Calls for work to start at 'dangerous' junction

Katy Goldsmith, one of the petition's founders, says people are playing 'Russian roulette' with their safety at the junction

More than 1,700 people have signed a petition calling for work to start on a pedestrian crossing at a busy junction.

There's currently none where Peppard Road meets Henley Road, Westfield Road and Prospect Street, close to the Last Crumb pub in Reading.

Those behind the petition say that they are "playing Russian roulette with their safety" every time they cross the road.

Reading Borough Council agreed to add it to its "requests for traffic management measures list" in 2018 but work won't start until funding becomes available.

Katy Goldsmith, one of the petition's founders, said: "There's four roads going into one junction with almost no time to cross the road. You have to look four ways every time you're trying to cross.

"It's very scary, it's dangerous and you often end up having to sprint to get out of the way of fast oncoming traffic because people here are often in a rush.

"It's one of the main entry points from Oxfordshire and one of the main exit points from Reading and when you're travelling at school time people are going really fast up and down this road and not looking out for you."

The crossing is 100 metres from Queen Anne's School and has been the subject of calls for changes previously from local MP Matt Rodda.

The council say they are waiting for funding to become available before starting "lengthy" work to change the junction

A Reading Borough Council spokesperson said: "A request to install controlled pedestrian crossings at the Peppard Road junction has previously been accepted by the Council's Traffic Management Sub-Committee and is listed as a priority.

"However, the scheme sits alongside other requests for traffic management measures around the borough that are awaiting funding.

"Once secured, traffic impact modelling and a detailed investigation would need to be carried out to ensure the feasibility of the scheme.

"This is a complex junction and any scheme is likely to be costly due to the need to redesign and replace signalling equipment, carry out highway layout alterations and maintain temporary traffic management throughout the works, which are likely to be lengthy."