"This is why a van's been blocking entrance to Broadgate for TWO months"

[dutchman]

Rising bollards were installed to stop unauthorised vehicles entering Broadgate and keep pedestrians safe



A van is being used to replace broken anti-terror bollards at one of the entrances to Broadgate.

It is believed the bollards, which are used to prevent unauthorised vehicles from driving onto Broadgate from Trinity Street, were damaged during the RAF centenary celebrations, in early July.

A special three day event took place in the city centre on July 6-8, which saw a BAE Systems Hawk placed on static display on Broadgate.

It is not known how the damage was caused, or who caused it, but it was severe enough that the automatic rising bollards were removed, and the holes were filled in with Tarmac.

But with the entrance to Broadgate compromised, an unmarked Coventry City Council van was placed at the entrance, preventing unauthorised motors from entering.

Over two months after the bollards were removed, there is no sign of a fix, but the council has confirmed that it is in the process of organising a solution.

But they have not been able to offer a timescale for this.

[rebbonk]

Sounds like yet more waste from our wonderful council.

Did nobody ever enquire when commissioning this system about the availability of spares?

Do they really think that this is the best use for a rapidly depreciating vehicle? - If they can afford to put it to this use they have too many vehicles!

[dutchman]

This is the latest vehicle parked at the entrance to Broadgate



A new vehicle has been spotted blocking the entrance to Broadgate.

One of Coventry City Council's minibuses, believed to be used to transport disabled residents, has instead been used to prevent unauthorised access to Broadgate from Trinity Street this week.

And this week the council have defended their decision to park fleet vehicles at the entrance, rather than using them elsewhere.

They have said that it will not impact the day to day operations of the council.

A council spokesperson said: "We are continuing to protect Broadgate with one of our fleet vehicles. We are doing this by balancing vehicle availability with business need. Temporarily taking this vehicle off the road will have no impact on service users.”

A number of vehicles have been spotted in this position in recent months, with a grey van the most commonly seen until recently.

Previously, Coventry City Council told CoventryLive that the van is council-owned.

However, there was speculation both online and on a local radio programme that this was not the case.

It has now been confirmed that the van is not council owned, but rather the council hire the vehicle at a cost of "approximately £90 a week", according to a council spokesperson.

They did however stress that it is part of the council vehicle fleet.

[rebbonk]

... approximately £90 a week...

Really? Who do they hire from?

[dutchman]

Broadgate is finally getting new bollards installed - but there's a catch



Work has started to replace the bollards restricting access to Broadgate after months of controversial alternatives.

A previous set of 'rise and fall' bollards were damaged during RAF centenary celebrations in July and removed.

Since then the gap has been filled with various council vehicles, including a hired van and a minibus, to prevent unauthorised access to vehicles.

However workmen have now been spotted at the Trinity Street entrance to Broadgate signalling some progress.

A council spokesperson previously said that parking vehicles at Broadgate had "no impact on service users", but alternative security measure has been installed in time for the Christmas lights switch-on later this month.

Yesterday, workmen arrived at Broadgate to install bollards at the Trinity Street entrance, though these will not be a permanent measure.

Instead, new rise and fall bollards, which will allow controlled vehicle access in and out of Broadgate from both Trinity Street and High Street, will be installed - though according to the council, these have been delayed until "well into 2019".

It is believed that the delay comes as a result of manufacturer issues.

[rebbonk]

Another CCC cock-up!

[dutchman]

Ambulance on 999 call 'gets stuck behind Broadgate bollards'



An ambulance responding to a 999 call got stuck behind the Broadgate bollards, a passerby claimed.

Mark Heffernan said he spotted the ambulance, which had its sirens on, on Christmas Eve morning parked behind the bollards on Trinity Street as a paramedic attempted to get them lowered - but there was no response to the intercom.

He told CoventryLive he watched as the paramedic driver waited "a few minutes" for a response before they "gave up" and drove off.

Mark said: "The ambulance had to reverse back and follow the route around the one way system.

"I'm not sure if it was a major incident but it's shocking to see an ambulance not able to enter Broadgate."

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called to a medical case outside Primark on Broadgate at 10.46am on December 24.

"We sent one ambulance. A man was treated by paramedics and conveyed to hospital."

Mark added: "If there is no one on duty monitoring the barrier then emergency services should have a keypad access. Otherwise entering Broadgate for a major incident might be a problem."

[rebbonk]

Well done CCC, you bunch of incompetent ars3hol3s

[dutchman]

This is why men are sat in van at Broadgate 24 hours a day



Private contractors are being paid to sit in vans next to Broadgate 24 hours a day - in case bollards need to be lifted to allow vehicles into the city centre square.

The council has revealed that "so far", it has spent £2,500 to have the private staff sat waiting at the High Street entrance to the square, near Cosy Club and Natwest Bank.

However, this cost also covers emergency transportation, installation, and the cost of hiring and removing the existing bollards.

A Conservative councillor has told CoventryLive the security staff are forced to constantly run their engines to keep warm in their vehicles.

He also says a traffic warden tried to give the men a parking ticket.

It is understood the staff are working in 12-hour shifts because the rise and fall bollards suffered a power failure and are not currently operational.

Coventry City Council has confirmed that access is currently being controlled by a private firm who are parked at the High Street entrance to Broadgate, raising the bollards when access is needed.

It is the latest instalment in the saga of failing bollards installed to control access to the busy square and has been branded "not good enough" by Conservative Cllr Tim Mayer.

[rebbonk]

You couldn't make this up. Yet these incompetent ar$ehole$ are demanding even more money from the citizens for cutting services further.

Time for heads to roll!