Bonfire of the Insanities

by Philip Coppell. Published Thu 13 May 2010 15:31

I was walking up Bold Street, talking with a friend, when I hit my knee on a bollard; a metal thing in the middle of the pavement, it really hurt hitting this bollard, as I was rubbing my knee I realised that I was not alone, in a very short time several people had an altercation with this obstruction, because that is what it is, an obstruction.

Please get me the name of the person who thought that it was a good idea to stick this solid metal obstruction in the middle of the pavement, when I find out who it was I am going to smack them about the features with a wet fish.

When I looked around I realised that along the entire length of Bold Street the pavements are covered with obstructions to attack the unwary pedestrian. Not just Bold Street but Slater Street is a forest of obstructions, in fact the whole area is a mass of bollards, how much has all this cost and why.

Please don’t say all the usual answers about pedestrian safety, I remember how it was and I do not believe that there has been an increase in accidents in Bold Street and if there has I bet it has been people injuring themselves falling over pavement obstacles

I know that safety of pedestrians is paramount, but the most likely cause of a pedestrian being involved in a serious road accident is talking on their Mobile, oblivious to anything around them, including the sound of a motor horn. So putting all these wooden stanchions up is not going to stop that.

What is this obsession that the Council and Council Officers have got with obstructing movement. Not happy to have totally ruined the road system, they have now started on the pavements.

I am told that these bollards are necessary, when I asked why I could not get an answer, other than they stop cars driving in pedestrian areas. Well if a car is being driven on the pavement it must be fairly obvious to all concerned that the driver is not fit to be behind the wheel. How often has this happened? There are No figures for people driving on the pavements, now there's a surprise!

Some Council Officer will no doubt say that drivers cannot drive on the pavement because of the bollards; it’s a chicken and egg situation.

The previous Council did their best to destroy all traffic movement in the City and it is hoped that the new Council will show a bit more common sense and start by opening up the pavements and removing all the bollards, poles and other paraphernalia that obstruct the pedestrian and cause injury.

I do not know which department, much less which anal-retentive person is responsible for placing all these obstructions on the pavements, but it is obviously some-one who does not have enough to do and when the cost cutting comes in, they should be one of the first to go.

May I also suggest that we rip up all the wooden bollards on Bold Street, place those Council Officers concerned on the top of the pile and we have a Bonfire of the Insanities.

While the fires are burning I am off to A & E to have my knee X-Rayed prior to hobbling along to my Solicitors to draft my letter for Compensation. Be careful out there.