BOROUGH OF POOLE

ALDERNEY, BRANKSOME EAST AND WEST AREA COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY 16 APRIL 2008

ALDERNEY SUBWAY

1.Matter for Consideration

1.1To consider requests to close Alderney subway under Ringwood Road between 8pm and 8am on the grounds of vandalism, damage and anti-social behaviour.

2.Recommendation

2.1It is recommended that:

(a)The views of this Committee on the principle of gating be given.

(b)If supportive, then the proposals set out in item 5.1 be undertaken.

3.Background

3.1The subway at Ringwood Road, shown as Appendix A, provides a direct pedestrian link between East and West Alderney. There is also an adjacent signal controlled pedestrian facility at road level, crossing the dual carriageway which takes some 52,000 vehicles per day.

3.2For some time this subway has suffered a large amount of vandalism and damage, a summary of which is shown as Appendix B. This culminated in a major incident in December 2006 when a motorcycle was burnt out in the subway, causing considerable damage which necessitated a several week closure to enable the repairs and final artwork to be undertaken.

3.3In addition, the subway appears to be the focus of youths gathering and taking part in anti-social behaviour, a summary of which is shown as Appendix C.

3.4As a result of these incidents there have been calls from the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), Ward Members and local people for the subway to be closed between 8pm and 8am.

4.Gating Orders

4.1The subway is public highway, a shared cycle/pedestrian route continuing on from the Bourne Valley greenway. Any alteration or restriction of public rights will therefore require a legal process to be gone through.

4.2Gating orders do allow the Highway Authority to physically close the highway, whether permanently or at certain times. Before making such an order the Council would need to be satisfied that the following is met:

  1. Premises adjoining or adjacent to the highway are affected by crime or anti-social behaviour.
  1. That the particular section of the highway to be closed is resulting in persistent criminal offences or anti-social behaviour.
  1. In the circumstances it is expedient to make the order to reduce the crime / anti-social behaviour.

In this respect evidence would need to be obtained as to the adverse effect that this particular length of highway being open has on local residents.

4.3When considering whether it is appropriate to make an order consultation would have to take place in respect of the following:

  1. Local residents using the subway who may be inconvenienced by its’ gating.
  1. The availability of an alternative route, particularly for disabled users.
  1. Whether such a closure would potentially encourage the use of cars.
  1. The views of statutory bodies such as Police, Fire, NHS Trust and Local Access Forum (LAF).
  1. The views of interested bodies such as Ramblers Association, Cycling Groups etc.

4.4The legal process would be for the Portfolio Holder, in consultation with the Transport Advisory Group, to approve the advertisement of the order. If there were any subsequent objections which could not be resolved then a Public Inquiry may be necessary.

4.5Issues still to be resolved in this respect are:

  1. The availability of staff resources and the cost involved in the legal process, particularly if a Public Inquiry is required.
  1. Arrangements, and associated costs, for physically closing and opening the gates on a daily basis.

5.Proposals

5.1If this Area Committee is minded to support this proposal in principle, then it is proposed that:

  1. Pre-consultation takes place with these parties listed in item 4.3.
  1. Investigations take place into the issues raised in item 4.5.
  1. The outcome of these brought back to a future Area Committee for consideration. If the outcome is still positive, then a recommendation be made to TAG to formally consider this proposal.

Julian McLaughlin

Head of Transportation Services

Appendix A-Alderney Subway (not available electronically)

Appendix B-Vandalism and Damage

Appendix C-Anti-social Behaviour

Name and Telephone Number of officer Contact:

Steve Tite (01202 262040)

ABEW160408T3A

APPENDIX B

RINGWOOD ROAD SUBWAY VANDALISM

SEPTEMBER 2004 - DATE

DATE / REPAIR
10/9/04 / Lights
22/9/04 / Lights
2/11/04 / Cover plates
10/11/04 / Lights
1/3/05 / Lights and graffiti
18/4/05 / Lights
2/6/05 / Lights
20/10/05 / Lights
25/10/05 / Lights
8/11/05 / Lights and wiring
15/11/05 / Lights
11/1/06 / Lights
20/4/06 / Lights and blanking plate
3/7/06 / Lights and blanking plate
13/7/06 / Lights
24/7/06 / Make safe
31/7/06 / Make safe
Sub total / £7,500
/12/06 Fire damage repair
(no further damage since this time) / £15,500
Total / £23,000

APPENDIX C

RINGWOOD ROAD SUBWAY – ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

As advised by Anti Social Behaviour Worker ( ASBW ), Housing and Community Services

  • General : Aware of problems at that Subway since I have been doing the job in August 2005. The wooded area next to the East entrance allegedly has a lot of drug taking and drinking at night. There is often a lot of rubbish around the subway entrance and people causing damage to lighting leaving wires hanging out which is dangerous. There has been graffiti inside the subway and although the community project helped some graffiti is still happening.

Below is a list of complaints.

  • 09/11/05 Transportation complaint re vandalism to lighting in the subway.
  • 01/08/06 Phone call received from resident who said that the council had been out six times recently and repaired the subway. The perpetrators seem to smash up the glass and the wires are hanging out which is dangerous.
  • 23/08/06 Meeting with ASBW, police, Councillors, and Transportation. The woods near the subway have drug paraphernalia and lots of beer cans. The problems in the subway are linked to the woods. Transportation will look into extra lighting around the subway entrances and Police will try and recruit some young people to paint the subway. ASBW will also look into CCTV.
  • 23/08/06 An email from Transportation Services. In the instance of the problems seen this morning, the area where there is much dubious activity (e.g. evidence of bonfires and local tree damage from fires; burnt out motor bikes; numerous alcohol cans; drug related objects; litter generally; etc.) is remote from the subway and therefore the area where police and community warden intervention is most focussed.

It is very difficult to site any camera within the subway or indeed to be looking into it, so the evidence for seeing damage directly caused there might be difficult. We are looking into whether additional lighting from existing adjacent columns is possible on the southern end. If so, this could then possibly support some CCTV coverage outside the subway. As for the beneficiaries and type of any surveillance chosen, that would have to be discussed between the interested parties.

  • 05/12/06 Councillor called stating that the Alderney East and West subway had a motorbike set fire in it, it is very badly damaged and will have to be repaired and could be closed for months.
  • 04/03/08 Anonymous call from a lady complaining about the youths hanging around Cost Cutters and the subway. Last Monday she called the police and they were excellent and the children disappear for a few days. She said there is a lot of glass and litter around the subway, grass and shop. Her husbands van was broken into on their driveway, the youngsters bash the bus stop, trespass, throw things, have kicked her husbands van and consume alcohol, the last time she called the police there were 20 youths there. The caller said the previous owner of the shop, managed to stop them gathering outside the front and they were told the subway would be closed and locked at night. Request pilot locking the metal doors and see if it makes a difference.
  • 26/03/08 The subway under 'Ringwood Road' just below 'Cost Cutters' store just below the 'Mountbatten Arms' roundabout:

1) is full of litter. This is the third weekend in a row. Can you clean it up again please?

2) I understood there to be an ASBO in operation for this site! There appears to be nobody policing it at the moment.

Last Thursday evening, 16.55hrs, cycling home from work there were 7 to 8 youths and girls blocking the exit on the Cost Cutter side. This was most intimidating.