Parliament due for security upgrade

Published on Friday 12 March 2010 16:25

A NEW security extension is being planned for the Scottish Parliament as part of a multi-million package of upgrades, it was announced today.

Holyrood bosses are looking for architects to design the new screening facility, which is expected to cover an area of about 250 metres sq.

The work is hoped to be completed in three years and is expected to replace the function of the existing public entrance on Horse Wynd, opposite Holyrood Palace.

The plans emerged as work continues on other measures around the building, including bollards and concrete benches, which have so far cost about 2 million.

A Parliament spokeswoman said: "This is part of ongoing measures to enhance security at Holyrood as recommended by the CPNI (Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure).

"These recommendations were endorsed by the Parliament's security adviser and accepted by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.

"The initial phase involves securing a design for the facility. The SPCB will then consider the design and decide whether to proceed to the next phase, which would be the procurement of tenders for construction.

"Once approved, full costs will, as always, be published on our website."

Additional features at the complex, which was opened in 2004 at a cost of about 430 million, have already been built or are under construction.

Spending included 223,000 for a concrete "chicane", 300,000 for turnstiles and 1.25 million for bollards and leaf-shaped benches.

The Holyrood spokeswoman said: "The Parliament takes security matters extremely seriously and this work is for the greater protection of building users and the 300,000-plus public visitors, including a number of school children, we receive every year."

Any new security design will "respect the architectural significance of the building and surrounding area," the spokeswoman added.