Van used to replace city anti-terror bollards

A VAN is being used to replace broken anti-terror bollards at one of the entrances to Broadgate.

It is believed the bollards, which are used to prevent unauthorised vehicles from driving onto Broadgate from Trinity Street, were damaged during the RAF centenary celebrations, in early July.

A special three day event took place in the city centre on July 6-8, which saw a BAE Systems Hawk placed on static display on Broadgate. It is not known how the damage was caused, or who caused it, but it was severe enough that the automatic rising bollards were removed, and the holes were filled in with Tarmac.

But with the entrance to Broadgate compromised, an unmarked Coventry City Council van was placed at the entrance, preventing unauthorised motors from entering.

Over two months after the bollards were removed, there is no sign of a fix, but the council has confirmed that it is in the process of organising a solution. But they have not been able to offer a timescale for this.

A Coventry City Council spokesman said: “The van has been there, during the day, since the rise and fall bollard was damaged. A new bollard will be installed as soon as possible.

“The van is a councilowned van and it will remain there, during the day, until we have replaced the bollards.

“We will seek to recover the costs for the replacement and this will be sorted as soon as possible.

“Costs will be met through an insurance claim.”

The council confirmed that despite the van seemingly being brand new, it was not brought in especially for this task.

A council spokesperson also revealed that it is not always the same van on location.

Since Broadgate was pedestrianised, vehicles are no longer able to drive anywhere near the Godiva statue, with just a few exceptions.

Delivery and loading vehicles, emergency services access, and more recently, construction vehicles at the new Cathedral Lanes restaurants are the only expections.

And to allow these vehicles, but not any others, rise and fall bollards were installed at the entrance to Broadgate and at Trinity Street.

It is believed that these were brought in in 2016 to restrict traffic and keep the pedestrians on Broadgate safe.

It is not known if the entrance bollards are working at this time.