BOLLARDS are being dug up as part of a move to get rid of clutter’ clogging the famous Roman’ street market in London’s East End which had been installed stop vehicles mounting the kerb to park

By Mike Brooke

BOLLARDS are being dug up as part of a move to get rid of clutter’ clogging up the famous Roman’ street market in London’s East End.

It wasn’t so long ago that Tower Hamlets council installed the 100 bollards along Bow’s Roman Road to stop vehicles mounting the kerb to park.

But now Town Hall bosses have decided they look ugly and clutter up the very pavement they were designed to protect.

The declutter is also aimed at removing outdated street signs and install seats to attract shoppers back.

They’re spending �1 million sprucing up The Roman’ to bring the old market back to life after complaints from traders that draconian’ parking restrictions have literally driven shoppers away.

Contractors are also making a clean sweep of the pavements with deep-cleaning equipment to rid them of gum and grime.

So far the grime squad’ has tackled more than 70,000sq ft of York stone paving which has been cleaned and covered in a protective solution which repels chewing gum and other stains.

But deputy council leader Josh Peck admits: “Even with this �1m, we’re not going to see miraculous changes overnight.

“But residents will see our drive to return The Roman’ to its glory days.”

Some shop fronts are also getting a makeover’ with �200,000 Whitehall funding being made available to traders who apply.

Much of the cash for sprucing up The Roman’ comes from the 2012 Olympics regeneration just half-a-mile the other side of the River Lea beyond the Old Ford end of Roman Road.