COUNCILLORS in Whitley are calling for action to be taken by a neighbouring council following another incident at a traffic blackspot.
On Thursday, February 15, Councillor Micky Leng shared on social media details of the crash at the junction of Whitley Wood Lane with the B3270 Lower Earley Way West.
This straddles the boundaries between the two boroughs, with the B3270 falling under Wokingham Borough Council’s jurisdiction.
He said that he and his Whitley colleagues had made numerous requests for the junction to be made safer, but no action had been taken yet.
Cllr Leng said: “Dangerous junction needs sorting.”
This view was echoed by fellow Whitley councillor Rachel Eden.
“Whitley Councillors have repeatedly asked that Wokingham Council look at this junction,” she told Reading Today.
“Personally, I think making it a ‘no right turn’ would reduce the risk substantially but ultimately Wokingham Borough need to take responsibility and consider what would make this junction safer.”
The latest incident is not a one-off. Among other such collisions, in December 2022, a Reading man was left with ‘serious life-threatening injuries’ in an incident between a Toyota Aygo, a white Iveco Tipper truck and a black Mini Countryman.
Councillor Paul Fishwick, Executive Member for Active Travel, Transport and Highways at Wokingham Borough Council, said an investigation needed to be carried out before any course of action could be decided on.
“We are aware of a recent traffic collision at this junction and are investigating this with Thames Valley Police to ascertain the likely cause,” he told Reading Today.
“The findings from the police investigation will help us have a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding this collision. We are also examining any emerging patterns or trends that may be contributing to the safety of this junction.”
He added: “We understand the importance of addressing these concerns promptly and if there is a solution available to address the specific causes of these incidents identified from the police reports, we are committed to exploring all available options to enhance safety for road users.”
