Padworth residents plea for crossing

Residents say increased traffic and HGVs around Padworth waste site will endanger lives

RESIDENTS living near Padworth Lane have filed a 150-signature petition with West Berkshire Council to install a crossing on a busy stretch of road as they fear an increase in the number of heavy vehicles generated by a new waste site could cost lives.

Dr Janis Daly, from The Crescent, near Padworth Lane, said residents were angry at having requests for traffic calming measures ignored by a community liaison group set up following the approval of the Padworth kerbside waste facility, and have requested a crossing be installed on Padworth Lane following a death near the road last year.

“The area near The Crescent and Padworth Lane is a very difficult place to cross with children and young people, and not everyone is sprightly enough to cross quickly. There was a horrible incident just before Christmas, we don't want to see a repeat of that,” she said.

“We asked for a crossing near the Holiday Inn just around the corner [from The Crescent] but we were told the council would have to buy a plot of land just outside the hotel and they weren't sure who it belonged to. They just give spurious reasons to turn us down,” she said.

“People assumed this was being done as a matter of course. They were horrified when told it wasn't.

“Health and safety should be uppermost in West Berkshire Council's conscience.

Walter Bunyard, aged 82, from The Crescent, was killed after his wife walked into the path of an oncoming car whilst pushing his wheelchair.

The pair were forced to cross the dual carriageway on the A4 Bath Road in the dark after they got off the bus at around 6pm in November last year.

Mortimer councillor Mollie Lock (Lib Dem) lodged the petition with West Berkshire Council's executive on June 16.

“What must be taken into account is all the new building along Bath Road which has recently taken place, also the planning for further development close to Padworth Lane,” she said.

“There are a lot of children already in these houses and flats and in due time there will be many more.”

A spokesman for West Berkshire Council, Keith Ulyatt, said: “The council has not refused their request. As with all petitions, the request will be investigated, the feasibility assessed, and a recommendation made to the Executive Councillor for Highways for a decision. At this stage, we cannot put a time frame on that.”