 Above: Woodley precinct, which the new walking and cycling route will connect with Palmer Park in Reading
New walking and cycling link coming next year
We're getting ready to build a new walking and cycling link between Woodley town centre and the Reading borough boundary in early 2026.
The project will connect Woodley precinct to Palmer Park via Woodlands Avenue, Church Road, Palmerstone Road and Culver Lane.
We've sought your views extensively, with several rounds of consultation, and made changes to reflect concerns that were raised.
To ensure it's as safe as possible, we're moving to reduce the speed limit on two sections from 30mph to 20mph. We're consulting on this until Monday 20 October , in line with our policies on speed limit changes.
We're expecting to start work in January and finish in October next year. We'll be building in phases, and we'll confirm programme dates and any traffic controls that might be needed to enable the work nearer the time.
You can find out more about the scheme on our website or respond to the 20mph proposal on our Engage Wokingham Borough page.
If you know someone who might benefit from this news and further updates, feel free to share this email and encourage them to sign up to the newsletter.
We first consulted everyone on the Woodley to Reading route in 2021 and amended it based on feedback, including keeping Woodlands Avenue two-way. The scheme will be funded by the Department for Transport and the money is ring-fenced, meaning we can only spend it on this project.
 More works held off to control congestion
We're still working to reduce congestion on the roads in and around Wokingham town by postponing any works that don't have to be done right now.
This is especially important while several major closures remain in place:
To help keep traffic moving, we've delayed Thames Water's planned installation of a new water main on Bearwood Road.
This route has become a key diversion for drivers avoiding delays at the level crossing near Wokingham station, and additional works here would have caused significant disruption.
The Bearwood Road works have been postponed until early 2026 and we'll let you know more in future editions of this newsletter.
 Existing works continue to make progress
Earlier this week, Thames Water also briefly closed Barkham Ride to carry out urgent repairs to a water leak, which are now finished.
Following our site visit, they downgraded the closure to two-way temporary traffic lights to help ease disruption.
They've now also carried out more detailed surveys at the Evendons Lane site and backfilled a previous unsuccessful attempt to excavate it.
We'll know more about what's happening next when they've looked at the results of those surveys and put a repair plan together.
SGN continue to make good progress on their gas main upgrade works at Mole Road in Sindlesham, which were agreed before the sewer collapse.
The road is due to reopen on Friday 24 October as planned.
 Supermarket open as usual with temporary lights
Our partners at Balfour Beatty will be running temporary traffic lights on the Tesco access road off Finchampstead Road next week.
They'll be in place from Monday (6 October) to Friday while a new crossing is installed as part of the upcoming South Wokingham Distributor Road.
The store will be open as usual though there may be some delays, and we apologise for any inconvenience while we carry out these necessary works.
The ongoing works at the junction of Molly Millars Lane are part of the same project, which will create access to planned new homes and amenities.
We co-ordinate all works across the borough, whether they're ours or someone else's, to cause as little disruption as possible. We have powers to delay some works but, for example, we can't refuse a permit if urgent repairs to a utility supply are needed - or if delaying this would cause more serious problems.
 Above: the lion 4 and 4a is a commercial service from Reading to Bracknell, calling at Wokingham and Winnersh
Bus company keeps top title in 'threepeat' victory
Reading Buses, who provide many of the services in Wokingham Borough, have won a major industry accolade for the third year running.
They've once again been presented with the Passenger Transport Award at this year's Chartered Institute for Logistics and Transport (CILT) Awards.
Judges said the company's practices were a great example for others to follow, particularly how they communicate with passengers and other groups.
They saw off competition from larger national and regional organisations including the Rail Delivery Group and Hertfordshire County Council's Intalink bus partnership.
Reading Buses are owned by Reading Borough Council, but run independently and reinvest in their services instead of paying dividends to shareholders.
Their sister company Thames Valley Buses also runs services within the borough.
 Above: the leopard 3 from Reading to Wokingham has been improved thanks to our long-term plan for buses
Working in partnership for better buses
The past 12 months have seen lots of improvements to Reading Buses' services in our area, including some we've helped to make happen.
Earlier this year, we supported the company with improvements to the leopard 3 service from Reading to Wokingham via Shinfield and Arborfield Green.
The changes, including more frequent services and more connections to Wokingham, were funded by the Government through our Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
More recently, an extra late night bus was introduced on the orange 13 from Reading to Woodley on Fridays and Saturdays, again via the BSIP.
Meanwhile, Reading Buses improved the lion4 and 4a service at the start of the year, increasing the frequency and investing in new high-tech, comfortable buses.
On top of that, they've invested in 24 new state-of-the-art electric vehicles, some of which will serve the claret 21 between Lower Earley and Reading later this year.
 Affordable and accessible buses for everyone
Throughout August, we offered discounted bus fares for children and young people (ages five to 18) on all local services in the borough, again through our BSIP.
We're still looking at usage figures to help us plan similar schemes in future.
And right now, for a limited period, you can catch the park and ride bus from Winnersh Triangle, Mereoak and Thames Valley Park for £2.50 return. For Winnersh and Mereoak, this also includes parking.
This offer is possible through Reading Borough Council's own BSIP, which has helped to secure Government funding.
Finally, in December last year, we removed time restrictions from our disabled bus passes, allowing holders to travel free of charge locally at any time.
This was in response to conversations with disabled passengers as part of our ongoing Social Care Future initiative.
Our Bus Service Improvement Plan outlines a range of changes we'd like to make over the long run, in partnership with operators and subject to external funding. It's based on your feedback and feeds into our Local Transport Plan, a broader vision covering all the different ways you can get around.
Help us protect highways and many more services
The Government will soon make a final decision on how much money local councils will receive for the next three years – and we need you to back our calls for protection against serious real-term cuts.
Under the initial proposals, we'd be one of many councils facing significant financial challenges, with an effective loss of real-term funding that would hit local services.
We don't know how we'd make up for these losses, but we'd have to consider all expenditure - including on highways and travel schemes.
We're calling for a minimum basic increase of four per cent every year for all councils, to provide a safety net and help us protect existing services.
We're working with other councils and MPs to put our case to the Government, and need residents' support to help us show the strength of local feeling.
If you support a minimum funding increase to protect vital services in top-tier councils, which are those that provide adults' and children's social care, we're just asking you to confirm this by clicking the button below.
Like most councils, we've been facing serious financial challenges for some time. This is for several reasons - including the rising cost of various types of social care, which you or your loved ones may need one day.
 Upcoming roadworks
We think these works will be the most disruptive, but you can see a list of all upcoming works in your area or browse our interactive map.
Hurst
Multi-way lights - Ward's Cross
Monday 6 to Friday 17 October
There'll be temporary lights between Tape Lane and Whistley Green while Cityfibre carry out fibre optic works. View more on map
Shinfield
Multi-way llghts - Arborfield Road
Monday 6 to Wednesday 8 October, 9.30am to 4pm daily
There'll be temporary lights between Parrot Farm House and Oatlands Road while Openreach lay cabling. View more on map
Sonning
Road closure - Pearson Road
Thursday 9 to Friday 10 October, 9.30am to 3pm daily
The road will be closed with a diversion while Gigaclear cut trees that are interfering with overhead cables. View more on map
Wargrave
Road closure - Wargrave Hill
Thursday 9 to Tuesday 14 October
The road will be closed with a diversion while Cityfibre carry out fibre optic works. View more on map
Wokingham
Road closure - Rose Street
Ongoing until Thursday 9 October at latest
The eastern end of Rose Street, between Cross Street and Wiltshire Road, is now closed while SGN carry out an emergency disconnection. View more on 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 My Journey 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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