 Driver fined for crossing bridge in lorry
A lorry driver has been ordered to pay £164 after being caught breaching the weight limit at Sonning Bridge.
They were spotted using the historic crossing, which has a maximum restriction of 7.5 tonnes, by a member of the public on 1 November last year.
The witness took a short video and shared it with the Public Protection Partnership, our joint enforcement venture with West Berkshire and Bracknell Forest councils.
A traffic enforcement officer then checked official records which showed the vehicle weighed 18 tonnes.
Earlier this month, a magistrate at Reading fined the driver £53 and ordered a further £90 in prosecution costs and a £21 victim surcharge.
Help us to keep you safe
The PPP's officers work with Thames Valley Police to enforce weight limits and we've previously reported on cases they've prosecuted through routine inspections.
However, they'll also act on reports from members of the public, so please get in touch and share any evidence you may have.
Weight limits exist either to prevent noise, pollution and other environmental nuisances, or to protect buildings and structures from damage.
It is a criminal offence to breach them and can pose a danger to other road users, so we'll always take action where we can prove it.
If you need to pass a horse while out on the roads, leave at least 2m (6.5ft) of clearance, slow to no more than 10mph and avoid any sudden noises. Be ready to stop, and follow any signals from the rider, as horses are easily startled and could hurt you or someone else if they lash out or run off.
 Heads up as Bike Bonanza returns for summer
There's less than a month to go until the Summer Bike Bonanza at Coronation Hall in Headley Road, Woodley.
Run by our My Journey Wokingham and Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) teams, the event on Thursday, 21 August offers cycling-related fun for all the family.
There'll be a balance bike track for under-5s, who can bring their own bike or borrow one for the day, as well as a bike limbo game.
My Journey will be running a spinning wheel with prizes while offering travel advice and rides on their smoothie bike.
Dr Bike will be giving free bicycle checks (advance booking required) and the HAF team will also be offering a programme of entertainment.
Reading Buses has opened a new engineering hub at its depot, which will help it to maintain its fleet even more efficiently and will soon include additional equipment to support its new electric buses.
 Contract agreed to expand electric vehicle support
More than 460 electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints will be installed across the borough to help residents and businesses embrace the technology.
We're among the first councils to award a contract to a supplier under the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund.
We'll work with Believ to set up a comprehensive and inclusive chargepoint network by 2030, which will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.
The Department for Transport will contribute £264,000 through LEVI funding while Believ will invest £2.83 million and will install, operate and maintain the network.
Most chargepoints will be at the kerbside for long-stay or overnight use, with some rapid or ultra-rapid units in public car parks for faster top-ups.
They should all be installed within the second year of the contract, mostly in places where households would find it difficult to set up a charger.
In 2023, we installed 38 EV chargepoints at 18 locations, funded through DfT’s On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) with contributions by the supplier. We've since agreed an EV Charging Strategy to fill any gaps left by the private market, creating a fair and accessible network.
 Looking ahead and preparing for rainier weather
Winter might seem a long way off, but we're preparing for it by carrying out essential surveys and maintenance on our drainage system.
Between March and May this year, we carried out targeted CCTV work at locations across the borough that are prone to flooding, including:
- Star Lane level crossing, Wokingham
- Collins Drive, Earley
- Western Avenue, Woodley
- Barkham Ride, Finchampstead
- Finchampstead Road, between Wokingham and Finchampstead
We're now compiling a list of repairs and maintenance that's needed. As long as there's funding, we'll do similar surveys at other locations in years to come.
We've also recently carried out improvements or repairs at the following locations:
- Wychwood Crescent, Earley
- Lower Earley Way
- Mill Lane / Gypsy Lane junction, Lower Earley (nearly completed)
- Jubilee Road, Finchampstead (awaiting completed)
- Wilderness Road near Pepper Lane, Earley (in progress)
 Ensuring landowners play their part
We aren't responsible for every stream, ditch or other channel - many are on private land and it's the owner's duty to keep them clear and prevent flooding.
If you aren't sure whether you're responsible for a water course, or want info on maintaining it, you can email our team or read more online.
From Monday this week (28 July) until Friday 29 August, there'll be minor alterations to South Western Railway's services for its summer timetable, so please plan your journey to check your usual departure hasn't changed.
 Roadworks - Twyford closure and more
If you're travelling to Twyford, there'll be a closure in the village centre from next Monday (4 August) until Friday 15 August.
Thames Water is closing Church Street between the main crossroads and the junction with Station Road, with a diversion in place, for sewer repairs.
For more details including the diversion route, see our interactive map.
We're also pressing ahead with maintenance works at dozens of locations (see full list with dates) as part of our annual programme.
Here are some more works that may be of interest next week:
Earley
Multi-way lights - Wilderness Road
Monday 4 to Friday 8 August, 9.30am to 4pm
BT will have lights at the junction with Whiteknights Road (see map) while its teams carry out fibre optic works.
Hurst
Road closure - Sandford Lane
Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 August
We're closing the road with a diversion in place (see map) between Mohawk Way and Davis Street for bridge maintenance.
Sindlesham
Road closure - Mill Lane
Monday 4 to Sunday 10 August, 9.30am to 4pm daily
We're closing the road with a diversion in place (see map) between Mole Road and Lower Earley Way for bridge maintenance.
Wokingham
Multi-way lights - Easthampstead Road
Monday 5 to Tuesday 12 August
We'll have multi-way lights at the junction with Heathlands Road (see maps for 5 and 6 August and 7 to 12 August) for water connection works.
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 resurfacing 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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