Council chiefs are spending almost £90,000 replacing accident-prone traffic bollards - because they keep getting battered by vehicles.

Broken - one of the 60 custom-made granite bollards that are about to be replaced. 23522-b

About 60 custom-made bollards in Colchester High Street are cracking up after being hit by traffic. The unique granite barriers were specially designed with expert help from English Heritage.

But they have needed constant repairs because of the pounding from cars.

Now Colchester Council says they need replacing before before someone gets hurt. It has already faced one insurance claim after a member of the public was injured.

The council says the original design is too expensive to continue repairing. Instead, the current bollards will be replaced with iron ones costing a fraction of the price.

Work is due to start in mid-March.

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Published Tuesday, February 22, 2005

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