An urgent plea for a pedestrian crossing to help school children over a busy main road in Shinfield to be built ‘without delay’ has been thwarted at Wokingham Borough Council.

Parents and staff at Crosfields School on Shinfield Road have been calling for a crossing near the school’s entrances, following an accident and some reported near-misses.

Councillors debated a proposal to build the crossing ‘without delay’ at a meeting on Thursday, March 21. But they eventually voted that one should only be built after a new assessment had been done and funding was available.

Councillor Pauline Jorgensen made the original call for a crossing to be build ‘without delay'.

READ MORE: Crosfields School child 'scared' of crossing Shinfield Road

She said: “Imagine what it would be like for your child to do something as ordinary as set off for school in the morning and not be able to make it because they’ve been injured in an accident on the way.

“To cross from one side to the other people have to weave through traffic or hope that a motorist is kind enough to stop.

“I would like this council to act now before another person gets hurt or worse on this road. Put safety first.”

Councillor Paul Fishwick – responsible for roads – suggested amending the proposal to remove the words ‘without delay’.

He wanted this to be changed to say the council will build a crossing ‘when the technical assessment meets the criteria and funding becomes available to make access to this school safer'.

Councillor Fishwick argued that this is fairer as there are other places in Wokingham Borough where people have called for pedestrian crossings. He argued that the council has to allocate funding in order of priority based on traffic assessments.

He said he had ‘a lot of sympathy’ with parents at staff at Crosfields School. But he added the council receives around 20 requests for new crossings each year, including near other schools.

READ MORE: Calls for crossing after seven-year-old knocked down on Shinfield Road

Councillor Fishwick said: “Each scheme must be assessed to determine its benefits as a level playing field and not on the basis of who shouts loudest.

“Doing it this way ensures that our limited grant funding from the government is directed to those sites where there is the highest need.”

Councillor Fishwick said a new assessment of traffic near Crosfields School had been carried out recently and is being analysed.

Councillor Jorgensen said she wouldn’t accept the amendment. Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors voted in favour of it, with Conservatives voting against.