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  "path": "/news/council-row-somerset-news-bollards-removed",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-08T13:03:49.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Teenagers taught about 'white privilege' in 'anti-racist' virtual reality metaverse",
    "David Lammy turns on Keir Starmer and says he warned PM about Peter Mandelson",
    "Home Office ‘tried to silence' adviser who raised alarm over growing Islamist threat to Britain",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nTaxpayers in Somerset are footing a £40,000 bill to tear out and replace metal bollards installed just months ago at a cost of £36,000.\n\nTaunton Town Council erected the 50cm-high posts across its parks last June, intending to prevent travellers from establishing illegal camps on the green spaces.\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\nHowever, the council has now acknowledged that the barriers need to be at least double their current height to eliminate the risk of pedestrians stumbling over them.\n\nOf the 48 posts originally planned, 28 had already been fitted before the safety concern emerged, meaning contractors must now remove and replace them with taller alternatives.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe combined outlay on the original and replacement bollards will therefore total approximately £76,000.\n\nCouncillor Nick O'Donnell defended the expenditure, acknowledging the optics whilst explaining the rationale behind the decision.\n\nHe said: \"It's quite a headline. Putting it into context, it has really been to prevent illegal encampments. In our mind we were spending money to save money.\"\n\nThe councillor maintained that despite the setback, the bollards were serving their intended purpose of deterring unauthorised camps.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe added: \"We were looking at a quick fix and a quick win. They are doing their job.\"\n\nReplacement work will also include installing oak posts along park perimeters to further restrict unwanted vehicle access.\n\nThe council's decision was driven by the substantial costs associated with removing illegal encampments from public land.\n\n\"We spent over £20,000 just in legal fees to remove legal encampments,\" Mr O'Donnell told the BBC.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Teenagers taught about 'white privilege' in 'anti-racist' virtual reality metaverse\n  * David Lammy turns on Keir Starmer and says he warned PM about Peter Mandelson\n  * Home Office ‘tried to silence' adviser who raised alarm over growing Islamist threat to Britain\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nWhen factoring in subsequent cleanup operations, the total expense can reach as high as £60,000 for each eviction, according to the councillor.\n\n\"By the time you add up the clearing up costs as well, we look at up to £60,000 every time we want to remove people from our parks,\" he said.\n\nThe apparent blunder came just days after a local councillor was left dumbfounded over a \"ridiculous\" duck warning sign that has cost the council an eye-watering £7,000.\n\nJohn Knott launched a scathing attack on the extortionate road sign, which alerts motorists to duck crossings on Daws Heath Road near Southend-on-Sea.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe said: \"I've lived here 25 years and I've never seen a duck cross the road, we've got no ponds, there's no water, it's ridiculous.\"\n\nThe People's Independent councillor condemned the mammoth sum spent on what he described as an inaccurate and certainly unnecessary sign, expressing concerns about both the cost and apparent incompetence in the decision-making process.\n\n\"This is a huge amount of money for what is a wrong sign. Residents are amazed; it's become a running joke, and everyone says there are no ducks in Daws Heath. People are incredulous,\" Cllr Knott added.\n\nHe has formally requested an explanation from the authorities, stating that Essex residents deserve proper answers regarding the expenditure.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Council spends £40k to remove bollards installed just MONTHS ago"
}