Call to stop Reading traffic lights trial

Campaigners have handed in a petition to Reading Borough Council calling for traffic lights at a town centre junction to be switched back on.

In January, the lights at the St Mary's Butts, Broad Street, Oxford Road and West Street crossroads were turned off to help speed up journey times.

But disability groups say the move has made the junction "dangerous".

Council cabinet member for transport Tony Page said their concerns would be given "serious consideration".

The switch off is part of a six-month trial due to be reviewed by the council next month.

More than 2,000 buses, covering 25 routes, use the junction daily.

Councillor Page said it would be impossible to please everybody during the trial.

In a joint initiative, Berkshire Disabled People Against Cuts, BDPAC, Guide Dogs and Berkshire Vision, handed a 2,000-signature petition to him on Thursday.

Merry Cross, of BDPAC who set up the petition, said the crossing was "now dangerous" for disabled people and children.

She said: "Disabled people with many different kinds of impairments now feel that it is not safe for them to come into Reading."

Joel Young, community engagement officer for Guide Dogs in Reading, said pedestrians had to "establish eye contact with drivers" before crossing, so for blind or partially sighted people the junction was "difficult or impossible to judge when it is safe to cross".

The council's traffic management committee is due to review the trial at a meeting on 17 June.