Organisers of an unusual art project in Whitchurch are celebrating the latest addition to the town’s streets.
The Mayor of Whitchurch, Barry Chapman, and Mayoress Sandra Jackman unveiled the 20th painted bollard in the town centre last week.
The bollard was designed by 80-year-old Pearl Friend following a competition at the Kingfisher Day Centre, Micheldever Road.
Mrs Friends’ design depicts a kingfisher at a river bank surrounded by reeds and the centre’s logo.
She said:“I did the painting a while ago and they asked me if I could enter into the bollard competition.
“I am very very pleased with the bollard. It seems to have got a lot of people talking about it, which is nice.”
In October 2009 the Whitchurch Community Art Project applied for a £6,000 grant from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to start the scheme.
Since the a host of brightly painted bollards have sprung up.
Whitchurch had more than 40 rusty bollards dotted around the town that are gradually ebing revamped.
And having reached the halfway point, organisers say they plan to leave no bollard unadorned.
Project manager John Buckley said the scheme has got all the town’s residents involved.
He said: “Part of funding for the project was to get people involved. It is a great project. Contributions come in from all ages, from youngsters to old. It’s the community involvement which is the essence of it.”
Residents and community groups are able to submit designs to the art project group, who present the design to Whitchurch Town Council for final approval.
Mayor Jackman said he was really pleased with the latest addition.
“It creates a great deal of interest both in Whitchurch and outside. We have people coming from all over the place to come look at them,” he said.
