Mosman: The Ashton building plans laneway closure in response to anti-social activity

A public laneway in Mosman is set to be permanently closed in the wake of a string of incidents including people ‘defecating’, ‘urinating’ and ‘vomiting’ in the alleyway.

A public laneway in Mosman is set to be permanently closed to the public following a string of incidents including people ‘defecating’, ‘urinating’ and ‘vomiting’ in the alleyway.

The strata owners of The Ashton unit building on Spit Rd have released a plan to stop the general public using the pedestrian link running along the ground floor of their building in a bid to put an end to anti-social activity.

Plans to Mosman Council state in the last 18 months there had been several incidents stemming from the public use of the alleyway, including three cases of people “urinating”, a further two of people “vomiting” in and around laneway and human defecation found on two further occasions in July last year and April 2022.

The strata owners say the public use has caused “safety impacts” and “disturbance” for residents living in the 15-unit apartment complex.

But the proposal to permanently close the laneway has sparked a flurry of objections from neighbouring residents in the town centre.

Nick Collis-George said the pedestrian link provides quick access between the Bridgepoint Shopping Centre on Hordern Lane and the many shops and public transport links on Spit Rd.

“I use it once or twice a week and I’ve never seen any anti-social incidents occurring there,” he said. “I get why the owners are probably annoyed and don’t want people walking through their property but it’s an important connection and should stay open.”

A photo of a trolley dumped outside the laneway.

Objectors have also pointed to approved development plans for the three-year-old apartment building which included the provision of pedestrian through link that would be “accessible at all times for members of the public”.

Neighbour Bob Dunn, 91, who lives in a seniors living complex directly behind the building, wants the laneway to remain open – saying it negates the need for residents having “to take on the traffic terrors of walking on Hordern Lane” to access Spit Rd.

“The laneway is covered and when you have shopping bags it means you don’t have to walk to Brady St and along the laneway to get back home from the shops,” he said.

“The only anti-social activity I’ve ever seen is people dumping rubbish and on Friday and Saturday nights when all the boys come back from the pub along Spit Rd and occasionally you get the odd one chundering in the laneway.

“But that also happens all along Spit Rd. The laneway hasn’t been specially selected.”

A photo of the building from Hordern Lane. Picture: realestate.com.au

The building strata owners say incidents in the last 18 month have also included a break-in linked to the public access, people riding shopping trolleys through the pedestrian link, damage to walls, dumping of rubbish and “intoxicated people loitering in and around the pedestrian link”.

“The anti-social behaviour associated with the pedestrian use has resulted in residents feeling unsafe, the use of strata funds to repair damage, and the use of strata funds to clean biohazards,” the plans stated.

“(We have also) documented evidence of many of the abovementioned incidents, however it is considered too graphic to be included in the application”.

The laneway connects residents and shoppers to Spit Rd.

The application to close off the laneway also states stray shopping trolleys dumped in the alleyway was another concern, partly due to the site’s proximity to the Bridgepoint Shopping Centre.

“This is caused by customers using shopping trolleys to take their groceries to the bus stop (on Spit Rd) without returning the shopping trolley to its proper location,” the plans stated.

“This can cause safety issues for residents by blocking clear access to and from their apartments. Additionally, there is a threat of trolleys rolling onto Spit Rd causing motor vehicle accidents.”

The pedestrian links connects Hordern Lane to the Spit Rd.

The proposed closure comes after the owners of the building took steps to limit public entry from 5pm to 7am – which they said has failed to stem “regular instances of delinquency” during daytime periods.

Plans to Mosman Council state the personal safety of the strata occupants was the primary aim of the laneway closure.

“The intention of the pedestrian link was to provide a pleasant pedestrian environment by increasing access to the shops, however the anti-social behaviour associated with the pedestrian link has adversely impacted the visual amenity and pedestrian environment,” the plans stated.

“The very localised benefit of this convenience (of the laneway) must be weighed in light of the significant and sustained anti-social activities, which are resulting in a significant financial burden on the relevant owner’s corporation in repair and clean-up costs.”

The proposal remains under assessment by Mosman Council. 

The Mosman Daily contacted the strata owners for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.