‘CROSSINGS should be assessed on its benefits, not on the basis of who shouts loudest.’
That was the view of Wokingham Borough councillors last week, when debating a call to urgently build a crossing to a Shinfield school.
Pupils and parents packed the viewing gallery of the Shute End council chamber to hear a debate calling for the crossing on the A327 Shinfield Road, by the entrance of Crosfields School.
Conservatives tabled a motion for the end last Thursday’s meeting, calling for the installation of a crossing ‘without delay’, following an incident involving a seven-year-old pupil who was injured by a cyclist overtaking a bus.
The motion stated: “Minor collisions and near misses are a regular occurrence. At peak times, gaps in the traffic to enable someone to cross are few and far between. Pedestrians have to weave across unrelenting traffic or wait for a motorist to stop. It is only a matter of time before a more serious accident occurs.”
The supporting information revealed the crossing could cost up to £200,000.
Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, the leader of Wokingham Conservatives and the party’s parliamentary candidate for the new constituency of Earley and Woodley – where Crosfields is based – said she had met with the school and council officers in October 2021, when she was executive member for highways, but no action was taken.
However, Cllr Paul Fishwick, the current executive member for highways and active travel, amended the motion to remove the call for the crossing to be installed ‘without delay’.
He told the chamber that along with Cllr Clive Jones, he had met with parents and staff of Crosfields “and I have a lot of sympathy with them”. He also reminded the chamber that the Conservatives abolished lollipop staff in 2019, nor had they worked on a design for a crossing. He also told the chamber that an assessment on the Shinfield Road was carried out in January 2022 – under the Conservative administration – and it didn’t meet the criteria for a crossing.
“The borough council’s traffic management team receives around 20 requests for crossing facilities each year,” he continued. “Each scheme must be assessed to determine its benefits as a level playing field and not on the basis of who shouts loudest; there is a process to be followed.
“Doing it this way ensures our limited grant funding is directed to those sites where there is highest need.”
Cllr Andy Croy, the leader of Wokingham Labour, told the chamber of his experiences as a community speed watch volunteer.
“Often our attention is drawn to particular areas where there are inadequate crossing facilities, or traffic is speeding and making lives dangerous for pedestrians,” he said. “If I could snap my fingers and hope I could win a vote in the council, I would have half a dozen crossings put in straight away, but I recognise we have to follow a process.”
Cllr Croy said he did want the crossing, but the application had to be processed in the proper manner.
He continued: “There must be, if you like, a set of rules that everyone understands and follows. You might not like them, but we’re all in the same queue and there is no queue jumping based on how many votes you can get in the chamber.”
Cllr Laura Blumenthal read a statement from Ryan, who was involved in an incident.
“I used to walk to school as I enjoyed it. We always found it challenging to cross the road as it is very busy and people would not stop for us,” she read out. “I was hit by a cyclist, taken to hospital, and treated for injuries to my head, arms and legs. My Dad was also injured.
“I’m very scared of crossing the road.”
Cllr Catherine Glover pointed out that Shinfield Parish Council had not identified Shinfield Road as a place where a crossing was a high priority but had made requests for other areas in the parish.
Cllr Sarah Kerr shared a hit and run incident involving her own child, and said: “We know thee is a lot to do due to the significant underinvestment over the years, but we can’t afford to do everything in one go … I refuse to use my councillor privileges to stomp my feet louder … we shouldn’t be politicking and making false promises when we have a process to follow.”
Cllr Rebcca Margetts said that by removing the ‘without delay’ wording of the motion, it would delay any action being taken: “All this does is kick this crossing into the long grass and I cannot accept it.”
Council leader Stephen Conway reminded the chamber the issue was caused by “unacceptable behaviour by drivers”, and he had requested “some time ago” a crossing for The Piggott School in his own ward, but respected the process as it is “fair and equitable”.
Cllr Keith Baker reminded the chamber Floreat Montague Park also wanted a crossing, but it had been deferred to an assessment. “I urge everybody, for the sake of the children, we do not allow this to be kicked into the long grass, but we vote it through.”
Cllr Prue Bray said “This is a decision we have to make with our heads, not solely with our hearts.” Addressing the Crosfields families in the gallery, she continued: “If it was made with our hearts, we would be with you, but we can’t do that… this is not kicking it into the long grass, it’s putting it into the process with all the other people who, like you, wany a crossing. We will address these people in priority order, because that is the responsibility and accountability you must have when running a council.”
Cllr Charles Margetts said the school offered to pay half the cost of the crossing, and the requirements of 50 crossings per hour had been exceeded: “How much harder does this need to be?”
Cllr Jorgensen said the school had provided “a comprehensive pack of evidence” for officers to accelerate the process.
“This has gone on long enough,” she continued. “The council has adequate funds to do the scheme, and I am worried the effect of this motion is simply to kick the project into the long grass, putting more lives in danger on a very busy road.”
The debating time was over, and a vote on the amended motion was carried.
