A NOTORIOUS roundabout in Lower Earley that been the scene a number accidents is to have a make-over to make it safer, it has been revealed.

The camber of the road is to be levelled and there will be more signs to get drivers to slow down after several accidents this year alone, with cars crashing into the wooden fence as drivers exit the roundabout.

Work is set to begin in September on the roundabout between Meldrith Way and Lower Earley Way and will carry on for six weeks.

Driver and residents whose homes have been damaged because of the crashes have pointed their fingers at the council, blaming the adverse camber in the road as the cause of the crashes, whilst others blamed speeing drivers.

A spokesman for Wokingham Borough Council said the height of the central island would also be raised to match designs at other roundabout on Lower Earley Way.

Earley Town Councillor Bill Luck submitted an appeal to Wokingham Borough Council in May asking the borough to look into resurfacing the roundabout.

At a Wokingham Borough Council meeting on Thursday July 23, Earley Town and Wokingham Borough councillor Guy Grandison prompted executive member for highways John Kaiser to give the council an update on the status of the project.

Cllr Kaiser said that work on resurfacing the roundabout would start in September.

Cllr Kaiser said: "The designs for the improvement to the roundabouts have been completed and shared with the local members.

"The project is fully funded and we should be on site in September subject to contractors being available."

“Since this roundabout was constructed some 20 years ago national design standards for similar junctions have changed.

“This work is important because it will not only bring it up to up to date, but will also physically help drivers re-evaluate how they negotiate it.”

Cllr Grandison said he was happy with the response, and believes the newly resurfaced roundabout will be well received by the community and said: "When the roundabout was built it was put into specifications of that time, but those specifications have since been updated and hence the roundabout needs to be updated,” said Cllr Grandison.

“I am happy, I have been asking for this to be done for three and a half years, it's taken a long time because of the amount of work that needs to be done.”

the council were planning on re-surfacing the structure of the roundabout.

Meldrith Way in Lower Earley will be closed between Chatteris Way and Lower Earley Way for the duration of the project and temporary traffic lights will be in place during off peak hours as well as some overnight.

The Lower Earley Way cycleway will also be closed during the work, between Cutbush Lane and Rushey Way, There will be an alternate route for cyclists through the Cutbush Lane cycle link instead.

More than 4,000 letters are being sent out to residents and businesses in Lower Earley explaining the works.