Scientist David Palmer believes a new road chicane designed to keep lorries out of Bicester is one traffic calming measure too many.

The "gateway" is in Banbury Road, between a roundabout and the entrance to the Bure Park estate where Dr Palmer lives.

He said: "The chicane is completely unnecessary, as in a relatively short stretch of road there is also a pedestrian crossing and a mini-roundabout at the entrance to the estate. Banbury Road is not a busy road, unlike the Buckingham Road, as it takes predominantly local traffic."

He also believes the chicane, which narrows the road to one lane, could cause accidents. Its predecessor was wrecked in March when a bus drove over it.

Dr Palmer, managing director of a computer company in Begbroke, nearly had a crash on his way home on the day the chicane was installed. He said: "The car in front of me put out his anchors. I discovered the reason the driver made an emergency stop was because the chicane had been installed during the day."

County council area highways engineer Colin Carritt said: "In our experience drivers very quickly get used to something like a chicane. I don't think the pedestrian crossing and the roundabout at the entrance to Bure Park are sufficient traffic calming measures."

Tell us what you think.