Maidenhead & Windsor

Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough residents concerned about crime and anti-social behaviour in their local areas look set to get further help from the council, thanks to a proposed change to its alley gating policy.

A report to be discussed next week proposes that the Windsor and Maidenhead council rather than local residents will pay for the installation of alley gates – a tried and tested crime prevention measure in areas where narrow alleys and pathways close to homes offer opportunities for crime. The installation of gates, restricting access to people who have keys, aims to reduce these opportunities and increase confidence in local communities.

The proposal to shift the cost of alley gating installation from residents to the borough will help ensure that this potential solution to local crime and disorder is open to all residents and not just those who can afford it.

Cllr David Burbage, Windsor and Maidenhead council leader, said: “Over the past couple of years we have paid very close attention to residents’ concerns about crime and disorder where these alleys and pathways run close to their homes and offer either meeting places or quick escape routes for groups of mostly young people intent on causing trouble.

“Gating off these cut-throughs and giving access only to residents with keys has proved an effective deterrent in other local authority areas but the current council policy means that residents have to fund the entire process themselves.”

Windsor and Maidenhead Cllr Burbage added: “By transferring the installation costs to the council, we can ensure this policy offers some help to residents where there is a sound case for gating alleys to help prevent crime. We are also making things easier for residents by ensuring a named officer is appointed to deal with each proposal.”

The change to the alley gating policy will be discussed at the planning and environment overview and scrutiny panel on Monday (September 3) and a final decision will be taken by cabinet on Thursday September 27.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead