No more huffin' and puffin' in Chalfont Way
A new puffin Wokingham Borough Councilcrossing will be helping residents and shoppers cross the road more easily outside a superstore in Earley – as the new safety feature is expected to become fully operational on Wednesday (December 5).
Wokingham Borough Council has been installing a puffin crossing on Chalfont Way over the past few weeks so that residents, shoppers using Asda, and people crossing the busy road to get to Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in nearby Chalfont Close can cross much more safely. It is due to be fully operational and in use by the public by the end of Wednesday.
Currently there is no formal crossing on the 30mph road leaving many pedestrians to rely on road islands near the entrance to the supermarket to get across Chalfont Way.
The crossing is a puffin crossing so it will feature sensors detecting when people are waiting to cross and gauge how long they need to make it safely to the other side. This means people with mobility problems will be able to cross safely in their own time and traffic flow will not be stopped if a pedestrian pushes the button and decides not to cross over.
It also features guard railing, which runs from a footpath that goes directly into the supermarket complex to the crossing.
The road does not have a high accident record, two accidents causing three “slight injuries” were recorded between September 2003 and August 2006, but crossing the road has proved difficult because of the reliance on road islands. It is hoped the new crossing will make it easier for everyone.
Vikki Roberts, Wokingham roads manager, said: “The new puffin crossing in Chalfont Way will make it much more safe for pedestrians to cross the road.
“Previously there has been no formal crossing over the road and so at times it proved quite difficult for people to get across during busy periods, especially people with mobility problems or those with small children and prams.
“Once it’s in use I’m sure the crossing will be a welcomed improvement for all motorists and pedestrians using Chalfont Way.”
Philip Truppin, Earley Town Council clerk, said: “A pedestrian crossing in Chalfont Way is exactly what’s needed to make the area safer for drivers and pedestrians.
“It will make it much easier to get across the road and if used properly it will reduce the risk of accidents happening.”
Wokingham Borough Council has been installing a puffin crossing on Chalfont Way over the past few weeks so that residents, shoppers using Asda, and people crossing the busy road to get to Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in nearby Chalfont Close can cross much more safely. It is due to be fully operational and in use by the public by the end of Wednesday.
Currently there is no formal crossing on the 30mph road leaving many pedestrians to rely on road islands near the entrance to the supermarket to get across Chalfont Way.
The crossing is a puffin crossing so it will feature sensors detecting when people are waiting to cross and gauge how long they need to make it safely to the other side. This means people with mobility problems will be able to cross safely in their own time and traffic flow will not be stopped if a pedestrian pushes the button and decides not to cross over.
It also features guard railing, which runs from a footpath that goes directly into the supermarket complex to the crossing.
The road does not have a high accident record, two accidents causing three “slight injuries” were recorded between September 2003 and August 2006, but crossing the road has proved difficult because of the reliance on road islands. It is hoped the new crossing will make it easier for everyone.
Vikki Roberts, Wokingham roads manager, said: “The new puffin crossing in Chalfont Way will make it much more safe for pedestrians to cross the road.
“Previously there has been no formal crossing over the road and so at times it proved quite difficult for people to get across during busy periods, especially people with mobility problems or those with small children and prams.
“Once it’s in use I’m sure the crossing will be a welcomed improvement for all motorists and pedestrians using Chalfont Way.”
Philip Truppin, Earley Town Council clerk, said: “A pedestrian crossing in Chalfont Way is exactly what’s needed to make the area safer for drivers and pedestrians.
“It will make it much easier to get across the road and if used properly it will reduce the risk of accidents happening.”
Wokingham Borough Council
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