Over 2,000 people back call for junction safety improvements

An appeal advocating for “urgent” safety enhancements at a junction, which has been labeled a “dangerous death trap,” has garnered support from over 2,000 individuals. Last week, Wokingham councillor Marc Brunel-Walker initiated a petition seeking modifications to the intersection of Old Wokingham Road and Easthampstead Road. Road users in Berkshire have reported inadequate visibility for vehicles approaching from Old Wokingham Road. Wokingham Borough Council stated its commitment “to road safety across the borough” and confirmed that the petition would undergo consideration through its standard procedures. Mr Brunel-Walker indicated that the location, situated between Bracknell and Wokingham, has experienced “multiple serious multi-car collisions” solely within the current year. He proposed the installation of traffic lights at the junction, where vehicles from Easthampstead Road must navigate a sharp bend to merge with traffic on Old Wokingham Road. In his introduction to the petition, Mr Brunel-Walker penned: “The trauma is immense and the pleas for change constant. “Yet, despite this, necessary safety improvements to this gravely hazardous junction remain elusive.”We ask that Bracknell Forest Council and Wokingham Borough Council take immediate action to improve the conditions at Old Wokingham Road and Easthampstead Road.” Those who signed the petition characterized the junction as a “death trap,” with numerous individuals asserting they completely avoid it. Additional signatories reported experiencing a “near miss” at the intersection or knowing relatives involved in accidents there, proposing a roundabout or CCTV as appropriate measures to prompt drivers to reduce speed. Given that the site lies between the boundaries of Bracknell Forest and Wokingham Borough, the petition is slated for presentation to both councils. Bracknell Forest Council has been contacted by the BBC for a statement. BBC Berkshire can be followed on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.