Hungerford store, targeted by ram-raiders, applies for bollards on street outside - but town council objects again

Hungerford Town Council has renewed its opposition to having 11 steel bollards installed on the High Street.

Instead, some members of the council’s environment and planning committee suggested, the owner of the relevant business should increase his own security rather than inconvenience residents and change the face of the High Street.

As previously reported, applicant Nigel Montgomery, of the Coin & Stamp Centre wants the bollards installed to protect his business.

A safe was stolen during a ram raid at the shop last December.

It was the second time the centre had been targeted – it was also raided in September, 2021.

At a previous meeting of the committee, members requested more information.

At the most recent meeting last week (July 8), town mayor Helen Simpson said the proposal constituted “over-engineering”.

She added: “We’ve got shops with equally valuable items in them that manage to keep secure via better security measures and alarm systems.

“This will cause more damage to our already fragile pavements.”

Councillor James Cole remarked that, should the prospect of a continental-style piazza for the High Street ever be realised, bollards would be an inevitable result.

Nevertheless, he said: “There’s a lot of gold in there - but I don’t think bollards are going to work.”

Councillor Jerry Keates said determined thieves would find methods to knock down the bollards or gain access through the side.

Speaking of the applicant, he added: “That certain person didn’t insure that property because they felt it was exorbitant.

“If you can’t look after your own property sufficiently, or have a strong room, why should it be up to the council to maintain [the bollards]?”

Councillor Richard Hudson said: “It’s more street clutter.

“It’s obstructive to pedestrians and quite narrow there already.”

Mrs Simpson suggested the applicant should consider installing internal metal shutters like jewellers use, or install a strong room rather than adopt a scheme that would impact the look of the High Street.

She proposed the committee register a formal objection in its advisory role to the planning authority, West Berkshire Council.

Meanwhile the proposals can be viewed in full, and commented on, by visiting the planning section of West Berkshire Council’s website and using the reference 24/00599/FUL.