Gates for community centre to target anti-social behaviour

25/03/2009

An east London community centre is welcoming the installation of gates to keep out troublemakers.

Parkside Community Association in Goodmayes has suffered months of mess, noise and anti-social behaviour by groups of youths, the Ilford Recorder states.

Now a £4,210 grant from the police will be used to fit two electronic security gates, meaning people will not be able to get round the back of the building and cause trouble.

"These gates will not just protect the centre but also the neighbours," explains centre manager Jane Hart.

PCSO Tony Terry adds that the security gates are a long-term solution to the problems the centre has faced and give peace of mind to centre users and nearby residents.

Earlier this week, research from the University of Huddersfield revealed that residents feel more secure in their homes when alley gates are in place.

It found that those in Liverpool, where some 5,700 gates have been installed in the past ten years, are in favour of such schemes.