COUNCILLORS unanimously gave the go-ahead to two controversial pedestrian crossings in Abingdon yesterday.

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet agreed to create the crossings in Ock Street and Marcham Road.

An initial decision to approve the crossings was “called-in” by Oxfordshire County Council’s scrutiny committee and in November cabinet agreed to defer consideration to yesterday’s meeting.

The Ock Street crossing would go east of Drayton Road and Marcham Road’s current crossing would be moved further west, to the west of Drayton Road.

The crossings were made mandatory by a Government planning inspector last year because of plans to develop a new 160-home estate on land off Drayton Road.

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But there were concerns school children would not use the new crossings and traffic would increase.

County councillor for Abingdon South Neil Fawcett said: “I have had a huge number of responses from residents on this issues.

“The current crossing is very well used. The real concern is if we move the crossing from its current position, that many of the students will continue to cross there anyway and that is very dangerous.”

Abingdon Town Council leader Sandy Lovatt said he was concerned further traffic congestion would “harm” the town.

He added: “This is not a request that should be allowed. The cabinet would be causing itself further problems down the line.”

But Mark Kemp, deputy director environment and economy, said in a report to councillors there is not enough new evidence to go against the planning inspector.

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