The 11 Hartlepool streets to have their alley gates improved in crime crackdown

Plans have been approved for the next stage of a scheme to toughen alley gates as part of a crackdown on high levels of crime.
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Anti-climb attachments will be installed on 18 alley gates across 11 streets in the Burn Valley area of Hartlepool.

Work will also include a maintenance programme after some of the gates were vandalised.

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A report from council planning officer Stephanie Bell said: “The provision of rotating spiked anti-climb attachments to the top of alley gates would potentially help deter incidences of crime and disorder, particularly anti-social behaviour and acts of burglary and trespassing, which is a view supported by Cleveland Police.

The Burn Valley area of Hartlepool had the highest average rate of burglaries across the Cleveland Police area, according to 2019 figures.The Burn Valley area of Hartlepool had the highest average rate of burglaries across the Cleveland Police area, according to 2019 figures.
The Burn Valley area of Hartlepool had the highest average rate of burglaries across the Cleveland Police area, according to 2019 figures.

“Therefore it is considered the proposal should be conditionally approved.”

A design and access statement on behalf of the council noted Burn Valley had the highest residential burglary rate of the entire Cleveland area, at 40.09 per 1,000 population, when the figures were calculated in 2019.

It said: “Over time the lack of ownership and maintenance of the gates and supporting structures has led them to become ineffective.

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Hartlepool Borough Council will thus reinvigorate an alley gate management and inspection programme, ensuring long term effectiveness and efficiency.

Eighteen sets of alley gates across Hartlepool are to be improved.Eighteen sets of alley gates across Hartlepool are to be improved.
Eighteen sets of alley gates across Hartlepool are to be improved.

“As well as the anti-climbing, Hartlepool Borough Council is also carrying out a maintenance programme of the gates as it is recognised that some of the lock mechanisms have been subject to vandalism as is the case with mesh panels which will also be replaced where necessary.”

Plans were already approved earlier this year for the first part of the scheme, which included similar works across 38 alley gates in the area.

The plans come after it was announced last year Hartlepool’s Burn Valley area, including Oxford Road and adjacent “ladder” streets, would be one of three areas receiving funding for a major overhaul in crime prevention measures.

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This would include improved alley gates, increased CCTV and street lighting, and came after Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner helped secure £1,034,696 from the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund.

The streets to benefit are Leyburn Street, Penrhyn Street, Alston Street, Ellison Street, Thirlmere Street, Burn Valley Road, Bangor Street, Powell Street, Grasmere Street, Shrewsbury Street and Marlborough Street.

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