Council chiefs back removal of Acomb Front Street bollards

Bollards in Acomb Front Street could be replaced with planters and seating after York council’s Executive gave the go ahead for detailed plans for its future to be drawn up.

Labour Council Deputy Leader Cllr Pete Kilbane said bollards had occupied the street like an invading army and called on the Liberal Democrats to apologise for their installation.

But Liberal Democrat ward councillor Andrew Waller said the vast majority of the £400,000 Shared Prosperity grant used to revamp Acomb's Front Street was used on footpath and drainage upgrades, not the bollards. This, he said, ultimately made it a safer place.

The backing of Phase Two of the regeneration of Acomb Front Street is set to see £557,000 of UK Shared Prosperity funding spent on further changes to the area.

Anti-bollard campaigners in Front Street last year (Image: Supplied)

They include removing an estimated two thirds of the bollards which were installed using £400,000 from the Shared Prosperity Fund in January last year.

The council, which was run by a Liberal Democrat and Green coalition at the time, said the installation of around 100 bollards would help tackle illegal parking.

Uneven paving and damaged drainage was also repaired and improvements were made to what the council said was the area’s run down appearance.

But the installation provoked a local backlash, spawning the What A Load Of Bollards campaign group and a petition calling for their removal presented to councillors in July.

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The council’s Executive agreed on Thursday, July 18 to draw up plans for further changes to the street which will be set for a final decision in September.

Officials aim to complete the works before a deadline to spend money from the Shared Prosperity Fund by March next year.

Councillors heard changes to allow more street markets and other events would be looked at following successful trials.

They also heard that officials would look into the feasibility of pedestrianising the street though questions remain over the impact on deliveries to businesses and disabled parking.

Acomb Front Street

An electric board could also be installed to advertise future events and a wider crossing and 20mph speed limit are also set to be looked at along with a mural.

Proposals also include repairing a damaged lavatory block and installing two new accessible toilets.

The scope of the proposals will depend on their final cost.

Councillors heard the issue of bollards had been a polarising one when it conducted a survey on the proposals which garnered 900 responses and 5,000 comments.

Cllr Kilbane said officials had attempted to find a consensus on how to move forward.

The council’s deputy leader said: “Acomb Front Street has become a livelier place in the last year.

“The installation of the bollards resulted in hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayer’s money being wasted, we’ve risen to the challenge and listened to what people have said.”