Cllr Peter Ashley says ‘The alley gates are starting to go up in the Strand area of St Luke’s Ward. Completion should take another fortnight but their installation should help with security, fly tipping and anti social behaviour issues that have for so long created problems for the local residents. May I thank the residents for their help and support in bringing this project to a conclusion? It’s taken me ages to get the agreement of those who abut the alleys as many properties are let to tenants and we needed the freeholders consent but I am now really pleased to see this happening I am sure it will make a real difference for the residents’

 

The alleys were originally used as short cuts between the streets and for the delivery of coal and removal of rubbish etc but nowadays the most common thing to find is the alley blocked by dumped rubbish and weeds. The Police wanted them gated to prevent kids hanging around and getting up to no good in them. The residents wanted an end to the kids and rubbish and the greater security that the gating provides for the rear of their properties.

 

Cllr Anna Waite says ‘ I’m really grateful to Peter for getting this project to fruition, I know it will improve the area and give residents far greater security. We hope to be able to roll this out into other streets if we can either persuade the council or local business to fund us. This is a real community project that deserves support as it makes such a difference.’

 

The Alleys in the following streets are being gated- Glenmore Street (less one alley at present), Beaufort Street, Moseley Street and one side of Richmond Street, in due course we hope to go back and do the other side of Richmond Street that leads to Surbiton and then so on along all the roads.