New zebra crossing for Reading schools moves forward

Upper Redlands Road is a busy west-to-east route in the university area of the town.

It serves as a route to and from the University of Reading Whiteknights campus, and is used by pupils at St Joseph’s College and Redlands Primary School.

The St William of York Roman Catholic Church is also located on Upper Redlands Road, where Latin worship is held daily.

Now an extra zebra crossing is set to be established after a seven-year campaign from parents of pupils at the school.

A public consultation was held last year into adding the crossing.

A parent who responded to the consultation said: “I fully support the proposal. I have been taking my son to St Joseph’s for the last seven years.

“Upper Redlands Road around the school is so dangerous to cross.

“A crossing has been needed for such a long time.”

Another neighbour said: “This crossing is very much needed.

“Many children have to cross between the cars in the morning which is really difficult for them and unsafe, so this would much improve matters and give children a safe place to cross.”

However, objections were received from some neighbours, with two commenters arguing the crossing should be moved closer to the church.

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Another argued that Upper Redlands Road should be made a ‘school street’ and therefore be closed off from 8am to 8.15am and 3.30pm to 3.45pm/4pm.

The school street would require volunteers to implement.

Ultimately, the addition of the crossing had widespread support, with 80 neighbours supporting the project and eight people objecting to it.

The results of the consultation were presented at the council’s traffic management sub-committee meeting on Wednesday, March 6.

James Clements, the council’s transport programme manager, noted that 91 per cent of respondents supported the establishment of a new crossing, which would be located just east of the junction of Upper Redlands Road, Alexandra Road and Elmhurst Road.

An existing crossing is located to the west of that junction.

The final design for a new pedestrian crossing at Upper Redlands Road in Reading. Credit: Reading Borough Council (Image: Reading Borough Council)

Councillor Will Cross (Labour, Redlands), who represents the area, said: “This is a key area used by university students, members of the public and children from several schools, so this is a welcome improvement to safety.”

The crossing would cost £83,500, using £75,000 of government Active Travel funding and £8,500 in private pledges from St Joseph’s College and the University of Reading.

The project would remove an existing pay-and-display parking space and a row of speed bumps to create space for the crossing and a relocated bus stop.

Before work can begin, a further consultation must be held. Work on the project could begin once that exercise is complete.