RESIDENTS are "delighted" that temporary traffic lights in Wheatley Road in Islip will stay longer than planned. 

Oxfordshire County Council set up the lights at the Islip bridge over the River Ray in December, after residents campaigned against the danger of free-flowing traffic through the village. 

The council today confirmed the lights will stay past the month-long trial period, as road works on the A40 continue to reroute streams of traffic through the village.

Dennis Price, who lives in Middle Street in Islip, heads up Islip Traffic Group which was responsible for the campaign. 

Mr Price, who works at Islip Village Shop, said: "The view of people coming into the shop is almost invariably “why didn’t it happen years ago?”

"There is considerable enthusiasm for the lights, there has been universal praise. I am sure people here will be delighted to hear they will stay. 

"There are two teenagers who have lived all their lives on the other side of the bridge and their parents never let them walk across it. Now, for the first time, they have been able to."

During his campaigning last year, Mr Price said the narrow bridge was dangerous for pedestrians, as drivers speed over the hump. 

His efforts were supported by the village's MP, John Howell.  

Mr Price said the traffic lights had considerably improved safety, but that there were still a couple of issues.

He said: "There have been one or two minor problems – people are short-cutting down another road to avoid the lights, and the signage isn’t great.

"One person said they didn't like the cars queuing up outside their house."

David Nimmo Smith, cabinet member for transport at Oxfordshire County Coucil, said: “The work that we are doing on the A40 at Cutteslowe and Wolvercote roundabouts has resulted in the amount of traffic travelling through Islip and over the bridge across the River Ray increasing by 20%.

“Although the lights mean delays for drivers they effectively enforce single-file traffic over the bridge and allow pedestrians to cross more safely.

“After a number of visits from county council officers and representatives of Thames Valley Police, we have decided that the lights should remain in place with their performance under regular review until work on the A40 roundabouts finishes.

“The lights will be removed when work at Wolvercote and Cutteslowe is complete or earlier if deemed appropriate for safety reasons.”