Highgate square residents want to close gate on public

They propose sealing off the central green in Pond Square, Highgate Village, and restricting access to it outside daylight hours.

The residents claim they are disturbed by youths drinking and taking drugs there at night.

The move is the latest example of people in better-off areas of London trying to close themselves off to prevent crime. Critics claim these gated communities are socially divisive, keeping apart the rich and poor.

Under the proposals for Pond Square, where house prices start at £1.2 million, a high fence with gates would be erected around the square.

People would be banned from it between 9.30pm and 7.30am and anyone caught inside during that period would risk a fine.

Neil Perkins, chairman of the Pond Square Residents Association, said: "If you seal off the square and make it more like a park the police think it will help design crime out of the area.

"If you get local crowds of kids drinking then it is quite easy to enforce because of Camden's controlled drinking zone, but not if it's just crowds of youths gathering.

"If the area was closed off and someone was in there then they would be committing an offence, end of story. It's clear cut."

He claimed the plan had the full support of association members.

One resident, construction company director Russell Higson, 47, said: "I'd be in favour of gating off the square as long as it was done reasonably and was still open to the public while it was light in the evenings.

"Some people around here have got a lower tolerance of noise than others. Sometimes the police are called even when people are drinking quietly in the square.

"It can get rowdy as you get people spilling out from the Prince of Wales pub, which backs on to the square."

A woman neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "We're not trying to be selfish and control the square but the peace of mind and quality of life of the residents should be taken into consideration."

The plan is opposed by Highgate Society chairman Gordon Forbes, who called it "negative and counterproductive", and by some visitors to Pond Square.

Theatre director Lizza Charlaff, 56, said: "This is a very relaxing, pleasant place and I'm a frequent visitor.

"I only live a few minutes away and to my knowledge there's no significant problem with noisy groups. I think it's probably the affluent and more elderly residents who have a problem with the noise." Her daughter Belou, 22, a student, said the square was a popular meeting point for children. "I would be very surprised if there was drugs going on, she said.

Retired teacher Lynda Overton-Jagessar 58, said: "You often get mothers here with children enjoying the sun and the peace and quiet.

"I don't know what they'd do if they were restricted from using the square, and even if it was closed off only at night it would still spoil the feel of the place to have fences."

Gated communities, many guarded by private security firms, have been criticised by Metropolitan police commissioner Sir Ian Blair. Westminster council has promised to use its planning powers to keep the heart of London "open and accessible to all".