A Derbyshire street security furniture manufacturer has supplied six state-of-the-art planters to keep pedestrians at one of the world’s most iconic landmarks safe from a vehicle-borne attack.
Securiscape has installed the hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) devices in front of the Piccadilly Lights – the world-famous advertising display in Piccadilly Circus – as part of a major pedestrian safety initiative in London.
The new installations are designed to protect pedestrians from the growing threat of assailants using vehicles such as cars or vans to mount the pavement and attack people and are capable of stopping a 7.5 tonne truck travelling at 40mph in its tracks.
However, to ensure they don’t compromise the attractiveness of one of the capital’s biggest tourist draws, they have been finished with patinated brass shrouds and planted up with trees, adding greenery to the cityscape.
The installation, which took Securiscape four days to complete, was carried out on behalf of Westminster City Council and is the company’s latest project in London.
Previously, Securiscape has installed planters on behalf of the City of London Corporation and more HVM planters outside the headquarters of Brent Borough Council – in the shadow of the Wembley Stadium arch.
Mark Stone, managing director of Securiscape, which is based near Ashbourne, said: “Piccadilly Circus is one of the most iconic locations in the world, so to have been invited to install our planters in front of the world-famous Piccadilly Lights is a huge honour for us.
“These HVM planters are designed to prevent vehicles from entering pedestrian areas, while maintaining the open, welcoming atmosphere that makes Piccadilly Circus such a unique destination.
“We’re proud to be helping make the city safer for everyone.”
Westminster council is currently working with the Crown Estates to draw up more plans to make the area and streets around Piccadilly Circus more welcoming to pedestrians, including making Regent Street St James’s traffic-free and increasing pedestrian space at Piccadilly Circus itself by around 1,000 m² to provide more places to sit, pause, rest and meet.
Securiscape was founded in the wake of the 2007 attack at Glasgow International Airport and designs, manufactures and installs a range of HVM products tested to standards such as PAS 68:2010 and IWA‑14.
They include its own patented HVM Guardrail system, which replaces standard pedestrian guardrails with vehicle‑impact rated versions and its Glide Bollards, which consists of a row of moveable security bollards mounted onto a shallow rail.
For more information visit www.securiscape.co.uk
