A CONGESTED junction on a road bordering Woodley and Earley is an accident waiting to happen.

That is the message from frustrated residents in Bodmin Road who fear for their safety every time they try to drive on to Nightingale Road.

Commuters are using the road effectively as a free car park, leaving their cars and walking up to Earley train station, with some left sat on the corners of the junction into Bodmin Road.

Residents leaving Bodmin Road cannot see along Nightingale Road and take “a big risk” when they turn left or right, which has resulted in one collision and a lamppost being knocked down.

Retired heating engineer Peter Johnson believes that parents and pensioners are most affected by the congestion as people who go to work often leave before any station commuters park.

He said: “It’s quite an issue. Mondays and Friday’s it’s not much of a problem, but in the middle of the week it’s absolutely rammed. What about mums with their kids?

“We can’t see anything. I complained to the council about it six to nine months ago. There’s going to be a head-on sooner or later.”

Mike and Elizabeth Harris have lived in Bodmin Road since 1975 and have seen the problem getting worse over the last two years, with cars speeding down Nightingale Road.

Mr Harris said: “It’s nearly every day. We get cars coming down so fast. There will be a big accident one day. There’s been a few narrow escapes already.”

Reading East MP Rob Wilson, who held a public meeting on the junction on Monday morning, has vowed to work alongside Wokingham Borough Council to rectify the problem.

He said: “We want action. I completely understand the frustration felt by local residents.

“Parking so close to such a busy junction is not only impractical, but dangerous. Traffic engineers will come forward with practical solutions and residents will then be consulted.”

Postman Robin Gadd added: “I’m here everyday, and I’d have to say this is the most dangerous junction on my route.”

Council leader, Cllr Keith Baker, said that double yellow lines could be put on the junction “relatively quickly” to stop commuters leaving their cars.

He added: “We did a similar thing with Hazel Drive, which is nearby. Lines were put in after a similar complaint. The problem is that we are just moving the parked cars down the road.

“People will park where there are no restrictions.”