A 90-year-old driver's vehicle became wedged against a bollard on a footbridge in Hessle, sparking concerns that the incident is not an isolated case. The car, which was driven along the footpath on Clive Sullivan Way before becoming stuck, has since been removed alongside the damaged bollard.
Humberside Police issued a traffic offence report to the driver following the 11:00 BST incident, in which no pedestrians were injured. However, both the vehicle and bollard have been relocated to facilitate recovery, with plans for a replacement bollard already underway, according to East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
Hessle Ward councillor David Nolan described the scene, stating that drivers often ignore the 'no vehicle entry' sign on Ferry Road and drive onto the footbridge before becoming trapped. He warned that this is not an isolated incident, with multiple occurrences recorded in the past where vehicles have damaged or removed bollards without authorisation.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council confirmed its awareness of previous instances where drivers disregarded access restrictions, resulting in costly repairs and replacements for bollards at Ferry Road. The council has stated that it will pursue recovery costs associated with this incident and review measures to prevent unauthorised vehicle access.
The ongoing challenge of maintaining public safety and controlling vehicle access in pedestrian-only areas is a pressing concern for local authorities, the council added. As such, the council intends to continue implementing deterrents to safeguard the route's intended users – pedestrians.