argh. have been trying not to complain about the horrible blind corners created by festival fencing on the meadows, but now they appear to be installing mega bollards on George Square Lane / MMW?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
usual festival whinging
(16 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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current situation:
Posted 1 year ago # -
apparently the festival says that "These bollards are Hostile Vehicle Mitigation measures imposed by the Police and Edinburgh Council. Similar measures are in place elsewhere in the city for the festival period. They are positioned at 1.2 metres apart."
Posted 1 year ago # -
I assume it's not the vehicles which are hostile in "Hostile Vehicle Mitigation measures"
Without a tape measure it's pretty clear that those gaps aren't 1.2m.
It's highly inconsistent that they've installed these for a perceived risk while allowing hostile HGV drivers to take their vehicles all over the pavements elsewhere in the city.
Posted 1 year ago # -
“
Policing, border control and surveillance have become increasingly militarised in the UK and infiltrated by a “war mentality”, according to a report.
It says there is an increasingly blurred line between the police and the military and that key areas including counter-terrorism, anti-protest policing, border control and the policing of gangs have adopted a war mentality.
“
Posted 1 year ago # -
It certainly feels unpleasant and hostile coming in to work. not helped by lorries diving down the lane when the barriers on George square are up.
but, having lived in properly militarised states, I'm not sure it's an entirely appropriate comparison.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Was/is Northern Ireland militarised? It's definitely feeling a bit closer to what I experienced growing up, in terms of the streetscape, if not the armed men on the street - female officers/paramilitaries weren't (openly) armed then!
Robert
Posted 1 year ago # -
Very not obvious that someone in a wheelchair could get through there easily.
Posted 1 year ago # -
eyeballing it, my sense was that they probably could get through - by rolling over the bases, and adopting a slalom sort of approach.
but not 'easily'.
Posted 1 year ago # -
AKA Silver Soldiers as demanded by Transec for railway stations on a basic pro forma specification which take no account of other rather better barriers to driving into the station (eg the 2 flights of steps from Union Street up to Glasgow Central main concourse, or in the middle of 2-tier bike racks with a wall behind & 10 ft drop the other side, at Liverpool Street)
I have a few on my Flickr portfolio - do contribute examples
Posted 1 year ago # -
I measured them today. most not 1.2 apart (pillar to pillar).
Posted 1 year ago # -
They only weigh 350 to 450kg, so could perhaps be optimised by enterprising citizens. (Or festival revellers?)
Posted 1 year ago # -
It’s fine, CllrSA is on the case…
Posted 1 year ago # -
Presumably they are attached to the ground/each other to stop them from being pushed out of the way. Otherwise what actual use are they?
Having said that the thinking underpinning "anti-terror" security theatre is reminiscent of certain scenes in 4 Lions. Wookies at the festival, beware...
Posted 1 year ago # -
These days I tend to lock up my bike outside the Sainsburys when heading into that part of town. Watched over by the friendly street drinkers.
Doing that is kind of a pain if you work in George Sq though.
Posted 1 year ago # -
“
This is the latest on the bollards being tested on George Square :
1. Spacing checked to comply with BS 8300-2018 Pt 1.
2. There is an issue with Edinburgh Uni removing their (black) bollards - this will be fixed on Monday.
3. We now have a clear route to the footpath (on left).
“
https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1555824994998943744
Posted 1 year ago #
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