Council workers have spent the last two days painting hundreds of bollards in Aberdeen – as they try to prevent any more people from hurting themselves falling over them.
The black plastic bases of traffic cylinders in the west end, Rosemount, Union Street and at the beach have been spray-painted bright white.
It comes less than a week after The P&J reported on the injuries suffered by Aberdeen 71-year-old Susan Lyness, who is undergoing physiotherapy to help her recover from her trip over one of the bases in the one-way system in Rosemount Place.
At the time, council transport spokeswoman Sandra Macdonald admitted Ms Lyness was “not the first” to have reported such an incident.
The bollard bases, camouflaged with the road surface, have become a tripping hazard in recent months after the traffic cylinders were fixed in place to stop cones being moved.
They were installed as part of the £1.76 million Spaces For People work, being used to create more room for physical distancing at popular spots across the city.
But the upper orange and white cylindrical part of the bollards are easily removed or knocked off by passing vehicles – as has been witnessed in Union Street, Rosemount, George Street and Aberdeen beach, where they have been installed.
Mrs Macdonald said: “Because of the difficulties we know people have had with the trip hazard, we are trialling painting the bases white.
“They are difficult to see so let’s hope it works. If it doesn’t officers will look at another solution, I’m sure.”