The closure of a crime hotspot alleyway next to a Southampton school is just the “beginning” of a conversation to tackle long-standing issues in the area, council leaders have vowed.

Cabinet members approved the introduction of a public space protection order (PSPO) to shut off the walkway next to Mount Pleasant Junior School, an area plagued by drugs and sexual offences.

Following opposition in a public consultation, a similar plan for a footpath in Northumberland Road adjacent to Maytree Nursery and Infants’ School will not be implemented.

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The majority of responses objected to the Northumberland Road proposal, which would have prevented access to The Vinney play area.

Speaking at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, August 27, leader of the council Cllr Lorna Fielker said the PSPO could only be in place for three years and in her opinion they were “never the ideal” tool to deal with anything.

“We need to find good permanent solutions,” Cllr Fielker said. “That commitment is firmly in the report.”

Addressing cabinet members, executive headteacher of Mount Pleasant Junior School and Maytree Nursery and Infants’ School Emma Kerrigan-Draper said: “If a PSPO is approved at MPJS (Mount Pleasant Junior School), we will finally be able to create a green space, our first and our only [one] for children, which is on the land adjacent to the alleyway.

“It was originally the Mount Pleasant play space. This has been closed for many years, lying derelict and it is a venue for criminal activity and antisocial behaviour.

“With the alleyway closed, we would be confident to start developing the adjacent green space for our children to use and the children have plans for a mini forest school. With the alleyway open, it’s too dangerous for the children to be in such close proximity.”

Mrs Kerrigan-Draper said not having a PSPO for Northumberland Road will likely divert activity from the closed Mount Pleasant alleyway, which had been highlighted by police.

She added: “I am aware that some are concerned about closing the area’s only green space.

“I do not professionally or personally have the luxury of putting access to a green space above safeguarding.”

The headteacher said the school had a “realistic, safer, positive” solution that could increase the quality and quantity of access to the play area.

Mrs Kerigan-Draper explained: “Imagine if after all due processes and procedures are followed, the schools were given responsibility for such a green space. Their only green space for almost 700 children.

“Imagine if we built on the solid foundations of parent partnership we’ve created and develop child and family access to a school-maintained play space with restrictions but which could provide a significantly improved offer consistently to our families.”

A report to cabinet said 25 offences in Mount Pleasant alleyway were reported to police between 2016 and 2023, with 53 recorded for Northumberland Road and the play area over the same period.

These include sexual assaults, robberies and drug-related matters.

Cabinet member for communities and safer city Cllr Christie Lambert said the decision was one that had “not been taken lightly”.

“It is a great shame that so many actions in that area have led to a closure of any kind but as an administration, we have a zero tolerance for anti-social or dangerous criminal behaviour,” Cllr Lambert said.

“We will be working very closely with our safer city partnership to crackdown on that behaviour and making sure that everyone feels safe.

“I am very grateful for this opportunity to open a dialogue with stakeholders, open a dialogue with schools in the area and work together on how we might be able to address some of these very serious issues, in terms of ASB and children’s safeguarding as well.”

Bevois ward councillor and cabinet member for compliance and leisure Toqeer Kataria said: “I think this consultation and the decision being made today is not the end, it is the beginning.

“It is the beginning of the conversation that will continue to grow to make sure that these issues are no longer every day activity or normalised.”

Deputy leader Cllr Simon Letts said the fear more issues will move to Northumberland Road was “absolutely valid”.

He said: “I don’t think we can just leave it here.

“We do politically need to give a commitment that this is an important issue for the schools, it’s an important issue for the people of Bevois and therefore we have our duty to take the decision today but continually to review it and see if we need to expand it.

“If the problem moves and it exacerbates the problem for the second school site, we have solved nothing.”

Once implemented, the PSPO for the Mount Pleasant alleyway means anyone who breaks the restriction could be subject to a fixed penalty notice or taken to court where the maximum penalty is a £1,000 fine.

Fencing off and securing the footpath is expected to cost £25,000 and be completed within three months.

The scheme’s budget was included in the children’s and learning capital programme, with the funding coming from the schools condition allocation grant.