ROAD safety campaigners have welcomed a decision to reinstate a pedestrian crossing near Witney’s Marriott’s Walk shopping centre after a five-month battle.

Oxfordshire County Council has decided to pay for the £25,000 zebra crossing after it was missed off the original plans for the centre, which opened in October.

There used to be a crossing outside the Nuffield Health Centre, in Welch Way, and residents were left baffled after it was removed during the development of the shopping centre but not replaced.

There was concern about the number of people trying to get over the road – which is used by about 9,000 vehicles a day – to Marriotts Walk without a safe crossing.

However, the Oxford Mail can reveal a zebra crossing will be provided, after a petition with more than 500 signatures was collected.

Rodney Rose, the county council’s cabinet member for transport implementation, admitted the crossing had been missed off the plans and said County Hall would foot the bill for the work, rather than the centre’s developers.

Michael Hocken, of Witney environment campaign group Living Streets, said: “This is great news but the only problem is that, because the county council did not pick it up the mistake, it will have to pay.

“A zebra crossing means that people can cross when they want to and they do not have to wait.”

A petition containing 543 signatures calling for the crossing to be reinstated was collected by Dawn Barnes, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for the Witney constituency, earlier this month.

She said: “We have spoken to local people and groups in Witney about the need to reinstate the crossing.

“It’s clear that one is needed if we’re going to ensure that people feel safe while doing their shopping and other business in Witney town centre.

“Getting rid of the crossing was illogical and seems to have been badly thought-out.

“It was the easiest petition I have ever done in my life. People would struggle to cross the road just to sign the petition.”

Mr Rose said: “The crossing had been missed off plans. It is paid for by the developer when it is written into the original planning arrangement.

“It was not done then and was completely missed off, so I’m afraid we will have to pick up the tab for it.”

He said that the zebra crossing would be installed during the next financial year, which starts next month. It will be positioned outside the shopping centre.

Brigitte Hickman, of Living Streets, led the way in asking the county council to provide the crossing.

Mrs Hickman, of Farmer’s Close, said: “I think a zebra crossing will work, as drivers in Witney are considerate and will slow down.”