ALLEYWAYS in three areas of York look set to be closed to the public, in a bid to clamp down on crime and increase residents' security.

An "alleygating" proposal before City of York Council has recommended the closure of the alleys behind Neville Street and Stanley Street off Haxby Road, Portland Street off Gillygate, and Gray Street off Scarcroft Road.

Consultation with residents has brought no objections, and the plans should get the go ahead at a council meeting this Thursday.

Alleygating was introduced in York last year, in a bid to curb vandalism, burglary, and the problem of drug users gathering in the alleys. Previous schemes in Manchester and Liverpool had seen crime fall by 40 per cent. In York, The Groves, South Bank and Clifton were designated as initial target areas, with Walpole Street in The Groves the first to be alleygated, in June last year.

At that time, police said the scheme could help reduce crime, but only if residents remained alert. Community Sergeant Bob Mowat said then: "Nationally, alleygating has proved to be very successful in reducing house burglaries, but people must remember to take simple security steps.

"We can spend thousands of pounds on these gates, but if people still go out to the shops or the pub and leave their front door unlocked, they will be burgled."

If backed, the current proposals would see locked gates being erected at each end of the alleys, meaning they could only be accessed by residents with keys.

All three areas have been defined as high crime areas by the Secretary of State - a prerequisite for any alleygating project. The cost of putting up the gates and fences for each of the three alleys ranges from £2,196 to £3,070

The alleys currently being considered for closure are:

Between Neville Street and Stanley Street, in The Groves.

Behind houses 1-15 on the south-west side of Portland Street, off Gillygate.

On both sides of Gray Street, off Scarcroft Road.

Updated: 10:25 Tuesday, August 02, 2005