BUSINESSES in Kidlington High Street claim they are suffering after a row broke out over deliveries being made past a rising bollard.

After more than two years of delays and a vandal attack in December, a rising bollard was placed at the entrance to the pedestrianised shopping street near Barclay’s Bank to prevent vehicles driving through between 10am and 4.30pm.

The bollard can be lowered for emergency vehicles, but local firms insist their understanding is that deliveries could be made during these hours too.

Cherwell District Council said no such agreement had been made. Now letters have been sent to businesses to remind them of this.

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Oxford Building Supplies claimed it had agreement with the district council that deliveries could pass through the High Street, using a nearby call box to lower the bollard.

Owner John O’Shea said deliveries have not been allowed through, with two failed deliveries costing the firm a total of £400.

The 49-year-old said: “The council asked if we were in favour and I said I am as long as you let our deliveries through, but they are not sticking to their word.

“It would cost a fortune to get deliveries before 10am and the council just blank us.

“Customers pay a deposit and then take the day off for the delivery, and if I have to ring up and say we can’t do the delivery because a van can’t get through then I could lose thousands of pounds.

“I think they are now twisting what was said and I am bemused they think I would agree to not having deliveries through between 10am and 4.30pm.”

Kidlington parish and county councillor Maurice Billington said: “The agreement was that the deliveries would be before 10am and after 4.30pm.

“Not one shop made a case against at the consultation. We had meetings for more than two years and no one complained about the agreement.”

Butcher Gary Trayner, of Bartlett’s Butchers, estimated the bollard was costing him £50 to £70 a week in lost trade.

He said: “I am concerned because our jobs are on the line and there is no way you can get a big delivery van through the back street.

“I think it’s unfair because we can’t use smaller vehicles; our delivery vans have got heavy loads of meat in them and we have to use lorries.

“The builders are not getting their baguettes any more.”

Cherwell council spokesman Tony Ecclestone said no agreement was made to allow deliveries through, adding: “There is no exemption for general delivery vehicles.”