Man vows to become a one-man bollard and protect pedestrians

An angry pensioner has vowed to become a one-man bollard to keep town centre pedestrians safe from vehicles. Retired William Donger made the promise to keep unauthorised motors from travelling through High Street in Burton-on-Trent, East Staffordshire, after he was just inches away from being mown down by a speeding car while crossing the road. The 68-year-old, of Winshill, said that he would have 'gone splat' if he had not heard a stranger shouting at him to watch out.

He said: "I was almost splattered in the middle of the road. The car must have been going at least 45mph. If the guy on the footpath on the other side of the road had not shouted 'mind the car' I would have been a goner. The driver did not even slow down. He just swerved around me and carried on. I gave the car a whack with my walking stick. I hope it has made a dent." Mr Donger believed that the incident would not have happened if the High Street bollards, situated at each end of the road, were working.



The bollards, installed to semi-pedestrianise the busy street, have been a constant source of contention after being inactive for more than a year. Staffordshire County Council, the authority responsible for maintaining the highways, is in a stalemate with East Staffordshire Borough Council over who will fund the devices. Mr Donger said the situation needed sorting before someone got hurt. He said: "The situation is ridiculous. Whoever is in charge needs their heads banging together. Surely people's safety should come first? I dread to think what would have happened if it was a mother with children.

"They would be dead." Mr Donger said that he did not want to do it, but would be prepared to control the flow of traffic himself. He said: "You should not have to fear for your own life in a pedestrian area. If something is not done soon I am going to stand there all day and police it myself." A spokesman for Staffordshire County Council said: "Signs clearly state that cars should not enter the High Street. Anyone who does is committing a traffic offence and endangering pedestrians, and it should be reported to the police. The bollards will remain out of operation until further notice."