Wellingborough alley gates and CCTV: how new scheme plans to save Queensway estate residents from crime and anti-social behaviour

Residents on a Wellingborough estate could see 40 alley gates placed in areas suffering from anti-social behaviour and 18 extra CCTV cameras added to the town’s network.

In an attempt to improve life for those living on the Queensway estate, an area blighted by knife crime, drug gangs and motorcycle nuisance, people are being surveyed by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OFPCC).

At the latest public event held at Glamis Hall Community Centre representatives from the OFPCC were on hand to talk through plans with residents.

Paul Golley, delivery manager, crime reduction and operations OFPCC, said: “We want to bring CCTV to the residents here. We have 40 provisional locations for the alley gates, that are subject to consultation. The alley gates stop opportunist criminals by only giving access to residents. They are desperately needed.”

Match funding from Greatwell Homes and North Northants Council (NNC) will see a total of £1.1 million spent on the estate.

So far the OFPCC has seen 60 per cent response rate from the 3,150 households leafleted.

Among the dozens of residents poring over the plans was Adam Kift, Queensway resident.

He said: “Personally I think it’s needed. Where I am, we do not have any issues like what’s going on in other parts of the estate.

"It could shift the problem from the alleyways but I can only see it as a good thing, it’s going to be a deterrent, looking at the positions of the cameras.”

Fellow Queensway residents, a pensioner who did not wish to be identified, said that anti-social behaviour was blighting her life.

She said: “We get a lot of trouble in the alleyways. My fence has been pulled down, they are doing drugs, they are hanging around.

"I’ve lived here for 50 years – it makes me feel very vulnerable. Alley gates will solve the problem for us, but I think it will probably shift the problem.”

Another older resident added of the proposed CCTV: “I think it's a positive thing for the area. If it stops the motorbikes going through and fly-tipping. If it makes them think twice it’s a good thing.”

The Office of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold successfully bid for the cash as part of the Government’s latest round of Safer Streets funding.

Cash allocated to North Northamptonshire will be spent in ‘left-behind’ areas where problems are at their worst – with NNC working with the OFPCC and social housing providers.

Executive member for housing, communities and levelling up Cllr Matt Binley (Cons, Brickhill & Queenway) said: “We have had an absolutely brilliant response. There will be an element of displacement, we don’t want to be moving (crime and anti-social behaviour) to other areas. Putting in CCTV will not fix the problem. This issue is only a small part of the jigsaw. It’s poverty, education and employment. This hasn’t happened overnight, this has been decades in the making, now we have a hard job to turn it around. We have to work with the police and this is the first step towards this.”

To complete the questionnaire go to https://northnorthants.citizenspace.com/community-safety/queensway-alley-gating-scheme/ by Friday, October 21.