Council spends thousands on ripping out new posts
BBCThousands of pounds are to be spent ripping out several new metal posts in parks because they are not tall enough.
The 50cm-tall bollards installed in Taunton parks should be at least twice the size so that there is no risk of people tripping over them, the council said.
Taunton Town Council spent £36,000 on installing the posts last June, to deter travellers from illegally setting up camp in the town's parks.
Councillor Nick O'Donnell 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."
After installing 28 of the planned 48 metal posts the council are now going to spend around £40,000 removing the metal posts, buying taller ones and getting a contractor to install those – as well as putting in some oak posts around the edges of parks to try and block unwanted access.
O'Donnell added: "We spent over £20,000 just in legal fees to remove legal encampments.
"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.
"We were looking at a quick fix and a quick win. They are doing their job."
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