YOUNG pupils in Marston are over the moon after securing a new pedestrian crossing – more than a decade after plans were first drawn up.

As part of the celebrations, the headteacher of New Marston Primary School thanked the Oxford Mail for its support and coverage throughout its “long road to success”.

Hannah Brown said: “This really has been a long time coming and after 11 years I am so pleased we finally have the crossing we’ve always wanted.

“It won’t just be beneficial for us, it will be important for the children’s centre next door and for the safety of the local community.

“I would like to thank the parents, the previous headteacher, the council, our local councillors and the Oxford Mail for highlighting the issue so prominently over the past 11 years and for getting us to where we are now.”

School governor and Northway councillor Roy Darke said the battle for the crossing took so long because the school came up against a constant “brick wall of obstruction” from Oxfordshire County Council.

The council said it found potential safety issues in relation to sightlines and, as a result, needed to carry out a number of checks before installing the crossing during February half-term.

Mr Darke said: “The blind corner on Copse Lane near the school has become increasingly dangerous as more and more vehicles use the route to and from Barton Lane as a rat run to get through the jams at Headington and Headley Way.

“Commuters and commercial vehicles ignore the 20mph speed limit on Northway roads.

“Parents, staff and governors have been asking for the crossing for years and only by combining the ward allowances and resources of local county and city councillors and their persistence in persuading the county council to release planning gain monies have we now got our way.”

After the installation of the crossing, Marston Primary School pupils wrote a letter to the Oxford Mail, thanking reporters for helping them cross the road safely.

Olivia Tecil, eight, said: “I think it’s really good because I have a little sister who always used to run out into the road, but now she has a place where she can cross safely. Thank you to the Oxford Mail, the council and our old headteacher for all your help.”

Jason Fernandez, eight, said he really enjoyed helping write the letter to the Mail.

He said: “I think that the crossing will be really good and it will give our lollipop man Derek a break, which is really good because he works really hard.”