Residents outraged by gate plans

Washington Homes Ltd, which recently built Woodville Park off Sullart Street, has applied to Allerdale council for permission to put in place two "metal gate/ close boarded hoardings", one at the end of New Street and the other at the end of Derwent Street.

For the past few months there have been locked metal gates there.

New Street residents had been told these were in place while building work was completed.

The original planning application for the site included the gateways having bollards and therefore two-way pedestrian access.

Twenty-one residents of New Street and Crown Street, wrote a letter to the Times & Star this week. 

They said: "The drawings which had been approved by the planning department show three  bollards where this metalwork was erected. 

"The current application is to remove the  gates and replace them with a non­opening screen, effectively creating a metal fence which could be removed to access utilities infrastructure beneath.

"If this plan is not rejected, Cockermouth will be the first town in Cumbria to have  such a barrier placed between residential streets.  

"As yet we have not heard of any plausible reasons for this restriction on our freedom of movement and can think of  none. "This would of course set a dangerous precedent for other developers to follow."

The planning application includes a letter from David Thompson, Cumbria police's crime prevention design adviser.

He said: "Having listened to the views of Woodville Park resident representatives, and viewed the replacement gates, I do now have concerns about the potential problems which the opening up of these gates may create and which the local community would expect the police to resolve. 

"In the light of diminishing police resources it is therefore important that an appropriate and proportionate consensus is achieved which avoids problems occurring, or worse still escalating, and creating community tension or feelings of a lack of safety."

More than 20 people attended a meeting in New Street this week.

Andy Rodger, who lives with his family in the street, said: "To have two residential streets in Cumbria split by a fence is completely unprecedented.

"People are outraged by the submission from the police officer. 

"This is contrary to current guidelines which focus on natural surveillance, footfall and free movement discouraging crime. This area is not a crime hot spot."

Malcolm Parker, of New Street, has written to Allerdale council, registering his objection.

He said: "A metal screen will divide the two communities and prevent us from using a safer shortcut by our young children to the local primary and junior schools and the older ones who have difficulty walking to use a shortcut to Sainsbury's."

Since the locked gates were put in three months ago, Fred Sheil, of New Street, said there has been up to 20 occasions when people have jumped over the wall from Woodville Park into his yard, in order to avoid a lengthy diversion. He said: "By closing off an egress route from Woodville Park it will cause people to take unapproved shortcuts. The concept of a gated community is not in keeping with the ethos of life in Cockermouth."

Stephen Haigh, of Woodville Park, is also opposed to the barriers. 

He said: "One of the great strengths of Cockermouth is its safe, open , community ethos."

Eric Nicholson, a town and county councillor, attended a meeting of Woodville Park residents in the summer.

He said a vote was held regarding what should be done about the gates.

There was a small faction which wanted the gates kept locked but when a vote was held 27 to four were in favour of access being allowed both ways, Councillor Nicholson said.

He added: "I hope they will retain the existing gates, with free pedestrian access. It's okay the police supporting screens in problem areas but not Cockermouth."

Washington Homes Ltd, which is developing the 85-home site, due to be completed in April, declined to comment.