Alley gating

'Alley gating' is the term for installing self-locking gates at the end of alley-ways and passages.

Alley-gating is a very simple measure which can prevent crime and help to improve community living. The advantages of alley-gating are:

• They are an effective deterrent against burglars
• They stop youths from hanging around in alleys where they might drink or take drugs
• There is less of a problem of dog fouling by stray dogs
• They are safe play areas for children
• They help to improve community spirit by allowing nearby homeowners to have a sense of ownership of the alleys.

How to apply for 'alley-gating'

To apply for 'alley-gating' you will need to:

• Complete the application for the scheme and return it to the address below
• Check whether the alley that you wish to put a gate on is not privately owned.
• Obtain signatures from all the surrounding homeowners to show that they are in agreement with the ‘alley-gating’ scheme. This is to ensure that nobody can later claim that they were not in agreement with the gate being installed
• In order to ensure that alley gating is properly constructed, it will be built by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets as the appropriate Highways Authority. The council will deal with the provision of estimates and must receive payment before any work is carried out.
• You will need to agree a system with your neighbours for wheelie-bins. The refuse collection service does not keep copies of the keys to gates and so residents will need to ensure that the bins are placed outside the gates on the day of collection. The bins must then also be returned once they have been emptied. You may also need to help elderly and disabled residents who may struggle to move their bins.

Further information

For more information please contact:

Gary Branton
Highways Maintenance Section
Council Offices
60 Southern Grove
London
E3 4PN

Tel: 020 7364 6691
Fax: 020 7364 6753
E-mail: roadsandhighways@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Pid No: 657