Norreys’ Labour councillors Rachel Burgess, Nagi Nagella and Marie-Louise Weighill are celebrating the installation of the new pedestrian crossing on Warren House Road in Wokingham.
Two new pedestrian crossings have been installed in Norreys ward, meaning residents can finally cross the road in safety.
This August, Wokingham borough council contractors built the zebra crossings in two locations: Warren House Road near Readwin Crescent, and Wiltshire Road near the junction of Crutchley Road.
These crossings will be used by residents, including families with young children on the school run, as well as older and less able residents.
Residents have been calling on the council to install them for many years, and Wokingham Labour councillors in Norreys Ward have been working effectively with residents to campaign for safer crossings at these sites.
To help Wokingham borough council’s highways officers understand the level of support for these crossings, the Norreys ward councillors alongside Labour campaigners, worked with residents to create and submit petitions and advocate on residents’ behalf.
The took part in regular community speedwatch sessions at both sites, which have shown that these are fast and busy stretches of road where residents struggle to cross.
The team have also been cutting back overgrown vegetation or reporting it to appropriate management companies and Wokingham borough council to improve visibility and keep pedestrians safe.
Residents have said repeatedly that the current crossing points are unsafe for pedestrians. The installation of the new crossings will change this and ensure people can cross the road with confidence.
“It has been a long time since resident Louise Matthews asked us to take action for the benefit of the community,” said councillor Nagi Nagella.
“On behalf of all the residents who now use these busy crossing points, I would like to thank Louise and everyone who supported our campaigns and signed our petitions.
“The Wokingham Labour team in Norreys have been supporting residents not just by raising the issue of the crossings in the council chamber, but by taking affirmative action including supporting community speedwatch sessions and cutting back vegetation to improve visibility.
“Residents are delighted the crossings are now in place.”
Wokingham Borough Council has a process for crossings where each location is assessed for need, and then goes through a consultation and design process, before being allocated funding.
This can mean the process takes several years, and while it can be frustrating for those who want to see a crossing installed swiftly, it is designed to be fair to the whole borough.
