A notorious bollard in a Netherfield supermarket car park has been hit yet again as renewed calls are made for safety upgrades.
The infamous pole – known locally as Mr Post – has caused bother for some drivers using the supermarket.
Back in October 2024, the bollard was painted yellow and black with a fluorescent trim after cars kept crashing into it. The 4ft-tall pole was plain yellow before this, having already replaced a smaller post in March 2024 to increase visibility.
At this time, it was reported more than 10 collisions involving the post had occurred in the previous two years.
The four-foot-high pole in the supermarket’s car park is meant to make the nearby zebra crossing safer for pedestrians.
But a post on August 4 in a community Facebook group noted that “Mr Post” was back in place, alluding to the fact it had needed to be fixed again, with the bollard visibly worn in the image.
Netherfield resident Ioana Szekeres said she had noticed the bollard missing for “a few days” before being reinstated on August 4.
The bollard’s visibility issue centres around people not being able to see it in their car mirrors, where motorists have previously claimed its position means it is blocked from view by the blind spot between a car’s windscreen and side window.
Szekeres said: “Some drivers are ignorant. I’ve seen the post being hit by a driver and [the person] was going forward, not reversing.
“The post is not in a blind spot, it’s only in a blind spot if you’re ignorant and don’t pay attention to your surroundings.”
One comment left on the recent Facebook post noted the amount of money Lidl “must be wasting” on the constant repairs.
Another wrote: “I give it two weeks before someone hits it.”
While the pole has become somewhat of a comedic staple for the Netherfield community – where it has previously been decorated with Christmas decorations – some councillors say it is blatantly causing vehicle and pedestrian safety issues.
Councillor John Clarke (Lab), leader of Gedling Borough Council and representing the Netherfield ward, said on August 7: “I don’t know how people keep hitting it, it’s an indication of the way people drive through there.
“It’s not just Lidl, it could be any supermarket, people swing into these [car parks] without thought. People go shopping with their children, disabled people, it’s a clear indication.
“In this case, it’s a very busy bit, there’s a zebra crossing there – I would urge Lidl to put some traffic measures in.”
While the bollard was previously replaced with a larger, more visible post, Cllr Clarke said a taller one should be in place, potentially with two or three more installed to stop pedestrians being hit.
Nottinghamshire County Councillor Mike Adams (Con), whose division includes Netherfield, said he plans to email Lidl to “ask them what their plans are long term” for the post, where Lidl may need to “rethink” the configuration of the car park.
He called the bollard similar to a “local celebrity” for the community, but said: “People’s cars are getting whacked, it’s funny for everyone that doesn’t bang into it with their car, but arguably it’s costing a few hundred quid every time they have a bump or scratch.”
Cllr Alison Hunt (Lab), also representing Netherfield in Gedling Borough, said: “I welcome anything to do with pedestrian safety. Given how much it’s been knocked and bashed it’s doing its job.
“Something more visible and higher would be more appropriate, I suggest it’s wider and higher – something above the average wing mirror.”
According to Lidl, a contractor has been appointed to carry out improvements to help highlight the pedestrian crossing and discourage drivers from cutting the corner where the bollard sits.
It will be reinstated at the corner of the existing textured paving, with a new lamppost and signage for better visibility for drivers.
A Lidl spokesperson said: “The safety of our customers is our top priority. As such, the bollard is there to protect pedestrians using the designated path in the car park.”
