Sir – I learn (Letters, January 2) that the county is pressing on with its misguided design for the Wootton Road roundabout, Abingdon.

This follows my objection that the design, using special Cycle Safety Fund grant, was without merit.

Since then, we’ve met officers on site, submitted a comprehensive report and further criticised a slightly modified scheme.

Yet: “The cabinet member… informed the meeting that the only place in Oxfordshire the council could identify as qualifying for a Government grant was this area on Wootton Road. Openly admitting that the scheme was flawed he continued, overruling safety concerns in order to spend the money before the April deadline.”

When budgets are shrunk and schools for example are crying out for zebra crossings for their pupils’ safety, this is a debacle. To wilfully misspend £300,000, including misusing c.£200,000 of DfT’s grant in the process, is indefensible.

The DfT assessors required a design rethink — has the county produced those stipulated improvements? Is it possible that county transport planners and engineers are so diminished by cuts that there is inadequate management will and design skill? Little response has followed the consultation. A Cyclox member produced a better scheme earlier on, only to be ignored.

A county defence that an expensive and poorly located toucan crossing ‘has to remain, or DfT would withdraw funding’, is spurious. It is irresponsible to spend public money just because it’s there, it belongs to us all. Perhaps it should be given back to DfT/Treasury, or at least leave requested to produce an effective scheme. It is not too late to do something effective; it’s the will that is lacking. Please help prevent this waste of a large sum of money. Demand better.

Graham Smith

CTC councillor (SE), Grandpont

Dan Levy

James Dawton

CTC Right to Ride representative