Maidenhead & Windsor

Four new 'pupils' set to join Oakfield First School and The Lawns Nursery School in Imperial Road, Windsor on Thursday 19 November are sure to become true pillars of society.

Billy and Belinda Bollards are specially designed and decorated vroad safety posts, moulded and painted to resemble primary children in Oakfield and Lawns uniforms.

Four are being installed close to the school entrance as part of their school travel plan in a bid to prevent parents inconsiderately parking on the footpath near the school, a practice which has raised concerns about the safety of children walking to school.

In addition, the sight of 'schoolchildren' at the roadside should hopefully encourage drivers to slow down and drive more carefully past the school on what is one of the borough's busiest roads.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead highways and streetcare, said: "Billy and Belinda will hopefully alert drivers to the fact that they are nearing a school and so should slow down and take extra care.

"Our children's safety is so important. If the Oakfield and Lawns bollards are shown to have a positive effect on children's safety then the Royal Borough will look at the benefit of introducing them outside other schools.

"We must all be careful when driving on the roads, especially when we are near schools. We hope this scheme will reduce accidents involving children near schools."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead