Residents in Birmingham have been left perplexed after the city council covered a pavement near a primary school with a “barmy” array of 60 bollards to deter motorists.
The bollards, which have drawn ridicule and prompted concerns that they could put cyclists and pedestrians at risk, were hailed as “Bollard World” by the Twitter account World Bollard Association.
Three rows of bollards have been placed along a 50-metre stretch of pavement near the Meadows primary school in Northfield, south Birmingham.
Welcome to Bollard World. A place where dreams come true.#WorldBollardAssociation
— World Bollard Association™ (@WorldBollard) January 3, 2023
pic.twitter.com/QKRRHFGKkj
Jessica Grant, 38, a mother who lives nearby, said: “We’re all for traffic safety around a primary school but this just look like a weird slalom of posts more suited to the Winter Olympics.
“I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere else, to be honest. A simple fence or some barriers along the side of the road would have done the job but this is surely more expensive.
“It’s an absolute eyesore too and if anything could prove more dangerous for cyclists or pedestrians trying to navigate it. Delivery drivers have also been unable to park up and I hear parents have had difficulties too.”
Another nearby resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “Serious questions have to be asked of the council. It’s barmy. Who on earth thought this was a good idea?
“We have had problems with parking near the school, but this is an unnecessary eyesore and complete overkill by the council. The first row nearest the road, I sort of understand. But the rest of them are just weird.”
World Bollard Association, which posts pictures of bollards around the world, shared a video of the Birmingham bollards with the caption: “Welcome to Bollard World. A place where dreams come true.”
In response to one Twitter user asking why the bollards were there, the account said: “It’s to improve the look of Birmingham. We think it’s worked.”
Birmingham city council said the bollards had been put up in response to “regular complaints about inconsiderate and dangerous parking outside the school”.
A spokesperson said: “The number of bollards that have been installed demonstrates the scale of the problem. We are working with the school to help challenge this behaviour and encourage walking and cycling where appropriate.
“We will continue to encourage parents to consider other forms of transport and to consider others when dropping off children at school.”
