Wokingham Borough Council says it is ‘proud’ of a junction redesign which has been slammed by locals as looking like a ‘playground’.
The authority has been criticised for the £5.5 million resurfacing and repaint of California Crossroads in Finchampstead.
The intersection between Finchampstead Road and Nine Mile Ride was closed between February and September 2024 with the aim of making the shopping hub more pedestrian-friendly.
But the completion of the project, which saw ‘leaf’ road markings of the main roundabout was met with criticism from locals who said the design made the junction ‘look like a playground’, and was an ‘accident waiting to happen’.
A petition signed by more than 1,400 people has now called for a zebra crossing and roundabout to be painted to ‘reduce the risk of a serious accident’.
Councillor Peter Harper, who launched the petition, told Wokingham Borough Council last week: “Many residents have contacted me about the unconventional road marking and their personal experience of the risk of using the junction.
“Standard road markings for a roundabout have not been applied meaning motorists are unsure how to negotiate the junction…they do not consistently give pedestrians priority to cross the road.”
A road safety audit report published this month recommended ‘appropriate mini-roundabout central island road markings’ be added to the junction, which was rejected by the council.
The “concentric pattern is enough to encourage drivers around the junction without them assuming everyone will do the same”, the report concluded.
Wokingham Borough Council has now issued a statement defending the plans after coverage by the Local Democracy Reporting Service and national media.
Councillor Martin Alder, executive member for active travel, transport and highways, said: “In the case of California Cross, we set out to create a pleasant, safe environment with a stronger sense of identify as a treasured and well-used village centre, while slowing traffic down and making drivers more aware of pedestrians.
“All the evidence shows that we are achieving that – and we’re proud to have improved this area for everyone who lives near or passes through it.”
Cllr Alder said the project took inspiration from other locations including Poynton in Cheshire, Coventry City Centre and Ponders End in North London.
“In those cases, vehicles have been shown to move more slowly through the junction than in a traditional layout,” the Liberal Democrat explained, with “similar behaviour at California Cross”.
The scheme was funded through developer contributions and addressed ‘significant structural’ issues including flooding and drainage.
Cllr Alder said it ‘would be highly misleading’ to imply the money was used to only repaint the carriageway, and added that the junction follows Department for Transport guidelines.
Councillor Mark Ashwell accused the Conservatives of presenting a ‘narrative’ on the scheme which was first approved under their administration.
