Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I request the following information regarding Wokingham Borough Council’s and Bracknell Forest Council’s handling of safety concerns at the junction of Easthampstead Road and Old Wokingham Road, which has been the site of numerous reported accidents, including multiple serious multi-car collisions in 2024 and prior years:

Reasons for Inaction on Safety Improvements
1. All correspondence, reports, or internal assessments between Wokingham Borough Council and Bracknell Forest Council from 2020 to 2025 discussing safety concerns at the junction of Easthampstead Road and Old Wokingham Road, including reasons why no significant safety improvements (e.g., traffic lights, roundabout, or other traffic calming measures) have been implemented despite repeated accidents.

2. Details of any specific barriers cited by either council, including references to private land ownership, as mentioned by Bracknell Forest Council in January 2025, and how these barriers have prevented action.

3. Minutes of meetings (including joint meetings between the two councils) from 2020 to 2025 where safety improvements for this junction were discussed, including any recorded objections, cost estimates, or alternative proposals considered.

4. Any accident data or collision reports for this junction held by Wokingham Borough Council from 2020 to 2025, including the number, severity, and causes of accidents (e.g., poor visibility, speed, or junction design).

Feasibility of Three-Way Traffic Lights Without Impacting Private Land
5. Any studies, feasibility assessments, or engineering reports conducted by or on behalf of Wokingham Borough Council or Bracknell Forest Council from 2020 to 2025 evaluating the installation of traffic lights (including a three-way traffic light system) at the Easthampstead Road and Old Wokingham Road junction.

6. Specific details on whether a three-way traffic light system, which could be implemented without affecting private land, has been considered, including:
Any technical or engineering reasons why such a system is not feasible.

7. Any cost estimates or budget constraints associated with this option.

8. Any consultation with landowners, if applicable, regarding a three-way traffic light system.

9. If no such assessments exist, confirmation of whether the council has evaluated the possibility of a three-way traffic light system that avoids private land, and reasons why such an evaluation has not been undertaken.
Coordination and Responsibility Between Councils
Details of the division of responsibility between Wokingham Borough Council and Bracknell Forest Council for the junction, given its location on the border of the two boroughs, including any agreements or memoranda of understanding regarding maintenance, safety improvements, or funding.

10. Copies of correspondence between the two councils from 2020 to 2025 specifically addressing the junction’s safety issues, including discussions of funding responsibilities or joint action plans.

11. Information on any planned or ongoing discussions, as referenced by Cllr Guy Gillbe in January 2025, regarding “new emerging opportunities” from Wokingham Borough’s nearby development considerations, and how these might address the junction’s safety issues.

Response to Public Concerns and Petitions
12. Details of how Wokingham Borough Council has responded to the petition launched by Cllr Marc Brunel-Walker in December 2024, which gained over 2,800 signatures calling for urgent safety improvements at the junction, including traffic lights or a roundabout.

13. Any actions taken or planned by the council following the petition, including whether it has been formally considered by the council’s executive or relevant committees, and the outcomes of those discussions.

14. Records of resident complaints or feedback about the junction’s safety received by the council from 2020 to 2025, including any specific incidents reported (e.g., 13 vehicles crashing into a resident’s property, as noted by Chris Neen).

Please provide the requested information in electronic format where possible. If any part of this request is exempt under the Act (e.g., personal data under Section 40 or commercial sensitivity under Section 43), please specify the exemption, provide an explanation, and supply any non-exempt information (e.g., aggregated or anonymized data). If the cost of compliance exceeds the appropriate limit, please provide advice on refining the request to focus on key priorities.
Given the junction’s history of serious accidents and public safety concerns, I also request that this FOI be handled with urgency. I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.