ONE of Boscombe’s brand new bollards was knocked over during a collision with a bus.

In total, 13 futuristic spheres were installed in the shared space area last week as part of plans to differentiate between the road and the pedestrian walkway.

Last week, some residents raised concerns that the spheres were a safety hazard.

It had been claimed that the objects narrow the road at a bend.

Council officials say the stretch affected by the bollards is still wider than an average carriageway.

On Monday, a Morebus upturned one of the bollards after “brushing” it as the bus navigated the turn.

Operations manager Richard Wade said: “I can confirm that a bus operating our M2 service brushed a bollard in the shared space at around 11.50am on Monday.

“There were some passengers on board at the time but no one was injured and there was no damage to the bus.

“We have reported the incident to the council and our contacts there have been very helpful.”

A Bournemouth council spokesperson said: “We are working closely alongside our two local bus companies to ensure that the bollards do not cause unnecessary obstruction to the road.

“The bollards have yet to be fixed into the ground for this reason and we continue to monitor traffic and liaise with the bus companies.”

Council officials were also called out on the same day to deal with graffiti daubed on one of the granite bollards.

Images of an eye and a hand with the middle finger raised had been painted on a sphere over the weekend.

However, vandals used “crayon”, council officials said, and the markings have been removed.

Councillor Jane Kelly, lead member for regeneration, said: “I am appalled that somebody could deface them.

“It’s just vandalism.”

Harry Seccombe, chair of the Boscombe and Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan, said: “There’s a lack of community engagement.

“They didn’t tell anyone or ask anyone if they wanted them just plonked in the road like that.

“If you don’t get the community buy-in, people won’t care about something.”

Councillor Chris Wakefield said: “Vandalism and tagging in a public place is very offensive to many people.

“In this particular instance, I don’t believe the graffiti is in very good taste at all.

“There are varied opinions on the shared space and the spheres which are being used as a physical measure to separate pedestrians and vehicle traffic, but vandalism is not a good way of expressing feelings.”

Ian Kalra, head of transportation services, said officers are “monitoring the placement of the balls to ensure traffic can still move freely”.

The bollards will be sunk into the ground when engineers are happy with their position.

The granite balls, which cost a total of £17,875, were put in place by Bournemouth council as a “finishing, decorative touch”.

Residents can express their views on the shared space area, and other issues affecting Boscombe and Pokesdown, by filling in a questionnaire at boscombepokesdown.org.uk