Brighton city council rejects calls for double alley gates

Residents of Pool Passage, in Brighton, continue to experience issues of sexual activity, drug incidents and defecation outside their homes, but Brighton and Hove City Council has insisted it will not gate off the pathway, despite calls from residents.

The council said it is considering placing a gate at one end of Pool Passage, though has not confirmed which end it refers to.

The Argus provided the council with plans it had previously made to gate both ends of an alleyway near Oxford Court, Brighton, but was told that gates cannot be placed at the end of a public highway with access to residential properties.

A diagram drawn up by Brighton and Hove City Council showing the location of proposed gates at either end of an alleyway near Oxford Court, Brighton

“As previously stated, we can’t double gate Pool Passage,” said a spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council.

“The affected area at Oxford Court does not contain any access points to properties.

“Access to properties backing on to the former carpark can be reached via the larger entry further along Oxford Street.”

Resident of Pool Passage Hughie O’Neill previously said that one gate would not suffice in deterring antisocial activities in the "nightmare" alley outside his home.

Hughie O'Neill and his wife, Christine, outside their home in Pool Passage

Now, in an email seen by the Argus, councillor Tom Druitt has shown his support for resolving the issue.

“It does seem that the only option left is some kind of gating, as previously suggested,” he said.

“Residents have long suffered, and whilst we are rightfully always cautious about blocking access for public to footpaths/passages, I can’t see any other solution to ensure residents are safe and we can put an end to these horrible incidents.”

Mr O'Neill said that as of Monday, April 5, the council had not been in direct contact with him to offer a resolution.

Pool Passage from the entrance at Pool Valley, Brighton

The city council has again apologised to residents of Pool Passage via a statement.

“We are very sorry about the ongoing problems Mr O’Neill has been experiencing,” said a spokesman for the council.

“We are looking at the possibility of putting a gate at one end of Pool Passage, as we did at Farman Street in Hove a number of years ago.

“We will continue to explore this and its implications. but no decisions have been taken so far.”