A ZEBRA crossing through a village’s main road will not now be funded by a developer.

The redevelopment of the Premdor site in Sible Hedingham initially included a zebra crossing on Swan Street, as part of the “section 106” deal between Braintree Council and developer Bloor Homes.

However, at a planning committee meeting on Tuesday, it was agreed to change parts of the agreement.

Speed surveys have found the average speed of traffic is too high on the 30mph road, and an agreement was found to install a pedestrian refuge island instead.

Sible Hedingham Parish Council chairman Ron Volkwyn said: “I was shocked to hear that the agreement for the zebra crossing has been removed.

“I have been keen for that to be part of the deal from the beginning and I think it is necessary.

“At the end of the day it is out of our hands, these agreements are made between the developers and Braintree Council and we do not have much of a say.

“We have been trying to get some kind of speed prevention for years, and actually have the money set aside, but we are just going round and round in circles with the council.

“As the new estates are finished we are looking at a huge expansion to the village; the number of people in cars and on foot will increase. “

Mr Volkwyn added: “If the results of a speed survey show that people are driving so fast a zebra crossing would be deemed unsafe, surely that proves we need something to slow people down.

“We have a lot of elderly people and children in this village, and their safety should be a priority.

“In all honesty I think the zebra crossing should be in that agreement.”

The original agreement outlined that no less 0.24 hectares of land would be set aside for a new GP surgery, but this has been reduced to 0.2 hectares.

A work hub should have been built by now, but the agreement states the surgery and hub should be ready by next July.

Initial plans for a footpath and cycle path have been scrapped and replaced by a cleared path to provide an informal walk connection through to Station Road.

Bloor Homes was granted permission earlier this year to lower the number of affordable home on the site, from the agreed 58, to just 16.