View in browser

Moving Around the Borough

Above: The Wokingham Fireworks at Cantley Park, courtesy of Reading Drones (readingdrones.co.uk)

Plan your journeys around community events

The Wokingham Fireworks on Saturday (1 November) include a spectacular flaming torchlight procession from Market Place to Cantley Park, starting at 6.15pm. Please note that parking at Cantley is very limited.

If you're coming to Wokingham from further afield, the town is well served by train services and the Lion 4 bus service from both Bracknell and Reading, as well as the Leopard 3 to Reading via Arborfield Green and Shinfield.

Between 2pm and 4.30pm next Sunday (9 November) there'll be a closure on Rose Street, Peach Street and parts of Broad Street and Wiltshire Road in Wokingham for the town's annual Remembrance parade.

Wargrave's parade will take place on High Street on the same morning, between Station Road and Church Street, following a Remembrance service at St Mary's Church between 10.30am and 10.45pm.

The parade and service at the School Green War Memorial in Shinfield will see the parade assemble at 10.15am, with march and service to follow. 

Arborfield will host its usual event at Arborfield Cross roundabout. Parade begins to assemble at 10am outside the Royal British Legion, with march at 10.40am followed by a service. Roads around the roundabout will be closed from 9am to 12noon.

On Armistice Day (Tuesday 11 November), we'll be ordering all roadworks near Market Place in Wokingham to stop while Wokingham Town Council honour those who gave their lives with a two-minute silence.

Christmas is coming (sorry, we know it's still only October!) and there'll be more events to plan your journeys around in the run-up to the festive season, so watch this space or plan ahead using our interactive map.

Market Place paving restored 

Paving slabs in Wokingham's Market Place have been restored.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) carried out emergency repairs in February where cable faults were causing powercuts for businesses.

Temporary slabs and tarmac had been in place to keep the area open while the slabs were sourced and delivered. 

SSEN had the legal right to undertake these works urgently, without forward planning. Teams were also required to make the area safe and usable while the correct replacement slabs were sourced.

The paving in Market Place is bespoke, so the electricity company had to order three different types from overseas to match the existing surface, which is why it took several months.

Meanwhile, we continue to investigate a crack along the carriageway on the A33 Swallowfield bypass.

We're looking into a 1km section of the northbound nearside lane, which remains closed at this time.

Report road safety issues

If you spot an urgent road safety issue, tell us immediately on (0118) 974 6000 (weekday, office hours), 0800 212 111 (out of hours) or 0330 043 3030 for works relating to the South Wokingham Distributor Road project.

We know people sometimes post concerns on social media but we won't see that and won't be able to act.

We're working to adopt a new policy that clarifies how we set speed limits safely across the borough and pick the right limits for the right conditions. Our decisions are based on national guidance, but this policy will ensure we continue working as safely as possible.

Railway artwork now on permanent display

A colourful community artwork celebrating 200 years of Britain's railways has been permanently installed at Wokingham Station's ticket office.

The work was produced by members of the CLASP learning disability group, featuring toy wooden railway pieces painted in different colours and designs. It was officially unveiled at a ceremony earlier this summer.

It was created with help from our adult social care provider Optalis, the Wokingham Learning Disability Partnership Board, South Western Railway and the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership.

These organisations are working to make local rail travel more accessible through measures like an Easy Read station guide.

A photograph of the artwork will also be framed and hung in the waiting room at Earley Station, alongside nature-themed artwork created by pupils from All Saints Primary School in Wokingham.

There'll be rail replacement buses between Bracknell and Reading, including Wokingham, Winnersh, Winnersh Triangle and Earley stations, this Sunday (2 November) and on Sunday 30 November. This is for planned improvement works and you can find out more on the South Western Railway website.

Shelters improve bus service for new residents

We've almost finished installing six new bus shelters along the route of the 600 Mereoak park and ride bus in and around Shinfield.

The shelters were funded by developers, as part of their obligation to provide community infrastructure in areas where they're building homes.

This follows the extension of the 600 route to cover new housing to the north and west of Hyde End Road about a year ago.

New bus stop poles, flags and timetable cases will follow, along with resurfacing and new road markings alongside each one.

Next year, we'll be installing new developer-funded bus shelters along the route of the Leopard 3 bus service in and around Arborfield Green.

After winning a top industry title a short while ago, Reading Buses are now shortlisted for three more at this year's UK Bus Awards, including an individual award for driver Alma Cox! Find out more about bus travel in our borough, including timetables and journey planners.

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.

Road maintenance programme

The final stages of our roads and footways maintenance programme for 2025/26 continue to progress. This week we'll have closures on:

• Old Bath Road, Charvil - Thursday 6 November to Saturday 8 November, from 7pm to 6am
• Milton Road, Wokingham - Monday 3 November to Wednesday 5 November

You can check out our live listing of which roads have been treated this year, and which are still to come, on our website.

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
• 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