The man behind a petition calling on Wokingham borough council and its contractors to restore safe pedestrian access across the Star Lane level crossing on Easthampstead Road is set to ask another question at this month’s council meeting.
Following July’s public question from Harvey Aaron, the council confirmed that October is not a target date, but the current expectation for when temporary non-motorised user access through the crossing may be possible.
It also confirmed its willingness to consider the circa £60,000 additional cost to deliver an earlier temporary pedestrian route.
Harvey welcomed that out-of-hours access to Gipsy Lane, ahead of the full reopening of the public right of way from the Gipsy Lane footbridge across the south Wokingham distributor road, is being considered, albeit within a non-date-specific Autumn 2026 timeframe.
He said that since the July council meeting, his petition has increased from 1,050 to more than 1,200 signatures to date,an increase of approximately 14%.
He said residents remain without a safe local pedestrian and cycle connection. With schools returning and autumn approaching, cooler and wetter weather makes it even more important that any safe temporary access capable of being delivered is progressed without avoidable delay, rather than families, pupils and residents facing further prolonged severance through worsening seasonal conditions.
He will ask for a clear status update on progress towards the earliest safe temporary pedestrian and cycle access, including the earliest realistic reopening date residents can now expect.
