Wokingham Borough Connect
 How could we improve your journey around the borough?
We want everyone who walks, cycles, takes public transport or drives around the borough to answer some simple questions to help us make this safer and easier as we face the challenges of the future.
Your views will guide our updated Local Transport Plan, a strategy document outlining how we make all kinds of improvements to footways, cycle lanes, roads and other routes.
This will offer more ways of getting around and more chances to leave the car at home, especially for shorter journeys, which is essential as we strive to reduce air pollution and congestion, tackle the climate emergency and make healthy living easier.
During this initial engagement, which runs until Sunday, 12 March, we’re asking your thoughts on things like more support for electric vehicles and cycle parking, or providing more space for pedestrians on pavements in village and town centres.
This will be followed by more detailed consultation, but we’d like you to take part now so the draft reflects your wants and needs from the outset.
 Have you spotted our new anti-idling signs?
The Public Protection Partnership (PPP), who monitor air quality across Wokingham Borough on our behalf, have launched a campaign to reduce engine idling.
Their experts at WSP, a consultancy firm, have researched the reasons that residents don’t switch off when they should, identified “hotspots” where the problem is worst and suggested some ideas to tackle it.
This includes signs encouraging drivers not to idle and warning of the impact on the environment, which were designed after reviewing the success of previous anti-idling schemes.
Why are we doing this?
It is estimated that 40,000 deaths a year in the UK are linked to air pollution, with engine idling contributing to this.
Idling means leaving a vehicle's engine running while the vehicle is not moving. Transport WSP have brought together research on engine idling across the PPP area and have suggested ways to reduce vehicle engine idling and in turn improve air quality.
The variety of designs for road signage will be going up at known air quality ‘hot spots’, including Twyford Crossroads and Peach Street and Denmark Street in Wokingham Town Centre.
If you have any questions on the project please email ehadvice@westberks.gov.uk
Our thanks to DEFRA for providing a grant towards this valuable work.
 ‘Living roof’ bike shelters to take root in schools
My Journey Wokingham have secured funding for six green-roofed cycle shelters in primary and secondary schools to encourage more pupils to ride.
The shelters will be installed at St Crispin’s, The Holt, Westende Junior and St Paul’s Church of England Junior schools, all in Wokingham, The Piggott Church of England Senior School in Twyford and The Forest School in Winnersh, and .
All are either in our air quality management areas or are designated air quality schools under a scheme funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Each shelter has a green “living” roof and is covered with sedum, a tough plant that can thrive in those conditions. Green roofs provide a safe space for wildlife and can also help improve air quality by filtering and absorbing pollutants like nitrogen dioxide.
 Wokingham Half Marathon advance warning
Later this month the Wokingham Half Marathon will take place, with road closures planned to allow runners to use the roads.
The event will take place on Sunday 26 February between 8am and 2pm. Where possible, and if safe to do so, vehicle movement will be facilitated before 9.45am in Wokingham town centre and 9.00am in other areas, following this all closures will be fully implemented.
For a list and a map of roads affected, please visit the Wokingham Half Marathon website.
 Upcoming roadworks
Barkham
Multi-way lights – Bearwood Road, Barkham
These lights will be in place near the junction of Hayes Road on 10 February, 9.30am to 4pm. This is to relocate an existing column.
Earley
Multi-way lights – Wilderness Road, Earley
These lights will be in place at the junction of Whiteknights Road on 7 February, 9.30am to 4pm. This is to replace a pillar.
2-way lights – Rushey Way, Earley
The lights will be in place between Ryhill Way and Beeston Way on 10 February. This is to allow MBNL to carry out telecoms maintenance.
Spencers Wood
Multi-way lights – Hyde End Road, Spencers Wood
These lights will be in place between Basingstoke Road and Grovelands Avenue on 6 February, 9.30am to 4pm. This is to patch the carriageway.
Wokingham
2-way lights – Finchampstead Road, Wokingham
The lights will be in place at the junction with Carey Road from 6 to 11 February, 7.30pm to 7am. This is to allow MUA Electricity to lay cables to the footway in safety.
Multi-way lights – Barkham Road, Wokingham
These lights will be in place at the junction with Molly Millars Lane from 6 to 8 February. This is to allow SEW to repair a leaking stopcock.
Road Closure – Eastheath Avenue, Wokingham
The closure will be in place between Reeves Way and Molly Millars Lane from 7 to 10 February. This is to allow MBNL to excavate to install a new Telecoms pole.
An alternative route will be via Finchampstead Road and Molly Millars Lane.
2-way lights – London Road, Wokingham
The lights will be in place at the junction with Kerr Gardens on 9 February, 9.30am to 3.30pm. This is to allow Openreach to excavate and replace a pole safely.
Multi-way lights – Finchampstead Road, Wokingham
These lights will be in place at the junction with Tangley Drive on 10 February, 9.30am to 4pm. This is to allow Virgin Media to clear a blockage in the carriageway.
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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