Wokingham Borough Connect
 Introducing our new Local Transport Plan consultation
Everyone who travels around Wokingham Borough is invited to share their views on a vision for a healthier, safer and more environmentally friendly transport network.
We are consulting on our revised Local Transport Plan, a “big picture” strategy that sets out how all kinds of provision will be offered in future, and where we should seek funding for improvements.
It aims to create opportunities for people to walk or wheel, cycle or take the bus or train for everyday trips, supporting the Government’s goal of making these the natural choices for shorter journeys and parts of longer ones.
The plan sets out to reduce congestion on the roads for trips where driving is needed, while reducing serious road collisions and making travel safer for everyone.
It aims to increase access to parks, leisure centres, public services and workplaces while reducing harmful air pollution and noise. This supports our aim of improving people’s physical and mental health.
Everyone can read the plan and respond at engage.wokingham.gov.uk until Friday 23 February.
Feedback from this consultation will be considered while making final changes and the plan could be adopted in late summer 2024.
 Aims, goals and actions
The draft plan has three broad aims: creating healthy and safe places, reducing the environmental impact of transport and developing the economy.
Specific goals include:
- reducing serious and fatal road collisions
- enabling at least half of trips in urban areas to be active or on public transport by 2030
- improving air quality in Wokingham town centre and Twyford as soon as possible
- reducing through traffic and changing the speed limit in Wokingham town centre
- improving travel options in rural areas
- supporting more frequent bus and rail services, and improving walking and cycling links, between key destinations
- reducing the dominance of vehicles in town centres and residential areas
Possible actions, subject to consultation and external funding, include:
- continuing planned improvements to cycling and walking infrastructure and bus services
- developing a strategy for installing electric vehicle chargepoints
- trialling “school street” schemes with temporary traffic restrictions at peak times
- expanding educational measures like cycle training to help everyone, including young people, to travel more safely and confidently
- considering 20mph speed limits and increasing space for pedestrians and businesses in built-up areas, plus speed limit changes on some major roads
- developing a freight strategy to reduce the impact of heavy goods vehicles
- considering electric scooter hire schemes, which is the only way these can legally be ridden on public highways, or bike hire schemes
- targeted measures to tackle air quality issues in specific areas
 Listening to your hopes and concerns
We first consulted in early 2020 but events since then, including the pandemic and cost of living crisis, have hugely affected how people work, travel and use public services.
Because of this, further engagement was carried out in spring 2023 to ensure the council still understood everyone's views.
One key finding was that most people strongly agree with reducing vehicle emissions and air pollution. People highly agreed with making longer car journeys if this helped make walking and cycling to school safer for children.
The top three concerns were pedestrian safety, air quality and traffic congestion, while specific issues included children's safety, a lack of cycling infrastructure and narrow travel options.
All this was considered when drafting the Local Transport Plan and we will continue listening as it moves to the next stages.
 Incredible response to Storm Henk
Our emergency response teams and partners have been busy this week cleaning up the damage caused by Storm Henk.
In the last two days, they’ve attended the following emergencies:
- 56 trees down across roads and footways, in one case the tree meant residents couldn’t get into or out of their house
- 34 requests for tree inspections due to trees falling down into gardens and on public open spaces and 9 emergency works issued
- Two cases of trees leaning against overhead cables (one electric and one telecomms)
- Two urgent flooding areas
- One lampost knocked down during the storm
Mill lane Sindlesham was and will remain closed due to river swelling and Sandford lane Woodley was and will remain closed due to flooding.
With more rain still to come, make sure you take extra care when travelling.
 Take caution when driving through floods and fords
The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) have published advice to help keep people safe while out and about during the forecast heavy rain:
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Do not drive through flood water – just 30cm of moving flood water is enough to make your car float and potentially move you into deeper water where you could become stranded.
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Do not move or ignore road closures signs or attempt to drive through deep water or fords after periods of heavy rain – the signs are there for your safety, so please do not ignore them.
- Remember to give road users including cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians more room than usual – they are more likely to be blown around by side winds, so keep your speed down and always keep a safe distance.
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Give yourself more time to react while driving – reduced visibility and wet roads will increase your stopping distance.
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Avoid walking near rivers or lakes if water levels are high and, if your journey does take you near water, watch your step and stay as far from the water’s edge as you can – heavy rain, riverbanks can become unstable.
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Look out for trip or slip hazards – pay attention to your footing and avoid walking or running next to water if levels are high.
There have been a number of incidents where vehicles have been washed downstream at Land's End Ford in Charvil. Without the swift intervention of emergency services, these could have resulted in tragedy.
All fords, including Land's End Ford, can become impassable very quickly following torrential rain, but some motorists are ignoring warning signs and attempt to cross when conditions aren't suitable.
The approaches to Land's End Ford from both the Charvil end and the Whistley Green end can often be submerged in water, sometimes giving the driver a false sense that they can continue, however, the water depth of the ford can increase significantly. Drivers should always exercise caution in this area and if there is any doubt then please turn around and use an alternative route.
In early 2023 an elderly couple were rescued by RBFRS after their car was swept down river, and more recently a mother and her children had to swim from their car. These incidents could easily have resulted in loss of life.
 Upcoming roadworks
Finchampstead
Multi-way lights – Nine Mile Ride Finchampstead
These lights will be in place between Manor Park Drive and Warren Lane on 11 to 17 January, 8am to 6pm to allow CityFibre to carry out fibre optic cable installation.
https://one.network/?GB136270354
Grazeley
Road Closure – Bloomfield Hatch Lane Grazeley
This closure will be in place between Lambwood Hill and Cross Lane on 10 to 12 January, to allow Thames Water to carry out water mains maintenance.
https://one.network/?GB135618145
Hurst
Road Closure – Tape Lane Hurst
This closure will be in place between School Road and Wokingham Road on 8 to 19 January, 9am to 5pm to allow Gigaclear to carry out telecoms maintenance.
https://one.network/?GB135862643
Road Closure – Nelsons Lane Hurst
This closure will be in place between Islandstone Lane and Pound Lane on 9 to 12 January, to allow Thames Water to carry out water mains installation.
https://one.network/?GB136788041
Spencers Wood
Multi-way lights – Basingstoke Road Spencers Wood
These lights will be in place at the junction with The Square on 11 to 15 January, 8am to 5pm to allow BT to carry out telecoms installation.
https://one.network/?GB136240590
Wargrave
Multi-way lights – High Street Wargrave
These lights will be in place between Station Road and School Lane on 14 January, 8am to 6pm to allow Thames Water to carry out boundary box repair in the footway.
https://one.network/?GB136936154
Wokingham
Road Closure – Rances Lane Wokingham
This closure will be in place between London Road and Chetwoode Close on 9 to 12 January, 8am to 6pm to allow Hutchison 3G Ltd to carry out a telecoms pole installation.
https://one.network/?GB136784277
Multi-way lights – Easthampstead Road Wokingham
These lights will be in place at the junction of Murdoch Road on 9 to 10 January, 9.30am to 3.30pm to allow SEW to carry out manhole cover replacement.
https://one.network/?GB136831205
Woodley
Road Closure – Warren Road Woodley
This closure will be in place between Wildwood Close and Old Bath Road on 6 to 21 January, 10pm to 6am to allow Network Rail to carry out bridge maintenance.
https://one.network/?GB136327491
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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