Taunton Town Council is facing significant extra costs after discovering that dozens of newly installed removable bollards are too short to meet safety and accessibility standards. These bollards were intended to block caravan parking at park entrances but were found to be under 50cm tall—well below the one-metre minimum height required in pedestrian areas. This oversight has forced the council to replace many of them just months after installation.
Last year, the council commissioned 48 metal posts to replace the old standard bollards at various parks, including prominent spots like French Weir Park. The goal was to deter illegal encampments by Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller groups, which have cost the council upwards of £25,000 in legal fees alone in the past year. Unfortunately, more than half of the new bollards are now being removed to make way for taller, regulation-compliant posts.
Following a comprehensive review of the initial installation, the council has approved a phased plan to strengthen park security. “While the initial work was done with the right intent, some posts did not meet current accessibility guidelines and must be replaced,” a council spokesperson explained.
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So far, £36,000 has been spent on the bollard project. Additional funding, including £64,000 from the Capital Projects programme and £11,000 remaining from the original budget, has been allocated to complete the replacements and improve park infrastructure. Each illegal encampment incident continues to cost taxpayers around £6,000, factoring in clean-up, repairs, and eviction costs.
Cllr Nick O’Donnell, chair of the Operations and Assets Committee, emphasized the council’s commitment to remedy the issues. “Our decisions enable the council to move forward in strengthening defenses against illegal occupation and investing in necessary park improvements, such as resurfacing paths at French Weir Park,” he said.
The council pledged continued transparency and engagement with disability groups, cycling organizations, community Friends groups, and other stakeholders. They are also exploring ways to recover value from the previously installed, now-unused materials.