NEW bollards in Abbeymead have caused frustration for residents who say the money should have been spent on fixing potholes.
Robert Cheshire, of Broad Leys Road, Abbeymead, noticed the new 'keep left' bollards near his home, in Abbeymead Avenue.
He said: "I was just out there recently and noticed that workmen were replacing them but we think money could be better spent on repairing the potholes.
"They are not just bad here, they are also bad in Barnwood and Coney Hill.
"The money could be better spent elsewhere."
Gloucestershire County Council sent workers to repair some potholes in the Abbeymead area last week, but Mr Cheshire said the repairs made so far were inadequate.
"I do understand that it will cost a lot of money to resurface the whole road but certainly they could repair some of it," said Mr Cheshire. The council plans to send extra Highways teams out over the next six months to treat a further 15,000 potholes on top of those already being tackled.
The high number of craters in the roads is being blamed on prolonged spells of wet and cold weather in recent months.
Ken Pitt, street lighting manager at Gloucestershire County Council, said: "The replacement of these bollards will save the council money in the long term.
"The new bollards are not lit, so will not consume any electricity and future maintenance costs will be far less.
"The cost of the new bollards will be covered by these savings."
He added that the council spent two days repairing potholes in Abbeymead in recent weeks.
"Abbeymead Avenue is a busy piece of road so we programmed the patching works over two Sundays to minimise disruption," he said.
"We thank local residents for their patience while this essential repair work is carried out."