Owners of the Drake Circus mall in Plymouth want to install planters, bollards and seats to prevent ram-raiders or terrorists driving bomb-ladened lorries into the complex, a recent news report in the local media has been able to reveal.
Within their planning application to Plymouth City Council’s planning committee, the shopping centre’s owners, British Land, revealed they recently employed security consultancy Minimal Risk to carry out a terrorist security risk assessment report.
The security experts recommended measures that would protect all three entrances of the mall – at Cornwall Street, Old Town Street and Charles Street – from “a 7.5 tonne vehicle travelling at 48kph [30 mph]”.
British Land’s application notes how the Old Town Street entrance is “very restricted in terms of space between buildings” and the eight bollards – three removable to allow access for delivery trucks.
At the Cornwall Street entrance, the protective measures would see 23 bollards – with three being removable – as well as a three concrete planters and seven seats, running from the wall of the car park to the Marks and Spencers store, giving space for potential outdoor restaurant seating.
The Charles Street entrance would see eight bollards, two of which would be removable. The bollards were described as having a “stainless steel sleeve with an angled face to deter bollards being sat or climbed on”.