The alleyway gating scheme, run by the council's gating team, is designed to improve community safety.
This resident-led scheme, encourages neighbours to work together, as they build a safer and healthier environment to live in.
Benefits of alley gates
Alley gates can help:
- deter anti-social behaviour
- reduce crime
- prevent environmental crimes
Who can apply
Residents can apply for secure steel gates to be installed in private alleyways.
For an application to be considered, the gating team requires:
- all schemes to be on private land
- all applications to have a lead resident, who will be the main contact for the council and residents
- 100% consent provided by all affected homeowners and landowners
- a completed application form
Who cannot apply
The gating team will not consider applications for:
- housing estates
- alleyways that hold main property entrances within them
- alleyways that run behind multiple businesses
- alleyways that are in constant use
We recommend that you speak with your landlord about securing the land.
Applications
All applications received are subject to a suitability assessment and an environmental assessment. Applications are then scored, with the most necessary scheme approved for gating.
If a scheme is rejected, residents can apply again. However, if an applicant receives a reason explaining why the scheme is unsuitable for the alley based on specific environmental reasons, they may not be permitted to apply again (until the environmental factors change).
Once the gates are installed, they become the residents’ responsibility to manage, fund and maintain.
The process from applying through to installation can take longer than 12 weeks. If you need an alleyway gated immediately, we recommend you look into installing a private gate.
Before completing the application
Applications will be rejected if they do not include 100% consent from all affected homeowners and landowners. If you cannot locate the landowners and homeowners, after speaking with neighbours, you can complete a land registry check
All applications received are evaluated using crime statistics from the Police, council records, and an assessment of value for money. In the application, we recommend that the lead resident, with the help from affected residents, includes the amount of anti-social behaviour and crime that has taken place in, or with the assistance of the alleyway. This can help support your application the need for alley gates.
If your application is successful, there will be a 21-day break for concerns or objections to be raised. If objections cannot be resolved, the scheme will not be able to go ahead.
Please note the council will not clear the alleyway before the gates are installed. If you use a contractor to clear the alleyways, please make sure they hold a current waste carrier licence issued by the environment agency.
How to apply
To apply for the alleyway gating scheme there must be at least 1 lead resident who will complete the application form, and be the main contact for the council and affected residents.
Applications are accepted 3 times throughout the year, with the following deadlines:
- 31 March
- 31 August
- 30 November
Alley gating funding application form
After installation
Once the alleyway gates have been installed, they become responsibility of the residents.
We strongly encourage residents to work together to agree on how the alleyway and alley gate will be looked after, maintained, and funded going forwards, to ensure that they are prepared of any future maintenance costs and potential issues.
Ealing council does not:
- hold keys to any gates that have been gifted to residents
- assist in civil disputes
- assist in repairing gates that have been left to fall into disrepair
Contact details
- Email: Gating@ealing.gov.uk
- Post:
The gating team
Safer communities
14-16 Uxbridge Road
Ealing W5 2HL