Crest stolen from new gates on city centre street

The crest has already been stolen from gates newly installed on a city centre street popular for its nightlife.

The black bi-folding gates on Eastgate Street in Gloucester replaced the aging bollards that shut the sheet to traffic on Friday and Saturday nights and bank holidays.

Businessman Justin Hudson, who helped fundraise for the gates, said they were "tens of thousands of pounds cheaper" than drilling bollards into the road.

But one is already in need of repair after a plaque bearing Gloucester City Council's coat of arms was taken as "a trophy".

Mr Hudson is the owner of Butlers Bar on Eastgate Street.

Butlers staff took over the responsibility of the opening and closing of the road each weekend more than six years ago.

Mr Hudson, a former Gloucester City Council cabinet member, said local businesses had been working with the city council to make the installation of the gates a reality.

"Knowing the bollards in the road were coming to the end of their commercial life, we have as a collective, been 'bidding' for and working together to create a pot of money to replace those ageing bollards," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"And let's be honest, Gloucester as a city is famous for its gates".

But he said that workmen installing the gates had run out of rivets by the time they reached the coat of arms adorning each gate and had glued them on instead.

"It was extremely cold so the glue might not have set properly so someone has got (the crest) as a trophy already - but we are getting it replaced," he said.

Rebecca Trimnell, community engagement cabinet member at Gloucester City Council, congratulated Mr Hudson on the installation of the gates.

"A big thank you to everyone who is a part of the night-time economy of Gloucester in making the gates happen for Eastgate Street," she said.

"I think aesthetically they are very pleasing and also provide valuable safety for all those enjoying the venues on a night out in the city centre."

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