Work starts to create anti-terrorism bollards in Hereford

Widemarsh Street is now closed, with 'hostile vehicle mitigation' works now being carried out. 

Similar work was also due to be started in Commercial Street yesterday (March 12); however, as of this afternoon (March 13) it had not got underway.

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Work was due to start in Commercial Street on March 12 (Image: Paul Rogers/Hereford Times)

Signs are also in place in Broad Street and St Peters Street, stating that work will start in those streets on March 20 and April 2 respectively.

Vehicles are prohibited from using the streets between 7.30am and 6pm while the works are taking place.

It comes after it was announced in December that over £200,000 would be spent on bollards to make Hereford’s historic heart safer from terrorist attack, particularly during events.

Herefordshire Council said the aim was to reduce the risk of vehicle-borne attacks, “whether from errant vehicles or those acts motivated by terrorism aims”.

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The measures “will ensure the safety of city users with an onus on those gathered for events”, given such attacks in European cities, it added.

The move follows a “threat, vulnerability and risk assessment” carried out by the council in February 2021, which found the High Town, St Peter’s Street and Commercial Street area as having “the highest attractiveness as a target” given its high number of pedestrians.

Bewell Street and Eign Gate were rated as at lower risk due to existing bollards and street furniture.

While the works are being carried out, vehicles are prohibited from using the streets between 7.30am and 6pm on the respective