A CHARITY that helps people with learning disabilities in Witney “break barriers” has said the biggest one is a traffic-choked road outside its base.

Oxfordshire charity Guideposts hosts up to 15 adults with learning disabilities at its weekly day centre on the Two Rivers Industrial Estate in Station Lane.

Staff and group members have begun a new campaign, #LetMeCrossSafely, after discovering that about 600 cars an hour pass by in front of the building.

Director of fundraising Ian Cumming said: “It’s difficult to integrate people into society when society is on the other side of that road.

“Our charity exists to break down barriers. The biggest barrier we have got is the road running between us and the rest of Witney.”

Last year the charity wrote to Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron and David Nimmo Smith, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport.

Mr Cumming added: “They offered to give staff training in how to warn service users. They said there was no funding for the provision of a crossing.”

Some of the day centre’s visitors are wheelchair-bound and it was also noted that there is no drop kerb in the road.

A social media campaign and online petition calling for a zebra crossing were launched in June. So far 145 people have signed the petition, including Laura Price, county councillor for Witney South and Central.

She said: “Station Lane is one of Witney’s busiest roads. A constant, fast moving stream of traffic makes it a real challenge for anyone to cross safely”.

County council spokesman Owen Morton said: “The council receives many passionate pleas each year to introduce road safety measures. Nationwide there is very limited funding available for this.

“Records for the past five years show there have been no reported accidents resulting in injuries to pedestrians at the location being proposed for a crossing on Station Lane.

“We are not in a position to take this forward at present, but since it is clear that such a crossing would be well-used, there may be future opportunities to secure developer funding or investment from other external sources and the council will continue to look into this.”