A Toucan crossing outside Abingdon's Aldi store has not yet been completed.

The budget supermarket opened its new store in Wootton Road in December 2022.

And while there is a refuge island in the middle of the road between the store and the Kings Gate estate on the other side, the planned Toucan crossing is not yet operating.

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Roadworks at the site started on March 4 for The Electricity Network Company to carry out work which is due to be completed soon.

But it has taken over a year to install a toucan crossing - which would stop traffic and allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross the road much more safely.

Planning consultants working for Aldi have applied to Vale of White Horse District Council to amend the planning permission to take into account an unexpected delay.

Consultants Planning Potential told the council: "Part of the land that is required for the implementation of the Toucan crossing is still in the ownership of David Wilson Homes, not Oxfordshire County Council.

Oxford Mail: The crossing outside Aldi"To allow the construction of the approved Toucan crossing to be completed by Aldi, therefore, a licence needs to be obtained from David Wilson Homes for Aldi to carry out the elements of work associated with the approved crossing that are on their land.

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"We understand that a licence has now been completed and signed, giving Aldi permission to carry out works on David Wilson Homes land.

"Once road space is available, this will allow Aldi to implement and fully construct the approved Toucan crossing located along Wootton Road, which Aldi intend to do so as soon as possible."

Oxford Mail: The Aldi store in AbingdonIn February last year Nathan Ley, county councillor for Abingdon North, called for the Toucan crossing to be installed as soon as possible.

He said at the time: "I spoke in favour of the proposed toucan crossing across Wootton Road where there currently exists only a refuge island.

"This should have happened already and I’m a little bit annoyed Aldi didn’t sort this out before Christmas, although naturally they were keen to open for that busy period.

"Anyway, that got approved and should go up soon given it’s funded by them. That should make transiting from the Kings Gate side to the other much safer."

Oxford Mail: Last month a new zebra crossing was completed in Northcourt Road in Abingdon.

Following its completion Mr Ley said: "It's now down to all of us in cars and on bikes to respect the new road layout, and make this area safer for anyone using it."

Toucan crossings are designed for both pedestrians and cyclists and are typically used adjacent to a cycle path.

Cyclists are not allowed to cross the road using Zebra, Pelican or Puffin crossings.

Toucan crossings have the same signals as Pelicans, but include a green cycle symbol.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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