SUPERMARKET chain Sainsbury’s has been accused of making a revamped roundabout in Oxford a danger for cyclists.

Delivery trucks to the Sainsbury’s Local store on The Plain have been parking on the road, obstructing a cyclist feeder lane towards St Clement’s Street.

This follows the £835,000 redevelopment of the roundabout, which now has two cycle lanes for traffic travelling towards Cowley Road, St Clement’s Street and Iffley Road.

As part of the four-month overhaul of the roundabout, a parking bay for delivery lorries was widened outside the Sainsbury’s Local, to ensure trucks would not encroach onto the new cycle lane.

But last Thursday evening in rush hour, a delivery van parked over the cycle lane, causing confusion on The Plain.

Green Party city councillor for Iffley Fields and former Lord Mayor Elise Benjamin said: “The van was far out of the bay and people helping with the delivery had put orange barriers out – it was completely blocking the cycle lane.

“The whole point of the new cycle lane was to prioritise cyclists funnelling onto St Clement’s. With that lane taken out, the cycle safety was even worse than it was prior to the new layout.”

The councillor said she witnessed cyclists having issues using the same lanes as traffic.

She added: “There’s a bay there but it is clear they (Sainsbury’s) are not using it.

“People are only just getting used to the new layout, and with the delivery van it just confuses things.

“It does make the journey far more dangerous.”

Ms Benjamin has contacted Oxfordshire County Council to find out whether Sainsbury’s was permitted to park on the cycle lane and use barriers.

County council engineer Andy Warren said: “As far as I am aware they should not be using the barriers in this manner. We are looking to install some markings to the bay.

“Sainsbury’s have also been asked to assist on this matter by requesting that their own delivery drivers use the bay in the way that it is intended.”

Mr Warren also confirmed Sainsbury’s was involved in the consultation for the new layout of The Plain, and the bay was big enough for lorries to park on.

Sainsbury’s did not respond to requests for comment.