'Urgent fix' needed for Kettering town centre broken bollards in pedestrian zone as fines issued to motorists
Bollards controlling entry to Kettering town centre’s pedestrian zone need fixing urgently to keep residents safe says a local councillor.
Cllr Dez Dell (Green/Kettering North) has voiced his concern to the increase in motorists who have been using the town centre’s pedestrianised streets.
The pedestrian area of Kettering town centre is covered by a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) – and rising bollards had been in place to stop vehicles entering parts of Lower Street, Gold Street, High Street and Meadow Road, as well as one-way Market Street.
But vandalism has seen the bollards broken for months, leading to cars using the zone again.
Cllr Dell said: “The town centre bollards have been broken for months and need fixing urgently.
"Drivers seem to have forgotten that our town centre is pedestrianised and vehicles are not allowed to drive through. I've personally witnessed people driving the wrong way up Market Street, dangerous driving and near misses. “Our town centre should be a safe place for people to walk, wheel and cycle and is not a place for cars.”
North Northants Council (NNC) contractors assessed the state of the bollards last week. Yesterday, (Thursday, February 12) the rising bollards were seen to glitch – rising and falling at random.
Cars were seen driving into the pedestrianised zone at a time when schoolchildren were walking home.
Resident David Rose, who witnessed the bollards malfunctioning, said: “It should be pedestrianised – it makes a joke of it. It should be safe for everyone.”
The automatic bollards were installed in Kettering in May 2015, work that cost about £250,000.
A spokesman for NNC said: “The pedestrian area of Kettering town centre is covered by a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).
“Civil enforcement officers undertake regular foot patrols of areas across North Northants to monitor compliance with TROs. This includes engaging with and educating drivers to improve compliance and where contraventions are detected - penalty charge notices are issued.”
The broken bollards have now been assessed for repairs with remedial works to be ‘progressed’.
A total of 14 fixed penalty charge notices (PCNs) have been issued to motorists since summer 2025 – PCNs are £70, discounted to £35 if paid within 14 days.
NNC’s spokesman said: “Increased patrols in this area have been undertaken since last summer to tackle any increase in detected contraventions with 14 PCNs issued.
"The current TRO restricts the movement of vehicles proceeding between Meeting Lane and Gold Street, with exceptions in place for limited activities.
"Any contraventions need to be observed by civil enforcement officers and physical tickets must be attached to vehicles.
“We will continue to engage with motorists and where contraventions are detected utilise existing powers to address the issues appropriately.”