A row has erupted over a decision to press ahead with installing a zebra crossing on Richmond Bridge as part of a wider strategy to put pedestrians before cars.

Work will start this weekend - with associated controls on traffic - and the new crossing will be completed on March 20.

The crossing on the main route between Richmond and Twickenham town centres will be between the top the footpath up from the riverside and the Pitcher & Piano bar and restaurant.

Local councillors insist the move is a 'victory' for residents, particularly people living in East Twickenham.

It will allow people to cross safely, rather than playing a game of cat and mouse with vehicles to get across the busy road. However, will also create a new 'stop-start' hurdle to vehicles and cyclists using the route.

The scheme has been controversial with complaints from the Richmond Society that it was not needed or wanted.

The group, which campaigns to protect local heritage, also questioned the appearance of the crossing, with its associated beacons, on the historic bridge.

It favoured improvements to the crossing point at the mini-roundabout at the top of Bridge Street, close to the Odeon cinema.

Richmond Bridge was built between 1774 and 1777 and is the oldest surviving bridge on the upper Thames.

It was built from Portland stone, (like St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London and the Palace of Westminster, to replace the ferry that had carried passengers across the river since Medieval times.

People using the bridge for carts, carriages, horses and livestock paid a toll for crossing through until 1859.

The Council said the new crossing is one of a number of improvements 'centred around making Richmond Town Centre safer, easier and more enjoyable for residents, visitors and businesses'.

A spokesperson said: "The works will be done in two stages - kerb works this weekend and the rest will be completed on March 20 in the early hours of the morning."

The Richmond Society told Nub News: "We are opposed to a zebra crossing at this location, principally because it is too far away from where most pedestrians are crossing Bridge Street.

"Cyclists going to and from the towpath who might benefit from a crossing facility at this location cannot legally ride across a zebra.

"During the consultation last year, the Society commented that the Council would be better off spending the money improving the informal crossings at the roundabout where it is desperately needed for pedestrian safety and convenience."

The Society complained its concerns and been 'belittled' and 'disregarded'.

Some concerns have been raised that the crossing will make life difficult for cyclists heading in towards Richmond. This is because they will have to stop and start on an uphill section to let people cross.

However, the scheme was won support from the Richmond Cycling Campaign, which said pedestrian safety should be given priority.

The campaign convener, Tim Lennon, said: "We're all about making it easier and nicer for people to walk around as well as cycle."

He said – ideally – it would have been better to put the crossing at the top of the bridge, near the roundabout, but accepted it was still a 'welcome addition'.

Mr Lennon said: "It's possible that cyclists heading up the hill will find it inconvenient to stop, although we're aware of frequent occasions where members have seen pedestrians wave through older people on bikes or families with children, to allow them to continue safely. Perhaps that's what will happen here occasionally.

"When weighing up 'stopping and starting on a hill is difficult' against 'pedestrians have no safe way to cross the bridge', there's really only one answer."