Wokingham Borough Connect
 Free bus travel is on the cards
We’re planning to offer free bus travel on the six Saturdays leading up to Christmas, and free bus travel and town centre parking for those attending two Sunday Christmas events in Wokingham and Woodley, paid for from national grant funding.
A decision will be made tomorrow whether free bus travel can be offered for all local routes every Saturday from 18 November until 23 December for services starting in the borough, as well as extra free travel for those travelling to and from the Wokingham Winter Carnival and Woodley Christmas Extravaganza.
Free parking has already been agreed for visitors to Wokingham and Woodley town centres for their festive events to help support local businesses and stallholders. Wokingham town centre car parks will be free on 26 November and Woodley town centre car parks on 3 December.
Parking will be free from 10pm on the Saturday evening prior to the event and you will not need to enter your registration number or purchase a ticket. Please note the ticket machines and RingGo will not be changed on these dates and if you do purchase a ticket, regrettably refunds will not be available. Notices will be on display in the car parks.
 New 30mph speed limit coming to Shinfield
Speed limits will be reduced from 40mph to 30mph in parts of Shinfield after residents requested the change due to safety concerns.
The speed limits will be reduced on Church Lane, Basingstoke Road, Hyde End Lane, Hyde End Road, Tabby Drive and Beech Hill Road and will come into effect early next year.
The change has been on the cards since 2019, but at the time was not supported by the police due to a lack of physical measures to encourage drivers to reduce their speeds, however the developers have since agreed to introduce traffic calming measures.
How are decisions on speed limits made?
Anybody can make a request for a change to speed limit by making an application for a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) online. This will then be reviewed by our highways team, local councillors and the police, and will only go out for wider consultation if they are supportive.
If all are in agreement, this will then go out for public consultation and people will have 21 days to register their support, objections or further comments. This will then be reviewed by senior management and any objections will be considered by the executive member who will decide whether to go ahead, make changes or cancel the TRO.
If it is approved, it’s legally signed and sealed and will be advertised in local papers and a notice put up on the street.
 Cracking down on e-scooters
Thames Valley Police have been carrying out an e-scooter operation in Woodley precinct, following numerous complaints over concerns for safety.
The e-scooters are being driven dangerously at speed and weaving in and out of pedestrians, resulting in frequent near misses. The police say it is only a matter of time before someone will get seriously injured.
The Woodley Neighbourhood team have been looking to initially educate the public on their legality, obtain rider details and provide them with formal warning paperwork. If they continue to ride their e-scooter, police will seize the e-scooter under section 165 of the Road Traffic Act.
Are e-scooters legal?
E-scooters are classified as a motor vehicle, meaning it is illegal to use them on public roads, highways and pavements unless they are taxed and insured with the rider holding a valid licence, with insurance currently being unavailable for e-scooters.
There are currently trial rental schemes running in other areas of the country but at present, there are no trials within Wokingham borough.
You can legally purchase an e-scooter and use on private land with the permission of the landowner.
Penalties and offences
If you don't have a licence, or the correct licence, or are riding without insurance you could face a Fixed Penalty notice:
- with a £300 fine and six penalty points on your licence for having no insurance
- up to £100 fine and three to six penalty points for riding without the correct licence
You could also be committing an offence if you're caught:
- riding on a pavement; Fixed Penalty Notice and possible £50 fine
- using a mobile phone or other handheld mobile device while riding; £200 and six penalty points
- riding through red lights; Fixed Penalty Notice, £100 fine and possible penalty points
- drink driving: the same as if you were driving a car, you could face court imposed fines, a driving ban and possible imprisonment
 New parking permit system gives more control and flexibility
In September our new parking permit system went live, giving you more control and flexibility and reduced waiting times for renewals and applications.
If you currently have a permit that hasn’t reached its expiry date, then it is still valid and you can continue to use this permit until it is due to expire.
You will then need to apply for a new permit through the new system. You won't receive a physical permit as all permit information will be stored online with parking inspectors having access to all valid permit information electronically.
What are the main changes
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How you request a permit - you will need to create an account on the new system first
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What information is needed – some documents need to be uploaded
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How you manage your permit – if you have more than one car registered
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You will not receive a physical permit as all permit information will be stored online with parking inspectors having access to approved permits electronically
Multiple vehicles
If you have more than one car registered you must ensure that the vehicle you're using on the day has been ticked as the primary vehicle.
The parking inspector only sees the primary vehicle information, which means if the wrong car is listed as the primary vehicle for the day you could receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). If you only have one car registered, then you don’t need to do anything.
If you have any questions please email parking.services@wokingham.gov.uk.
 Be Bright, Be Seen
We need to be visible to keep us safe and to let other road users know that we are there.
Being seen is very important for our safety. Many serious accidents happen because drivers do not see other road users until it is too late. Twice as many collisions happen with pedestrians in November after the clock go back, compared to October.
Always wear or carry something bright that will help us to be seen more easily during the day, and at night.
By day
During the day always wear clothes with bright colours. Fluorescent material (high vis) is even better as it helps us to really stand out and be seen during the day. This material also helps us to be seen in the evening before it is dark.
By night
Fluorescent material (high-vis) does not work in the dark! We need to wear something reflective so we can be seen when car headlights are shining towards us. Even a small patch of reflective material can help drivers to see us from very far away.
Find out more at My Journey Wokingham.
 Upcoming roadworks
Earley
Multi-way lights – Meldreth Way Earley
These lights will be in place at the junction of Lower Earley Way on 16 November, 9.30am to 3.30pm for illuminated bollard replacement.
Multi-way lights – Meldreth Way Earley
These lights will be in place at the junction of Cutbush Lane on 16 November, 9.30am to 3.30pm to allow replacement of two bollards shells.
https://one.network/?GB136104924
2-way lights – Pitts Lane Earley
These lights will be in place north of the junction with Hilltop Road on 17 to 21 November, 9.30am to 4pm to allow BT to carry out remedial work.
Finchampstead
2-way lights – Reading Road Finchampstead
These lights will be in place between The Rise and New Mill Road on 16 to 22 November, 8am to 5pm to allow SSEN to carry out works.
Road Closure – Jubilee Road Finchampstead
This closure will be in place between Church Lane and Wick Hill Lane on 14 November, 9.30am to 4.30pm to allow BT to carry out replacement of damaged apparatus in the verge.
Hurst
Multi-way lights – Lodge Road Hurst
These lights will be in place at the junction of Whistley Mill Lane and Wokingham Road on 13 to 14 November, 9.30am to 4pm to allow a dropped crossing installation to be carried out.
Knowl Hill
2-way lights – Bath Road Knowl Hill
These lights will be in place near the Bird in Hand Pub on 13 to 21 November, 8am to 5pm to allow ESP Electricity Ltd to carry out excavation works for mains renewal.
Shinfield
Multi-way lights – Church Lane Shinfield
These lights will be in place near St Mary’s Church Hall on 16 to 23 November, 8am to 6pm to allow Gigaclear to carry out fibre optic cable installation works.
https://one.network/?GB135810669
Spencers Wood
Multi-way lights – Hyde End Road Spencers Wood
These lights will be in place between Basingstoke Road and Spenwood Close on 18 to 22 November, 8am to 6pm to allow Gigaclear to carry out telecoms excavation work.
Three Mile Cross
2-way lights – Church Lane Three Mile Cross
These lights will be in place between Basingstoke Road and Hayes Drive on 18 to 22 November, 8am to 6pm to allow Gigaclear to carry out excavation works.
Wokingham
Multi-way lights – Woosehill, Wokingham
These lights will be in place between Northway and Old Woosehill Lane on 13 November, 9.30am to 3.30pm to replace two bollards.
Multi-way lights – Woosehill, Wokingham
These lights will be in place at the junction of Ruskin Way and Hampshire Way on 13 November, 9.30am to 3.30pm to allow lense replacement to be carried out.
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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