Specialist planters designed to protect cash machines and stores from ram-raiders have been installed outside Histon Tesco Express. The location is one of 14 “high-risk sites” identified as part of a £100,000 initiative.
Ram raiding is a type of burglary where criminals drive a vehicle into a building, often one with a cash machine, to help them access property or cash to steal. It is said the heavy duty concrete planters can withstand the force of being hit by a vehicle or machinery.
Two were installed at the Tesco Express on 11 April, one close to the ATM and another near the car park. But the Council has explained there has been a delay with planting because of heavy rain over the Easter weekend and that the guttering from the Tesco Express building has been leaking into one of the planters.
A South Cambridgeshire District Council spokesperson said the Histon planters will be planted up “asap”, once the repairs to the gutter have been carried out.
She added the same planters have been installed at the Co-op in Cambourne, and are “looking lovely, whilst doing an important job for our rural communities”.
In the meantime, residents have commented on social media about the new Tesco Express planters, with one joking it had become “a water feature” since it was installed. Another described it as “a total eyesore”.
‘Total eyesore’
One resident said: “Tesco roof gutter has been overflowing at that point for ages, so will continue to receive excess water after rainfall until that is fixed. Even if holes [are] drilled to allow drainage for planting, the volunteers’ work to make this nice will be ruined.”
SCDC says the planting and upkeep of the planters will be the responsibility of the Parish Council.
Gutter to be fixed
A Tesco spokesperson said: “We are working to fix the gutter at our Histon Express as quickly as possible, and thank customers for their patience as the work is completed.”
He added the store remains open as usual and that Tesco will provide updates on the works progress.
The £100,000 funding for the project to install heavy duty planters across South Cambridgeshire District Council has been provided by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
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