Access concerns over Donnington Castle electronic gate plan, Sad state of affairs. Options

[Andy Capp]

I agree, peoples attitudes to litter is disgusting. If they abuse it they should lose it. Simple.

But it ain't simple; not everyone abuses it. In fact I would suspect few abuse it.

[Andy Capp]

I'd not like unsavoury behaviour just over the boundary of my property either. I doubt anyone would. There are several places where late night 'activity' results in mess & annoyance for others.

That is true but I'm not sure that is for EH to police.

A gate, on a timer, would certainly stop some of the activity.

It might reduce it some, but I doubt it will stop it. There will still be pedestrian access.

[dannyboy]

That is true but I'm not sure that is for EH to police.


It might reduce it some, but I doubt it will stop it. There will still be pedestrian access.

If it is on property under their care I'm sure they'd be interested.

Aye, those midnight hikers can cause a real mess.

[Andy Capp]

If it is on property under their care I'm sure they'd be interested.

Of course they would be interested, but anti-social behaviour is usually dealt by authorities like the police.

Aye, those midnight hikers can cause a real mess.

Maybe not, but the ones during the opening hours (and the proposed extended hours) can.

[dannyboy]

Of course they would be interested, but anti-social behaviour is usually dealt by authorities like the police.


Maybe not, but the ones during the opening hours (and the proposed extended hours) can.

If I complained to the police about cars & pedestrians using my drive in the middle of the night I suspect they'd tell me to get a gate.

[Andy Capp]

If I complained to the police about cars & pedestrians using my drive in the middle of the night I suspect they'd tell me to get a gate.

They'd suggest you do, but they cannot refuse to help if you don't.

[dannyboy]

They'd suggest you do, but they cannot refuse to help if you don't.

No, but they might not have manpower available, especially in the countryside. So a gate would be the most sensible answer.

[Simon Kirby]

The sign at the castle says it's accessable at any reasonable daylight hour. Where has the idea come from that the car park needs to be locked from 6.30 pm to 9.30 am?

[dannyboy]

The sign at the castle says it's accessable at any reasonable daylight hour. Where has the idea come from that the car park needs to be locked from 6.30 pm to 9.30 am?

That is what the old sign used to say. That the gates were locked from 6:30 - ie the sign was a warning against being locked in overnight.

[Simon Kirby]

That is what the old sign used to say. That the gates were locked from 6:30 - ie the sign was a warning against being locked in overnight.

Right, so the car park used to be locked 1830-0930 before the old gate broke, and since then the castle has been officially open in daylight hours but in practice it's been open outside that too because the gate is broken. So why not an electronic gate that opens for daylight hours - that's what the dog-walkers are asking for and it seems like a perfectly reasonable compromise.

[Newbelly]

They'd suggest you do, but they cannot refuse to help if you don't.

All calls to the police are graded and they will not continue to attend ad infinitum in respect of a minor complaint. An example is a faulty house alarm that keeps going off at an empty premises.

They would, quite reasonably, expect the property owner to do something about the problem themselves if possible.

[Andy Capp]

No, but they might not have manpower available, especially in the countryside. So a gate would be the most sensible answer.

All calls to the police are graded and they will not continue to attend ad infinitum in respect of a minor complaint. An example is a faulty house alarm that keeps going off at an empty premises.

They would, quite reasonably, expect the property owner to do something about the problem themselves if possible.

If the problem was cars being a nuisance, then a gate is a reasonable idea, but it seems from the examples given that it is what people do up there (rather than the car use) that is the issue. Things that can occur any time by people with or without a car.

[Jayjay]

Can this be verified? I can find nothing on the Internet to support this. I have read about The Castle pub having lead theft problems and Shaw House, but not the Castle itself. Wondering how tenacious 'metal thieves' are, I doubt a gate would trouble them much.

As the gate would be made of metal, wouldn't they just take the gate?

[dannyboy]

If the problem was cars being a nuisance, then a gate is a reasonable idea, but it seems from the examples given that it is what people do up there (rather than the car use) that is the issue. Things that can occur any time by people with or without a car.

Yes, but the people who do what they do get there by car. We're are not talking about people who park up & then walk to have their fun.

[dannyboy]

As the gate would be made of metal, wouldn't they just take the gate?

Steel ( thank god ) isn't currently worth nicking.

[Andy Capp]

Yes, but the people who do what they do get there by car. We're are not talking about people who park up & then walk to have their fun.

But the examples of ASBs are ones that can happen during the day as well. Like I said, if it is a case of cars being a nuisance, then fair enough.

[dannyboy]

But the examples of ASBs are ones that can happen during the day as well.

In an obtuse mood today?

[Newbelly]

If the problem was cars being a nuisance, then a gate is a reasonable idea, but it seems from the examples given that it is what people do up there (rather than the car use) that is the issue. Things that can occur any time by people with or without a car.

There could be all sorts of crime going on, but repeated calls to a simple "trespass" on a driveway (as in the example) will not be high on the agenda for response. If a witness reports something serious going on, then, of course, an immediate response should be expected.

I doubt the castle and grounds could be "Enclosed Premises" as defined in the old Vagrancy Act.

[Andy Capp]

But the examples of ASBs are ones that can happen during the day as well. Like I said, if it is a case of cars being a nuisance, then fair enough.

In an obtuse mood today?

Their duty is to preserve our heritage - by installing a gate that stops lead theives is doing just that.
If the gates are electronically controlled they'll be able to have longer hours in the summer.

Judging by the amount of crap & fast food detritus left in the car park & the burn marks to the grass, those using the car park after dark are only their to cause a nuisance.

Perhaps it would be good to hear of what sort nocturnal nuisance occurs.

[Simon Kirby]

In an obtuse mood today?

Not at all, just working the problem on its given facts. The complaint was about litter (provocatively described as anti-social behaviour) and stolen lead from the roof of the castle, but I can't find any reference to the lead going missing from the roof of the keep on either the English Haritage web site or Newbury Today, and I'd have expected such a theft to have been reported. So if it's just a couple of McDonald's wrappers then I don't see what the fuss is all about. If there's something else going on then it would have been useful to report that, and it's reasonable to assume in the absence of that report then there isn't anything else.