A DISPUTE over the level of lighting needed for a new school crossing in Beoley has led to the £40,000 scheme being scrapped just days after installation work started.

The zebra crossing was to be put in outside Beoley First School as part of Worcestershire County Council's Safer Routes to School initiative.

Bromsgrove councillor Jean Luck said consultation had taken place in the village and residents knew two street lights would have to be installed as part of the scheme.

"However, when the county council contractors began work they started to install six lights not two," she explained.

"The village did not want the extra street lights. It is not a built up urban area."

Mrs Luck said the mistake was due to a lack of communication between councillors, residents, the highways department and the contractors who were working to Department of Transport regulations.

She said: "The whole thing has gone back to the drawing board to be reviewed because the high level of street lighting was not acceptable."

She added: "I am bitterly disappointed. We have worked very hard to get this through.

"It took us 20 years to get a 30mph speed limit through the village; I hope it will not take as long to get a crossing in.

County council highways manger for Bromsgrove Jon Fraser admitted there had been a mistake and the type of crossing the village wanted did require six street lights not two.

He said: "When we showed residents the scheme we should have said about the levels of lighting needed and we did not do that.

"We have gone ahead, put the columns in and people have expressed concern.

"We will be taking everything out and take the plans back to the drawing board."

Mr Fraser said a crossing would not be installed if residents refused the extra lighting.