AN EXTRA bollard to block off Kidlington’s High Street will be installed after a van was seen flouting rules just hours after a new rising bollard was installed.

The £50,000 rising bollard was installed in the shopping area on Monday morning after two years of delays and a vandal attack in December.

But the bid to fully pedestrianise the street failed in the first few hours after a van driver, who could not get round the new rising bollard, drove through static bollards by Barclays Bank on the pavement.

Now in a bid to pedestrianise the street for good, a second bollard will be installed to prevent it from happening again.

Our top stories

County councillor for South Kidlington and Kidlington Parish Council member Maurice Billington said: “I am delighted to announce that, after a meeting with Cherwell District Council, we will be putting up a second bollard to stop drivers getting through.

“It will be a padlock bollard and anyone that tries to get through in the meantime will be reported to the police.

“People will now be able to go about their business without fear of getting run over.”

He added it was hoped to install the new bollard in the next few weeks.

The new bollard will cost about £300, and drivers have been warned that a security camera will catch anyone trying to flout the ban.

Mr Billington added that installing an extra bollard to close the gap should not cause a problem as the rising bollard would be monitored when raised, meaning it could be lowered in an emergency.

The £300 for the bollard will be paid by the district council.

Manager at Robert’s Discount, Robert Windall, said: “I saw a van getting through a gap by Barclays Bank and get on to the High Street.

“I really like the idea of a second bollard, and I think the idea is great..

“It’s dangerous for anyone coming out of my shop, so my customers will be far happier now.”

Landscape manager for Cherwell District Council Paul Armond said: “Pedestrians can now look forward to shopping in a safer environment, free of vehicles.

“I had a meeting with Kidlington Parish Council and they told me that vehicles had still been making their way on to the street, so we swiftly agreed to put a new one in place.”

Last May, after a year and a half with no movement on the plans, the parish council was told that the bollard would be installed that month.

But the work had to be delayed again because the district council was still waiting for approval from Oxfordshire County Council, which is the highways authority.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.