Barrier is a monstrosity (From Swindon Advertiser)

Barrier is a monstrosity

9:17am Wednesday 25th October 2006 in News By Anthony Osborne

A COUPLE say that a barrier installed to protect their home is an eyesore.

Robert and Sandra Estabrook, of Harbour Crescent in Moredon, were shocked when they saw the size of the giant steel barrier, which was installed just feet from the wall of their house last week.

Robert, 59, who works for a tool company, says he is puzzled because it seems larger than the central reservation barriers used on motorways.

He said: "I got in touch with staff at the council's highways department and they told me that they put up the barrier because of new building regulations that say if your house is next to a road with a particular gradient then a barrier has to be installed.

"We didn't know it was going to be happening until not so long ago, and we can understand why they are doing it, although there haven't been any accidents as far as I know.

"But why one this size? It makes you wonder what they are expecting to come down here - an articulated lorry or something?

"We were out there talking to the engineers when they were putting it in and we kept asking if it was right. I think they got a bit tired of us asking."

"No-one in the street likes it, they all think it's an eyesore. I think everyone was hoping for something a little more discreet.

"I can sort of understand if it's icy but surely a cheaper method would have been to put one of those plastic containers out with a load of gritting material so we can grit the road in the morning."

Unlike the barriers used on motorways, the ones in Harbour Crescent are un-tensioned as they are designed to deal with low-speed rather than high-speed impacts.

A Swindon Council spokesman said: "Swindon Council consulted with residents and the developers to reach this solution.

"The safety of residents is paramount and this form of barrier was deemed necessary due to a new housing development, which has created traffic, posing a potential danger to residents and their property.

"The safety barrier complies with current national design standards for new housing developments."

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