BIN lorries will be used as barriers to prevent vehicle crowd attacks at the town’s Christmas lights switch-on.
The extra security measure is revealed in letters sent out by the council to businesses and residents in the town centre detailing road closures ahead of the event in front of the town hall on Wednesday.
It says ‘hostile vehicle mitigation’ actions will be implemented with ‘vehicles of appropriate size’ used to reinforce road closures during the lights switch on, which draws in huge crowds to the town centre.
It is understood security is being bolstered in light of recent attacks in the UK and abroad where vehicles were used as a weapon to deliberately ram crowds of people. Attacks have happened in Barcelona, New York, London Bridge and Westminster Bridge, Berlin and France.
A council spokesman told the Chronicle large vehicles such as bin lorries will be used as barriers at key road closures to serve as both additional protection and a visible high profile deterrent while reassuring members of the public that their safety is a primary concern.
He said: “For town centre events which will attract large crowds such as the Mayor’s Parade, Remembrance Sunday and other high profile town centre events, the council will continue to take pre-emptive precautionary actions against any possible hostile vehicles.”
The town centre will be bustling with activity as the event officially launches Christmas late night shopping.
Entertainment begins at 5pm before the firework show begins at 6pm.
The roads closures will be in phases. The first is roads that will close from 10am up to 10pm at the latest. These are: Church Street from St Mary’s Gate to the junction with Market Hill and Shambles Street; Regent Street to the junction with Eastgate; and Sadler Gate.
However, the letter says closure periods are expected to last no longer than 8.30pm and the council will endeavour to open all roads as soon as it is safe to do so.
The second phase of closures are from 4-7pm. These are: Church Street, Regent Street, Eastgate, Eldon Street, Market Hill, St Mary’s Place, Church Lane, Mayday Green, Queen Street and Market Street. For the third phase, Shambles Street and Westgate will close between 5.55pm and 6.15pm.
Some on street parking will be suspended or affected by the closures. Access to the bus station and Midland Street taxi rank will be unaffected. The exit will be via the Jumble Lane crossing during the phase two closure.
