THE row over a dangerous ditch that appeared as part of the Coppid Beech roundabout roadworks has taken a new turn as The Wokingham Paper can reveal there have already been several narrow escapes.
And, in a new development, Wokingham’s MP John Redwood has claimed that Wokingham Borough Council will be working to improve the junction, making it safer for motorists.
As we revealed in our issue of September 4, fears have been raised over a new stretch of road coming into Wokingham from the A329M.
Works to turn the approach from the Coppid Beech roundabout on the London Road towards Wokingham has seen one lane turned into two, with no space between the road and the kerb.
With vegetation and trees removed from a gap between the road and nearby fields, a steep ditch that is thought to be about 7ft deep has been revealed and a small angled kerb is all that separates motorists from the drop.
The ditch has always been present, but has been obscured by vegetation and trees growing there.
The soil on the banks of the ditch is very soft and deer and shoe prints measuring several inches deep can be seen, as our pictures reveal.
And, as our exclusive pictures show, several motorists have already had near misses as skid marks have been left on the angled kerb stones.
While some of the black marks are small, indicating a driving error quickly corrected, there are some that go on for several metres.
Two independent safety audits have already been carried out on the site, with a third planned when all the works at the junction have been completed. So far, the experts have given the works a thumbs-up.
Now, Wokingham MP John Redwood has got involved, claiming that he had been in touch with Wokingham Borough Council over the issue.
Speaking to The Wokingham Paper he said: “The council tell me following my enquiry they are going to take action to reduce the impact of the ditch at Coppid Beech, which has always been there.”
However Wokingham Borough Council said that it will not do anything until the third safety audit takes place, after all the works on the roundabout are completed.
Cllr John Kaiser, executive member for planning and highways, told The Wokingham Paper: “Our approach remains the same. We will act on the findings of the third safety audit which will again look at that section of the roundabout as well as the whole site.
“John Redwood is quite correct – that embankment has always been there and was previously obscured.
“Please remember we are still putting the finishing touches to the scheme and have landscaping to do.”
