Around Ealing February/March 2020 | Page 33

SCHOOLS Child-like bollards boost safety T hese bollards shaped like small children have been installed outside a local school’s main entrance to grab the attention of motorists and make it safer for children to come and go. Karen Kondo, headteacher at West Acton Primary School since 2018, led the project to install ‘Billy and Belinda’ bollards in a bid to improve road safety around the school and to encourage drivers passing by the school to slow down and be mindful of where and how they park. She said: “Anything that we can do to raise driver awareness that there’s a school in the vicinity and young children on foot is a good thing. We have seen drivers being more considerate of their speed and they now continue along the road cautiously.” The four bollards, which were designed to represent the diversity of the school’s pupils, have been installed near the school gates in Noel Road. Councillor Yvonne Johnson, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for schools and children’s services, said: “We hope these bollards will help to limit accidents by encouraging motorists to reduce their speed and be more vigilant when passing by a school, to ensure children’s safety when arriving and leaving the school.” The funding for the bollards was secured by the school, the council’s local ward forum; and also the school’s parent teacher association. The project was then led by Ealing Council’s transport department, which can provide schools with support to improve road safety and also boosting sustainable travel (such as walking, cycling and scooting instead of driving). Read the full story at ealingnewsextra.co.uk/ features/child‑like‑bollards around ealing    February/March 2020 33