Safety barriers around a small number of Hertfordshire hotels used to house asylum seekers cost the county council in excess of £500k, it has emerged.

The barriers were required to separate vehicles from pedestrians during public protests.

The cost emerged in response to a county councillor's question about a £520k overspend on highways.

A report presented to a meeting of the resources and performance cabinet panel detailed the overspend only as "unforeseen operational requirements that have arisen in recent months".

It stated: "These additional activities were necessary to maintain service delivery and address emerging priorities. As a result, costs have exceeded initial forecasts."

In response to a direct question by Reform UK Cllr Mark Biddle, it emerged that the bill related to safety barriers.

"The unforeseen operational circumstances relate to the setting up of barriers, in terms of demonstrations in particular around asylum hotels," said head of corporate finance Scott Walker.

"So that is some of the numbers that have come through."

Following the meeting, a spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council said that the barriers had been necessary to separate vehicles and pedestrians.

And they said that the cost of providing these barriers had not been planned for in the council's 2025/26 budget, which was set in February.

"Due to regular protests taking place outside some hotels in the county, we have, in consultation with the police, put in place temporary traffic management barriers at some locations," said the spokesperson for the county council.

"These are to help keep vehicles and pedestrians separate so people can protest safely.

"There had previously been concerns about a high risk of collisions with passing traffic.

"The cost of providing these barriers wasn't planned for in the budget set in February."