Planners have rejected an application for a gate to be installed across the entrance to a small housing estate in London’s East End which would have stopped public access.

Families in Cooper’s Close in Mile End ran a two-year campaign against an application by one of the property owners to turn the street into a ‘gated’ community.

The proposal aimed at preventing pedestrians using an alley at the end of the cul-de-sac behind John Scurr primary school as a shortcut to Cleveland Way and the Mile End Road was rejected by Tower Hamlets council’s development committee on Tuesday night.

“The community showed clearly they did not want a gate,” explained campaigner Richard Kirker. “Our case for rejection was robust and reasonable.

“Thankfully councillors unanimously agreed with our objection and upheld planning law in favour of maintaining open and inclusive spaces.”

The families now plan to set up their own residents’ association to “focus minds on projects of benefit to the whole community” in Coopers Close.