YEARS of hard work which brought a community together have paid off as a new zebra crossing is set to be built on a “dangerous” Warndon road.

The crossing, set for Windermere Drive, near the Sainsbury’s superstore in Blackpole, will allow safer access to the supermarket for customers, but also provide a safer option for the many schoolchildren who cross the road.

The campaign for a new crossing began several years ago. A financial package was drawn up and had to be reached before work could begin – the figure has now been met.

County councillor for Gorse Hill and Warndon, Alan Amos, has been the figurehead for the campaign and sacrificed his councillor’s allowances for the next two years, £20,000, to meet the bulk of the cost.

“This has been a long, tough battle but all the money is now in place,” he said. “I am so pleased for everyone in the community who will no longer have to negotiate a potentially fatally dangerous road.

“For the first time, my constituents will be able to get to Sainsbury’s safely, and schoolchildren can cross safely too.”

Contributions to the total, which remains undisclosed, came from a range of local goups and organisations.

Blackpole and Fairmount Community Group and Regency High School each made contributions of £1,000 and the Sainsbury’s store itself also made a financial contribution to ensure the scheme could get under way.

Coun Amos said: “I would like to express my sincere thanks to Sainsbury’s for their generous contribution and to Worcestershire County Council for all their help.

“I would also like to thank the community group and the high school for donating such a huge amount of money. I am grateful for everyone’s support.”

Worcestershire County Council’s Highways department has agreed to take the project on and will be responsible for the crossing’s maintenance.

Gavin Jones, store manager of Sainsbury’s, Blackpole, said: “We are excited and pleased to be supporting this project.

“We want to be able to provide a safe option for our customers as we are pivitol in this area to the community.”

Some proprietory work has already been done and, weather permitting, it is hoped that the crossing will be ready for use by January.