Wokingham Borough Council had plans in place to extend the Greenway that runs through Cantley Park, to provide a safe walking route from Cantley all the way to The Holt School. The extension would have included two pedestrian crossings. I was utterly disappointed that this project was rejected by Liberal Democrats on Wokingham Town Council, who voted against this safe route for hundreds of our local schoolchildren. What an enormous missed opportunity.
I raised this during last November’s Borough Council meeting, and while there was disappointment at the rejection of the Greenway route by the Lib Dem town council, the fact remains that there is now no proposed delivery date for a safe crossing on Milton Road, to enable schoolchildren to cross safely to get to The Holt School.
‘Safety’ is a key aspect of a thriving community. Safe roads, pedestrian crossings, good lighting, welcoming public spaces, and low levels of crime and anti-social behaviour all play a major role in day-to-day life. The impact is felt across various groups of residents – from children walking to and from school, or pedestrians wanting to cross the road without fear, or those who just want some assurance that there is someone who is ready to listen to their concerns and act.
Since being elected as Borough councillor two years ago, residents’ safety has been one of my top priorities. Road safety and speeding concerns are often highlighted during conversations with residents. Acting on the feedback from residents, fellow Labour councillors and I have campaigned for pedestrian crossings in Norreys – while two new crossings have recently been delivered, there is lot more work to be done.
Every weekday, hundreds of pupils attending The Holt School cross Milton Road during peak commute hours. At peak times the intersection of Milton Road, Jubilee Avenue and Holt Lane is utterly chaotic, with drivers stopping to park, and children trying to cross and not being sure whether it is safe. Students must independently judge vehicle speed and safe crossing gaps with no safe pedestrian crossings in this area.
Many pupils would prefer to cycle during the summer months. It promotes health, independence and reduces congestion but without proper infrastructure, for many, cycling is an aspiration rather than a realistic daily option.
We all know how important it is for children to walk and cycle to school for health reasons and to reduce emissions from vehicles – but in these conditions I can understand why parents choose to drive, as they are rightly concerned about their children’s safety.
Indeed, the strength of feeling on this issue is massive. Wokingham Labour’s petition for a crossing on Milton Road gathered over 650 signatures in a very short space of time.
I am calling for an urgent reassessment of crossing safety on Milton Road and a clear strategy that prioritises safe routes to The Holt School. Children want to walk. They want to cycle. Parents want confidence in their children’s safety. And my residents deserve nothing less.
Cllr Nagi Nagella, Borough & Town Councillor for Norreys ward, Wokingham
