Pedestrian crossing plea for 'dangerous' junction

There are growing calls to install a crossing at a "dangerous" site where a cyclist died after colliding with a pedestrian.

Ben Pedley, a chemistry student at Reading University, died after the collision on Church Road near the Three Tuns crossroads in Reading in March 2017.

Rob White, a Green Party councillor, said it was "disappointing" it was taking so long to get a "really desperately needed" crossing.

Reading Borough Council said it supported a safe crossing at the site. Wokingham Borough Council has been contacted for comment.

A protest took place near the four-way junction, one of Reading's busiest, at the weekend.

Campaigners say visibility around the bend is poor, elderly people have difficulty crossing the road and children using the nearby Sol Joel Park have had close calls too.

Mr White, who represents the Park ward, told the BBC: "At the moment it's a struggle to cross the road.

"You're battling cars coming from all different directions, it's just a dangerous crossing to cross, and putting some more formal facilities there would help people get across to the shops and back to their homes."

The Green group leader said it was "really disappointing" that no changes had been made since the fatal accident, even though Wokingham Borough Council had worked up some designs that had been passed on to Reading's council.

"Unfortunately, as a councillor I've not seen those designs which is particularly disappointing," he said.

"Neither Wokingham nor Reading have shared the designs with me, and I think there's just some ping pong of designs, and foot dragging from both councils, because clearly it's a dangerous crossing.

"It doesn't take eight years to design a crossing, to model it, to iron out any minor problems and get it installed."

He added: "I hope we can get one in. There's definitely an appetite from the community."

The road is the dividing line between Reading and Wokingham borough councils.

Reading Borough Council said its transport officers had met their counterparts in Wokingham to provide feedback on proposals and designs for the junction.

"Reading Council is committed to continue working with Wokingham to develop these plans further so a safe pedestrian crossing space is delivered on Church Road," it added.

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