Ugly bollards put up along Nailsea High Street to aid social distancing have disappeared - but new measures may take their place.
The red and white plastic bollards were put in along the High Street this summer in a bid to block off parking bays to provide more space for pedestrians and comply with Government social distancing requirements.
But overnight they have disappeared and have yet to be replaced.
Some have been left wondering whether the parking bays which were cordoned off by the bollards will now be permanently put back in use.
It is understood that the barriers were removed ahead of the farmers market at the weekend in the High Street.
North Somerset Council executive member for highways and Nailsea councillor James Tonkin said the plan was to remove the bollards for good.
Mr Tonkin said: “We had planned to remove the bollards in November and then we went into lockdown.
“We had then planned to take them out in December when the lockdown lifted but took them out earlier due to the farmers market taking place and needing the space.
“The main reason we removed the bollards was down to public pressure.”
The bollards were one of a series of a measures put in place right across the district earlier this year to provide more space for pedestrians during the coronavirus pandemic.
Not everyone approved of the bollards, with many saying taking away the parking bays was having a negative impact on the High Street.
The main part of the High Street was initially closed off to through traffic as one of the first measures to enhance social distancing.
But this was quickly reversed - within just a few days - after complaints from businesses and local residents.
Mr Tonkin said the bollards may be replaced with other measures in the future.
“We are not planning to replace the bollards at the present time,” he said.
“But it may be there will be other schemes in the future.”
Some changes are planned - including reducing the width of the entrance to the High Street near Iceland.
Planters will be put in place in a bid to reduce the width of the road and stop large vehicles from using the High Street.
The planter plan comes at the same time as North Somerset Council wants to introduce a 7.5 tonne weight limit in the High Street to stop HGVs using it as a rat run.
Work to improve the service road to the shops at the rear of High Street will have to be carried out before the new weight limit can come into force.
