PLANS for some 20 bollards around a historic Wood Street building look set to be refused.
An application was put forward by family-run jeweller Pragnell for 19 ‘hostile vehicle bollards’ to reduce the risk of criminals ‘ram-raiding’ the Grade II Listed building.
However, despite support from ward councillor Jenny Fradgely, who says the benefits to the business outweigh the harm to surroundings, the plans look set to be rejected by Stratford District Council planning committee.
Warwickshire Police is also in support of the plans they say will ‘reduce any opportunity for it becoming a target of a ram raid-style attack seen at other similar premises around the country’. The statement also advises that bollards should not restrict public rights of way, or those using disability aids.
But planning officers argue the move would cause harm to a designated conservation area.
A report says: “By reason of the number, location and design of the bollards, this will introduce an unattractive form of development into the streetscene which will not be sensitive to or respect the character of the area and will not improve the way in which the town’s historic environment and cultural heritage is conserved, interpreted and presented, will not preserve or enhance the significance of this part of the historic core of Stratford or the adjacent Listed Buildings.
“While the proposal would reduce the risk of crime for the business, it is not considered that there would be a wider public benefit sufficient to outweigh the identified harm to the historic environment and identified heritage assets.”
A similar application was put forward for 18 bollards in 2019 but was rejected.
The plans will be discussed at a committee meeting on April 28.
