'A major cock-up': Tight squeeze bollards slammed by Weston drivers

Weston-super-Mare motorists are baffled by a council’s decision to install two traffic calming bollards barely wide enough apart to allow cars to pass through.

The yellow bollards, fitted in Moor Lane Bridge at the end of February, force drivers to come to a near standstill as they approach, and cautiously navigate their way through the gap.

A number of motorists are believed to have had their wing mirrors damaged or knocked off by the bollards, which cost North Somerset Council almost £10,000 to install.

Local residents have turned to Facebook to vent their frustration. Andrew Knight said: “Chaotic, damaging, trouble as lights go green both ends - why not put a height bar instead?

“So many people have caught their mirrors - one lady had to reverse through causing damage to the whole side of her car!”

Meanwhile Georgina Hunt wrote: "I couldn't believe it last week. I understand calming traffic but it's slow enough on that bridge with one way traffic waiting for the traffic lights to change.

"I've only got a micra but it made me nervous god knows how bigger cars get through. The gap is ridiculous!!!"

Steve Crawford, who lives near Moor Lane Bridge, captured on video the problems motorists face. The clip shows cars screeching to a halt before slowly passing through the gap, while other drivers pull in their wing mirrors:

Mr Crawford told This is Somerset: “It’s a nightmare. It seems like an idea that has been thought up by someone who has not seen the bridge.

“It’s absolutely useless. Side mirrors on white vans and such are high enough that the bollards make absolutely no difference. I know people who have had their car wing mirrors taken off though.

“This is just such a major cock-up. It’s just not a good idea at all.”

Mr Crawford added: “I believe they’re supposed to be two metres apart but it appears they have measured them two metres from the centre of each bollard rather than the inside measurement.

“They’re narrower than a garage door. It’s beyond extraordinary.”

Mr Crawford said he takes an alternative route to avoid the bollards. “That’s more time and petrol,” he said.

“I’m sure I’m able to drive through them but it’s the time you waste waiting for people in front to get through.

“The traffic lights are on a timer and motorists gingerly approach the bollards, then by the time they’ve passed the lights go red again.”

Another video clip captured by Mr Crawford shows three cars struggling to make it through the bollards before the lights change colour:

“It’s just a bad idea, and completely unnecessary in the first place,” Mr Crawford said.

“It’s only a matter of time until someone crashes into the bollards and if you’re trying to pass through them at night, forget it”.

North Somerset Council says the bollards are necessary to ensure the 6ft 6ins width restriction and three tonne weight limit is abided by.

In a statement it said the road and embankments on the approaches to Moor Lane Bridge are “showing signs of serious wear and tear”.

Vehicles are failing to obey the traffic width and weight restrictions, the council claims, which is “adding to the deterioration of the road's condition”.

A spokesperson told This is Somerset: “We are monitoring the situation. Cars have to slow down to navigate but cars can get through but large vehicles can’t.

“We have CCTV cameras there to monitor the situation. We are aware of the issues some people are having”.

The spokesperson also said the emergency services had been consulted over the bollards and did not oppose them because they do not use the bridge due to the existing height and weight restrictions.

Mr Crawford noted: “Should they [the council] have any plans of repairing the bridge, there is no way that they'd be able to get road works vehicles or machinery on there past the bollards”.