Blocked gate

When Royal Park Gate was built there was a gate at the end of Northweald Lane giving access to the path next to the playground. This was a useful gate as the alternative was to walk back up to Debden Close and then down the foot path through the centre of the development. Despite the obvious need for this gate the residents immediately next to it have chosen to block it to make their area even more private than it already was.

I witnessed the danger of doing this recently. There was an incident in the playground involving a child and the fire brigade was called. The fire engine got to the closest point, the end of Northweald Lane, only to find their way blocked. Luckily one of the residents, who had built their own private gate onto the central path, was able to allow them through his garden.

Permeability, the ability to move freely through an area, is a good thing and anything that prevents this, like obstructed gates, is undeniably bad.