A CAMPAIGNER has demanded to know why a “£30,000” central reservation has been installed ten metres away from a new pedestrian crossing.

Workmen unexpectedly arrived to install the central reservation on the corner of Brinkley Grove Road and Langdale Drive, Highwoods, Colchester, this week.

But a new £120,000 zebra crossing was only installed in Brinkley Grove Road in April, after a 12-year campaign by a school and politicians.

GerardOxford, Colchester councillor for Highwoods ward, who campaigned for the zebra crossing, said: “It is stupid. I have asked them to stop work rather than waste £30,000.

“I have contacted a number of people at Essex County Council Highways and tried to tell them we had a meeting at the end of last year when they were talking about the central reservation. I said there was no point when a crossing was going to be in place at Easter.”

Mr Oxford also said installing the central reservation would leave pedestrians confused about where is safest to cross.

The zebra crossing in Brinkley Grove Road was finally installed in April after one of Gilberd School’s pupils, Sumika Purchase, was hit by a car when crossing the busy road in 2011 and broke her leg. After the accident, a 1,500-name petition calling for a crossing to be built was compiled.

Essex County Council insisted it was not a sufficiently high priority to warrant the cost of building one, but finally relented.

An Essex County Council spokesperson said, “The installation of a pedestrian refuge was agreed as part of the planning application for the school extension and is being funded by the developer. This scheme will provide an additional crossing point, improving the safety of pedestrians.”