York’s ‘barricade of bollards’ has been raised in the House of Commons – the day before a big protest by campaigners.
Rachael Maskell brought up the concerns of Acomb campaigners, who say the installation of the bollards as part of a £395K regeneration of Front Street made the area look like a military zone.
The work was paid for through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The York Central Labour MP told the leader of the House Penny Mordaunt: “Residents of Acomb and Westfield were hopeful about York’s £5.8 million shared prosperity fund award for much-needed regeneration, but then horrified to wake up to find that £400,000 of it had been squandered on a half-paved high street barricaded by 136 bollards.
“Can we have a statement on how the government are scrutinising that much-needed fund? York residents want to know why York’s Lib Dem and Green councillors have been allowed to waste even more public funding on a barricade of bollards.”
Ms Mordaunt replied: “I am sorry that that is not delivering a better impact for her local residents. I shall ensure that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities hears her concerns.”
The exchange yesterday (Thursday) comes ahead of a protest about the bollards due to take place tomorrow (Saturday, 29 April) at 1pm on Front Street.
Leading councillor Andrew Waller has defended the Front Street work, saying it was needed to protect the new pavements.
“The works to improve the state of the pavements is stage one of several stages for the improvement works on Acomb Front street to enhance the area for the benefit of residents and businesses,” said Cllr Waller, who was a member of the Lib Dem-Green executive which approved the scheme.
After speaking in the Commons, Ms Maskell said: “I find it hard to believe that the barricade of bollards that now greets people to Acomb Front Street is what residents or businesses wanted for Acomb’s main shopping area.
“The public consultation that residents and businesses contributed towards as part of trying to shape their neighbourhood and shopping area has seemingly been ignored, at expense, and a horrific bollard environment is now installed, where there should have been public benches, planters and space for cafes.”
These bollards are an eyesore, they won’t be any terrorist attacks in York so the council is just spending money for the sake of it.
Bollards should only be installed in places that there has being terrorist attacks like London.