Residents call for pedestrian crossing on busy Cannon Lane amid safety fears

More than 100 residents have called on the council to install a pedestrian crossing on one of Maidenhead’s busiest roads amid growing safety concerns.

An e-petition has been launched urging the Royal Borough to introduce a controlled crossing in Cannon Lane, close to its junction with Highfield Lane.

Supporters say the commuter route has become increasingly dangerous to cross due to rising traffic levels during rush hour.

“Cannon Lane is used as a southwestern bypass for Maidenhead, carrying traffic from lots of villages and outlying towns where people cut through rather than popping on the motorway, so it’s a shorter journey,” petitioner Phil Haseler told the Advertiser.

Campaigners warn vehicle numbers are set to rise further once new housing developments at Grove Park and Woodlands Park Avenue are fully occupied.

Mr Haseler, who was a former Conservative lead member for highways, said the petition he started with Cox Green resident Joanna Hing is a way of ‘looking ahead’.

“Having been in the police for 30 years, dealing with road traffic collisions, I’d like to see something in place before we have a nasty incident resulting in serious injury or death, rather than waiting until we have a fatal collision to kickstart it,” he said.

“It’s something that's needed. Let’s do it rather than waiting for somebody to be hurt.”

The petition highlights the presence of five nearby schools, Redwood doctor’s surgery, the Thatched Cottage pub, the Foundation Park business complex and a dog walking route, all of which generate significant pedestrian activity throughout the day.

Mr Haseler recalled a community consultation in 2018 for a raised school crossing near the entrance of Foundation Park, which bore similarity to the Altwood School crossing, that he deemed ‘dangerous’.

“You had cars that were going to pull away from the railway bridge traffic lights, approach Foundation Park and be confronted with this uncontrolled pedestrian crossing,” he said.

“That could be very confusing for cars and pedestrians, especially young people who might just walk out on it.

“There were no traffic lights, no beacons, no zebra crossings; nothing to control the traffic and give pedestrians priority.

“It seemed like an appropriate time to start launching this again, with local developments coming forward. It's a busy little spot.”

Although Mr Haseler said traffic lights controlling Highfield Lane and Cannon Lane would be an ideal solution, its proximity to the railway bridge means this would never materialise.

A crossing north of Highfield Lane would be the next best scenario, because the south would be ‘too close to other hazards’, he added.

At the time of going to press, 174 people had signed the petition. It will be considered by the council if the e-petition reaches 1,000 signatures by March 15.

“If we can show the strength of feeling, there might be other routes. It’s a way of testing the feeling within the community,” said Mr Haseler.

A council spokesperson said they will continue to monitor the petition's progress.