Latest news with #roadjunction
Daily Mail
31-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
'Absolutely crazy' road junction that baffles drivers and cost taxpayers £5.5m is nominated for top design award
Locals are furious after a controversial road junction which cost taxpayers £5.5 million and has been dubbed a 'deadly playground' was nominated for a top design award. Last year the junction in Finchampstead, Berkshire, underwent a £5.5million makeover which saw it painted with an oak leaf design rather than traditional white stripes in a bid to make it more 'pedestrian-friendly'. The new layout caused anger among locals who described it as an 'accident waiting to happen'. At the time, more than 1,400 people demanded changes to the new intersection design. But now the redesign has been shortlisted in the Active Travel Scheme of the Year category as well as Line Marking and Street Design. Wokingham Borough Council has also said the junction has been named Best Community Project in the Landor LINKS Active Travel Directory and Yearbook 2025-26. Adrian Betteridge, Wokingham Borough Council's executive member for transport, said it was 'great' to see the project recognised. However, responses from fellow residents has been uncertain - with many slamming the council for the redesign. One resident, Jackie Robinault, told the BBC she was 'amazed' it had been shortlisted, and described the redesign as 'a disaster'. She said: 'I think it was a waste of money - I think it was better as it was. 'People seem to have forgotten that it's a roundabout, don't know what to do when they get here.' Another local, Alex Sykes, also told said the confusion over priority was a problem. He said: 'Some people dither and very sensibly go 'what do we do', and some people bomb it and go straight over... I wouldn't give it any awards for innovation, to be honest.' One local said the leaf patterns are, whilst 'pretty in design' - highly confusing for drivers and pedestrians. They added the design is an 'accident waiting to happen' and a 'complete waste of public money'. The local said: 'Leaf patterns'. Patterns! 'Do you know that's important on roads? Clarity! Not patterns. 'Clarity, so everyone is acting in a predicable and uniform manner. 'They have done the opposite here. It might look pretty but prettiness is not what road users are looking for in road traffic markings. 'What we need, is to approach a junction and know immediately who has right of way, who has to give way, and what rights pedestrians have. 'Here, we are all bemused. 'It is an accident waiting to happen and a complete waste of public money.' Another stated the definition of a zebra crossing and questioned why the community are part of an 'experiment'. They said: 'A zebra crossing (British English) or a marked crosswalk (American English) is a pedestrian crossing marked with white stripes (zebra markings). 'Normally, pedestrians are afforded precedence over vehicular traffic, although the significance of the markings may vary by jurisdiction. 'Any reason why we're part of an experiment, why not use a Zebra crossing, you know the one that's in the Highway Code? 'I looked up leaves but nothing in the Highway Code about leaves on the road!' One person compared the redesign to a deadly playground. They explained: 'It looks like a playground! So deadly for children who are going to think they can play in the road.' A resident slammed the redesign, dismissing it as a zebra crossing because local children allegedly wanted to play 'hop scotch' on it. She said: 'This is not a zebra crossing, it's an accident waiting to happen. 'I'm a good driver and drive with care and attention to all but not everyone does. 'There needs to be clear lights like every other crossing and don't even get me started on the leaves. 'A child wanted to play hop scotch with them a couple of days ago. 'I suggest this gets rectified according to the highway code before there's a terrible accident.' One local said the design is not appropriate for people with visual impairment or guide dogs. They explained: 'This is dangerous for those with visual impairment, and for children who might think this is a new playground game. 'Did you consult Guide Dogs for the Blind, for example, to see if they are training their guide dogs to navigate random pretty patterns and know this is where their partner crosses?' Many say they 'cannot believe' the 'bizarre' redesign was implemented and approved by National Highways. They added: 'This is bizarre to say the least. 'Drivers should be focusing on the road and potential hazards not being confused and distracted by leaves painted onto the surface. 'It should be painted as a normal roundabout that people are familiar with and know how to deal with when approaching. 'This is plain daft and I can't believe highways approved such a scheme.' Wokingham Borough Council said a study found pedestrians crossed the road in less time and drivers gave way more often. A monitoring road safety audit will take place in October.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Dorset Council calls a road junction 'safer' after 7-month revamp
A busy road junction has been made "safer and more accessible" for drivers and pedestrians after a revamp which took nearly seven months, a council has Jon Andrews from Dorset Council said he was "delighted with the new layout" at Maumbury junction in cabinet member for place services, said he was grateful for the public's "patience during the works" which began in project was shaped by community feedback and paid for using central government funding and Dorset Council's capital investment programme. The upgrades include improved pedestrian crossings and cycle paths, wider and levelled pavements, and the latest signalling equipment that adjusts to vehicle numbers to improve traffic flow.A puffin crossing has been moved closer to Queen's Avenue in order to make the route more spacious for the residents and school children who frequently use it. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Petition over 'dangerous' Bull in the Oaks junction handed in
Campaigners have said they hope action will be taken after more than 1,000 people signed a petition calling for traffic lights at a "dangerous" road junction in petition, started by the Market Bosworth Society, urges Leicestershire County Council to take steps to prevent crashes at the Bull in the Oaks crossroads, where the A447 meets the B585 near Market Palmer, chairman of the society, said the petition, signed by 1,054 people, had now been handed to the council said it would now investigate issues raised by the petition. The current layout of the crossroads requires drivers on the B585 to give way to vehicles on the Palmer said the junction had an "awful track record of crashes".He added: "It's a matter of several factors I think. It's a very busy junction and traffic is quite heavy now on the A447. "[It's] an extremely busy junction with lots of drivers of all description of vehicles trying to get across it at various times of the day." 'Make it safe' Mr Palmer, who has lived in Market Bosworth since 1962, said there had been 25 recorded crashes there where people had been killed or injured since 2001 but added that the real number of crashes without injury there was "far, far" said that although the petition called for traffic lights at the junction, he would not be against an island there."The Market Bosworth Society decided that as an island had been looked at before and dismissed, we were presenting a ready-made excuse if we went along that route, so traffic lights were considered as being a cheaper alternative, simple to deploy and would solve the problem by actually stopping traffic whilst people moved about," Mr Palmer added."Not ideal perhaps compared to an island, but it would make it safe, and that's what we're looking to try and do." The county council said it had 28 days to examine the data it has on the crossroads before responding.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Road closure leaves Cotswold villagers using dangerous junction
Residents living in a Cotswold village say they are being forced to use a dangerous road junction where there are "deaths and accidents regularly".It follows the closure of a minor road from Brimpsfield to the A417 as part of the Missing Link scheme to build a dual carriageway between Gloucester and closure means locals are using the busy Birdlip junction on the A417 for the most direct route to Cirencester, which involves crossing both lanes of Highways said it "understands the concerns of the residents" and that work was being phased "very carefully to minimise the impact on local communities and motorists". Martin Smith, who has lived in Brimpsfield for nearly 50 years, said there are "deaths and accidents regularly" on the explained drivers end up waiting at the junction for a gap to appear. "If a lorry is coming it's probably doing 30 or so miles an hour, but motor cars they can sometimes be going 60 or 70," he said."Very recently I was at that junction, taking two of my family to Kemble and a car came over the top and I thought, I've got plenty of time. But then I thought, No, I haven't and the car hit me up the backside while waiting to join the main road, so it is a notorious junction," Mr Smith added. He said "on the positive side", rat running through the village "is probably going to come to an end, when the missing link is done".Another resident, Patrick Daley, said it was "a terrible junction"."Since we've lived here two women have been killed. It is dangerous and people who are coming up the hill are very pleased to be on the flat again, so put their foot down. "You have to be very conscious to get out safely, so I take my time". The road was initially supposed to close for six weeks from March, but now looks set to remain shut into the Foxley, National Highways' project director for the Missing Link scheme, said they were doing "everything we can" to minimise disruption and keep residents added: "We understand the concerns of the residents at this location, and we will be opening the local access road by early June, or earlier if possible.""For safety reasons, drivers are unable to access the A417 due to the contraflow in place but access remains from the Elkstone/Highwayman Inn junction" he said.
