Reading push for clampdown on dangerous driving in street

Francis Street is a narrow one-way street in Katesgrove not far from the town centre.

People living in the street have complained about drivers speeding and going the wrong way down the street, presenting a hazard.

Therefore, 32 neighbours have signed a petition calling on Reading Borough Council to investigate installing anti-speeding measures in the street and consider how traffic volumes could be cut.

Ian Fullbrook presented the petition at a meeting of the council’s traffic management sub-committee.

Francis Street in Katesgrove, Reading, where neighbours are calling for safety measures along the one way street. Credit: Olivia Mowl, Reading Chronicle

He began a speech by saying that Francis Street is “not built for motor vehicles” and residents have come to expect ‘scrapes and scratches’ to their cars due to the narrow nature of the street.

But an incident where a neighbour had their car written off by a council vehicle triggered the petition.

Mr Fullbrook explained: “The reason why we started our campaign was that one of our residents had their car written off by a vehicle travelling the wrong way down the street.

“Unfortunately it was also a council vehicle. In due course, we started campaigning about the issue of vehicles travelling the wrong way down the street and crucially speeding.

Francis Street in Katesgrove, Reading, where neighbours are calling for safety measures along the one way street. Credit: Olivia Mowl, Reading Chronicle

“Francis Street is very narrow, but it’s also straight and some careless drivers see that as an opportunity to put their foot down and go as fast as they can up the road.

“Obviously, the faster you travel the more chance there is in a car of things going wrong.”

Mr Fullbrook implied that the council vehicle responsible for the car write-off was a bin lorry, as he praised the council for acquiring an ultra-narrow bin lorry, which was added to the refuse collection fleet in April.

But, he added: “We are still plagued by people driving the wrong way down the street sometimes and people speeding.”

READ MORE: Frustration as Katesgrove neighbours suffer weeks of missed bin collections

The petition was accepted by the traffic management sub-committee on Wednesday, September 13.

However, it is unclear when measures could be introduced, as the council’s highways team will need to investigate a practical solution and find funding for any possible works.

John Ennis (Labour, Southcote), lead councillor for transport said: “I totally understand the situation and we need to put it into further works going forward.

“I can’t put a timescale on it, to be honest, but I think it’s important.”

At the meeting, committee members agreed that Francis Street should be added to the council’s ‘Requests for Traffic Management Measures’ list for highways officers to investigate and design road safety measures for implementation.

A highways management team report on suggested measures is set to be presented at the next traffic management sub-committee meeting in November.