Acomb’s army of bollards has gone global.
The 138 bollards on Front Street in the York suburb have sparked anger since their installation in spring, with campaigners saying they make the area resemble a ‘military zone‘.
Residents have waged a highly effective ‘What A Load Of Bollards’ crusade to have them removed.
And now, their efforts have made it into Wikipedia.
An addition to the online encyclopedia’s entry on Acomb reads: “Acomb is famous in York for having a very high concentration of street bollards.
“These were installed in an upgrade in 2023 and have since prompted great controversy among local residents due to their vast numbers and variance from the original proposed plans for the area.”
Last night (Thursday), two human sized bollards turned up outside City of York Council’s West Offices HQ.
They were with leaders of the What A Load Of Bollards campaign, including Vicki Hill, who went on to urge councillors to listen to local feeling.
Addressing a meeting of the full council, she said: “For many, it sums up all that is wrong with unimaginative lazy governance and is a prime example of a scandalous misuse of public funding.
“We’re asking for one simple thing. Removal of the 138-strong military zone bollard wall of Acomb and a new plan.
“Or rather, the old plan – a £20,000 consultation, money taken from a very precious £400,000 shared prosperity grant, which we were awarded from the government and assumed would be finally transforming our desperately neglected area of York.”
She said this consultation revealed that Acomb people “wanted a wide open space on one level, communal areas with benches, trees, planters, cafe, seating and provision for our much loved local market”.
Vicki concluded: “We know our new ward councillors share the horror of what’s happened and we urge you – be brave, be visionary. Let’s get it right this time. And let’s get rid of them.”
Later in the meeting, the Labour councillor for Westfield ward Cllr Emily Nelson presented a 1,150-signature petition urging the council to remove the bollards from Acomb Front Street.
- Video: ‘It looks like a military zone’: Anger at ‘disastrous’ upgrade to York high street
- ‘This is why we’ve installed so many bollards’ – York council leader responds to criticism
- York residents ‘horrified £400k was squandered on barricade of bollards’ MP tells Commons
- Watch: ‘What a load of bollards’ campaign takes to the streets of York
- Could these bollards get their marching orders? A York council review is underway
She said she was representing her ward residents but “this petition for me is also close to my heart as a resident. It’s hard to express the horror that myself and, as this petition shows, over a thousand local residents felt when the initial part of the Front Street regeneration programme was unveiled”.
Cllr Nelson added: “I know the council cannot turn back the clock on what has been inflicted on Front Street.
“But I do hope that today, this shows our willingness to listen to our residents. And I hope that the council can find a way to move forward.”
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