Alley gates installed to halt estate trouble

Alley gates installed to halt estate trouble

5 May 2021

NEW alley gates have been erected at one of Downpatrick’s largest housing estates in a bid to curb anti-social behaviour in the area.

Eight sets of gates have been erected by the Housing Executive in a bid to address the concern of residents and community groups about young people running amok at the Model Farm area, targeting passing cars and property.

Housing Executive representatives worked alongside the Model Farm Community Association and a range of stakeholders and elected representatives to address community concern.

In addition, staff from the County Down Rural Community Network staff joined the housing body’s Model Farm patch manager Ashley Baxter to conduct door-to-door surveys to test residents’ attitudes to alley gates.

The overwhelming majority of residents said that they would welcome this measure to tackle anti-social behaviour with all gates are now in place.

Kyla Hannaway, chairwoman of the Model Farm Community Association, said she was very pleased with the gates which, she said, will definitely make the pensioners in the area feel safe and more secure, especially at night time.

“The gates are certainly a welcome addition to the area and we would like to thank the Housing Executive for providing these,” she said.

“By way of acknowledging the success of this project, we then decided to celebrate with the elderly residents by offering them afternoon tea party boxes which were delivered to every bungalow in Ballymote Park and Islandbane Walk.”

She said the community group tried to do different things for the residents in the area, especially the elderly, and would continue to offer support, especially during the remainder of lockdown.

The Housing Executive’s South Down area manager, Liam Gunn, said the organisation took the lead in organising the provision of the alley gates following “some prolonged issues with anti-social behaviour”.

He continued: “With the eight gates now in place, we hope residents will feel safer in their homes and anti-social behaviour issues and concerns will be eased.”

Mr Gunn added: “Early feedback is that residents are delighted with the success of the scheme. Our Downpatrick office team leader, Bronagh Magorrian, worked very hard to get the gates in place as did patch manager Ashley Baxter, working closely with  the Model Farm Community Association and with County Down Rural Community Network.”