Wokingham Borough Connect
 Challenge yourself and earn rewards for walking and cycling this winter
Everyone aged over 13 who lives, works or studies in Wokingham borough has even more time to rack up points and win prizes for walking, cycling or using public transport.
The My Journey Wokingham Challenge, run by our My Journey team in partnership with the Innovation Valley Rewards smartphone app, has been extended from its original closing date on 31 October until 31 March next year at the earliest.
The app uses your phone’s GPS tracker to detect how far you’ve travelled and by which mode, then awards points called ValleyCoins as well as virtual “medals” for using greener methods. It tracks progress over time and measures things like calories burned and carbon emissions saved.
ValleyCoins can be redeemed for vouchers with high street retailers, including supermarkets, or donated to charity. Users can also earn ValleyTickets on public transport to enter draws for up to £100 worth of ValleyCoin and there are special promotions during annual events like Car Free Day.
Innovation Valley Rewards is available for Apple and Android devices.
Saddling up to smash local records
The news comes as the borough celebrates another highly successful Cycle September challenge, organised by Love to Ride Wokingham, and gears up for Love to Ride’s Winter Wheelers initiative in the run-up to Christmas.
The former saw a local resident win the top prize of a new electric bike worth £2,499, which was provided by Love to Ride, while participants cycled a total of 46,259 miles - the equivalent of travelling from London to New York and back more than six times, beating last year’s total of 42,558 miles.
Look out for more announcements about Winter Wheelers nearer the time or visit the Love to Ride website.
 Huge numbers come forward to shape walking and cycling plans
We’d like to thank our residents, businesses and community groups for sharing their views on proposals to improve the borough’s walking and cycling links in the long term.
We’re analysing your comments on our draft Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, which we consulted on between 11 July and 2 October. We’re grateful for the overwhelming response to this survey, which we extended twice over the summer and publicised widely so everyone could take part.
We received almost 4,500 written comments and 7,546 responses overall, which was far higher than expected and among the largest responses we’ve ever recorded for a survey of this kind.
The plan outlines key active travel networks around the borough plus specific improvements like new cycleways, improved crossings or lower speed limits. All would be subject to further consultation and outside funding, none of which is currently allocated, while the plan itself is always open to updates.
We’re also considering your feedback on revised plans for an active travel link between Woodley town centre and Palmer Park, on the outskirts of Reading, and we’ll let you know more about this soon.
Both schemes are part of our drive to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, tackle the climate emergency and make it easier to live healthily.
 Next phase of Wokingham to Arborfield greenway coming soon
Work is about to start on the next phase of our greenways scheme, a network of typically traffic-free paths linking key destinations across the borough.
The authority’s contractor Volker Highways is set to resurface Coombes Lane and Coles Lane near Barkham from the week beginning 24 October. This will take about five days including a closure for some of that time, typically from 8am to 6pm, and follows the opening of the previous section at Woosehill Meadows.
Unlike much of the greenways network, this stretch will remain open to traffic as part of a wider route between Cantley Park in Wokingham town and Arborfield Cross via Woosehill Meadows and the adjoining countryside. It will be more accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders than before and will be followed by a new, improved bridge at Coles Lane ford.
Given the financial pressures we’re all facing at the moment, and our own commitment to protecting vital services, we’d like to assure you that this scheme is mostly funded by statutory contributions from developers building new homes in the area. This is “ring-fenced” for the purpose, meaning it can’t be spent on services or other running costs.
We’d also like to make clear that there’s no connection to our recent planning enforcement actions in the protected woodland next to the new greenway, which we’re still committed to protecting from all forms of inappropriate or unlawful development.
 Upcoming roadworks
Aborfield
2-way lights – Reading Road
The lights will be in place between Observer Way and Church Lane, on 24 October, 10.30am to 12pm. This is to install antiskid after surfacing works. https://one.network/?GB131311152
Earley
Road Closure – Wilderness Road
The closure will be in place between Wokingham Road and Whiteknights Road on 24 October 10.00pm to 5.00am. This is to allow BT to access the underground network for blockage clearance. https://one.network/?GB131224958
Road Closure – Mill Lane
The closure will be in place between Silverdale Road and Mill Lane from 24 to 25 October 9.30am to 4pm. This to adjust ironworks following grip fibre surfacing. https://one.network/?GB131218488
Road Closure – A3290
The closure will be in place between Wharfedale Road to A4 London Road, from 25 to 27 October 8pm to 6am. This to carry out a bridge inspection.
https://one.network/?GB131327525
Multi-way lights – Whiteknights Road
These lights will be in place at the junction of Wilderness Road on 28 October 9.30am to 4pm. This is to replace a bollard. https://one.network/?GB131284953
Finchamptead
2-way lights – Finchampstead Road
The lights will be in place between Barkham Ride and Pine Drive, 20 to 24 October, 9.30am to 4pm. This is to allow South East Water to renew a leaking pipe. https://one.network/?GB131182969
Riseley
2-way lights – Basingstoke Road
The lights will be in place between Barge Lane and The Lodge on 27 October, 9.30am to 4pm. This is to carry out coring works.
https://one.network/?GB131350840
Sindlesham
Multi-way lights – Barkham Road
These lights will be in place at the junction of Church Lane, on 24 October 9.30am to 11am. This is to install road markings and antiskid.
https://one.network/?GB131310969
2-way lights – Mole Road
The lights will be in place between Church Lane and Ellis Hill on 27 October 9.30am to 4pm. This is to carry out coring works. https://one.network/?GB131350854
Shinfield
2-way lights – Brookers Hill
The lights will be in place between Church Lane and Hollow Lane, 20 to 26 October. This is to allow SGN to install a gas service. https://one.network/?GB131056114
Multi-way lights – Shinfield Road
These lights will be in place between Pearmans Glade and Oakside Way, 24 to 28 October. This is to allow Thames Water to carry out pipework for a fire hydrant.
https://one.network/?GB130977833
Winnersh
2-way lights – Reading Road
The lights will be in place between Baslow Road and Westbrook Close, from 25 to 28 October. This is to install a drop crossing.
https://one.network/?GB131173139
Wokingham
Multi-way lights – Jubilee Avenue
These lights will be in place at the junction with Holt Lane, from 24 to 27 October 9.30am to 4pm. This is to carry out pavement works.
https://one.network/?GB131020482
Road Closure – Norreys Avenue
The closure will be in place between Wiltshire Road to Essame Close, from 25 to 27 October 9.30am to 4pm. This is to carry out micro asphalt resurfacing.
https://one.network/?GB130296330
2-way lights – Holt Lane
The lights will be in place near the junction of Reading Road, from 27 to 29 October. This to carry out pavement works. https://one.network/?GB131020309
Wokingham Without
2-way lights Easthampstead Road
The lights will be in place between Heathlands Road and Redlake Lane from 27 to 31 October. This is to allow South East Water to repair a leak.
https://one.network/?GB131132656
Woodley
Multi-way lights – Headley Road
These lights will be in place between Reading Road and Arundel Road, on 27 October 9.30am to 4pm. This is to install a new bollard.
https://one.network/?GB131284607
2-way lights – Headley Road East
The lights will be in place between Welford Road and Headley Close from from 26 to 28 October. This is to allow BT to excavate and install a conductive concrete earth pit. https://one.network/?GB131294107
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
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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.
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