Shortcut gates cause outrage
GATES placed across an alleyway used as a shortcut by Barnstaple schoolchildren has sparked outrage.
For years pupils at Park Community School have cut through Prospect Place to Park Lane.
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Prospect Place
Within the past month, six-foot high gates with sharp spikes have been erected by residents of Prospect Place who want to stop children using the thoroughfare.
Some local people who support the gates have complained that people walking past their homes are noisy, drop litter and vandalise their property.
Children are still using the shortcut but are now climbing over the fence, leading to fears about injury.
One resident of Prospect Place, who wished to remain nameless and was involved in meetings at which it was decided to erect the gates, said: "There have been a lot of problems here with litter, graffiti and vandalism — some people have had their windows smashed and their garages broken into.
"There is a lack of respect shown here and the residents are just trying to protect their properties."
Martin Thompson, manager of respite care home The Forget-Me-Not project in Prospect Place, said: "A small number of children are destructive and I do think the gates are a good idea in theory.
"We have seen kids urinating in the alleyway and hurling verbal abuse at each other which isn't very nice.
"However, the gates do seem to be causing problems and kids are using our window sills as a foothold to climb over it which is very dangerous."
Stacey Smith of Prospect Cottages said life had been better since the gates were put up.
She said: "It used to be so noisy down here with the kids shouting and cars driving through. Now it's peaceful — I'm all for it."
But children from Park Community School think the gates should be taken down.
Michael Winter, 16, said: "I used to walk that way all the time but now I have to take a much longer route which has made me late for school a few times. If they are complaining about litter why don't they put some bins up there?"
Fellow student Alex Winter, also 16, added: "People are still climbing over. There's going to be an accident soon."
John Patt's Quality Fruit Shop on Newport Road has seen a drop in business since the gates were installed.
Shop supervisor Jenny Beckett said: "There's not as many kids coming past the shop now and we've definitely lost trade.
"It's not just children who use that lane, it's convenient for elderly shoppers and dog walkers too. I want to see the gates gone."
Barnstaple district councillor Chris Haywood (Lib Dem) has vowed to take the case up with the public rights of way committee in Exeter on Monday, November 9.
Cllr Haywood said: "I've had lots of complaints from residents in the area and I think that people have a right to object. The diversion children have to take is much longer and runs past two very busy roads.
"Anyone who would like to fill out a form to register their objections can get one from me."
Park Community School headteacher David Atton said: "I understand why the residents have installed the gates but I have serious concerns about its design.
"The top is extremely sharp and I am concerned that before long there will be a serious accident when a child tries to climb over it — who would be liable for this?
"I also think that closing the lane will just displace the problems elsewhere and force our pupils to walk near a very busy road in the mornings and afternoons."
The
Journal
was unable to speak to the man who was believed to have installed the gates.
● You can phone Cllr Haywood on 01271 375121.
41 Comments
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by jimmy, newport
Friday, October 30 2009, 11:10AM
“there has been a gate across this lane for years - just one you could easily get over (under)”
by Anon, Newport
Wednesday, October 28 2009, 7:54PM
“Patriot, Ilfracombe -if you are going to go through times get it right.Park School does not start at 9:00.”
by Mary, Newport
Wednesday, October 28 2009, 3:43PM
“In answer to Depressed, Barnstaple
Keep taking the Prozac”
by Stu, Braunton
Wednesday, October 28 2009, 3:26PM
“Normally I would be dead against closing a public right of way. But there comes a point when enough is enough.
It is private land that this public right of way crosses, and the owners of the land it crosses have obviously had enough.
Not many of us would be happy to have our front door graffittied, or our windows smashed, and even less so if it is a regular event. Who wants to live in fear in their own home?
It's a word used too often these days, and often in a poor context, but it all comes back to respect.
If the people using this lane had shown respect, for the people who own it, and their property, then there would be no issue, and no gate. I'm sure the owners would have respected people's wishes to walk across their land had respect been shown by those using the lane.
It is very sad that such action, action of the last resort, is needed to allow people to live peacefully inside their own 4 walls. It is typical of the world we live in that the mindless actions of a few have left the residents with no choice but to act in a way that affects all.”
by Mary, Newport
Wednesday, October 28 2009, 12:27PM
“Cllr Haywood is a Lib Dem and as such his views are irrelevant”
by Des, Barnstalpe
Wednesday, October 28 2009, 12:02PM
“I quote Cllr Haywood: "I've had lots of complaints from residents in the area and I think that people have a right to object. The diversion children have to take is much longer and runs past two very busy roads.
"Anyone who would like to fill out a form to register their objections can get one from me." As this councilor is supposed to represent ALL his constituents can I please get a form to register my agreement to the gates?”
by Patriot, Ilfracombe
Wednesday, October 28 2009, 9:30AM
“Its dimwitted comments like "why should anyone respect something they are not allowed to use?" that are the cause of all the trouble in todays broken Britain.. My parents and teachers taught me that having repect for others and thier property is fundamental in a funcional society...
Instead of harping on about the gate being errected, maybe a better course of action would be to talk to the residents and maybe thank them for all the years that they have allowed access and through-way, this may lead to the gate being left open at certain times to facilitate the children..
the second point I would like to make is this, Why are pupils arriving late? are the pupils so dense and the teaching levels so low as to negate simple math? ie.
School starts at 09:00, the journey takes 10mins, start journey before 08:50 to arrive on time (60 - 10 = 50)
School starts at 09:00, the journey takes 15mins, start journey before 08:45 to arrive on time (60 - 15 = 45)
Of course, I am taking for granted that the puplis arriving late are aware that an hour comprises of 60 minutes, and we dont need to go into specifics about clocks and what the little and big hands mean on said devices...
I despair....”
by Monkey Balls, Newport
Wednesday, October 28 2009, 7:41AM
“I take it that most of the people showing their disapproval of this gate do not live in the Newport area and they are not subject to the comings and goings of the little "angels" from Park School.
If, for example, you are from Ilfracombe, what do you know about it? Nothing, so butt out.
If you don't live in this area, you have no right to comment and you certainly have no idea what it is like to put up with anti-social yobs on a daily basis. If the headmaster of Park School took these matters seriously, which he doesn't and the pupils were made to conduct themselves in a more appropriate manner, rather than behaving like animals let out of the zoo; then this gate would not have been necessary.”
by Happy, Peacefull Prospect Place
Wednesday, October 28 2009, 1:11AM
“Gate erecter for President”
by Tom, Barnstaple
Tuesday, October 27 2009, 7:21PM
“The Headmaster asks "who would be liable" if an accident occured? Surely the person climbing the fence would be. Oh no I forgot, we no longer live in a world where somebody is prepared to take the blame for their own mistake.”