A RISING bollard is set to be installed in Kidlington High Street this week after two years of delays.

Work on the bollard is due to start on Wednesday, which will complete the pedestrianisation of the street.

After a year and a half with no movement on the plans, Kidlington Parish Council was told in May that the bollard would be installed that month.

But that date was scrapped because Cherwell District Council was still waiting for approval from Oxfordshire County Council, which has responsibility for work on the roads.

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The county council delay was a result of changes requested by the fire service to allow firefighters easier access to the street.

But even after changes were approved, there were further delays when the county council failed to sign off the plans.

A completion date of July 7 was missed as a result, but Kidlington Parish Council has now been told work will finally go ahead this week.

In July, parish council chairman David Betts told the Oxford Mail he was “absolutely furious” at ongoing delays, but he is happy to see it going ahead at last.

He said: “We are very pleased that it is happening. I am sad we have had to push for it to be completed for two years, but I suppose that is in the past now.

“It will make the High Street a safer place for pedestrians and every sort of improvement we make will make the street more attractive and beneficial to traders.”

The bollard will restrict access to the High Street between 10am and 4.30pm, but residents and businesses will be able to drive in using a swipe card.

Robert Windle, owner of Robert’s Discount, said: “I believe it is good news for traders in the High Street.

“It will make things a lot safer, especially on market day on Fridays and Saturdays when it is quite busy and people have to dodge the traffic.

“People were frustrated at the delays, but hopefully it will all be sorted soon.”

County councillor for South Kidlington Maurice Billington said: “I have been chasing the county council for a long time but it was worth it in the end.

“It means people can shop in safety with no fear of getting run over. Hopefully we will get more people coming to shop there as well.”

Cherwell District Council spokesman Tony Ecclestone said: “The plans were signed off in early September.

“The start of the work was delayed because of contractor availability.”

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