Avoid Caversham Bridge until 15 April

CityFibre's works to install full fibre network across Caversham Bridge and into nearby roads Caversham side started a week ago. The works, which entail digging up and laying fibre caballing, are due to be finished by 15 April. If travelling during the daytime, especially in the rush hour, you are best off avoiding the junction altogether.

Lane closed northbound, Caversham Bridge

North of Caversham Bridge, 3-way temporary lights have been installed at the Church Street junction with the A4074/Church Road, with the northbound lanes on the bridge reduced down to one. Any northbound driver wanting to turn left past The Griffin PH towards St Peter's Hill has to wait in the queue as the filter left is closed. Added to this, because the lights are 3-way rather than the usual 2-way, the junction's capacity has been reduced dramatically, causing long tailbacks.

I've pressed Reading Borough Council's Highways to ensure everything possible that can be done is being done to minimise disruption to residents and businesses. The two most experienced 'gangs' are working on this area; they are opening up and closing up the trenches as swiftly as possible; they've got more supervisors concentrated here than elsewhere and the grab machine is onsite - to be as time efficient as possible. In addition, during peak hours they are manning the lights. 

Church Road approaching the junction

I've asked whether it might be possible to change to 2-way lights - so that vehicles can travel south from Church Street at the same time as northbound vehicles come over Caversham Bridge. Officers are looking into this but have highlighted the challenges of the bend near the former Lloyds Bank where sight lines are bad. As everyone will appreciate, pedestrian and cyclist safety is extremely important.

For those who have to go through the centre of Caversham, remember everyone's journey will be improved if the junctions are kept clear. Don't be like the arrogant, impatient driver who rather than wait his turn, overtook the westbound traffic on the wrong side of the road, only to meet an east-bound car head on that forced him to reverse back along the Gosbrook Road, delaying others, and himself.

Separately I've asked Thames Valley Police whenever possible if they are able to enforce the Church Street/Bridge Street box junction and also the keep clear at the roundabout south of Caversham Bridge during peak hours.

The benefits to residents and businesses of getting digitally connected through CityFibre's works will far outweigh the inconvenience of the next few weeks. 

UPDATE: On behalf of 2 residents who have commented on my post I've asked officers whether the council can get the contractor to work weekends. I've also asked whether by preventing traffic from turning right into Church Road this would enable north and south bound traffic to travel through the junction at the same time.

Incident at zebra crossing on A4074

Shortly after the incident

This morning shortly before 7.30 am an incident happened at the new zebra crossing on the Upper Woodcote Road (A4074). 

I've received accounts from a couple of residents who saw the aftermath. Fortunately it appears as though nobody was injured. There was damage to two vehicles travelling in the same direction from an impact between them.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) attended the scene. They have a duty to investigate the incident. They will send their report to Reading Borough Council. In such cases the council would need to implement safety actions  TVP identifies. 

I am in contact with The Heights school as large numbers of parents and pupils use the crossing to get to and from school every day. I have had a conversation too with an RBC Highways officer.

Previously there have been calls for the pedestrian crossing to be signalised. Another request has been for the introduction of a 20mph speed limit.

I would welcome residents' views while we await the outcome of TVP's investigation. Please email me at: Isobel.Ballsdon@reading.gov.uk

Community Safety Survey for Reading Borough's residents

Reading Borough Council is inviting the town's residents to fill out the 2021 Community Safety Survey  about crime, disorder and other local issues.

Here is a link to this online survey. Please encourage friends, neighbours and relatives who live in Reading Borough to complete it too.

Help needed to catch flasher in Caversham

Thames Valley Police have issued the following statement. If you can help find this man, please contact them: 

"Thames Valley Police is appealing for information following an incident of exposure in Caversham.

The victim, a teenage girl was walking in Morecombe Avenue at about 3.25pm on Monday (13/9).

A man then approach the victim and exposed himself to her.

The offender is described as a white man and about 5ft 5ins tall. He was wearing a black rainproof jacket with the hood up and dark trousers.

Investigating officer PC Mark Stubbs said: “We are appealing to anyone who may have seen a man acting suspiciously in the vicinity of Morecombe Avenue on Monday afternoon, or anyone with footage, whether that be from CCTV, dashcam or doorbell camera in the area to contact the force.

“You can contact the force via our website or by calling 101, quoting investigation reference 43210412623.”

Reading will be celebrating National Older People's Day on 1 October

Below is a statement from Reading Borough Council:

Reading will be celebrating National Older People's Day on Friday October 1 with a free fun-packed event at Broad Street Mall, 10am until 3pm, highlighting the contribution older people make to the Reading community.

Older People’s Day coincides with the UN International Day of Older Persons. The main aim for the day is to be a celebration of the achievements and contributions that older people make to our society and the economy. Older People’s Day supports the campaign to challenge negative attitudes and outdated stereotypes, the theme for 2021 is ‘looking forward to the future’.

Older People's Day is an opportunity to celebrate later life and the huge contribution older people make to our communities. This wonderful free event aims to celebrate these achievements and residents are encouraged to come along and join on Friday October 1.

Some people may be feeling anxious and you’re encouraged to come along to the Broad Street Mall on Older People’s Day to meet other people and services who really can help you look forward to the future.

Reading is a vibrant town with a rich array of local services that support residents, come along and find out how they can help you; Citizens Advice Reading, MacMillan Cancer Education, Compass Recovery College, Age UK Berkshire, Age UK Reading to name but a few. Royal Berkshire Hospital will also be offering free blood pressure checks on the day.

The Mayor of Reading, Cllr David Stevens, will welcome everyone at 10am followed by a host of entertainment including; dance, art and crafts and Tai Chi taster sessions. There will be stalls offering information and advice on a wide variety of services from over 20 local organisations. At 11am join a relaxed hour-long guided history walk around Reading Abbey Ruins, weather permitting. Places on the walk can be booked by emailing Reading Museum museum.education@reading.gov.uk

We have all faced many challenges over the last 18 months and COVID has led to increased loneliness and isolation for older people. This year’s National Older People’s Day event is to demonstrate the resilience of older people in our community and the great work of voluntary organisations and community groups who have supported older people during difficult times.

Green Waste collections to restart from Monday 6th September in Reading

Reading Borough Council (RBC) announced today, 31 August, that green waste collections - which had been suspended from 19 July - will restart from 6 September.

Residents have been asked by RBC to put out their green wheelie bins or bags on their normal green waste collection day from w/c 6 September. No additional side green waste will be collected however, with RBC asking residents to book a slot at the Civic Amenity Site at Smallmead.

RBC said the suspension of collections was brought in because of "a significant reduction in waste drivers and loaders and council waste resources needed to focus on priority collections of residual waste and recycling, including food waste collections."

Subscribers to the green waste scheme will not lose out financially. Their subscription period will be automatically extended to cover any weeks missed.

Inspection notes of pedestrian island on Upper Woodcote Rd near The Heights school

On Friday 6 August I held a meeting with a Reading Borough Council Highways officer and a local resident to inspect the new pedestrian island in Upper Woodcote Road and discuss concerns. 

Vehicles have damaged the island's kerb stones as can be seen in my photo below which has raised safety questions. I wanted to establish whether it was built to the correct dimensions, complies with the prerequisite National standards and what the outstanding works were before it is completed ready for the school opening in September.  

View east showing island's damaged kerb stone

I'll summarise for readers wishing just the headlines. 

• It is usual for tweaks to Highways works after planning permission is granted to be made without reverting back for further planning permission.
• The traffic island complies with National standards
• The measurements have been checked
• It is yet to have illuminated signage and revisions to the road markings after resurfacing of the road
• These items will be delivered after the zebra crossing has been finished
• Reading Borough Council will not be implementing any parking controls prior to The Heights school opening in September, apart from  on the junction entrance where School Keep Clear markings will go down

The officer kindly wrote up his notes for me as requested, including information about the zebra crossing under construction. As there is wider public interest, I'm publishing his notes in blue below:

"Following the planning application stage the applicant and the Highway  authority engaged in discussions regarding the Highways works associated with the school development and this resulted in some minor changes to the design through this detailed design stage, which is common place in the vast majority of schemes requiring Highway works.  Given that the alterations related solely to Public Highway these were not required to go back through the planning applications process. 

One of the changes to the scheme relates to the dimensions of the pedestrian refuge island which was agreed should be increased in width so that it could facilitate additional pedestrians and would be of benefit to the safety of those utilising the crossing.  This design is subject to the S278 Agreement between the DfE and the Council and a copy of the approved drawing can be viewed here. 

The retained carriageway width either side of the pedestrian refuge island is 3m, which is in accordance with the National Standards and on site checks have verified that this width is provided.

It should be stressed that the pedestrian refuge crossing facility is not completed with the provision of illuminated signage and revisions to the road markings still to be undertaken by the developers contractor.  These works have been delayed given they are to be completed post the resurfacing scheme that is to be undertaken by the developer as part of the wider package of works and as such the road markings would be completed post this resurfacing.  These works will take place post the construction of the zebra crossing.

Highway Officers have previously expressed to the contractors that the crossing should not be opened up to the public until the full scheme has been completed and on 6th August Officers reiterated this to the contractor given that the barriers restricting the use of the crossing facility had been removed.

It should also be stressed that the Highway works are subject to independent road safety audits, one of which is completed pre commencement of the works and identified no fundamental issue with the design of the scheme with all areas of concern appropriately addressed.  An additional road safety audit would be undertaken post completion of the works and Highway Officers will be requesting that this be undertaken as soon as works are complete given the sensitivities and concerns regarding the scheme.

The existing bus stops on Upper Woodcote Road within the vicinity of the works will be relocated as agreed at the planning application stage and as such will not conflict with the proposed pedestrian refuge crossing as can be seen on this drawing.

A zebra crossing is to be constructed south east of the school access within close proximity to Knowle Close. The crossing will also be provided with independent street lighting columns to provide visibility for those crossing at night and these columns will include shields at the back of the column head to reduce light spillage.  The zebra crossing will not be provided with a school crossing patroller.   

These two new crossing facilities would be the only dedicated pedestrian crossing facilities in the vicinity, which will not only aid travel to and from the school but for the wider community to travel to and from Mapledurham playing fields, between bus stops and other pedestrian journeys.  The only other island within the vicinity of the site is splitter island at the junction with Woodcote Way, which is not designed for pedestrians as its purpose is to keep vehicle traffic on the correct side of the carriageway. 

For information the Council will not be implementing any parking controls prior to the opening of the school apart from the school keep clear markings on Upper Woodcote Road (which are provided within the scope of the developers works) but reviews will be undertaken by Officers to establish what measures may or may not be required once the school is operational to ensure that the correct scheme is progressed.  This approach was agreed by Councillors at the Traffic Management Sub Committee in January of this year."  

As usual, if you have any questions about this, or any other council-related matter in Mapledurham Ward do contact me at: Isobel.Ballsdon@reading.gov.uk