Walking alone in Bracknell's underpasses - my thoughts

From murder to rape, robberies and attacks- the subways that run below the town have become one of Bracknell’s most well-known crime hotspots.

Our reporter Nicole McBride visited seven Bracknell underpasses at around 4pm on Friday, May 20 to see how the subways felt for a woman walking alone.

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The first thing I noticed was the lack of light within the underpass itself.

Although daylight was coming through each end of the tunnels, one can only wonder what it would feel like when a vulnerable person is walking alone at night.

Underpass towards Church Road

READ MORE: JAILED: Elderly woman, 90, threatened with knife in 'traumatic' attack

This is especially noticeable in the T-shaped and longer underpasses that go under dual carriageways or at roundabouts.

The entryways for some of the underground passages were truly terrifying and although I could tell that enough lights were present externally, it still wouldn’t stop a crime from happening out of sight.

Following the rape incident within the underpass at the Eastern Roundabout a few months ago, there was a call out for the presence of CCTV cameras in the hotspots where people have been targeted before.

READ MORE

• Bracknell council give update into rape promising to ‘improve lighting in underpasses’
• Timeline of underpass attacks in Bracknell

Such measures have not been installed and one would think that the installation would create one less worry when walking alone.

One could only wonder that it would be easy enough to install a specialised CCTV camera on the streetlamp outside each underpass to offer reassurance and safety.

A feature of the MET Office roundabout underpass that was truly shocking was the barrier that blocked the entrance and exit.

This created a small space which could slow a person's exit. I must wonder what the function of this is. The entrance to this was terrifying enough without the aspect of a limited exit way.

We contacted the council to find out what is being done to make these walkways safer after they promised last month to ‘improve lighting in underpasses'. 

Cllr John Harrison, executive member for culture, delivery and public protection, said: “Bracknell Forest Council is committed to making underpasses in the borough as safe as they can be and although crime in these areas remains low, we understand the public’s concern.

READ MORE: Police arrest driver for drug use whilst driving in Bracknell

“Improvements to the underpasses should be made in a careful and considered way, so that they are effective and an efficient use of public money.

“A cross-service working group has been formed at the council and they have been working with Thames Valley Police to carry out surveys across the borough identifying where improvements would be of benefit.

"The findings from these surveys are being reviewed and suggestions to remove vegetation and make adjustments to lighting and paintwork, aim to be progressed over the next year.”

Here are all the underpasses we visited pictured below: