Plans to continue gating off anti-social alleyway in Northampton endorsed by police and council

The borough council gated off Marble Arch, an alleyway between Ash Street and Barrack Road, in 2018 as it was a ‘hotspot’ for street drinking, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.

Proposals to gate the alleyway off date back as far as 2010 – when it was ruled out for cost reasons – but was finally introduced thanks to a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) being implemented in the area for a three-year period.

PSPOs provide councils with flexible powers to address a range of anti-social behaviour issues in public places to help prevent future issues, and breaching them within their vicinity is a criminal offence with a possible fine of up to £1,000 or prosecution.

The existing PSPO runs out in January 2021, and a new PSPO needs to be made prior to the expiry date or the gates will have to be removed.

Proposals to extend the PSPO for a further three year period were endorsed by Sergeant Rod Williams, of the Central Neighbourhood Policing team in Northampton. In a written statement to the council, he said: “The decision to install gates on the Marble Arch alleyway/cut through was a decision which has had a significant impact on the locals allowing them to have a degree of normality in their everyday lives. This has allowed them to go about their normal lives without feeling intimidated or threatened which can be evidenced by businesses in close proximity.

“The installation of the gates has also resulted in a reduction in anti-social behaviour reports and criminality and has prevented large groups from congregating which in turn has resulted in a reduction of discarded needles being recovered and reports of people seen defecating and urinating. I have been extremely happy with the overall impact on criminality and ASB the installation of the gates has had and would oppose any decision to alter or remove them from their current location.”

Members of the borough council’s cabinet agreed last week (July 22) to undertake a 12 week statutory public consultation, which will end on October 21.

Councillor Anna King, the cabinet member for community safety, said at the meeting: “The Public Spaces Protection order for Marble Arch has been highly beneficial and has really helped the police tackle anti-social behaviour in that area, and also helped our wardens as it has helped clean up a lot of fly-tipping issues in that area.”

Council leader Jonathan Nunn added: “All sorts of problems used to exist in that part of the town and the PSPO does seem to have done a good job of eliminating some of the terrible things that were happening up there. It seems to have been universally supported, I’ve not heard any negatives against it, so it does seem straightforward to renew it.”

Anyone wanting to share their views on the proposed PSPO, can take part in the online questionnaire at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/MarbleArch

People can also request a paper copy of the questionnaire: Community Safety, Northampton Borough Council, The Guildhall, St Giles Square, Northampton NN1 1DE, or by emailing [email protected]