GRANITE bollards marking out Boscombe's shared space area will be made permanent, council officials have confirmed.

In total, 13 futuristic-looking spheres costing £17,875 were installed last summer to differentiate between the road and the pedestrian walkway.

Officers from Bournemouth council say they are now "happy" with the scheme and the bollards will be permanently set into the ground.

The spokesperson said: "The granite spheres were originally only placed on the surface until a final position was agreed and trialled to ensure that all vehicles could safely pass through the area, and in particular to ensure the bus operators could pass.

"We are now happy with the location and the spheres are being permanently installed into the ground, as was always intended."

Traders from Boscombe had claimed that the bollards narrowed the road at a bend, although the council said the stretch affected by the spheres is still wider than the average carriageway.

Last July, one of the bollards was knocked over after it was struck by a Morebus.

A council spokesperson said officials were working with bus companies to ensure the spheres didn't cause an unnecessary obstruction.

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