Bollards and higher walls to stop vehicle terror attacks at National Gallery
By Julia Gregory, local democracy reporter
New anti-terror bollards designed to thwart terrorists using a vehicle in an attack could be put up outside the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square.
The prestigious gallery is the third most popular attraction in London, according to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.
It is on the edge of the Grade I-listed Trafalgar Square and Westminster City Council said “the area is of high significance and sensitivity”.
In 2019 the gallery drew more than 6m art lovers through its doors, a 4.8 per cent increase on the previous year.
More than 40 bollards will replace “visually intrusive and undesirable concrete ones”, according to a report for Westminster City Council’s planning committee.
The aluminium bollards will be installed at the north east and north west edge of Trafalgar Square, blocking vehicle access from either side of the upper terrace.
Other work includes reinforcing and raising the height of the boundary wall outside the gallery’s main entrance.
It follows the March 2017 London Bridge terror attack when Khalid Masood drove a hire car at passers-by, killing four people on Westminster Bridge before stabbing PC Keith Palmer at the Palace of Westminster.
In June 2017 three terrorists rammed a van into pedestrians on London Bridge, killing two people, before stabbing five people fatally at nearby Borough Market.
They injured 48 people in the horrific attack before being shot dead by police.
The report before Tuesday’s planning committee (March 30) points out that: “The bollards and changes to the boundary walls are required to enhance public safety on the terrace of the square. In the context of the risk of terrorist attacks, appropriate measures to protect crowded public spaces are inevitable.”
Westminster Council will clean and operate the bollards.
There will be a few movable ones to allow access but the rest are designed to be permanent.
Pre pandemic, Trafalgar Square attracted thousands of tourists everyday and in recent years they’ve watched the living sculpture mime actors and artists decorating the pavement with chalk on the terrace near the gallery’s main entrance.
The National Gallery raised objections about rubbish which could be left on the bollards, it also had concerns about a third party operating the bollards and its access needs to the terrace.
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
