Plans are in the pipeline to restrict access to a number of alleyways which have "caused misery to residents". Councillors hope to restrict public access to the controversial service road behind Outram Street - nicknamed 'Mucky Alley' - and close walk-throughs accessing Bramley Court, Portland Close, both in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Rockwood Walk, in Hucknall.
Three alleyways on the Coxmoor Estate, in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, are hoped to close. Ashfield district councillors for these areas have been working closely with the council’s head of community safety Antonio Taylor and policing inspector Jon Hewitt to develop the plans under a new Public Spaces Protection Order.
The closures are part of Ashfield District Council’s Safer Streets agenda. Councillor Helen-Ann Smith, the council’s deputy leader and executive lead member for community safety and crime reduction made the announcement at last week’s full meeting of Ashfield District Council.
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She said: “We are pleased to announce more alleyway closures and are now going through the legal process to formally close the alleys and gate them off.
"We have identified seven alleyways where we can provide the evidential base to gate them. These alleyways have caused misery for residents and have been a hotspot for crime and anti-social behaviour. We will be further consulting with local residents and statutory consultees to formalise the closure of these alleys and will undergo formal ratification at the council meeting on January 24 – with the alleys gated soon after.”
The proposals have been welcomed by Cllr Samantha Deakin, who represents Central Sutton and New Cross for the Ashfield Independents. She said: “The access road adjacent to Outram Street has been a nightmare for years.
"It has been a haven for fly-tippers and I am so pleased it will be shut from one end to restrict footfall in this area – with fixed CCTV protecting the other side. We wanted to gate the whole thing off but due to multiple access issues this was impossible. We have done the next best thing.
"The alley was almost like a drive-thru for fly-tippers. We were determined to sort this alleyway out and I am delighted that by the start of February it will be.”
Cllr David Hennigan, Independent councillor for Sutton Central and New Cross, added: "This is something we have been working on for four years. We are doing things that protect residents and make their lives better.
"All these alleyways have been the bane of people’s lives. The four off Bramley Court have been particularly bad – with evidence of drug dealing and criminal damage. The closure of one side of the access road behind Outram Street and the new CCTV will do a lot to protect residents on Russell Street whose properties back onto the worst alleyway in Nottinghamshire. No-one likes to block access for residents – but in our fight to reduce crime and combat fly-tipping – it is exactly the right thing to do.”
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