A COLLEGE has raised concerns that a redesigned lorry parking bay near The Plain roundabout in Oxford could cause a crash.

Earlier this year Oxfordshire County Council completed most of the work to overhaul the junction in a bid to make it safer for cyclists.

But staff at the Sainsbury’s Local next to the roundabout and building owner Magdalen College said changes to a deliveries layby outside the store had made it more dangerous.

Both told the Oxford Mail earlier this year there had not been enough consultation before the scheme began.

College home bursar Mark Blandford-Baker said: “The space is not big enough for articulated lorries to get into and the bollards next to it only serve as obstructions.

“It means the lorry is going to have to do more than one manoeuvre to get in or out, which is going to cause delays.

“I am worried it is an accident just waiting to happen.”

He said a bollard at the end of the bay had already been damaged and knocked over and was not yet repaired.

Sainsbury’s store lead Jake Hallam said there were also issues with the markings of the layby: “It is confusing people.

“Many people don’t think it is a layby when they see it and in some cases we have had lorry drivers not realising they can go there and instead pulling over on to the pavement.”

He added the level of the kerb also now meant that large puddles of water accumulated outside the store, near a cycle parking rack.

“If a bus goes through, the water goes everywhere,” he said.

The £1.35m scheme to overhaul The Plain began in January.

It involved widening pavements and narrowing roads approaching the junction in a bid to reduce vehicle speeds and make it safer for cyclists.

The project is largely complete, with workers now repairing footways on Magdalen Bridge.

Oxfordshire County Council spokeswoman Catarina Walsh said the authority was drawing up plans to make the layby more visible and was aware of issues with water.

But the council defended the design and said it was bigger and safer than the previous one.

Ms Walsh added: “We consulted Sainsbury’s and other premises before we did the work and would hope that they can inform their own drivers how to use the bay.

“However, we are also considering marking the bay to make it more visible.

“We are aware of the current issues with standing water and have arranged for the drains to be fully cleaned now that work on the roundabout is complete.

“The new loading bay was designed to take vehicles completely off the road when they made deliveries and is larger than the previous one.”