IT IS the last chance for drivers to sign a petition calling to remove safety measures dubbed ‘an accident waiting to happen’ on a major Berkshire road.

The A327 is a key north-south route used by drivers to get to Reading from villages such as Finchampstead and Arborfield.

In an effort to improve safety in Arborfield, a series of traffic calming measures were introduced last year, which included installing ‘give way’ build outs into Reading Road, narrowing and dragons teeth road markings.

The give way build outs have also been referred to as ‘contraflow’ bollards, as drivers must move into the opposite side of the road to move past the bollards.

The traffic calming measures were introduced in Arborfield by Wokingham Borough Council’s highways department.

Drivers have called the traffic calming measures ‘an accident waiting to happen’.

READ MORE: Drivers fear new give way sign is 'accident waiting to happen'

Rob Boreham-Fish, called the positioning of the bollard “an absolute joke” when raising the issue in a Facebook post on the Shinfield Community Page. Others called it “a complete mess” and a “waste of money.”

Commenting on the Wokingham Borough Residents Discussion Group, a public Facebook page, Jules McShee said: “I totally agree – an accident waiting to happen.

“I used this road recently during a really quiet time of the day and that was scary enough – imagine when it’s rush hour. Wokingham Council, just what were you thinking?”

A petition has been set up by Mike Thomas calling for the immediate removal of the contraflow bollards on the A327. In the petition, Mr Thomas states the bollards are unnecessary and dangerously positioned near bends.

He also raised fears that the bollards obstructing traffic could cause head on crashes and vehicles to leave the carriageway in hazardous driving conditions.

Mr Thomas suggested that illuminated speed advisory signs should have been installed instead.

So far, 15 people have signed the petition, with the deadline for signatures being Thursday, February 9.

READ MORE: ‘We need action over road safety’ after recent high-profile fatal crashes in Reading

For the petition to be accepted, it must have 10 signatures for matters relating to one ward, or 50 for matters relating to more than one ward.

You can sign the petition here.

Councillor Gary Cowan (Independent, Arborfield) said that the traffic calming measures are all located within his borough ward, and therefore the petition only needs to meet the 10 signature threshold.

Responding to concerns raised about the bollards last October, cllr Paul Fishwick (Liberal Democrats, Winnersh) the executive member for transport stated that road safety audits prior to and after the installation of the bollards have been conducted.

The traffic calming measures were introduced as part of the Arborfield village road improvement scheme (AVRI) which was announced in March 2022.