A petition, signed by more than 860 residents calling for an early and safe restoration of the Star Lane crossing for pedestrians and cyclists, is set to be presented to Thursday’s full council meeting of Wokingham borough council.
The community campaign is calling on Wokingham borough council, Balfour Beatty and delivery partners to work together to achieve the earliest safe restoration of pedestrian and cycle access across the Star Lane railway crossing, following months of disruption caused by the South Wokingham distributor road (SWDR) construction works.
Through the council’s public participation process, campaign organiser Harvey Aaron will raise the issue directly with councillors, and ask what further action can be taken to deliver the earliest safe restoration of pedestrian and cycle access.
He will ask: “Given the prolonged blanket closure of pedestrian and cycle access linked to the SWDR works at Easthampstead Road / Star Lane, and given that the petition has reached more than 800 signatures, will the council publish, within 10 working days, a clear, time-bound action plan to restore safe pedestrian access as soon as physically possible, rather than treating any tentative October reopening as the default position?”
He told Wokingham Today: “That plan should set out what practical options are being actively reviewed to make safe access possible now or sooner, including temporary protected corridors, rigid barriers, surfacing, lighting, signage, marshalled access, phased working, weekend or out-of-hours access, alternative segregated routes, and whether the Gipsy Lane footpath / bridge route, which residents understand has also been closed since around February 2025, can be reopened or used as part of a solution.
“The long-term severance undermines local walking, cycling, road-safety, net-zero and wellbeing objectives, and affects residents’ physical and mental health.
“Residents are asking the council to deliver the earliest safe solution.”
Mr Aaron added: “The closure has removed a vital connection between communities, forcing pedestrians and cyclists onto a diversion of almost two miles and significantly impacting everyday journeys across Wokingham.
“School children, commuters, older residents, wheelchair users, people with limited mobility, parents with young children, cyclists and dog walkers have all been affected by the loss of one of the town’s most important walking and cycling routes.
“However, the impact extends far beyond transport.
“Residents living on both sides of the railway have seen their communities effectively divided, making it more difficult to visit family and friends, access local services, attend community activities and travel between neighbourhoods without relying on lengthy diversions.
“The prolonged closure has also affected local businesses. Businesses including The White
Horse, The Cooked Billet and Home Grange Craft Village have all experienced reduced accessibility during the construction period.
“The landlords of The White Horse have publicly announced they will be leaving the pub after ten years, citing the prolonged disruption caused by the adjacent roadworks as a significant factor in what they describe as an increasingly difficult trading environment.
“The closure also coincided with this summer’s GCSE and A-level examination period, creating additional challenges for students travelling to and from school during one of the most important periods of their education.”
He said that recent correspondence from Wokingham borough council has provided greater clarity about the engineering works required before the crossing can safely reopen.
The council has advised that October is currently the earliest point at which a pedestrian route may be achievable, subject to the successful completion of third-party works, wider programme risks and project approval.
Campaigners welcome this increased transparency but note that October is neither a committed nor guaranteed reopening date.
Instead, the campaign is focused on ensuring every opportunity is taken to deliver the earliest safe restoration of pedestrian and cycle access, whenever that can safely be achieved.
He added: “Our campaign has always recognised that safety must come first.
“We are not asking for shortcuts, nor are we asking anyone to compromise safety.
“We welcome the additional information the council has now shared. Residents have a much clearer understanding of the work that remains before the crossing can safely reopen.
“This campaign is not about opening the crossing on a particular date – it is about ensuring the earliest safe restoration of pedestrian and cycle access.
“Our priority now is ensuring everyone involved works together to deliver that outcome as quickly and safely as possible.”
Residents who wish to support the campaign before the meeting can still sign the petition:
