Wokingham Borough Connect
 Image: St Helens Borough Council
Celebrate landmark VE Day with a street party
Are you thinking of hosting a community get-together, neighbourhood tea party or special event for VE Day?
We’re making it easier for the borough to celebrate the 80th anniversary by dropping the usual fee for road closures for events held from 3 to 5 May.
There are two main options for hosting an event:
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A street meet – This doesn't need a road closure. These are perfect for events private property, like a driveway or front garden, or shared spaces like a cul-de-sac or grass verge. Just keep footways clear for pedestrians
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Road closure – If you’d prefer to close the road to traffic to create a larger, safer space, you’ll need to apply for a formal road closure order, which would normally cost £100
If you want to close the road, you’ll also need to get support from your neighbours, arrange public liability insurance and provide your own road closure signage.
To apply, complete our form by 5pm tomorrow (Friday 18 April). We’ll be happy to guide you through the process and make it a day to remember.
If you're planning to travel over the Easter weekend, make sure you're ready - check out our links to some useful advice in last week's newsletter.
 An emergency area for vehicles in difficulty on the motorway (image: National Highways)
Safety area upgrades completed on M4
New emergency areas for drivers on the M4 in and around Wokingham Borough are now open for use.
National Highways have installed more than 150 refuge bays across its network as part of a £900 million safety package for existing smart motorways.
Twelve new signs have also been put up between Junction 10 at Winnersh and Junction 12 at Theale that say how far it is until the next safe place to stop.
Smart motorways ease traffic flow by monitoring it and sending live updates to digital signs, with some also using the hard shoulder as an additional lane.
National Highways say that, according to their figures, smart motorways remain their safest roads.
Once Balfour Beatty finish building the South Wokingham Distributor Road, developers will be completing three new nature parks alongside it. These will serve the new housing that's coming to this area - find out more in our latest South Wokingham newsletter and sign up for updates.
 Lighting the way for gas supply improvements
There'll be rolling temporary traffic lights on Old Bath Road in Charvil from next Saturday (26 April) until Friday, 4 July.
This is to allow SGN to carry out essential gas mains replacement works between Pipistrelle Way and Edward Road, and will allow works to progress safely with the least disruption possible.
SGN is replacing outdated metal gas pipes across its network with flexible and more durable yellow plastic ones, which are expected to last 80 years. View more details here and here on our interactive map.
Meanwhile, Colemansmoor Road in Woodley is now fully closed between Loddon Bridge Road and Rivermead Road until 23 June.
This is also for SGN's mains replacement works, with a diversion in place. For more information, contact SGN at 0800 912 1700 or send them an email.
We make every effort to minimise disruption on our roads. Our streetworks team coordinate road space applications across the borough, managing everything from utility and highway works to filming and events.
 Running is a breeze with fun new training group
We're supporting a new free nine-week programme to help people get into running, both for exercise and as a way of travelling around.
The My Way to 5K scheme is run from Arborfield Green Leisure Centre by Places Leisure, with support from Beat the Street and our My Journey Wokingham team.
Groups run from Wednesday 30 April (9.30am to 10.15am) or Thursday 1 May (6pm to 6.45pm) and finally take part in a 5km Parkrun that's suitable for all abilities.
As part of it you’ll also get:
- Tailored training plans
- Two solo runs a week
- Comprehensive handbook with all the information you need
- Progress tracker
You don't need to be a member to join, but you do need to sign up in advance.
 Upcoming roadworks
Arborfield
Traffic lights – Eversley Road
24 to 28 April, 9.30am to 4pm
Nexfibre will be using 2-way lights between School Road and Harts Close for new customer connections. View on our interactive map
Earley
Traffic lights – Elm Road
23 to 25 April, 9.30am to 4pm
Cityfibre will be using multi-way lights at the junction with Langdale Gardens for chamber installation works. View on our interactive map
Traffic lights – Gipsy Lane
24 to 28 April, 9.30am to 2.30pm
BT will be using multi-way lights at the junction with Meadow Road for remedial works. View on our interactive map
Finchampstead
Traffic lights – Wellingtonia Avenue
24th to 30th April
SSE will be using 2-way lights near the junction with Wokingham Road for a customer installation. View on our interactive map
Wargrave
Road closure – Blakes Lane
22nd to 24th April
Thames Water will be closing the road at the junction with Bear Lane for boundary box works. View on our interactive map
Wokingham
Traffic lights – Wellington Road
22 to 24 April, 9.30am to 4pm
Virgin Media will be installing a fibre optic cabinet using 2-way lights between Albert Road and Park Road. View on our interactive map
Road closure – Barkham Road
23 to 24 April, 7.30pm to 6am
South East Water will be closing the road between Tanhouse Lane and Bucks Copse for reinstatement works. View on our interactive 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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