Don't know.  I think they are quite pleasing to the eye, but I'm sure there's a more practical reason for them.

I believe they are there because they make it very difficult to reverse a land-rover at high speed through the front wall of the store. ;)

Moira I've always thought that paved area outside the Co-op was part of their property so have assumed they have paid for the bollards.

 According to the co-op they were erected because a woman fell over one, well actually the remains of one that was broken  and dreaded health and safety reared its ugly head. Also because of legislation for the disabled the tops had to be painted to make them visible to the partially sighted.They were persuaded to repaint them a less obvious colour then the florescent yellow. They were very cooperative !! in agreeing to this and dealt with it quickly and as the paved area is owned by the co-op all costs  were down to them.

When I first saw them with their silly shiny top halves - the childish part of my brain immediately wondered how long before they would be vandalised by the addition of a simple primitive line.

Don't worry - I can resist the temptation.

They could be t-arted up - this website is rather inspiring http://wildammo.com/2011/06/16/beautiful-bollards-when-art-collides-with-the-seaside/