A LETTUCE might have outlasted Liz Truss, but it wouldn’t have fared so well against a set of temporary traffic lights in east Reading.
In July, Reading Today reported on delays to replace lights at the junction of Cholmeley Road as it comes on to London Road – one of the main routes out of the town, heading towards the A329m.
Damaged in a road traffic incident earlier this year, the temporary replacements have been snarling up traffic, seeing it back up into Cemetery Junction and the Sutton Seeds roundabout, as a result.
Reading Borough Council said the broken lights used an old-style controller which had been destroyed, and a like-for-like replacement was no longer available. It was not compatible with newer models.
The only solution is a complete replacement of the junction’s equipment, including clearing ducts and replacing damaged cables.
The works was meant to be completed by October – but as we head into November, the temporary lights are still there and there is no sign of the future arriving.
The junction is in Park Ward. One of its councillors is Reading Green party leader and leader of the main opposition party on Reading Council, Rob White.
He was unhappy with the delays.
“We have been chasing the council to fix the traffic lights at the junction of London Road and Cholmeley Road,” he said.
“They have informed us that their contractor has let them down. The temporary lights are causing unnecessary delays and I urge the council to do everything it can to get these lights replaced as soon as possible.”
A spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said: “The groundworks have been completed by the council’s highways team.
“The final design of the control panel has yet to be provided. Reading Borough Council is chasing the contractor to provide a date to commence works on the repair installation.
“As soon as we have a date, we will update residents.”
