SIR, Kindly draw your readers’ attention to the absurd proposal put forward by Oxfordshire County Council to fiddle with the crossings at the Ock Street/Drayton Road/Marcham Road/Spring Road mini-roundabouts.

It is proposed that a pelican crossing be installed on Ock Street, 25 metres before the roundabout ‘to make it easier for vehicles turning left out of Drayton Road’. That is, the crossing is not intended to benefit pedestrians.

Why were pedestrians being questioned therefore at this site? Can it be that there is an ulterior motive to get ‘popular support’ for a proposal that is purely a necessity for developers keen to cash in on their investment off Drayton Road?

Furthermore, if the intended beneficiaries are actually drivers on the Drayton Road travelling towards the roundabout, this proposal makes the astounding error of not taking into account drivers wishing to turn right at the roundabout. Clearly, a new pelican crossing 25 metres down Ock Street from that point would cause virtual standstill on the roundabout whenever a vehicle or two wishes to turn right and is held up at the pelican crossing?

A standstill on the roundabout naturally would create even greater gridlock than exists already at peak times on Drayton Road, Marcham Road and Ock Street.

Oxfordshire County Council should throw out proposals put forward by developers, surely? However, unless sufficient people voice an objection, these underhand methods by developers will continue.

May I urge Abingdon’s residents to write, by February 7, to: Anthony.kirkwood@oxfordshire.gov.uk Or by letter to him at: Road Safety Engineering Team, Speedwell House, OX1 1NE.

Thank you.

Anthea Eno, Drayton