A FIVE-STAR Bournemouth hotel is in need of beefed up gates after “security issues”.
The Nici Hotel in West Hill Road, West Cliff, has applied to boost its security with a new automated gate at the exit of its car park.
But the hotel said the new proposed measure, which need to go through a planning application process, is not a reaction to a single incident.
A spokeswoman said parking in any town centre “carries a degree of risk” and the new gates are to give guests “peace of mind”.
The Nici’s spokeswoman said: “The Nici is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all our guests.
“As with any town centre location, parking inherently carries a degree of risk.
“To further prioritise the security of our guests' vehicles, we are looking to install new automated gates.
“This is not a response to any specific incident, but rather a proactive measure to ensure the continued peace of mind of our valued guests.”
The exit gate will be automated with pads in the car park which will signal them to open, which will ‘allow the hotel to closely control’ cars leaving.
Meanwhile the gate itself will be 1.8 metres tall and powder-coated bronze to match other gates within the area.
A design and access statement by Luken Beck said the gate “is necessary to ensure the safety of the hotel, with recent security issues occurring at the site”.
It added: “The Nici has had recent security issues, therefore the hotel is seeking to erect a gate to restrict the speed in which cars can exit the site, making it significantly easier for the hotel to control the security of those leaving the site.
“The gate is proposed to be set well back from the roadside and designed with a material palette that assimilates well with the surrounding area to minimise any impact on the conservation area.”
The Nici was recently named among the top 100 hotels in the country by The Times in its annual list and was named as the UK's best new hotel at a London awards.
It features 84 bedrooms, including 10 garden suites with outdoor hot tubs, a vibrant bar and restaurant and took over from the old Savoy site.
It has also had a £25m refurbishment, drawing inspiration from Miami’s South Beach.
Rates for The Nici are from £175 per room, per night.
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