadly passed away after being punched in the confines of the jetty in February 2019 while out celebrating with friends.

Planning officers had recommended approving the gates, although they admitted gating the historic feature off was ‘unfortunate’. The jetty gets its name as the building to the north, facing Drapery, was occupied by Jeyes Pharmacy from 1810 until 1969. It is a grade II listed building, and required listed building consent to install the gates.

At a virtual planning committee last night (June 9) some councillors raised concerns over the design of the gate, which will have arrowheads at the College Street end.

The council’s head of planning, Peter Baguley, said: “When you put in a modern feature on a listed building you either try and match it up, – and you’re never going to match it up because there’s no railing to match up with – or you make it as simple as possible. That’s the design thinking behind the Drapery entrance. At the College Street elevation, because there’s nothing to stop people going over the top that’s why the arrowhead design is there, to make it more difficult to climb over it. It’s a bit of design, and a bit of functionality as well.”

The scheme was given unanimous approval by the committee, with Councillor Jamie Lane saying: “I think this has been a long time coming. Jeyes Jetty has been in a poor state for many years.”