COUNCIL and police officials have clashed over who is responsible for protecting access in York’s alleys after ‘alleygating’ has taken place.

The confusion has been exposed after a resident complained about vehicles blocking the alleyway behind her home in Diamond Street, The Groves.

The resident, who preferred not to be identified, said she contacted North Yorkshire Police and City of York Council to raise concerns after a van was repeatedly parked in the alley, making it very difficult for a disabled friend to get past it in his mobility scooter to visit her.

She was dismayed when it emerged that each organisation thought the other was responsible for such issues.

“I am getting increasingly frustrated that our legal rights of accessing our properties via the back alley is still denied us and nobody, really nobody, is willing to even look into the issue,” she said.

She said police argued that when the council carried out ‘alleygating’ - installing a gate at the end of the alley to improve security -such alleys became council property and access became its responsibility.

But she said a council official took a different view.

Alison Newbould, rights of way officer, told her: “We believe the issue is one for the police to deal with.

“However, they have advised that they will then look into the issue and get back to us. If the law allows either the council or the police to take action then action will be taken.”

A council spokeswoman said:“We’re working in partnership with colleagues at North Yorkshire Police to investigate this complaint.”

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said the force and council were ‘working closely together on this matter and looking at solutions to resolve this issue.’