A Guide to Alley Gating - Reading Borough Council

area once they are installed. If this is an official group there are also otheradvantages, for example you may be able to apply for funding to assist youwith the costs of the scheme or to provide environmental improvements toimprove the look of the alley. Your residents’ group will then assumemanagement of the scheme and maintain responsibility for the gates once theyare installed.Step 4 - ApplicationsPlanning permissionYou may not need planning permission if your gate is no more than two metreshigh and does not join directly with a public right of way. The majority of alleygating schemes, however, will require planning permission to actually put upthe gates.You should find out from Reading Borough Council’s Highways department ifyour alleyway is a public right of way or not. If it is a public right of way, anapplication will need to be made to permanently close the alleyway.Step 5 - Design and construction of the gatesThe design of the gates you install is extremely important both for securitypurposes and visual appearance. Your final choice, however, should notcompromise effectiveness. While a timber fence might seem an attractive andless costly alternative, it is unlikely that its performance will match that of asteel gate. It will also require a lot more maintenance and in the long run endup more expensive.You and your neighbours will be looking for value for money. Make sure you getat least three quotes for the work. You should provide manufacturers with thesame specification so that you can compare like-for-like when you get yourquotations. Whatever your gate is made of, it must be designed with thefollowing features in mind:Anti-climbingMake sure the gate has no centrally located horizontal bars or anything thatcould give the burglar a foothold and assist them in climbing over the gate.Opening the gateFor safety reasons the gate should always open inwards.HeightThe ideal height for security reasons is 2.4 metres. It is recommended that theminimum height you should use is 2 metres.HingesThe hinges should not provide footholds and should be designed so that thegate cannot be lifted out of its hinges.

SectionsThe sections should use a minimum of 3mm thick steel. For taller or widergates you should consider increasing this to 4mm.The base of the gateThe gap at the base of the gate should be small enough to prevent anyone fromcrawling underneath.Natural surveillanceThe gate should not be solid – it must give a clear line of sight down thecommunal alleyway.LockingThe lock should ‘slam to lock’. This is known technically as an automaticdeadlocking mortice latch. Ordinary mortice deadlocks can be left unlockedand ordinary padlocks that are not built into the gates can go missing. Bothmake your alleyway insecure and mean the gate is constantly banging againstwalls. Self-closing gates are not a good idea because they can cause problemswhen people are trying to take in wheelbarrows or bicycles, or when bulkyitems are being delivered.Strength and ease of maintenanceSteel, which is galvanised against rusting is the best material for a gate. It willbe more difficult for criminals to get through and the long-term maintenancewill be minimal.KeysAt least one key per household will be required. You will need to remember toorder enough keys for everyone in your street plus spares.Step 6 – Installing the gatesOnce you have secured the funding and steps 2 and 4 are complete, you will beable to order your gates. It normally takes six to eight weeks to manufacturethe gates and installation could be another two weeks. You will be able to usethis time to distribute keys to your neighbours. It is recommended that whendoing this you ask them to sign a key agreement. An example of this can befound at the end of this document. This will ensure residents are aware oftheir responsibilities in locking the gates and not handing keys out to anyonenot in their household. You could also use this opportunity to start amaintenance fund.Step 7 – Alleyway improvementsOnce the gates are installed you may wish to make improvements to yourspace. Depending on your own preferences and the size of the alley you maywant to put benches and planters in the alleys, or create a play area forchildren.

Contacts:Neighbourhood Project OfficersTel: 0118 937 4258 or 937 4922Crime Reduction AdvisorJohn McNicholasCastle StreetReadingRG1 7THTel: 0118 953 6000

Consent Form for Proposed alley gating scheme at:Name of area_____________________________________________________Address__________________________________________________________Daytime contact number ___________________________________________Email address_____________________________________________________• Owner occupier • tenant • absent owner • other (details) please circleIf you are not the owner of the property, would you please provide us withdetails of the owner or managing agent so that we can contact them:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Crime around your propertyHave you experienced any burglaries / attempted burglaries via the rear ofyour property?Y/NDo you think there is a problem in the area with people using the alleys forCriminal purposes?Y/NAnti-social purposes?Y/NFly tipping?Y/NDo you think that the existence of the alleyway is allowing persistent criminaloffences?Y/NIf yes, please describe______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Would putting gates on the alley increase your sense of security? Y/NHow important would you say the need is for gates on the alleys?Not required / Not sure / Important / Very important please circleDo you have access to the alleyway directly from your property? Y/NInstallation of alley gatesI am in agreement to the installation of security gates onto the alleyways atthe rear / side of my property and agree to all the necessary legal orders thatmay be made as a result of this scheme.Y/NIf applicable, I agree to the gates being attached to my propertyY/NI understand that once these gates are erected I will be a joint owner of thegates and my responsibilities will include:• Ensuring the gates are closed and locked at all timesY/N• Participating in and contributing to arrangements for key holding, care andmaintenance of the gates and alleyway.Y/N

• Ensuring that the alley to the rear of my property is kept free from anypermanent obstruction, and ensuring free access along the alley outside myproperty to other residents.Y/N• To give permission to any statutory service providers, responsible for anyservices that may be located in the alleyway and allowing free access along thealley outside my property.Y/N• Not to give out keys to persons outside my immediate household and beingliable to pay the reasonable costs incurred if I require a replacement key.Y/NWould you please indicate if you would be willing to take part in a residents’association?Y/NPlease use the space below for any additional comments that you may have.I hereby agree to all conditions within this document and agree that allinformation I have provided is correct to my knowledge.Name ____________________ Signed________________________________Date_____________________________________________

Key holding agreement formName (print) _____________________(signature)_________________________Property owner’s address________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Postcode ______________________________Tel no ___________________In accepting the key to the alley to the side of and to the rear of my property,I agree: -1. Not to obstruct the alley.2. Not to release the key to those outside my immediate household.3. Not to wedge open the gates and to ensure the gates are closed after use.4. To hand in the key to a nominated key holder when selling the property.5. Not to let unauthorised people into the alley.6. Not to litter or allow dogs to foul the alley.7. All other residents on this block are guaranteed free access along the alleydirectly outside my property.8. I also authorise all statutory service providers including: - all utilitycompanies etc, their contractors, agents and any other authorised persons totake access over the passageway at all times for the purpose of carrying outtheir statutory undertakings.9. To pay £ per annum into a holding account held in trust by the residents’association for the purpose of the future maintenance and insurance of thegates.