Anti-ram vehicle barriers installed at city beach

Barriers designed to stop cars driving into crowds have been installed at a city centre beach event.

Nottingham Beach - an annual artificial beach event at Nottingham's Old Market Square - opened for summer festivities on Wednesday, and usually attracts large numbers of people during the school holidays.

This year, portable Husson H-Stop barriers - which are designed to combat "vehicle-as-a-weapon attacks" by tipping up on impact and disrupting the vehicles' direction - have been put in around the area.

Councillor Neghat Khan, leader of Nottingham City Council, called the barriers an "additional safety measure", adding their introduction will be reviewed while the event continues.

According to the manufacturer Husson, the wheeled barriers are designed so that they can be put in place by a single person and fold up.

Crowdguard, one of the suppliers, said the barriers were designed to tip on impact, disrupting a vehicle's forward motion by changing its trajectory from horizontal to vertical, and creating enough friction to bring it to a stop.

The barriers are spaced apart to allow visitors to filter through into the venue.

Amanda Hose Hawley - who runs a weekly salsa class at the beach - said the barriers were a "sign of the climate we live in".

"I wasn't surprised to see them," she said. "I think when there are events with large numbers of people, it's to be expected in the times we're living in.

"It's important to have something that's visible. It will reassure a lot of people."

James Mellors, from the Mellors Group - which organises the event - said the barriers had been brought in to provide safety and reassurance for visitors.

"I don't think they look very pretty. But the Market Square is a very high footfall area," he said.

"It's not always about how things look, it's about keeping people safe."

Mellors said the barriers "add to the cost of running the event, but the safety of visitors is paramount".

"You worry about any negativity, but I can't see that putting many people off. The high streets are busy anyway and people walk through them every day.

"By having additional security, people will actually feel more comfortable," he added.

Mellors added the barriers had been installed on a trial basis, and were not installed in response to any specific threat.

He said: "It's not because of any intelligence. This is a trial at an event to see how it works.

"The event organisers, the police and the city council will all hold review meetings where we'll reflect on how it's worked and what alternatives there are."

Council leader Khan added: "The safety of residents and visitors is of the utmost importance.

"The barriers have been installed following advice from the multi-agency events safety advisory group, which includes counter-terrorism colleagues.

"This additional measure at Nottingham Beach is part of the event's wider safety and security arrangements.

"The positioning of the barriers is being reviewed to ensure they provide appropriate protection while minimising the impact on access and movement around the city centre."

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