Residents across the city are feeling safer thanks to alley gates provided by the city council, through a scheme which is being extended for another 12 months due to its success so far.
The scheme's criteria has been widened so that residents can also apply for repairs to existing gates, even if they were not provided by the council.
Since the scheme was initiated in 2021, almost one hundred households have benefitted from the installation of new gates.
The gates are provided through funding made available by the Safer Neighbourhoods Initiative, set up to provide a coordinated response across the council and external partners to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour.
This includes increasing neighbourhood engagement, looking at physical means of improving safety and a city-wide community fund to support measures such as alley gates to address specific problems.
Councillor Beth Jones, Norwich City Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for community safety, said: “We know how important it is to feel safe and secure at home, and there are many different elements to this.
“I am delighted that so many residents have made use of this scheme and that we have been able to extend the funding for another year so that even more residents can take up the offer.”
Mike Harmer, a resident living close to the city centre, said: "We definitely feel safer with the gate there. When it's nice weather we feel more comfortable leaving the back door open. Applying for the gate has brought neighbours together"
Other happy residents commented:
“I could not be happier with the new gate – it makes me feel safe, is really high quality and looks really good. The process was easy and all of my neighbours have been very pleased with the result.”
“We feel more secure. We aren’t listening out for every knock and bang in the back garden.
The application process and having it installed couldn’t have been easier. We were given time to discuss and consider the options”
Applications are invited from residents and community groups and the work must benefit more than one household or property. If it relates to crime or anti-social behaviour, the issue must also have been discussed with their local police safer neighbourhoods’ team before an application is made.
Anyone who would like to bid for funding should visit www.norwich.gov.uk/communityfund to read through the guidance documents and complete an expression of interest form.
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