Sturdier bollards for Dunstan Green

It follows a recent incident where around nine traveller vehicles accessed the green by removing a wooden bollard from the car park off Hart’s Hill Road.
It was reported to the Newbury Weekly News that children at the skate park had been ‘terrorised and intimidated’ by traveller children.
Residents also said that youngsters could not access the play area because the travellers were using the climbing frame as a washing line.
Thatcham Town Council also had to remove rubbish from the site, including human excrement near the slide.
Councillors discussed plans to replace around 12 of the existing wooden bollards with sturdier ones.
Services manager Mel Alexander said: “It’s basically to provide added protection in strategic areas while we develop a longer term plan to improve security.”
She added that replacing the bollards would ultimately save costs as it would reduce the expense of the town council having to clean up the site.
Councillors agreed to spend up to £1,500 on replacing the existing bollards.
Councillor Lee Dillon said: “Instead of replacing them could they supplement the existing ones? The longer it takes them (the travellers) to access the site the more time we have to stop them.”
Mrs Alexander said that she would put Mr Dillon’s suggestion forward to the contractor.
The town council will look at developing a plan for further security improvements at the green, which could include earth mounds, at a later date.