Liverpool path brings gated alley tally to + 2,150 countrywide
The Ramblers has slammed Liverpool City Council's decision to block a 500-year old path, as ‘the tip of an iceberg’: an estimated 2,150 urban paths snapped shut countrywide by councils using new alley gating powers (1). Calling the Croxteth decision ‘a gate too far’, the charity is urging walkers to help campaign to help change the 2005 Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act legislation.
The Altcross Road path, Croxteth, has recently been closed despite a 700-strong local petition against the ‘gating order’ and no demonstrable record of persistent crime or anti-social behaviour associated with the path. The route is one of many Liverpool routes to be blocked using the controversial alley gating powers, known as the ‘Asbo for paths’. The 2005 legislation – currently being used by councils across England and Wales to close paths - does not provide for objections to be heard by an independent arbitrator at a public inquiry (the normal procedure if any public highway is to be closed).
The Ramblers is urging walkers across England to step forward and campaign for a change in the 2005 legislation. Janet Davis, the Ramblers Senior Policy Officer, comments: “Liverpool Council ‘alleygators’ decision to snap shut this vital and popular Croxteth path with scant regard for local views, is a gate too far.”
“The current council alleygating powers ride roughshod over England’s hard-fought-for tradition of robust, public consultation on changes to rights of way. Although gating can help prevent crime on paths with no practical value, these summary powers are being abused by many councils, who are closing community lifelines vital to every day business and recreation.”
“We want to have the law changed so that when a member of public objects to a gating order the decision is passed to an independent arbitrator. This will ensure that communities like Croxteth will never lose their routes to shops and services ever again.
Adds Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society which backs the Unlocking Paths campaign: ‘Liverpool Council is belatedly consulting on its alleygating policy. We have called on it to hold an independent public inquiry whenever an alleygate is opposed. That might have saved the popular Croxteth path.’
The Ramblers and Open Spaces Society are calling on walkers to assist the campaign. Visit www.unlockingpaths.org.uk/faq and send in details of any paths which have been gated against the wishes of local users.
