Norfolk town to spend £1,500 on terrorism insurance
St Peter's Church is one of the medieval buildings in Thetford. Picture: Sonya Duncan - Credit: Archant Norfolk
A town council has voted to spend more than £1,500 on insurance in the event of a terrorist attack on one of its events.
A sign at a railway station warns travellers to be on the alert for terror suspects. Picture: Chris Bishop - Credit: Archant
Thetford Town Council made the decision at its June full council meeting.
Currently, if there is a terrorist incident in the town the government would not pay to repair the buildings or compensate families affected.
With the insurance, the risk of a terrorist threat is calculated and cover would be provided. An undisclosed company quoted the council a cost of £1,558.26.
The council likened the process of gaining the insurance to a health and safety check.
Thetford Town Council made the decision at King's House at the full council meeting. Picture: Conor Matchett - Credit: Archant
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Thetford council owns £12m in assets including various medieval buildings.
Town clerk Tina Cunnell said the insurance is needed due to the amount of large-scale events.
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She said: "As a town we have some large events and if we had a terror incident the government would not give any money to help with repairs.
"The financial committee agreed that they believed it would be good. It was a majority vote to take on the additional insurance."
The price of the insurance depends on the amount of terrorist activity in the country. If there is an incident then the pice will increase.
Residents had a mixed reaction to the decision taking to social media to air their views.
One said: "Surely the council would be better off spending the £1,700 on something useful like a roundabout."
Another added: "A terrorist attack on the Carnegie. Really? Like that's something we all think about before we go to bed."
There were also comments of support. Another said: "The town council should be congratulated on its forward thinking in having terrorism insurance rather than being lambasted."
Ms Cunnell explained that the money would not be diverted from another area of the council.
She added: "The council money isn't taken from one pot to pay for the insurance. It isn't money that we would have been able to use to pay for a playground. All the council finances are allocated to how we can spend it.
"When we have large events we consult the police. We can have up to 1,000 people in Market Place and our events are always well advertised.
"Unfortunately this is the world we live in and we have to be mindful."
