Bohemia Village Voice  Bohemia Village Voice

For bohemians everywhere

Gates for Clarence Road

Clarence Road - gates proposed to stop crime

Clarence Road - gates proposed to stop crime

Residents and those with business premises in the ‘park’ part of Clarence Road have long been pressing to have a gate erected to stop undesirable people from driving up there after dark. Andy Holmes, vice-chairman of the Bohemia Area Association, writes: “In March 2007, the BAA  petitioned for a gate in Clarence Road restricting vehicle access beyond the entrance to Alexandra Park during the hours of darkness. Each household and business in the road would hold a key. The petition was backed by 100% of those affected, plus our street wardens, PCSOs,  park rangers, councillors Cartwright, Bond and Webb, Terry Drinkwater, (neighbourhood renewal), and Matt West, (community safety). At a meeting in Lewes in December 2007, the petition also secured the support of Cllr Matthew Lock. This means that ESCC, who are responsible for the highways of East Sussex, have formally agreed in principle to the proposal. This is the first time they have ever considered granting permission for the gating of a public byway such as this. It was stated at the meeting that the case made by figures of reported crimes was ‘overwhelming’. A supplier has quoted £2,700 for installing the gate, and funds have already been set aside.”
Len Chappell, who lives in the affected part of Clarence Road, says that he and his two neighbours were not consulted about the position of the gate. It is understood that the gate is to be further up the road than their three houses. Mr Chappell says that this would make things worse, as more fly-tipping and other trouble would occur by their houses. He told the Voice that there had been “a big drugs bust about three weeks ago. The police came and caught four carloads of lads doing drugs.” He  would like the gate to be sited by the electricity sub-station close to the junction with Upper Park Road, and, as we go to press, he has written to Andrew Cartwright and Trevor Webb to that effect.

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