Gates to shut out anti-social behaviour in Deal Town Hall’s Undercroft will finally be installed in the new year – and there will be no rise in the precept to pay for them.

The decision to install railings was first discussed in 2015 when the Conservative group controlled the council, because the area was repeatedly used as a toilet.

Since then, the price increase in materials has prevented the now Labour-run council from progressing.

Thanks to the cross-party working of three councillors David Cronk and Mike Eddy (Lab) and Trevor Bond (Cons), the long standing debate on the gates has finally concluded.

At last Tuesday’s finance and general purposes committee, the majority of councillors voted to select a local provider, Clima Gate Railings & Fencing Ltd in Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, at a final cost of just over £16,000. The sum is less than half of the rumoured £40,000 figure that was being circulated.

Savings were achieved when Cllr Cronk, Cllr Eddy and Cllr Bond were able to negotiate revised specifications for the gates with the heritage officer at Dover District Council.

The design and materials used have to be suitable for the grade II listed building, but it was deemed adequate to replace the originally proposed solid iron bars with hollow section bars.

Cllr Cronk said: “The council is very keen to achieve value for money in everything we do so I am delighted we managed to get a good result with this contract.

“Once we remove the need for expensive specialist cleaners the gates will pay for themselves in a very short time.

“The council has already earmarked the budget for this so it will not lead to any rise in the precept.”

Work will start shortly on the heritage-style gates which will be used to enclose the Undercroft at times when anti-social behaviour is most likely to occur.

Cllr Eddy said: “I am keen to see this space enclosed and improved.

“The gates will allow the council to install displays and possibly even seasonal decorations and offer an opportunity for the community to hire the new space for functions.” Cllr

Dominic Harper was concerned that some use the Undercroft as a shelter because they have nowhere else to go. He proposed that the council discuss social exclusion as a growing issue in the town.

It was agreed that the council will investigate the setting up of a social inclusion forum to bring together organisations working on issues such as homelessness.