Spooky army of 'Dr Who' children outside school....

Spooky army of 'Dr Who' children put up outside school to slow down cars

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Created 11:27 AM on 24th June 2011

A city council devised a cunning plan to slow traffic speeding past its gates with a line of child shaped bollards.

The only problem was that they were so scary that many felt they would not improve safety.

Parents of pupils at Compton primary school, Plymouth, described the eerie life-size statue-cum-bollards as 'hideous' and like 'something out of Doctor Who'.

'Like something out of Doctor Who': The child shaped bollards were originally planned to line the road going past Compton primary school

No thanks: Compton Primary School parents rejected the proposals

A comment on BBC Good Morning Devon's Facebook page said: 'Looks like a remake of Village of the Damned. 

'Don't look them in the eye or one's 4x4 will burst into flames.'

Plymouth City Council, which originally gave the bollards planning permission, is now reviewing the proposals.

The three-foot high bollards had been planned to be placed by the side of the road.

'Don't look them in the eye or one's 4x4 will burst into flames'
 

The idea was mentioned in a newsletter which went to parents of pupils at the school.

But some were so stunned they compared the stony-faced bollards, which cost £350 each, to sci-fi horror props.

One parent said: 'They're expensive, the school has to foot the bill and there's no proof that they more effective than normal bollards.

'And they look hideous, like something out of Doctor Who.'

Stony faced: Parents feared the eerie life size statues would scare children

Another said: 'They're going to be there all the time. In the middle of the night you'll see these weird-looking things.

'They will be defaced, they will have lots of graffiti on them.'

The school said it had received the largest number of comments it had ever had for a consultation, but said opinion had been evenly divided.

Plymouth City Council said: 'In recent discussions with the school it has been agreed that action to stop inconsiderate parking on pavements is a priority.

'The use of the themed bollards is being reviewed and alternatives are being looked at. 

'The safety of children trying to get to and from school is the most important consideration.'

Adrian Briggs, of manufacturers Marshalls Street Furniture, said: 'We consider [the bollards] cheap and effective compared with traffic cameras.

'Cameras would be tens of thousands of pounds.'

He said that although other areas of the UK had raised concerns about the bollards, they had worked.

'If you see a child next to the road there is a natural reaction to slow the vehicle down,' he said.

'We are proud of the bollards.'

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2007694/Spooky-army-Dr-Who-children-outside-school-slow-cars.html#ixzz1QDw3eBrZ