A COUNCIL has made a U-turn over “hideous” railings just six months after they insisted they were installed for health and safety reasons.

The railings along Manorsfield Road were paid for by Bicester town centre’s developer Sainsbury’s. But they are now expected to be ripped out within the next six weeks by Oxfordshire County Council at a cost of up to £4,000 to the taxpayer.

Five different types of rail were put up along the road as part of the first phase of work for the town centre redevelopment.

The county council said the different types of railing were necessary to prevent injury to pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

At the time residents described the grey rails as “a variety of ugly and uncoordinated designs” that resembled a “high security compound”. Now they are celebrating after successful lobbying by Bicester town councillors and Hunt Close residents.

Town councillor and Hunt Close resident Richard Mould said: “I understand most of the railings will go except those over the culvert, which is a result.

“They looked hideous and the council basically accepted perhaps it had gone over the top.”

James Porter, Conservative leader on Bicester Town Council, said: “Councillors and residents lobbied for them to be removed over the last six months. It just proves people do listen when you go about it the right way.”

Hunt Close resident John Leverton said: “It’s excellent news.

“It has been a sorry tale."

A spokesman for Sainsbury’s, which is paying for the redevelopment with Cherwell District Council, said: “The railings were installed and paid for by Sainsbury’s at the request of the county council and formed a small part of the highway improvement works associated with the town centre redevelopment.

“We understand the county council is considering taking down the railings in response to concerns from the community.”

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Owen Morton said: “The rationale behind improvements to Manorsfield Road and associated town centre works is to provide a welcoming place to live, shop and work. Concerns raised by the local community suggest that the railings might not achieve this vision.”

The council said the railings would be re-used elsewhere.