PETITION: KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE ON PRINCESS MARINA DRIVE

We are asking Wokingham Borough Council to STOP and rethink the current plans.

The new bus route from Rowcroft Road onto Princess Marina Drive has been introduced before the necessary safety measures are in place.

This is creating dangerous congestion and confusion around the nursery, pre-school and community centre.

THE PROBLEM

The car park previously used by parents was sold and houses were built on the site.

The nursery and other facilities were supposed to move — but they haven’t moved yet.

Parents therefore still need somewhere safe to park and drop off their children.

The proposed alternative parking is on the other side of the nursery, but there is no footpath to the nursery — only grass.

In winter, this will become muddy and unsuitable for parents with young children, pushchairs and babies.

DOUBLE YELLOW LINES ON ONE SIDE ARE NOT THE ANSWER

Putting double yellow lines on the nursery side of Princess Marina Drive will simply push parents to park on the opposite side.

That means parents will then have to cross a busy road with young children to reach the nursery.

This is not a safer solution.

It is simply moving the danger from one side of the road to the other.

We already have photographic and video evidence showing the chaos and congestion currently being caused.

Residents are struggling to safely pull out of roads and driveways. Cars and buses are trying to pass each other. Parents are attempting to get young children safely into the nursery.

This situation is an accident waiting to happen.

WE ARE ASKING THE COUNCIL TO DO THIS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1. PAUSE THE NEW BUS ROUTE

Temporarily revert to the previous bus route while the necessary safety measures are put in place.

2. BUILD THE FOOTPATH

Create a proper, safe pedestrian path from the Sheerlands Road parking area to the nursery.

3. KEEP ROWCROFT ROAD CLOSED AS A THROUGH ROAD

Rowcroft Road should only be temporarily opened while the water works are taking place on Baird Road. Once those works are complete, it should be blocked again as a through road until the car park and safe pedestrian access are ready for parents.

4. DOUBLE YELLOW BOTH SIDES

Once safe pedestrian access is provided, introduce double yellow lines on both sides of Princess Marina Drive to Baird Road so buses, residents and emergency vehicles can pass safely.

5. THEN INTRODUCE THE BUS ROUTE

Once the infrastructure is actually in place, the new bus route can safely operate along Princess Marina Drive.

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THIS IS NOT ABOUT STOPPING THE BUS ROUTE.

We understand that buses need safe and unobstructed access.

It is about putting the infrastructure in place BEFORE introducing restrictions that create a new safety risk.

Parents have not been given a genuinely suitable alternative.

Children should not be expected to walk through mud or cross a busy road because the changes have been implemented in the wrong order.

WE ASK WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL:

Please stop. Listen to the residents and parents who use this road every day.

Please look at the evidence.

Please put the safe access in place first.

Please come up with a plan that keeps our children, residents, pedestrians, cars and buses safe.

SIGN OUR PETITION

We support the request for Wokingham Borough Council to reconsider the current arrangements on Princess Marina Drive and implement the safer sequence outlined above.

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