Neighbours at war over gated community bid

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The residents of Abinger Mews in Maida Hill are divided over plans to install remote-controlled gates at the entrance to their road to keep out strangers at night.

Supporters say they need to be protected from drug dealers and robbers but critics argue the problems have been exaggerated and that closing off entire streets is socially divisive.

At least 13 other small roads and mews in Westminster have applied to close themselves off to non-residents since 2004, prompting the council to declare it will not sanction any more.

The Abinger Mews planning application will be decided by councillors tomorrow.

Katie Thompson, 35, a resident who supports the gates, said: "I have three children and youngsters come into the mews and hang around. I don't want people coming down into the mews. I want my children to be able to play outside.

"We have had cars dumped down here and a few years ago people filled one with paper and set it on fire."

Angelo Caporali, 25, said: "I am in favour of the gates because it would mean there would be more parking spaces for residents.

"Also, there have been a lot of breakins into houses and cars so the gates may help stop this."

But Caio Buzzolini, 30, said: "I don't want to live in a prison. In South Africa you see people living behind gates in these big houses and I don't want to live like that and be cut off. Yes, there have been a few problems but more things happen in the park next door where kids play in the middle of the night. Gates would not stop that."

The spread of security gates was highlighted by residents of Connaught Square, home to Tony Blair, who complained his security arrangements were turning the area into a gated community.

Robert Davis, Westminster's cabinet member for planning, reacted: "We have a number of high-profile individuals in Westminster, as well as some of the most important buildings in London, and if every one of them was allowed to gate themselves, soon nobody would be able to move around freely.

"How can we say to Londoners and the millions of tourists who visit London, 'You can't walk down certain streets?'"