MANY crime-hit streets in York are still waiting for burglar-busting gates because of a row over bin collections and street cleaning.

New powers brought in two years ago gave local authorities the chance to block entrances to alleyways that are abused by criminals.

But it emerged today that City of York Council has yet to close a right of way under the law because of difficulties in agreeing who will be responsible for maintaining the closed-off areas.

Nearly 60 alleys, the majority of which are in The Groves, Clifton and South Bank, have been identified as suitable candidates for closure.

Council chiefs said they hoped to install the first gates to Grosvenor Terrace, off Bootham, by the end of April, with others soon to follow in Avenue Terrace, Clifton, and Cleveland Street, Holgate.

They have now solved the maintenance problem by drawing up plans to ask residents to leave their rubbish at the front of their homes, instead of in the secure alleyway. Street bosses also hope that residents will play a part in maintaining the alleys once they are closed off, reducing the need for regular cleaning.

A City of York Council spokeswoman said other snickets and alleyways had been closed under different rules.

She said that the rigorous legal process and consultation that must be followed to install the gates had taken some months to plan. She said: "The alley-gating officer has been in post for ten months and the first task was to form the policy that would determine how we would apply the national legislation at local level.

"Clearly, there is a legal process that must be followed in respect of each of the alleys that we look at closing and this includes a period of consultation.

"In real terms, the scheme has only been fully operational here in York for six months and the Grosvenor Terrace alley will be the first to be closed under the new alley-gating legislation."

The council estimates it will cost £210,000 to gate all the alleyways in the three designated areas, with each gate costing about £3,000.

Offenders, possibly including house burglars, will carry out many of the installations at no cost to the tax payer as part of community punishment orders under the supervision of probation officers.

Coun Ann Reid, the council's executive member for planning and transport, said alleyways would become the residents' responsibility when gates were fitted, although she was unsure who would maintain the gates.

Updated: 10:40 Monday, January 31, 2005