Geraldton Council to vote on closing Spalding pedestrian access way to end ‘antisocial behaviour’

A Geraldton resident who regularly gets rubbish and “drug paraphernalia” thrown over his back fence is fighting to have the pedestrian access way adjoining his Spalding property closed.

Homeowner Ray Cooper raised his concerns about the Craine Place access way at the City of Greater Geraldton’s agenda forum on Tuesday, almost eight years since he first applied to have it closed.

A report presented to the council stated pedestrians are currently using the strip of land to access vacant private properties fronting Lawley Street.

“Pedestrians do not have the legal right to cross these properties given that they are privately owned. The pedestrian access way does not provide connectivity to any community facilities,” the report said.

Mr Cooper said people passing through the access way late at night created a disturbance, with objects often thrown over fences.

“They throw cans and bottles over my fence, and most weekends we have to go up and down the fence line chasing up all the drug paraphernalia that comes over the fence,” he said.

“A rotten old mattress has been sitting (in the access way) for about six months and there is always a build-up of rubbish.

“My grandchildren were playing in the backyard one day and suddenly they came screaming inside because there was a bloke standing in the alleyway urinating. I don’t think 13 year-old girls need to see that.”

Councillors will on Tuesday vote on the motion, which has recommended council request the minister for lands and the WA Planning Commission to endorse the closure and amalgamation of the access way.