Residents asked to share views on gating off alleyway rife with drug use

The authority’s cabinet agreed last Wednesday (September 9) to hold a three-month consultation with residents seeking feedback on whether to gate off the alleyway between Dunster Street and St Michael’s Road in the town centre.

New powers granted to councils allow them to create Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs), which grant them flexible power to implement local restrictions that address any anti-social behaviour issues in public places for three years at a time.

Since the introduction of new legislation in 2014, the gating of part of a public highway is now permitted by way of a PSPO, which has simplified the process and reduced the cost of doing so.

They are new powers the council has not been afraid to utilise, having already agreed to gate off Jeyes Jetty in the town centre and plans underway to do the same for Marble Arch – which runs from Barrack Road to Ash Street.

Cabinet member Councillor Anna King said that other PSPOs had been ‘very successful’ and they wanted to see if ‘residents thought this was a good idea’.

She later added: "Nobody deserves to have their quality of life disrupted by anti-social behaviour and we do everything we can to make sure that Northampton continues to be a safe and enjoyable place to live, work and visit.

“We want residents to let us know their concerns via this public consultation so that we can take action and address any issues that they might have. The questionnaire only takes a few minutes to complete and I encourage as many people as possible to take part and have their say. Together we can make a difference and drive changes in our local communities.”

A council report states: “Gating the alleyway between Dunster Street and St. Michael’s Road would take away a hot spot for street drinking, drug dealing, public urination and fly-tipping and remove a place with extremely limited natural surveillance for other criminal activities.”

Councillors also read a submission from the Alcombe Terrace Community Clean Up residents' group, which read: “We strongly believe if the alleyway were to be gated this would deter this criminal activity and stop the use and dealing of drugs on our doorsteps. Residents witness this first-hand and many of us share our concerns with messages from people very scared in the middle of the night – this is only getting worse. None of us feel comfortable going outside our properties past 8 or 9pm at night and it is no way to live.”

Ward councillor and Labour leader Councillor Danielle Stone said: “It’s been an absolute bugbear ever since I became a councillor.

“It’s the most awful use of space and it is right in the middle of a residential area, so it impacts on the neighbours really badly and it makes people afraid frankly because all that nasty stuff is going on under people’s noses.

“A new community group has set up around there, and they have been active going door to door talking to people about what improvements are needed in the area, and they have been in touch with all the councillors and officers who have worked with them. This is part of a general plan to lift the whole area and for me as a councillor it’s an absolute delight to see those three things – borough officers, ward councillors and residents – marry together.

“The more we all work together on an issue the better the outcome is and the better the residents feel about where they live. So I’m delighted this is going ahead.”

And the Conservative leader of the council, Councillor Jonathan Nunn, added: “There does seem to be a momentum and a lot of motivation to enhance that part of the town, and that’s tremendous.”

Anyone wanting to share their views on the proposed PSPO, can take part in the online questionnaire at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/2658RKV