NEWS
SEN-eO1-S2 [P]
THE SENTINEL Monday October 3, 2011
In brief
Sixty-eight concrete balls at £587-a-time installed outside HQ
Council’s £40k bollards bill... to stop ram-raiders BY ALEX CAMPBELL alex.campbell@thesentinel.co.uk
GRANITE balls costing £39,350 have been installed outside a council’s new headquarters – to protect it from terrorist attacks and ram raids. Tory-run Staffordshire County Council has been criticised for positioning 68 ‘spherical bollards’ outside its £38 million Staffordshire Place HQ. The £587 balls are in place to prevent vehicles smashing into the building. They have been described by the council as part of “an essential security package”. But regular upright bollards are on sale for less than half the cost of the balls. About 1,700 staff based in 17 buildings across Stafford will be relocated to the new Tipping Street headquarters from next month. The authority claims it will save £250,000-a-year over 40 years by selling off older properties, cutting energy bills and
COST: The bollards outside the new council HQ. Below, Christina Jebb. downsizing into one area. But Councillor Tom Harris, whose Forebridge ward takes in Stafford town centre, said: “I would have expected a cheaper option than the spherical bollards. “The council says it will make savings from the move but they are spending nearly £40 million to save £10 million.
“Staffordshire Place was dreamed up at a time when money was growing on trees. “But we are in a different situation now. There have been redundancies and a lot of other changes. “I think a lot of taxpayers in Staffordshire will be asking whether the council is getting the best value for its money.” County Councillor Christina Jebb, who is leader of the Lib-
eral Democrat and independent group, said: “These balls seem extraordinarily expensive. I’m sure they could have provided something very similar for a fraction of the cost. “Obviously they will want to make the outside of the building attractive as well as the inside but they could have been a lot more measured.” The council worked with Staffordshire Police to decide
how many bollards it needed. Councillor Mark Winnington, cabinet member for environment and assets, said: “The stone bollards surrounding Staffordshire Place are part of an essential security package designed to protect the building and its occupants from threats, including ram raids. “Some of the options we were given were more expensive than the one we decided on while others were less expensive. “Our main priority was to provide value for money for taxpayers. We wanted to provide sturdy protection while also ensuring that the area surrounding the building was aesthetically pleasing. “Staffordshire Place sits in the heart of Stafford and forms an integral part of the town centre masterplan to put Stafford on the map.” A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “These bollards are designed to prevent crime.”
Would you have spent £39,350 on the balls? Email us at letters@thesentinel.co.uk
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SMALLTHORNE: Police have stepped up patrols after complaints about parking problems on a main road. They are patrolling Ford Green Road to try to stop motorists parking across disabled access points. It follows the installation of zebra crossings on the road to try to improve pedestrian safety. Now drivers blocking access points have been warned they will be given fixed-penalty fines. A police spokesman said: “Drivers should have consideration for the high number of disabled residents in the area who need to go about their daily business.” HANLEY: Plans have been lodged to open a new city centre bookmaker’s. Stan James has applied for a premises licence for a unit in Stafford Street. Residents and traders are being consulted until October 18. Written objections must be sent to Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s licensing team, at Hanley Town Hall, in Albion Street, by that date. BLYTHE BRIDGE: A level crossing is to be closed to traffic for essential improvement works. It means part of Uttoxeter Road will be blocked off from 7am to 3pm on Sunday. A diversion route along part of Uttoxeter Road and the A50 will be in place. For more details call 0300 1118020.
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