CIVIC chiefs are set to spend £125,000 on new security measures to replace the controversial grey blocks on Winchester High Street.

Winchester City Council has unveiled plans to replace the barriers – installed in the city centre last winter – with a more permanent solution.

According to the plans, the city council would fund the majority of the work, spending £75,000, while Hampshire County Council would fund the remaining £50,000.

As previously reported, the current grey barriers were installed in Winchester following fears that the city could be hit by a Nice-style terror attack.

Following the attack in 2016, as well similar incidents in Westminster and Barcelona last year, which saw vehicles being driven at crowds of pedestrians, Cllr Linda Gemmell asked at a council meeting in November what was to stop terrorists driving a lorry past King Alfred’s Statue and ploughing into pedestrians in The Broadway and High Street.

Now, the plan is to replace the temporary barriers with a permanent mix of bollards, planters and seating.

City and county councillor Jan Warwick, who has been working on the plans, said: “We are very limited because they have to meet a security standard. We have gone for the nicest for what is available.”

Cllr Warwick added that the council has also been limited in its choice by the utility cables under the High Street and the possibility of sensitive archaeology.

She also said that next year, work is set to be carried out on the High Street and that an idea to improve the visual appeal would be to put LED lighting in the pavement.

If the decision, made by Cllr Guy Ashton, city council portfolio holder for finance, is confirmed, the new security measures are expected to be in place before the busy Christmas period.

The report, issued by Cllr Ashton, said: “The dark granite clad planters combined with hard wood seating is one of the more elegant designs for Winchester High Street within the restrictions.”

Anyone wanting to comment before the decision is made can do so by contacting officer Richard Botham before 5pm on September 3.

Call 01962 848421 or email rbotham@winchester.gov.uk.

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