Taxpayers in Somerset are footing a £40,000 bill to tear out and replace metal bollards installed just months ago at a cost of £36,000.
Taunton Town Council erected the 50cm-high posts across its parks last June, intending to prevent travellers from establishing illegal camps on the green spaces.
However, the council has now acknowledged that the barriers need to be at least double their current height to eliminate the risk of pedestrians stumbling over them.
Of the 48 posts originally planned, 28 had already been fitted before the safety concern emerged, meaning contractors must now remove and replace them with taller alternatives.
The combined outlay on the original and replacement bollards will therefore total approximately £76,000.
Councillor Nick O’Donnell defended the expenditure, acknowledging the optics whilst explaining the rationale behind the decision.
He said: “It’s quite a headline. Putting it into context, it has really been to prevent illegal encampments. In our mind we were spending money to save money.”
The councillor maintained that despite the setback, the bollards were serving their intended purpose of deterring unauthorised camps.
Taxpayers in Somerset are footing a £40,000 bill to tear out and replace metal bollards
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He added: “We were looking at a quick fix and a quick win. They are doing their job.”
Replacement work will also include installing oak posts along park perimeters to further restrict unwanted vehicle access.
The council’s decision was driven by the substantial costs associated with removing illegal encampments from public land.
“We spent over £20,000 just in legal fees to remove legal encampments,” Mr O’Donnell told the BBC.
Councillor Nick O’Donnell defended the decision as part of measures to deter illegal traveller camps
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TAUNTON TOWN COUNCIL
When factoring in subsequent cleanup operations, the total expense can reach as high as £60,000 for each eviction, according to the councillor.
“By the time you add up the clearing up costs as well, we look at up to £60,000 every time we want to remove people from our parks,” he said.
The apparent blunder came just days after a local councillor was left dumbfounded over a “ridiculous” duck warning sign that has cost the council an eye-watering £7,000.
John Knott launched a scathing attack on the extortionate road sign, which alerts motorists to duck crossings on Daws Heath Road near Southend-on-Sea.
He said: “I’ve lived here 25 years and I’ve never seen a duck cross the road, we’ve got no ponds, there’s no water, it’s ridiculous.”
The People’s Independent councillor condemned the mammoth sum spent on what he described as an inaccurate and certainly unnecessary sign, expressing concerns about both the cost and apparent incompetence in the decision-making process.
“This is a huge amount of money for what is a wrong sign. Residents are amazed; it’s become a running joke, and everyone says there are no ducks in Daws Heath. People are incredulous,” Cllr Knott added.
He has formally requested an explanation from the authorities, stating that Essex residents deserve proper answers regarding the expenditure.