Residents in a Sandwell neighbourhood are feeling safer thanks to a new electronic gate system – thought to be the first of its kind in the country – that is helping combat crime and anti-social behaviour.

Sandwell Council responded to residents’ concerns about problems centred on the public footpath between Walsall Road and Bustleholme Lane, West Bromwich.

The footpath is well used by local people during the daytime, but had become a problem at night.

The council’s anti-social behaviour officers and neighbourhood managers from its communities unit worked with the local neighbourhood police team to find a solution.

In order to gate the area, the council had to make a ‘gating order’, which included asking the views of local residents and key organisations such as the police, fire service and utility companies.

The opening and closing of the gates, installed by Cradley Heath-based Easygates Ltd, are controlled electronically by the council. They lock at 8pm and reopen at 7am. There is a release button within the gated area to prevent anyone becoming trapped.

Residents living next to the gated area have received remote-controlled key fobs to allow them in and out whenever they need to.

The gates have a security warning system and should they fail, a text warning system will notify the council’s street wardens who will investigate and call the police if required.

Councillor Derek Rowley, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for safer communities, said: “Overall recorded crime in Sandwell has fallen by over 40 per cent since 2002/3, and fell 8.3 per cent last year.

“Every crime or anti-social behaviour problem is important to us, and this footpath has been a particular hot spot.

“A gating order is very much a last resort. But it was necessary in this case because of the persistent anti-social behaviour affecting residents’ lives that was associated with the footpath.

“We believe this is the first electronically-controlled gating order in the country and is very much a specific solution to specific situation.

“In this case, one of the main benefits of electronic gates is that they can be locked and unlocked remotely which in the long-term is much more cost effective than sending out an officer twice a day at 8pm and 7am.

“Most importantly, these gates give residents peace of mind and much-needed relief from the behaviour they have suffered at night from undesirables who were attracted to this long and fairly secluded footpath.

“And having timed gates means the footpath is still able to be used by the many people who use it in the day.”

Councillor Rowley added: “I am pleased that it was a Sandwell company – Easygates Ltd – that was able to provide us with the best, value-for-money solution for these gates.

“We will now be closely monitoring the success of the gates.”

The original article can be found on Sandwell Councils site here