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Thursday, May 5, 2022 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Police aim to help drivers & cyclists stay safe on the road
By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today
THANKS to covid, we’re all used to keeping our distance – but some motorists are getting too close to cyclists for comfort.
Last Thursday, Thames Valley Police held an education exercise, called Operation Safe Pass, on Wokingham’s Finchampstead Road. A cyclist rode along a stretch of road near the Two Poplars pub. If motorists tried to overtake without leaving at least 1.5m space between them, a police patrol vehicle pulled them over. Under the new Highway Code, this gap should be at least 2m if the motorist is driving at 30mph or more – about a car’s width. After a friendly chat with an officer, educating them on the risks of dangerous overtaking, the motorists were sent on their way again. Sergeant Dave Hazlett, of Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary’s joint operations roads policing unit, oversaw the operation. “Today is all about raising awareness about safe passing, making sure that everyone has their part to play. This isn’t just a particular focus on car and van drivers, it’s also about making sure that cyclists are doing the right things as well, ensuring they’re complying with junctions, traffic lights and all that kind of stuff. “It’s a two-way process to make sure that everyone can share the road safely.” Also in the car park where members of MyJourney Wokinghan, on hand to offer advice to pedestrians and cyclists. And Adrian Betteridge, from cycling advocacy group WATCH Wokingham observed the operation. “We want to see more people cycling, but the fear of roads puts a lot of people off,” he said.
STAGED: The Corpus Christi Parish pantomime gave audiences a fun night out, and it helped raise cash for the foodbank
Parish pantomime raises £1,600 for Wokingham Foodbank RIDE ON: Police carried out an operation aimed at making it safe for cyclists in Wokingham Pictures: Phil Creighton “Fundamentally, we’re not going to see a lot of people walking or cycling until there are proper segregated spaces. “It’s good to know that police are taking an interest in people being close-passed by cars, and other dangerous behaviour, but ultimately it’s about that segregated space.” Mr Betteridge said that cyclists were 22 times more likely to be injured than as an occupant of a car. “There’s a real issue to be resolved,” he said. “We’re not going to resolve the issue fully just with better driver behaviour, we do need to create space for walkers, pedestrians and cyclists to be away from traffic so they’re fully protected.” And Mr Betteridge had firsthand experience of drivers getting too close for comfort, saying that at least once a month he contacts the police with videos of dangerous driving recorded from his bike. “At the moment, that does result in them receiving a referral for driver education or, as in one occasion this year, someone being prosecuted for careless driving.”
Police speak to a motorist they stopped
Sgt Hazlett said that the drivers they’d spoken to had been aware of why they had been stopped. “We want to try and address complacency that can exist among road users. If you do have a collision with a pedal cyclist, it can quite devastating. We’re making sure drivers are fully aware of that.” The exercise in Wokingham follows on from a similar
Drivers were encouraged to think about the safe distance to overtake a cyclist, in light of changes to the Highway Code
Phoenix Choir to sing for Ukraine READING PHOENIX CHOIR will perform a selection of choral pieces at a fundraising event on Saturday, May 14. The group will be at St Paul’s Church in Reading Road, Wokingham, for the concert. It
starts at 7.30pm. Called When I Need A Friend, proceeds will go to the DEC’s Ukraine appeal. Tickets cost £15, or £5 for under 16s.
n They can be bought on the door or in advance from rpchoir.com/ukraine
initiative in Finchampstead last autumn. “We’re responding to complaints that have been raised within the local area,” Sgt Hazelett said. “We want to make sure cyclists do feel supported by police and partners, that they can get around the roads as safely as they can. “By raising that awareness, that’s what we’re aiming to achieve.”
THE Corpus Christi Parish Pantomime raised £1,600 for the Wokingham Foodbank with their own self-penned spin on the classic pantomime, the Pied Piper. Taking place at the Caudwell Hall Theatre in Holme Grange School in Wokingham, the funds were raised during their March production. Director of the pantomime, Carmel Smith, said: “I am so proud of the cast for the quality of the show they produced. “It’s amazing what you can achieve with a little silliness, powder, paint and song”. The Wokingham Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust network of Foodbanks and works to provide hardship support for households in crisis or an emergency situation. It provides food parcels and household essentials, such as toiletries and cleaning products to people living in Wokingham borough. It also distributes emergency fuel vouchers for residents who have a pre-payment meter and are struggling to afford to pay for gas and electricity. This year it has been almost 150% busier than
the same period pre-pandemic, and the charity says it is grateful for any donations they receive. Annette Medhurst, who manages the foodbank said: “We are incredibly grateful for the support from the Corpus Christi Pantomime team. “We are currently experiencing a very high number of referrals for local families struggling to afford the cost of food and fuel. The funds raised will be spent on plugging stock gaps and purchasing emergency energy support vouchers.” The Corpus Christi Parish Pantomime Group is a social group from the Corpus Christi Roman Catholoc Church Wokingham, involving people as young as 11, and some in their 60s. The all-amateur group gets involved in every aspect of the performance from writing the script to sorting the sound, lighting, costume, and make-up. They are always looking for new members. Anyone wanting to get involved, either on stage or backstage, can email: parishpantocc@gmail.com
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Nigel Pearce AIPW Grey Matters Consultancy Wokingham
grey-matters-consultancy.com/wokingham
