SECURITY gates are to installed at laneways near houses in the Galliagh and Carnhill areas of Derry in a bid to reduce anti-social behaviour.
The proposal for the installation of the new gates was approved at a meeting yesterday of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Health and Community committee.
The gates will be used to close off laneways close to numbers 116 to 132 in Galliagh Park and numbers 224 to 259 in Carnhill.
A report prepared for yesterday’s meeting said the residents of all these houses had been surveyed about the proposed installation of the security gates.
The majority of the residents were in support of the proposal.
The report said there had been ‘numerous’ reports of anti-social behaviour in the areas.
It stated that a number of residents from both areas had indicated their willingness to act as keyholders if the gates are installed.
The residents would then be responsible for opening up the gates in the morning and locking them in the evening.
SDLP councillor Rory Farrell said local residents had been “plagued” by anti-social behaviour in recent years.
“This is brilliant news. I hope these gates are going to make a noticeable difference in anti-community activity and that people in the vicinity can lead peaceful, calm and nuisance-free lives,” he said.
He was told by a council officer that the local Policing and Community Safety Partnership would proceed with the installation ‘within a matter of months’.
The new security gates were also welcomed by Sinn Fein councillor Sandra Duffy.
“We have been meeting with residents in Carnhill and Galliagh Park for many years over the anti-community issues that they been facing and it will be great news for them to get this passed,” said Cllr Duffy.
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