A FORMER MP fears a statue in honour of two sisters from Colchester could become the victim of bad driving.

Colchester High Steward Sir Bob Russell led a £90,000 fundraising drive to put up a statue of Jane Taylor, who wrote the nursery rhyme 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star', and her sister Ann in the High Street. 

The revealing of the statue was delayed following issues around the installation, a few hundred yards away from where the family lived between 1796 and 1811.

Close - Bollards could help protect the statue in High StreetClose - Bollards could help protect the statue in High Street (Image: Sir Bob Russell)

Now, concerns have been raised that drivers could crash into the statue which is opposite Colchester Town Hall. 

Sir Bob has contacted Essex County Council, which has refused to allow a bollard to be placed on the kerb behind the statue. 

Sir Bob said: “The statue is just beyond the western end of a taxi rank. It seldom has taxis at that point, but cars and other vehicles are increasingly being parked there illegally.

"The car was parked partly on the pavement, behind the statue, and the lorry I witnessed being reversed towards the statue. 

“I thought that if a bollard was placed on the kerb, behind the statue and thus not visible in photographs taken from the front, if an inattentive driver reversed too far they would hit the bollard which would hopefully stop them then crashing into the statue. 

“Essex County Highways have refused my request because they said the bollard would be street clutter. One bollard – street clutter?” 

“The statue, which was unveiled in May, has become the most photographed site in Colchester. It would be awful if an inattentive driver drove into it. I do not see how one bollard can be considered as street clutter – much better that than a damaged or destroyed statue.” 

Castle ward Councillor Richard Kirkby-Taylor told the Gazette the safety of both the statue and pedestrians would be of concern.

He said: "If Essex County Council are not willing to put up bollards, then why wasn't this thought about before it was sited there?"

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: "The location and conditions of replacing an information board and a planter with the statue were agreed by Colchester City Council, Sir Bob Russell and Essex Highways.

"The previous board and planter had been in place for a number of years without the need for protection.

"The statue is positioned on a footway to the rear of a parking bay for bicycles and taxis, away from passing vehicles."