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Traffic and Travel

Wokingham Borough Connect

Last chance to have your say on walking and cycling

We are currently seeking your views on two projects aiming to help make walking and cycling in the borough easier.

Increasing cycling and walking can help us tackle some of the most challenging issues we face as a society – improving air quality, combatting climate change, improving health and wellbeing, addressing inequalities and tackling congestion on our roads.

With the increasing cost of fuel, walking and cycling are likely to become more attractive options for local journeys. We want to enable this by providing facilities that are safe, comfortable and inclusive for all. 

The surveys close tomorrow (19 August) so don't miss out on your chance to have your say!

Weekend train strikes

Train strikes are continuing this weekend, and South Western Rail have asked us to share the following message:

Only travel by rail if absolutely necessary from 18 to 21 August. 

South Western Rail will run a severely reduced service on 18 and 20 August, from 7.30am to 6.30pm only, with many routes closed entirely.  

Trains will start much later and be much busier than usual on 19 and 21 August. 

Getting our communication right

We want your feedback on how you hear about the work we're doing, how involved you feel in the decisions we make, the types of things you want to hear about from us, and more.

The survey closes tomorrow (19 August). If you haven't already had the chance, please let us know your thoughts.

A better layout, however you're travelling

We want to make the California crossroads safer and easier for cyclists and pedestrians, including children walking to Nine Mile Ride Primary School and the neighbouring pre-school, in line with our aim of promoting active and sustainable travel over car use wherever we can.

The overhaul includes shared access for pedestrians on the approach road to the school, part of which will be sectioned off with bollards, plus speed cushions, new seating near the shops, wider footways and decorative "totem" signs warning drivers they are entering a busy village centre.

It was drawn up following extensive consultation with the community and follows the rollout of similar layouts at locations including Poynton in Cheshire, Coventry city centre and Ponders End in north London, where they have proven successful.

We hope to carry out the work during the 2023/24 financial year, possibly over the 2023 summer holiday although this remains subject to change. We’ll work as quickly as we can and with the least possible disruption.

It’s part of a wider commitment to providing better walking and cycling infrastructure, saving and promoting bus services, improving train journey times and generally making it easier to drive less, which will help tackle the climate emergency and improve people’s physical and mental health.

Colourful new training aid will give horses and riders confidence

Horse riders have a chance to prepare for the eye-catching road improvements which we’re planning to carry out in Finchampstead.

We’ve worked with our highways consultant WSP and the nearby Wheatlands Farm livery yard to install a training panel that will help horses get used to our proposed new markings and improved road layout at California Crossroads.

The junction, consisting of two mini-roundabouts with five crossings, is set to be decorated with leaf-shaped designs in various colours as part of a scheme to slow traffic down and make it look nicer. However, during public consultations, the riding community told us that an unfamiliar surface could make their horses nervous.

We took their concerns seriously and are pleased to say that the new panel will allow them to have as much off-road training as they need before encountering the real thing. It’s proven popular since we installed it in June and we’ve been thanked for our efforts.

There’s no charge to use it, but bookings must be made in advance so that enough time can be allocated for every user. Anyone who is interested should email Wheatlands Farm.

Upcoming roadworks

Keeping up to date

• For planned and emergency roadworks, follow our Twitter and Facebook pages 
• To find out about roadworks near you, visit One.network
• For active and sustainable travel, including events, training and resources, visit MyJourney Wokingham 
• Visit our major new roads page for plans and updates
• For information on re-surfacing and reactive carriageway repairs visit our pothole and road repairs page 
• You can report any issues with roads and streets online, including street lights, problems with traffic lights, potholes, damaged street furniture, problems with road markings and removal of dead animals. 
• On our parking and permits page, you can find information including car parks and costs around the borough, resident parking permits, park and ride services and appealing a parking fine.
• Our transport and travel page includes information on applying for a senior citizen or disabled person's bus and train pass and local public transport information.
• The blue parking badges page has information on applying for, using, replacing and returning your blue badge.