An e-petition containing 1039 signatories was submitted to the Council on 16 October 2018. In accordance with the provisions of the Council’s Constitution, it was requested by the lead petitioner that the petition be reported to, and debated at, a full Council meeting.

The petition reads as follows:

‘We the undersigned petition The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to install a pedestrian crossing on Braywick Road, leading to Braywick Park.’

http://petitions.rbwm.gov.uk/BraywickCrossing/

The Constitution provides for a maximum time of 30 minutes to debate such petitions; this can be overruled at the Mayor’s discretion.

In accordance with the Constitution, the order of speaking shall be as follows:

Members debated the following petition:

‘We the undersigned petition The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to install a pedestrian crossing on Braywick Road, leading to Braywick Park.’

Ben Smith, Head of Commissioning – Communities, explained that the online petition had received just over 1000 signatures. The request for a pedestrian crossing had previously been requested and investigated but not taken forward at that stage because of low levels of demand, although it had been recognised that the road was difficult to cross. The situation had changed with the new leisure centre coming online and the potential for development on the golf course site. The report proposed consultation with residents and stakeholders on the location and final design of a crossing and the commitment of £150,000 of funding in 2020/21 to install a crossing to coincide with the opening of the leisure centre.

John Hudson spoke on behalf of the lead petitioner Rachel Clapp. He explained that he was the Chairman of the Rushington Avenue Residents Association (RARA). He and Rachel had held a number of protest meetings with local residents from the association and adjoining roads during the summer. The petition had been ably and enthusiastically supported by the three ward councillors. Mr Hudson explained that he had moved to the area 8 years previously and had been staggered to discover it had been a matter of appeal to the council for 18 years.

Mr Hudson read out a statement from Rachel Clapp, the lead petitioner. Ms Clapp apologised that she was unable to attend the meeting in person. She thanked Mr Hudson for representing her, and Councillors Hill and Majeed for helping the petition to get such great support. What was being requested was straightforward; a safe way to cross a busy and dangerous dual carriageway. The issue had been first raised 18 years previously by concerned residents but had never been given the attention it deserved.  She struggled to see how it could not now be a priority given the increase in the population in Maidenhead. In addition to the green spaces, a crossing would give access to the brand new leisure centre and Braywick Court school. Ms Clapp’s daughters loved the nature centre but were not old enough to see the irony that it was in walking distance but they needed to be driven there because of the dangerous road.

Councillor D. Wilson thanked Mr Hudson and Ms Clapp. He commented that the proposal had been part of developer obligations for a substantial amount of time; he had been the councillor who had included it originally. The council had been awaiting further development to get it secured. He was therefore delighted with the recommendation. Safety was paramount as although the road had a 40mph limit traffic was often in excess of this speed.

Councillor Hill stated that he fully supported the proposal which was much overdue. He thanked Rachel Clapp for collecting signatures and submitting the petition. He thanked Councillor Dudley for his signature and Councillor D. Wilson for his short video. It was a shame they had not been more active until now as the crossing had been need for nearly two decades. He had tried to get the proposal included in the highways budget when he had been the lead member responsible some years previously but it had been kicked into the long grass. Councillor Hill referred to a number of anecdotes demonstrating the need for a crossing: the dog walker who drove his dog to the park; the young mother trying to cross the road four times a day to get her children to school; the father who put his son on his shoulder to cross the road as he could not run fast enough.

Councillor Hill requested that a footbridge be considered because of the traffic on the road and the concern for accidents. He also asked for the work to be accelerated as 2020 was another year away.

Councillor Dudley thanked Mr Hudson and Ms Clapp and all the signatories. The Conservative administration agreed that it was a no-brainer. The fundamentals of the area would be changing for the better and it made no sense to not have a crossing for residents when the new leisure centre was being built and, subject to planning, Forest Bridge School and Braywick Court School as well. The golf course development could also see a 2500 pupil school and therefore increase the number wishing to access the leisure centre from that side of the road. The crossing would be in place before the leisure centre opened in late spring/summer 2020. Design work would start immediately and would include consultation with residents in relation to location and design. The council had considered the option of a footbridge. It was not a matter of money but engineering practicalities and human behaviour. Commercial vehicles used the road therefore there would need to be a high clearance, necessitating steps set back. Additionally, barriers would be needed along the road to prevent people from taking the shortest route an crossing the road on foot. This was the reason a bridge option would not be pursued. Councillor Dudley thanked all ward councillors for the work they had done on the issue.

Councillor Bicknell explained that he had met Mr Hudson at his house a year previously in his role as Lead Member for Highways and Transport at which time he had made the suggestion to put a petition together. It showed a community with a strong voice could get what it needed.

Councillor Richards joined the meeting at 8.26pm.

Councillor S Rayner stated that she supported the recommendation. She had been in correspondence with Mr Hudson a year ago in relation to the leisure centre. She was pleased that the crossing would be in place before the leisure centre opened.

It was proposed by Councillor Bicknell, seconded by Councillor Dudley and:

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Council notes the report and:

i)             Acknowledges the petition and fully supports the installation of a pedestrian crossing on Braywick Road

ii)            Approves funding of £150,000 in the 2020/21 capital programme to deliver the pedestrian crossing