Wokingham Borough Connect
 Cantley parking charges removed from budget
We’ve listened to your concerns about proposed car parking charges at Cantley Park in Wokingham, so we won’t be introducing them in next week’s budget.
The income we make from hiring our facilities at Cantley doesn’t cover the costs of running and improving it, so the idea was put forward to ensure it stays viable.
But after hearing your views, we’re going to work with the park’s users to look for a solution instead.
We don’t want to limit people’s opportunities for sports and leisure, but we have to generate an income to ensure future generations can enjoy all Cantley offers.
For example, the price of hiring grass football pitches at the site covers less than a third of the true cost of maintaining them.
However, as with the many financial challenges that we and other councils are facing, we want to fully engage with people to find the best way forward.
 Initial works continue for new road build
Our partners at Balfour Beatty have been clearing trees and hedges to create site entrances as they prepare to complete the South Wokingham Distributor Road.
They're still carrying out enabling works, with further work starting near Tesco (site shown above) on Finchampstead Road this weekend.
This will make way for a new access road serving both Tesco and the new distributor road, with the old access road to be pedestrianised and landscaped.
There'll be temporary traffic lights in this area at times next week, but Tesco will remain open with access to the car park at all times.
We'll also be working at the junction of Finchampstead Road and Molly Millars Lane, where we'll be making improvements for all road users.
As part of our landscaping strategy for this scheme, we'll be planting more new trees and hedges than existed before the road was built.
More information in the next few weeks
These works aren't expected to cause significant disruption until the summer, and maps and diagrams of the finished route will be available soon.
Updates will appear here, but you can subscribe to our South Wokingham community newsletter for the latest and most detailed news.
This year's Wokingham Bikeathon, which our My Journey Wokingham active travel team support, will take place on Sunday, 22 June. We'll feature a spotlight on it soon. Registration opens on Monday, 10 March, so save the date!
 Bus links improving in north of borough
New bus routes will soon be launched to improve connections between the Twyford area and Reading, Maidenhead and beyond.
From Sunday 23 February, Carousel Buses' 127 service will operate up to every hour on weekdays between Maidenhead, Knowl Hill, Twyford and Reading.
This will reinstate weekday links lost years ago, offering a regular service along the A4 corridor and direct connections to Maidenhead's hospital and railway station.
The 127 will be coordinated with the 850 service from Reading to High Wycombe via Henley and Marlow, which calls at Sonning, Charvil, Twyford and Wargrave.
The 850, also run by Carousel, runs up to three times an hour on weekdays between Twyford and Reading, while the evening and Sunday services will soon run up to every 30 minutes from 23 February.
We're supporting the evening and Sunday improvements to the 850, as are our counterparts at Buckinghamshire Council and Oxfordshire County Council.
 A better outlook for buses - but it's still 'use it or lose it'
We're pleased to announce these changes, which will hugely improve bus links in towns and villages to the north of the borough.
Services continue to recover after a huge drop in passenger numbers after the pandemic, and we're doing all we can to support that.
We're also tendering a contract for more frequent services between Wokingham and Arborfield on route 3, currently run commercially by Reading Buses (above).
The bus operators are also doing their part, with Reading Buses recently announcing improvements to its Lion 4/4A commercial service.
Recovery is only possible with your help - so please consider whether you could take the bus instead of driving.
 Display screens return after bus shelter upgrades
We've reinstalled electronic departure boards at seven bus shelters across the borough that were recently upgraded.
The displays were temporarily removed while the shelters, which were old and in poor condition, were replaced by modern, more environmentally friendly ones.
A total of 20 bus shelters were improved and some will benefit from measures like a "green" planted roof, a solar roof or an electronic advertising screen.
They're managed by an outside company, which saves us money on maintenance and installation and lets us receive a share of income from any advertising.
The departure boards have been returned to:
- Loddon Bridge / The George, Earley
- Drome Path, Winnersh
- Winnersh Post Office
- Winnersh Crossroads (opposite Sainsbury's)
- Wokingham Broad Street (opposite former Post Office)
- Wokingham Broad Street (next to former Post Office)
- Wokingham Broad Street (opposite Broad Street Tavern)
Find out more about travelling by bus in Wokingham Borough.
 Upcoming roadworks
Wokingham
Multi-way lights - Finchampstead Road
BT will install multi-way lights between Sandhurst Road and Hart Dyke Close to clear blockages from Tuesday 18 to Friday 21 February, between 9.30 am and 4pm.
View more on our live map
Charvil
Road Closure - Park Lane
Network Rail will close Park Lane between Waingels Road and Charvil Piggott School while removing vegetation and repairing brickwork. This will be done overnight (10pm to 6am) from Monday 17 to Thursday 20 February.
View more on our live map
Earley
Multi-way lights - Wilderness Road
We'll be installing multi-way lights at the junction of Pepper Lane and carrying out drainage repairs from Monday 17 to Friday 21 February, between 9.30am and 3pm.
View more on our live map
2-way lights - Meldreth Way
SSE will install 2-way lights between Fordham Way and Doddington Close while carrying out work from Monday 17 to Friday 28 February.
View more on our live map
Farley Hill
Road Closure – Bunglers Hill
We'll be carrying out highway maintenance works with a closure between Priest Hill and Castle Road on Friday 21 February, between 8am and 4pm.
View more on our live map
Finchampstead
2-way lights - Nine Mile Ride
SSE will install 2-way lights between California Crossroads and Gorse Ride South, while providing a new customer connection between Monday 17 and Sunday 23 February.
View more on our live map
2-way lights - A327 Reading Road
BT is currently operating 2-way lights near the New Mill Road and Park Lane junction. These urgent works are to access an underground structure and restore customer service, and should finish on Tuesday 18 February.
View more on our live map
Remenham
Road Closure - Wargrave Road
BT will close the road between the A4130 (White Hill) and Kentons Lane while replacing a telegraph pole from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Wednesday 19 February.
View more on our live map
Wargrave
Road Closure - School Lane
Thames Water will require a closure between Dark Lane and Autumn Walk from Tuesday 18 February to Thursday 20 February for fire hydrant works.
View more on our live map
Winnersh
Multi-way Lights - Robin Hood Lane
Thames Water will install multi-way lights at the junction of Garth Close to carry out valve repair from Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 February.
View more on our live map
Woodley
Multi-way lights - Butts Hill Road
Cityfibre will install multi-way lights at the junction of Ravensbourne Drive to carry out reinstatement works from Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 February.
View more on our live map
Multi-way lights - Duffield Road
BT will install multi-way lights at the junction of Sandford Road to clear blockages from Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 February.
View more on our live map
Keeping up to date
- For planned and emergency roadworks, follow us on Facebook
- To find out about roadworks near you, visit our interactive map
- For active and sustainable travel, visit MyJourney Wokingham
- Visit our major new roads page for plans and updates
- Find out more about re-surfacing and repairs including potholes
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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.
- Find out more about parking and permits including car park locations and costs, resident permits, park and ride services and appealing a parking fine
- Our transport and travel page includes applying for a senior citizen's or disabled person's bus and train pass, as well as public transport information
- The blue parking badges page has information on applying for, using, replacing and returning your blue badge
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