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Moving Around the Borough

Photo: Stewart Turkington Photography

Closures coming up for community festivities

There'll be road closures on Denmark Street in Wokingham when the Lions Club host their annual May Fayre this coming Bank Holiday (Monday 4 May).

The event, which takes place across the town centre and Elms Field, runs from 10am to 5pm with stalls, a funfair, food and drink and loads more entertainment for all ages.

Closures will be in force between 6am and 7pm to allow for setting up and packing down, so expect disruption for most of the day. A diversion will be in place via Broad Street, Shute End, Station Road and Wellington Road.

Looking further ahead, Sonning's popular scarecrow trail returns on the following Bank Holiday weekend, on Sunday 24 and Monday 25 May.

There'll also be open gardens and displays of classic cars. Sonning Lane will be closed both days between High Street and Reading Blue Coat School entrance, with a diversion via the A4 Bath Road and Pound Lane.

Woodley works change over but diversion remains

Work on a new active travel route from Woodley to Reading has moved to its next section, with crews now working under a road closure on Woodlands Road in Woodley between Woodwaye and just before Howth Drive.

However, as before, the diversion remains via Howth Drive, Beechwood Avenue and Lytham Road. This is expected to change on Tuesday 12 May, when the closure progresses to between Howth Drive and Fairwater Drive.

During that next phase, the diversion will be via Fairwater Drive, Nightingale Road, Crockhamwell Road (eastbound) or via Lytham Road, Beechwood Avenue (westbound).

Closures for gas and electricity works start next week

From Monday (20 April), several roads are closing in phases between Barkham and Wokingham for electricity investigations, starting on Blagrove Lane, while part of Lower Wokingham Road near Crowthorne is closing for gas pipe upgrades.

See last week's newsletter for full locations, dates and phasing, diversion routes and contact details for Scottish and Southern Energy Networks (SSEN) and Southern Gas Networks (SGN) if you have any queries.

Don't forget you can check for all disruption on local roads or on the motorways, as well as service updates for local buses (Reading Buses, Thames Valley Buses, Carousel Buses) and disruption on the rail network.

Try the traders at Holme Grange Craft Village

While we're building the South Wokingham Distributor Road, temporary diversions mean there are new ways to get to businesses in the area.

You can now reach Holme Grange Craft Village and its neighbours via Heathlands Road, from Nine Mile Ride, or Easthampstead Road, from Old Wokingham Road.

With free parking on site and The Grange Cafe open seven days a week, it’s easy to pop in for a quick browse or settle in for a relaxed day out with friends.

We know it might take a bit longer to get there, but all the businesses in that area remain open and are well worth visiting.

Follow Holme Grange on Facebook or Instagram for the latest updates and watch this video to find out more about the traders there, who all have their own opening times.

Your route to these businesses will change again in late May when a new link road opens between Waterloo Road and Easthampstead Road, providing easy access from north Wokingham and the town centre.

Reading Buses, who run services in our borough with sister venture Thames Valley Buses, are celebrating their 125th anniversary - find out more and watch a video taking you through more than a century of history in three minutes!

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.

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