CHILDREN could be injured or killed unless a pedestrian crossing is installed outside an Oxford nursery, a former parish councillor has warned.

Brian Lester, a past chairman of Blackbird Leys Parish Council, said he was “horrified” a crossing had not been installed outside the Imagine Co-operative Childcare nursery, which opened in Cuddesdon Way last month.

The £1m nursery – part of the Midcounties Co-operative – has places for 72 children aged between three months and five and serves 130 families on the estate.

The speed limit in the road was cut to 20mph in September as part of the citywide shake-up of speed limits, but last night Oxfordshire County Council said the nursery had not resulted in an increase in traffic, so no money had been sought for a crossing.

Mr Lester, of Pegasus Road, said: “I was horrified that a crossing wasn’t put in.

“It got to be obvious to put one in. Surely there should be money to provide a crossing?

“Before the speed humps went in, people were saying they could do about 100mph on the road.

“It’s a fast road – it’s the fastest road on the estate and there’s no crossing.”

The 64-year-old added: “There could well be fatalities when you consider the traffic that’s using the road in the morning often comes through Blackbird Leys to get to Cowley, because of the chaos on the Watlington Road. There must be hundreds of parents who are concerned about children crossing the road.”

Mr Lester said the parish council petitioned the county council demanding a crossing in the road several years ago, but to no avail.

A County Hall spokesman said: “The development did not result in an increase of traffic in Cuddesdon Way and therefore no money was sought towards a crossing.

“There are already road humps and there have been no reported accidents involving pedestrians there in the past five years.”

Parents with children at the nursery said a crossing would be a good idea.

Mother-of-three Annica Simmons, of Teal Close, Greater Leys, said: “I think it definitely is a good idea, especially when you bring your children to school and then others to nursery, so if you’re walking, it would be useful.”

Parent Paul Wilson, 42, of Wilkins Road, Cowley, said: “For local people it’s probably a good idea, I drive, so it doesn’t make a difference.”

Mother-of-one Janet Burke, 38, of Wheatley said: “It wouldn’t hurt to have one.”

Haydn Lunn, operations manager at Co-operative Childcare and Mikko Enticknap, manager of the nearby Cuddesdon Corner Family Centre, welcomed the idea of a zebra or pelican crossing.

l Are you concerned about a lack of a safe pedestrian crossing opposite the nursery in Cuddesdon Way?

Call reporter Emily Allen on 01865 425423 or email her.