Locking gate does not set precedent

12:10pm Thursday 28th August 2008

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SIR - I refer to the article in the Chronicle (August 7) headed Residents Locked In Dispute Over Gate Access' and, as a resident of Alison Way, would like to offer a reply to some of the statements and allegations mentioned therein.

I understand that the Kempthorne Management Company has made it known to the Winchester City Council and Cllr Barratt that they do not believe the planning consent for the Oram's Arbour development required that a gate be left open in the perimeter wall for general public access.

The un-named resident who stated that the amount of anti-social behaviour in the development is minimal is obviously not in possession of the facts, and should try living anywhere near the steps behind the gate for a week or so.

He/she would experience the noise, vandalism, urination, discarded condoms, used needles and other general nuisance, both at night and often during daylight hours.

I understand that the council and Cllr Barratt have been made aware of the significant number of times that the police have been called to try and apprehend the people causing this anti-social behaviour.

The claim that the route via the gateway, as against the pathway around the outer perimeter of the development, is a short cut to the doctors' surgery and St Paul's Hill is hardly credible.

There are only a few yards difference at the most and there are no steps to negotiate.

Finally, the council should put its own house in order with regard to locked gates on its own properties before attempting to keep open the one now in question.

I refer, for example, to the King Alfred Court residential property where there is a perimeter railing which contains a number of gateways at intervals. They are all firmly locked.

Residents only, have their own keys to just one of them, but there is no access for the general public.

I also understand that there are other private developments in the Winchester area that have locked access gates and the Alison Way gate is not a precedent setter.

G R Sheasby, Alison Way, Winchester.