Have you come home to find a local alley barred or vital shortcut snapped shut by your local council? Then the Ramblers’ Association needs YOUR STORY, to give a voice to the thousands of people who’ve found vital urban paths closed under new council ‘gating order’ powers.
Since 2006, over 1,500 alleys nationwide have been closed down by council ‘alleygators’ using powers introduced by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. The Act gives councils the power to summarily ‘gate’ local alleys where crime or anti-social behaviour is thought to place, without using the rigorous local consultation and appeals process normally followed during path closures. The £5,000 gates are often established, against residents’ wishes, in place of alternative measures such as better lighting or security, and cut off vital local resources such as schools and surgeries.
The Ramblers needs YOUR story, to help them curb the new council powers and re-instate the democratic consultation process. It has launched a new campaign at www.unlockingpaths.org.uk and is urging people to record their experiences of alleygating misuse online, to help them collect enough information to persuade Ministers to amend these new legislative powers.
Campaign organiser, Sarah Perry, comments: “These council alleygators must be curbed before they snap up YOUR alley.
“Alleygating can be a useful tool in preventing crime and anti social behaviour, but it should be a last resort. Many councils are riding rough-shod over the interests of local people by closing off ‘lifeline’ routes to shops, schools and doctors’ surgeries, when they could have improved the paths with a cleanup, lighting or better security measures.
“The draconian new powers given to councils to cut off local paths without an independent appeals process, spells bad news for pedestrians and worse news for democracy.
“We are calling on the government to amend the regulations so that if the public objects to a proposed path closure then a public inquiry must be held. This will mean that the evidence for and against closure will be heard fairly and openly."
What is alleygating?
‘Alleygating’ is a gate placed over the entrance to an alley which bars public access to the route. (1 – see notes for legislation)
It differs from the usual provisions used to close or divert public rights of way; there’s no requirement to hold a public inquiry if people object to a gating order.
The campaign will launch on Tuesday 23rd September and run for a year.
If you have a story of alleygating misuse, or if you would like more information, please visit www.unlockingpaths.org.uk
Notes to editors:
1). The UNPC co-alition was formed a year ago to lobby for a change in regulations, in response to growing reports of council misuse of the new alleygating powers. Members include: Brecon Beacons Society; Byways and Bridleways Trust; Chiltern Society; Disabled Ramblers; Peak & Northern Footpaths Society; Living Streets; Open Spaces Society; Ramblers’ Association
2) Alley gating is the name commonly given to the closure of highways (including public rights of way) by means of a gating order made under sections 129A – G of the Highways Act 1980 (as amended by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005)
