A new pedestrian crossing in east Reading is to go ahead, backed by residents.
It is to be installed on Upper Redlands Road, closed to the Whiteknights campus of the University of Reading, as well as St Joseph’s College and Redlands Primary School.
A public consultation was held last year into adding the crossing, following a seven-year campaign by residents and parents.
One person wrote: “I fully support the proposal. I have been taking my son to St Joseph’s for the last seven years.
“Upper Redlands Road around the school is so dangerous to cross. A crossing has been needed for such a long time.”
Another neighbour said: “This crossing is very much needed. Many children must cross between the cars in the morning, which is really difficult for them and unsafe, so this would much improve matters and give children a safe place to cross.”
Objections were received from some neighbours, with two residents saying the crossing should be closer to the church.
There were also calls for Upper Redlands Road to be made a ‘school street’ and closed to vehicular traffic from 8am to 8.15am and 3.30pm to 3.45pm/4pm, with volunteers acting as marshals.
There were 80 neighbours supporting the project and eight objections.
The results were presented at the council’s traffic management sub-committee meeting on Wednesday, March 6.
James Clements, the council’s transport programme manager, said 91% of respondents supported the crossing, which will be east of the junction of Upper Redlands Road, Alexandra Road and Elmhurst Road.
An existing crossing is located to the west of that junction.
Ward councillor Will Cross (Labour, Redlands) said: “This is a key area used by university students, members of the public and children from several schools, so this is a welcome improvement to safety.”
The crossing would cost £83,500, using £75,000 of government Active Travel funding and £8,500 in private pledges from St Joseph’s College and the University of Reading.
The project would remove an existing pay-and-display parking space and a row of speed bumps to create space for the crossing and a relocated bus stop.
Before work can begin, a further consultation must be held. Work on the project could begin once that exercise is complete.
