Stop a fatality: Install pedestrian crossing on Westfield Rd/Peppard Rd junction!
Stop a fatality: Install pedestrian crossing on Westfield Rd/Peppard Rd junction!
The Issue
There is a total lack of facilities for Caversham pedestrians crossing from Westfield Road to walk up Peppard Road and visa versa. It is not hyperbolic to describe crossing here as utterly terrifying. The simple installation of a puffin crossing at this location would have limited impact upon traffic and yet improve pedestrian safety exponentially. It is not a case of, if an accident will happen here, but more, a case of when.
It should be noted that crossing here by pedestrians is a very frequent occurrence. Furthermore, many of these pedestrians are children. You have children going to and from: The Hill primary school, St Anne's RC primary school, Chiltern nursery, Caversham Preparatory school, Queen Anne's school and Highdown school. All these children are regularly forced to take their lives in their hands. Not only are school children forced to cross without adequate provision, parents who live on Peppard road who wish to take their children to the closest play area (Westfield road park), are also forced to gamble with their children’s safety. It is ridiculous the council has spent money on refurbishing this play area only for the journey there to be so dangerous!
Furthermore, if you wish to visit Balmore Park from Westfield Road, again, those wishing to access green spaces are having to play Russian roulette with their safety.
As any parent I want to promote a healthy lifestyle to my child by walking to school - a wish that is aligned with the government's promotion of healthy living; and yet, I am faced with the irony of having to cross a dangerous junction in order to promote a healthy lifestyle! This is of course the same danger facing anyone who wishes to walk into Reading town centre from Peppard road (and use the specially designed pedestrian bridge over the river!).
It is of course also important to remember that this danger to pedestrians does not only have an impact upon individuals - it has an impact upon society as a whole. If we are to reduce obesity and the associated costs to the NHS, we need to embed a culture of walking from childhood - how can this be achieved by asking children to face unnecessary dangers on a daily basis? In addition, we all need to be taking steps towards living in a carbon neutral way - how can these steps be achieved if they are literally causing our children to step onto a dangerous road?
Furthermore, as any parent, I want to be teaching my child the importance of road safety and the green cross code. This is impossible to do at this junction; and thus, must be having a huge impact upon the understanding of road safety for a multitude of other children, young people and adults in the area. It is also worth noting that for drivers it can hardly be a pleasant experience having to dodge pedestrians on their car journeys.
There are of course the normal excuses like 'it would cost too much', but are we really saying life is not valuable enough? Or, of course, the old trope, that it would cause delays. To this I ask, what is really more important? Asking a driver to add, less than, two minutes to their journey or saving a child's life as they walk to school? Or the ludicrous line that drivers would be confused by the change! This would easily be addressed with signage to indicate a change. It really boils down to, are we going to address this matter now, before a death, or find the line "lessons need to be learnt" is being said when it is all too late!
Finally, it should be noted the dangers faced by all pedestrians crossing junction are not only even greater for our children, but also for our elderly and disabled too. The most vulnerable are being put in the most danger! This is abhorrent!
Media coverage links:
https://x.com/thatstvthames/status/1950799588367171880?s=46&t=GQw4dQvx96Y8KhMujn769Q
1,996
The Issue
There is a total lack of facilities for Caversham pedestrians crossing from Westfield Road to walk up Peppard Road and visa versa. It is not hyperbolic to describe crossing here as utterly terrifying. The simple installation of a puffin crossing at this location would have limited impact upon traffic and yet improve pedestrian safety exponentially. It is not a case of, if an accident will happen here, but more, a case of when.
It should be noted that crossing here by pedestrians is a very frequent occurrence. Furthermore, many of these pedestrians are children. You have children going to and from: The Hill primary school, St Anne's RC primary school, Chiltern nursery, Caversham Preparatory school, Queen Anne's school and Highdown school. All these children are regularly forced to take their lives in their hands. Not only are school children forced to cross without adequate provision, parents who live on Peppard road who wish to take their children to the closest play area (Westfield road park), are also forced to gamble with their children’s safety. It is ridiculous the council has spent money on refurbishing this play area only for the journey there to be so dangerous!
Furthermore, if you wish to visit Balmore Park from Westfield Road, again, those wishing to access green spaces are having to play Russian roulette with their safety.
As any parent I want to promote a healthy lifestyle to my child by walking to school - a wish that is aligned with the government's promotion of healthy living; and yet, I am faced with the irony of having to cross a dangerous junction in order to promote a healthy lifestyle! This is of course the same danger facing anyone who wishes to walk into Reading town centre from Peppard road (and use the specially designed pedestrian bridge over the river!).
It is of course also important to remember that this danger to pedestrians does not only have an impact upon individuals - it has an impact upon society as a whole. If we are to reduce obesity and the associated costs to the NHS, we need to embed a culture of walking from childhood - how can this be achieved by asking children to face unnecessary dangers on a daily basis? In addition, we all need to be taking steps towards living in a carbon neutral way - how can these steps be achieved if they are literally causing our children to step onto a dangerous road?
Furthermore, as any parent, I want to be teaching my child the importance of road safety and the green cross code. This is impossible to do at this junction; and thus, must be having a huge impact upon the understanding of road safety for a multitude of other children, young people and adults in the area. It is also worth noting that for drivers it can hardly be a pleasant experience having to dodge pedestrians on their car journeys.
There are of course the normal excuses like 'it would cost too much', but are we really saying life is not valuable enough? Or, of course, the old trope, that it would cause delays. To this I ask, what is really more important? Asking a driver to add, less than, two minutes to their journey or saving a child's life as they walk to school? Or the ludicrous line that drivers would be confused by the change! This would easily be addressed with signage to indicate a change. It really boils down to, are we going to address this matter now, before a death, or find the line "lessons need to be learnt" is being said when it is all too late!
Finally, it should be noted the dangers faced by all pedestrians crossing junction are not only even greater for our children, but also for our elderly and disabled too. The most vulnerable are being put in the most danger! This is abhorrent!
Media coverage links:
https://x.com/thatstvthames/status/1950799588367171880?s=46&t=GQw4dQvx96Y8KhMujn769Q
1,996
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Petition created on 3 July 2025