Petition on 'unique' Berkshire road design to be debated
Wokingham Borough Council say they're proud of the design - others say it's unsafe
A petition calling for safety improvements at a ‘playground’ junction is set to be debated by Wokingham councillors next week.
Many residents have taken issue with the new colourful leaf design of California Crossroads in Finchampstead, arguing it is an ‘accident waiting to happen’.
The intersection between Finchampstead Road and Nine Mile Ride was closed between February and September 2024 with the aim of making it more pedestrian-friendly.
Wokingham Borough Council’s community and corporate overview and scrutiny committee is set to review and discuss the petition on March 4.
The broader £5.5m project has resulted in two roundabouts, each with three exits, with colourful painted leaves. Instead of zebra crossings, there are white leaves showing where pedestrians should cross.
A petition, which has now received 1,619 signatures, was presented to Wokingham Borough Council in January.
Conservative councillor Peter Harper, who submitted the petition, said: “Standard road markings for a roundabout have not been applied meaning motorists are unsure how to negotiate the junction…they do not consistently give pedestrians priority to cross the road.”
The petition is calling for traditional roundabouts and zebra crossings to be installed at the junction.
Safety audit
A safety audit revealed the authority rejected a number of recommendations to make the junction clearer, including adding central islands to the mini roundabouts.
Wokingham Borough Council commissioned consulting firm WSP to undertake a Stage 3 Road Safety Audit into the junction, which was completed in September 2024.
The audit made a number of recommendations, including adding “look both ways” markings to the crossing points, adding central islands and arrow markings to the roundabouts.
It also suggested adding hatching on to the approach to existing islands to reduce the risk of collisions.
Other recommendations, including discussing moving signage for the nearby petrol station and trimming vegetation to improve visibility, were accepted.
Liberal Democrat Leaders of the council have consistently defended the scheme, and say they are ‘proud’ of its uniqueness.
A report published ahead of next week’s meeting clarifies rules have been followed from the Department for Transport.
According to rules, informal crossings can be identified using a pattern ‘as long as this is not mistaken for a formal crossing, such as a Zebra’, the report reads.
Informal crossings can be indicated through coloured surfacing, raised carriageways or patterned materials.
The report further states the council’s following of the government’s Manual for Streets, where ‘imaginative and context-specific design that does not rely on conventional standards can achieve high levels of safety’.
Highways and transport officers will answer councillor’s questions during the debate on Tuesday, March 4.