Projects - Yorkshire & the humber

Below are the Operation Gate It projects for Yorkshire & the Humber. To view another region please return to the map and select a new region.

Leeds

Early Action Houghley Gill

Houghley Gill was once an attractive and a pleasant retreat from the local residential estate. The area had dramatically declined following a murder and the former beauty spot was until recently considered a ‘no go’ area. In addition residents wished to bring the community together and challenge the perception that the area was, in the words of one resident, ‘beyond improvement’.

Operation Gate It funding enabled the formation of a Friends of Houghley Gill group who led an extensive community consultation exercise. The group became very committed to showing residents that something was being done to address both their fear of crime and the problems of anti-social behaviour in the Gill including fly-tipping, joy riding and motorbike scrambling.

Working with Groundwork Leeds, the Friends of Houghley Gill contacted the Youth Offenders Team and students from Park Lane College. By indicating the value conservationists placed on the Houghley Gill area the group hoped to encourage greater respect for the site.

Abandoned and burnt out cars which were causing damage to trees and grass and posing a safety hazard have been removed and metal fencing erected to restrict access. A wall was built to form an attractive ‘welcome’ entrance point.

Groundwork Leeds’ project officer commented,

“The project has not only provided physical barriers to the anti-social behaviour occurring on the Gill but it has enabled community participation and empowerment which has resulted in potential further investment into the area. This project has brought about a desire for change and a willingness to act which was not present before the Operation Gate It project."