A new planned crossing has been slammed a “waste of scarce resources” by a campaigner who led opposition to a controversial one-way system on the same road.

Sara Fullbrook, who recently successfully co-led a campaign to get the one-way system on Gosbrook Road and Westfield Road in Caversham, has now criticised plans for a tiger crossing on the former street.

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The council is consulting the public on plans to reduce the existing parking bays and replace them with double yellow lines to create visibility for the crossing until October 8.

Ms Fullbrook said: “I think tiger crossings in principle are a good idea, but it is both in the wrong place and pretty close to another crossing.

“I suspect that it may lead to some cyclists riding on the pavements to reach the diagonal path in Westfield Rec that most cyclists use.

“Surely there is little point in having a crossing that does not meet with walking/cycling routes at either end.”

Ms Fullbrook said the crossing is “another example of an idea that has some merit but due to the poor execution of RBC, will not be welcomed by many residents”, comparing it to the “botched” one-way scheme.

She added: “I imagine people will see it as a waste of scarce resources that could be better spent on more pressing projects. It has the hallmark of another MRT-style vanity project.”

The Westfield Road resident also questioned why this crossing is being prioritised over a “badly-needed crossing” at the Peppard Road/Henley Road junction.

She said she campaigned for a crossing there four years ago and described the junction as “extremely dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists”.

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Responding to the criticism, councillor Tony Page, lead member for Environment, Planning and Transport, said: “We are always looking for opportunities to create quick and easy sustainable walking and cycling routes for people, which has never been more important.

“The location of this proposed crossing on Gosbrook Road links directly to Christchurch Bridge, the council’s pedestrian and cycle crossing over the Thames.

“A crossing here has been a long-standing aspiration of the Council and local councillors since the Bridge was opened five years ago.

“Funding has now been secured from planning agreements with local developers, through the Community Infrastructure Levy.”

The council originally intended to create a pedestrian crossing but has now developed the design into a ‘tiger crossing’ to accommodate both cyclists and pedestrians.

Cllr Page said the design will allow future cycle schemes to link to it without the need for a crossing upgrade in the future.

Others have criticised the amount of time it has taken to put the crossing in place.

Resident David Luckett tweeted: “It’s been stretching back an awful long time before 2016, quick search of the council website brings back results from 2012 but I’m confident it was discussed well before then.

“Amazing how long it takes the council to act.”

Responding to this criticism, Caversham ward councillor Richard Davies said: “The priority increased when Christchurch Bridge was built.

“Then we had to fight for funding – there was very little CIL available in Caversham because of the lack of planning developments north of the river.”

All objections will be reported to the council’s Traffic Management sub-committee meeting on November 12, 2020 and considered in making the final decision on whether to go ahead with the project.