Fishergate bollard to become '˜6ft piece of public art'

An artist's impression of Fishergate Bollard extended to 6ft

The traffic bollard in Preston's Fishergate is at the centre of a new controversy '“ with plans to make it taller and more visible to drivers.

Highways bosses have been left scratching their heads over why so many motorists have collided with the stone structure in the city’s shared space scheme.

Cabinet member for public spaces, Coun Poolin Mahleg, says she hopes raising the bollard to 6ft in height will cut the number of prangs.

Renown road engineer Mickey Taik, who designed a shared space project in the Turkish city of Asif, has been drafted in to advise on the plans. He will be on site today to measure up the bollard, with specially matched stone materials to be shipped in from Kidin-Ah-Bout in Turkey.

Mickey said: “We considered all options, including making a new bollard out of rubber, so vehicles would simply bounce off.

“However, it was decided if we made the existing bollard taller, it could also act as an eye-catching gateway into Preston for visitors.

“We hope one day it could even be viewed as a piece of public art, much like the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square.”