Farnborough Park is an estate in Kent for 1,000 residents.
However with increased traffic flow on the two neighbouring A-roads and the opening of the Princess Royal University Hospital in 2004, the public found the unsecured estate to be a short cut or place to park vehicles. Although manual gates were located at both the estate’s entrances, this relied on volunteers to operate the gates.
With some crime hitting the estate and an ever-growing cost to refurbish the roads damaged by unwanted visitors, Farnborough Park Estates residents sought a way to allow only residents or other authorised visitors access. The Farnborough Park Estate Ltd awarded Frontier Pitts with the contract to supply and install a Road Blocker product, pictured, with traffic lights and control cabinet at both the entrances. Installed were two ‘parking height’ model Road Blockers, both with a lifted height of 353mm, one for access to the site and the other for egress. As for access control, residents would need to access the park freely at any time. The system had to be relatively simple, and allowing a speedy route. A VHF radio control system permits entry and exit from the site, with a vehicle induction loop system either side of the road blocker to ensure the units rises safely once a vehicle has passed over the ground sensors. Visitors, guests, tradespeople and delivery vans, utility services and the 999 services would also need access. To suit all the requirements, an intercom system was installed which had the ability to contact the house the visitor was visiting through a standard BT phone line, with a digital keypad allowing all other authorised traffic access. The system was standalone ensuring that it did not require further guarding and expenditure. The result; a reported reduction in traffic of up to 71 per cent. Barry Hall, Director of Farnborough Park Estate Ltd added: "People come and visit the estate to see the system in operation as it really does work.”
About products
Road Blockers and Rising Kerbs are designed to offer an impact-resistant barrier to vehicle access, the makers report. Installations range from car parks to anti-terrorist protection of defence installations. Five models of Road Blockers are available: starting with the SMT Surface mounted Road Blocker which requires minimal civil works. The ‘Parking’ Road Blocker is manufactured with a lifted height of 353mm, the ‘Security’ Road Blocker with a lifted height of 533mm, and the ‘Special Lift Height’ Road Blocker with a lifted height of 800mm. Frontier Pitts has also recently introduced a fifth model to their range of Road Blockers, the ‘Terra Blocker’ with a lifted height of 810mm. This model is part of the Anti-Terra range which was successfully crash tested to withstand an impact by a 7,500kg lorry traveling at 80km/hour, the makers report. The Road Blocker is an underground rising kerb which is hydraulically powered for reliability and strength, and can manufactured in lengths of up to 4000mm. The unit consists of two major parts; the base unit and the rising lid. The base unit is manufactured from heavy gauge steel channel, and contains a number of sealed-for-life ball bearings. The rising lid section is a welded fabrication of heavy gauge steel channel upon which the chequer plate road sections are bolted. The curved perimeter skirt of the Road Blocker is made from a mild steel sheet, and the higher lift versions are fitted with a patented double-lift skirt.
