A BATTLE by residents to block off their private estate from “riff-raff” appears to have ended in victory after the council finally caved in to their demands.

Households living in Tamar Square, Woodford Green, have been campaigning for more than five years for locked gates into their neighbourhood following a spate of anti-social behaviour from “tramps, teenagers and urinating city boys”.

Next week councillors are expected to rubber stamp the plans following a consultation exercise which showed most residents in favour.

Council officers have recommended that gates leading into the estate, off Charteris Road, should now be locked between 8am to 8pm, with all residents having a special electronic key to get in and out.

However not everyone is pleased with the scheme.

A pathway through the estate is thought to be a public right of way, while council officers have also raised concerns that anti-social behaviour could be displaced to other areas of Woodford Green.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “This is a lazy response to poor policing. If (anti-social behaviour) is that big a problem patrol the area and prosecute some of offenders or their irresponsible parents.”

But Tony Banton, who spear-headed the campaign for the gating order, said: “Most people here are very pleased. We’re finally coming to the end of a very long tunnel.

“Being insular the residents are worried about Tamar Square, but the council are worried about anti-social behaviour, but it’s the police that should be dealing with it.”

Estate caretaker John McFadden agreed.

He said: “There were a few people at first who were worried about it but once I explained the ins-and-outs to them they seemed to be fine with it.

“This can’t come soon enough. Only the other day we had a group of five men messing around, and two people urinated all over the place.

“It’s ridiculous of the council to say anti-social behaviour will just go elsewhere. It’s because the estate is enclosed that it attracts these types of people, and a lot of them come from Leytonstone.”

The scheme is expected to cost the council £5,000. The gating order will last for one year before being reviewed by council officers.

In the consultation, 22 residents voted for the gating and 11 against.

Councillors will make the decision on the plans on Tuesday (June 9) at an Area Two Committee meeting at Ray Lodge Primary School at 7.15pm.