HomeAlley-gates
Alley-gates are helping to reduce antisocial behaviour, burglaries and fear of crime in areas of Belfast where they have been installed. As well as making neighbourhoods feel safer, they are also helping to build a cleaner environment.
So far, we have received a very positive evaluation of our alley-gate pilot scheme. For example:
- 89 per cent of respondents said they believed the gates had a 'positive' or 'very positive' impact on reducing the fear of crime
- 73 per cent of residents reported a positive impact on the reduction of littering and dumping
- 87 per cent of residents believed the gates had a positive impact on reducing crime.
Consultations have been completed in the areas agreed by council and installation of gates is underway and completed in some areas.
North Belfast
- Little Americas: Cavehill Road and Salisbury Avenue (completed)
- Woodvale: Palmer Street, Bray Street, Chief Street, Disraeli Street and Rathlin Street (completed)
- Ardoyne and Ballysillan: Brompton Park, Cranbrook Court, Cranbrook Gardens, Duneden Park, Estoril Park, Etna Drive, Glenbank Place, Glenside Parade, Holmdene Gardens; Northwick Drive, Ladbrook Drive and Strathroy Park (completed)
East Belfast
- Mount and Willowfield: Ardenvohr Street, Halcombe Street, Maymount Street, Omeath Street and Willowfield Parade (to be advertised in local press in September)
- Avoniel: Avoniel Drive, Avoniel Parade, Flora Street, Heatherbell Street, Jonesboro Park, Mayflower Street and Hatton Drive (to be advertised in local press in September)
West Belfast
- Beechmount and Springfield Road: Beechmount Crescent, Beechmount Grove, Colinview Street, Colinward Street, Crocus Street, Forfar Street, Fort Street, Iris Close and La Salle Gardens (completed)
- Whiterock: Beechview Park (completed)
- Upper Springfield and Glencolin: Monagh Drive, Monagh Road, Moyard Parade, Lenadoon Avenue and Corrib Avenue (going through DRD legal process)
- Glencairn: Glencairn Crescent, Glencairn Street and Rutherglen Street (completed)
South Belfast
- Lower Ormeau: Cooke Court (to be advertised in local press in September)
- Lower Windsor: Adelaide Avenue, Brookland Street, Ethel Street, Fane Street, Great Northern Street, Lisburn Avenue, Lorne Street, Northbrook Street, Rathgar Street, Surrey Street, Windsor Road and Rathcool Street (going through DRD legal process)
Gallery
Here are some pictures of alley-gates which have been erected to date. Click on the image to see a larger version of the picture.
Future schemes
We have provided £700,000 of capital funding for a further 145 gates. Elected representatives have been adding streets to our existing list and there are currently 460 streets requesting gates. Each street will be examined for instances of reported anti-social behaviour and crime, and will be ranked in priority of need. These streets will be agreed by councillors and residents will be notified of the result.If gates can be self-financed by communities, we will support the residents to follow the correct procedures and, if the gates meet our standards (usually costing about £4,000), we will insure the gates, regularly inspect and maintain them as well as facilitating the key management system.
Communities should use our alley-gating manual to help them through this process.
Alley-gating manual
We have produced a useful manual for communities who want to erect alley-gates. It provides step-by-step guidelines on how to install gates in your community.A number of communities across Belfast have already benefited from the manual and have set up their own scheme with our support.
Once the gates are in place, we will assume responsibility for their insurance and maintenance. However, putting up gates involves a complicated legal process, so communities considering this step should contact us at an early stage.
- Download alley-gating manual (PDF - 1.4 MB)
