Brightly-coloured pencil-shaped bollards are being placed outside a Sutton primary school in an effort to catch drivers’ attention and keep children safe.
It is the first time that the eye-catching bollards have been used in London and they are part of a £20,000 scheme to boost safety outside Dorchester Primary School in Worcester Park.
Residents were concerned that speeding drivers and the sheer volume of traffic placed young children in danger, so money for a range of road safety measures was agreed at the Cheam North and Worcester Park Local Committee.
Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Colin Hall, said: “We wanted to improve safety in the area and we also care about making sure our street environment is as attractive as possible.
“The pencil bollards are both effective and fun to look at. So, alongside the rest of the improvements, we hope that residents will be more than satisfied with the work that’s been done and the effect on their community.”
The other works, which are due to be carried out in August, include widening the pavement directly outside the school, providing a safer road crossing and upgrading the road signs.
Children from Green Lane Primary and Nursery School in Worcester Park will also enjoy safer journeys after £20,000 was allocated for a zebra crossing and other improvements outside their school.
This work, also due to be carried out in August, will tackle problems with parking by a range of measures including installing bollards, road markings and rekerbing.