I like the chute and the alley leading to it to be accessible on both sides.  It really speeds things up if you have other folks to help.  Keep the alley full, and while one guy is working the cow caught in the chute, other guy(s) can be removing sale barn back tags, giving neck shots, cutting off old ear tags, etc, etc, on at least some of the ones waiting there turn in the alley. With our set up, the space on the other side of the chute and alley is also a walk way where you can access pens without having to walk through them if you got a hot to trot animal in one.