Roadworks at California Crossroads have been delayed by drainage problems, Wokingham Borough Council has confirmed.
The council said last week that work was ‘on track’ to be completed by September this year, with roads open by ‘early summer’.
But Cllr Paul Fishwick – the councillor in charge of roads – has confirmed that work has been extended by around a week after underground drainage was found in poor condition.
“They’ve found that the drainage was in a much poorer condition than was anticipated. That has now been replaced,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Replacing the drainage is said to have taken a week’s work – and there is a chance that this may need to be repeated once other parts of the road are dug up. But Cllr Fishwick said the schedule for the redevelopment allowed for small setbacks.
He said: “If we do find defective drainage, that will be replaced. We want to future proof the new roads at California Cross. We are not really that far behind because there is float within the programmes.”
News of a delay comes as businesses located near the crossroads – the intersection of Finchampstead Road and Nine Mile Ride – have said the works have caused their takings to fall.
Some 600 people signed petition calling on Wokingham Borough Council to compensate the businesses for a loss in trade. The council has said it can’t afford to do this, but that it will do ‘everything possible’ to help ease the disruption.
William Brown handed the petition into the council at a meeting on Thursday, March 22. He listed some businesses that he said had suffered a fall in trade.
He said: “Bob’s Fish and Chips and Londis, down by 50 per cent. Jack’s pharmacy, down by 75%. And Crestwell’s Garage down by 75% on fuel.
“The barber shop on Nine Mile Ride took in well under £200 for a whole Saturday’s trade. Nine Mile Ride vets are having clients looking to defer appointments, and arriving late and stressed because of the situation.”
Cllr David Cornish – responsible for businesses – said the council didn’t have the funds to compensate businesses.
He told the meeting: “If local government was funded better it might be possible to consider financial support for these businesses. But it isn’t, and so we can’t.”
The money to pay for the redevelopment comes entirely from contributions paid to the council by housing developers as part of planning agreements. This is ‘ringfenced’ – meaning it can’t be used for other purposes.
Cllr Cornish said: “Having lived in Finchampstead for almost exactly 40 years I have a very deep affection for these businesses and like all other residents am deeply concerned about the impact upon them.”
He added the council is doing ‘everything possible’ to help including providing signage showing how businesses can still be accessed, and coordinating work around deliveries.
He also called on councillors and ‘other voices’ not to ‘feed negativity by highlighting challenges’.
