A missing pedestrian crossing at a housing estate in Wroughton sparked anger in Swindon’s council chamber.

Developer Linden Homes, which is building 100 houses at the Grange off Swindon Road in the village, had asked to be allowed to change the time at which it had to build the crossing.

And it had applied for permission to add more 16 more houses to its development on the same parcel of land.

The developer's plans for the Berkeley Farm site were initially turned down by the borough council’s planning committee.

But that was overturned on appeal and a condition was imposed that a pedestrian crossing must be constructed before any houses were occupied.

Now Linden has applied to be allowed to wait until the 94th house is built before building the crossing.

Councillors were not impressed.

Brian Ford, who represents the ward, said: “Why should we do what Linden Homes wants?

"This was a hostile application, which got through on appeal.

"The condition was put in and they haven’t complied with it. I don’t think we should just roll over.”

His colleague in Wroughton, Cathy Martyn, was more amenable and said: “I hope you do vote to approve this, because we need that crossing. If this is agreed then we need assurances that we will get it.

“We will rely on the professional expertise of the highways officer on where to put it and the planning officer to make sure it is put in.

"We could vote against it, but I think that risks getting no crossing at all.”

While councillor Vera Tomlinson professed herself appalled and wondered if committees were just wasting their time in putting on conditions if they were just going to be ignored, Councillor Nick Martin suggested: “We are the highways authority.

"We could just put in the crossing ourself, and send Linden Homes the bill.

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A spokesman for Linden Homes said: “We are more than happy to deliver a pedestrian crossing as originally agreed for the first phase of The Grange development.

“Through ongoing discussions with officers at the council, Linden Homes had agreed with them that the delivery of the crossing could occur at a later date, which was presented at planning committee.

“Following the deferment of the application to amend the delivery date, we will be speaking to the authority to see if delivery of the crossing can be brought forward to enable the application to be approved.”

Councillors deferred a decision on both of Linden's applications, partly in order to make sure that the company does pay for and build a crossing.