A council has erected huge bollards shaped like pencils in a bid to deter parents from causing traffic chaos on the school-runs by clogging up the streets.
The eye-catching bollard designs were created by the School Streets initative to stop cars from entering certain roads during drop-off and pick-up time.
Now the borough of Richmond upon Thames has approved the bright pillars to be rolled out council-wide.
The aim is to reduce congestion caused by school traffic mayhem and encourage parents driving cars to walk, cycle or use public transport to get their youngsters to class.
Many have welcomed the new initiative with open arms, whilst others are furious at the proposal arguing that it will only push the traffic issues further out of Richmond upon Thames
Richmond upon Thames Council has erected huge bollards shaped like pencils in a bid to deter parents causing traffic chaos on the school-runs by clogging up the streets
Following a successful trial using pencil bollards and dragon’s teeth designs to signal to drivers the beginning of School Street, 17 more will be installed by the council.
Gateways to affected streets include a five-metre deep red resin bound surface across the carriageway, in the is hopes of improving visibility, compliance and safety.
There are also four white triangular ‘dragon’s teeth’ along the kerb edge on the red surface with three pencil bollards on either side.
However, there are some exemptions, with taxis, Royal Mail vehicles as well as local business able to access the designated School Streets.
The proposal was initially trialled at St John the Baptist Primary School where levels of non-compliance were higher than average.
Since the scheme was introduced , there has been a significant reduction in the number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) in the area.
Several people have voiced their support of the idea online branding it ‘impressive’ and describing the idea as ‘great’, however not everyone has been won over.
‘Doesn’t it just mean that parents park on the edge of the zone causing traffic problems where the photographer is standing rather than along that road?’ one said.
A second quipped: ‘The pencils work well to distract from the signage small print. Nicely done.’
However, others quickly came to the initiative’s defence, with one writing: ‘The trial of the entry treatments in Hampton Wick HUGELY reduced fines.’
While another added: ‘You can have your view on the schemes generally… but the evidence on the markings – fewer fines and safer schoolchildren – is entirely clear.’
Many have welcomed the new initiative with open arms, whilst others are furious at the proposal arguing that it will only push the traffic issues further out of Richmond upon Thames
‘They are stopping the nuisance of speeding cars converging on schools and the parent parking dodgems, so that children can walk and ride safely to and from school and residents are spared the nuisance,’ one argued.
‘It isn’t mere signalling, it has actually worked.’
School Streets are being put into place across the UK, including in Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds, York, Brighton, and Reading.
Originally created in Italy in 1989, Scotland was the first in the UK to introduce the schemes in 2015 while Camden was the first in London in 2017.
Councillor Alexander Ehmann, Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Services Committee, said: ‘School Streets are there to make the area around our schools safer for vulnerable young road-users.
‘It also makes the space one where all pedestrians are ‘top-dog’ and we know that this encourages walking and wheeling to school too.’
The council believes the School Streets plan has been a resounding success, with all affected roads signposted and CCTV cameras installed to monitor non-compliance.
The pencils should also reduce the number of fines drivers are receiving.
Cllr Ehmann added: ‘This first-of-its-kind treatment has attracted a lot of interest from other councils around the country and Richmond hopes that what began in our borough may yet become the template that other councils will follow.’
MailOnline has approached the Richmond Upon Thames council for comment.
