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Heald Bolsters Security at UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath with Bespoke Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Solution

Heald is delighted to announce the successful installation of a bespoke security bollard system across the historic Roman City of Bath. The project, undertaken in collaboration with Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES Council), strengthens the city’s physical security against vehicle-borne threats, while preserving its rich heritage and ensuring business continuity.

The City of Bath, recognised for its exceptional Roman heritage and Georgian architecture, attracts approximately 6 million tourists every year. Driven by its historical significance, large visitor numbers, and the recently implemented Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, B&NES Council sought advanced measures to enhance security.

Heald was selected to provide a solution that addressed the complex geographical and topographic challenges of the old Roman City, including extensive underground infrastructure like cellars and modern service ducts, which demanded shallow and ultra-shallow mounted security products.

The bespoke solution deployed a combination of fixed and electromechanically operable systems:

  • HT3-EM Matador 4 and HT2-EM Matador 5: A total of five Matador units were installed. These electromechanically operable, sliding bollards offer VADS-rated HVM with minimal disruption, providing quick, adaptable security for permanent sites and events. They are tested to demanding standards including IWA 14-1.
  • APEX Shallow Mount Bollards: 21 stainless steel, ultra-shallow bollards were used, ideal for locations with limited excavation depth. These bollards were crash-tested in an array of three against a 7.2-tonne truck traveling at 64kph.

A key engineering innovation involved adapting the APEX joining plate to accommodate the city’s steep inclines. Heald’s engineering team worked closely with the project team at B&NES Council to design a cranked joining plate, enabling seamless installation in challenging locations. Additionally, to provide a consistent aesthetic across the diverse installation, 306mm bollard covers were used across the Matador range and 273mm covers were used across the APEX range. Volker Highways completed the civil engineering aspects of the project.

Commenting on the install, George Beastall, Heald Engineering Department Manager, said, “The success of the project is in no small part down to the early collaboration and constant communication between B&NES Council Highways Team and Heald to ensure that challenges were overcome, both as pre-planned solutions and as reactive solutions during the build stage and that the futureproofing solutions have already proved invaluable”.

Simon Thomas, Senior Engineer and project lead for the Bath City Centre Security scheme, praised the partnership, highlighting how the project benefitted from “exceptional technical collaboration with George and the team at Heald”. He noted that their proactive communication and deep understanding of the design ensured a seamless flow of information from concept to site delivery, which continued into handover and the management of the service contract.

The final installation of Heald bollards demonstrates B&NES Council’s commitment to preserving public safety without compromising the city’s rich heritage or accessibility for residents and visitors.

To discover more about the install, a full case study is available here.