Plans for 18 more alley gates to get extra security in Hartlepool

Proposals were recently approved by Hartlepool Borough Council planning department to install anti-climb attachments on top of 38 alley gates across the Burn Valley area.

Plans have now been lodged for the second phase of the scheme, which will see a further 18 alley gates across the area have the anti-climb attachments installed.

Locations include various sites such as alley gates in Leyburn Street, Alston Street, Ellison Street, Burn Valley Road, Bangor Street, Shrewsbury Street and more.

Submitted by Hartlepool Borough Council chiefs, proposals note work will also include a maintenance programme of the gates, with some having been subject to vandalism.

A design and access statement on behalf of the council notes Burn Valley has the highest residential burglary rate of the entire Cleveland area, at 40.09, per 1,000 population, which the gate improvements aim to help tackle.

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

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

“An assessment of the area also highlighted how some of the alley gates do not have sufficient anti-climb devices fitted to the tops of them.

“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.”

The spiked anti-climb attachments will increase the height of the gates by 35cm to help prevent anyone being able to climb over them.

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

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, which aims to prevent crime.

Plans state the alley gates work has been split into two schemes, defined by recorded levels of crime, with the first cluster of sites recently approved.

They also note scheme two will immediately follow scheme one, subject to planning permission being granted.

A decision is expected to be made on the latest proposals by the council planning department next month.

To view and comment on the planning application visit the Hartlepool Borough Council planning portal online and search reference number H/2021/0009.

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