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Moving Around the Borough

Walking and cycling scheme to hit next milestone

Despite delays due to issues with underground utilities, which were beyond our control, work on our active travel route from Woodley to Reading is back on track.

We're expecting to shift the closure and diversion points on Woodlands Avenue next Thursday (28 May) to between Howth Drive and Fairwater Drive.

Our contractors are working additional hours, including weekends, to ensure the remaining sections of work stay in line with the original programme.

Once the Woodlands Avenue section is completed, further works will be needed on sections of Church Lane and Culver Lane in Earley from summer to late this year.

We'll keep you posted through this newsletter, and don't forget you've still got time to give your views on new parking restrictions that we're trialling on Woodlands Avenue as part of this scheme.

The finished route will link Woodley precinct with Palmer Park in Reading and will have sections of segregated cycle track, new crossings and more.

This route is funded by the Government and we can't invest the money in anything else. It's part of our plan for better cycling and walking options across the borough, subject to funding and consultation on specific proposals.

Reducing congestion during water works closure

To address concerns about congestion and road safety while Thames Water are working near Barkham, we're removing some traffic-calming measures on the diversion route in the Arborfield area on a temporary trial basis.

We'll soon be closing Eversley Road and Mole Road overnight to remove two "give way" islands - ideally on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 May, but we may postpone to Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 June, depending on contractor availability. 

We'll share the final dates in next week's newsletter, though they should appear on our online roadworks map before then, and we'll monitor the impact of these temporary changes to help guide our next steps.

Traffic calming at Arborfield Cross remains necessary and will be reinstalled at these locations once the congestion issues are resolved. However, we'll review their design and how they work before reinstating them.

Until then, we're reminding motorists to approach traffic calming features at an appropriate speed and be mindful of road conditions.

Thames Water are upgrading water mains to ensure a continued supply to residents and businesses. When works move to their next phase on Barkham Road, we'll review the diversion routes to reduce traffic impacts through Arborfield.

Protecting your journeys from future flood risk

We've invested a further £200,000 in our drainage maintenance budget this year, a total of £400,000, and will repeat this over the next two years.

And we'll be closing three roads next week for drainage maintenance works, which help keep our network resilient against flooding:

• Duffield Road, Woodley (Thu 28 May)
• Reading Road, Woodley (Fri 29 to Sat 30 May, 7pm to 6am overnight)
• Gipsy Lane, Earley (Tue 26 May)

We aren't responsible for every stream, ditch or other channel. Most of these in the borough are on private land and it's the landowner's duty to keep them clear.

However, much of our network depends on roadside ditches and other watercourses being properly maintained to function properly.

We do carry out targeted work at emerging and flood-prone sites, using CCTV to identify where repairs and maintenance are needed, throughout the year.

Next steps in road and footway maintenance

From Tuesday 26 to Thursday 28 May, we're closing Reading Road in Finchampstead during the daytime to patch up the carriageway.

Closures will run from 9.30am to 4pm daily and are in preparation for surface dressing works as part of our annual maintenance programme.

From Monday 1 to Saturday 6 June, we'll be patching damage on Barkham Road in Wokingham between Molly Millars Lane and Woosehill Lane.

This requires an overnight closure and diversion between 7pm and 6am.

Thames Water will be working on nearby Bearwood Road for several more months and we want to improve the condition of this road before they finish.

Level crossings to be shut overnight

Network Rail are closing three level crossings overnight for maintenance:

• Barkham Road, Wokingham (Fri 29 May to Mon 1 Jun, 10pm to 6am)
• Oxford Road, Wokingham (Fri 29 May to Mon 1 Jun, 10pm to 6am)
• Stanlake Lane, Twyford (Sat 30 and Sun 30 May, 10pm to 6pm)

Sonning Lane in Sonning will be closed and diverted on Sunday and Monday (24 and 25 May) for the village's scarecrow trail and open gardens. It's great fun for all ages, so pop on over and enjoy everyone's handiwork!

All aboard for better bus services

We're poised to invest an extra £500,000 a year in the borough's bus and community transport services as we continue supporting their growth.

Our proposals, to be discussed at a meeting of our decision-making executive next Thursday (28 May), include:

• extending the Twyford to Wokingham service to include Coppid Beech, while extending operating hours to cover rail commuters
• a morning and evening express link from Coppid Beech to Twyford station
• a new link between housing at North Wokingham and the town centre
• a new link between Woodley, Winnersh and Wokingham town
• a new link between Lower Earley and Wokingham town

We're also looking to invest in the equivalent of three new vehicles for our community transport service, which supports residents who cannot access local buses.

This would more than double our funding in this area, with most money supporting a "dial a ride" service.

Building on years of excellent passenger growth

These proposals are part of our tendering process for new contracts on routes we support, and support our wider ambitions to promote sustainable travel.

Bids will be invited this summer and awarded in November. The final decision is subject to operators' submissions and affordability in the allocated budget.

In 2025/26, local trips starting in the borough grew by 4 per cent to 2.6 million and we want this to grow to 4.4 million by 2039/40. Over the same period, community transport services have enabled a further 44,000 journeys.

Our proposals were guided by extensive consultation and we'd like to thank more than 1,800 people who took time to shape the future of these essential services.

Some funding for new bus routes, or upgrades to existing ones, comes from the Government via our Bus Service Improvement Plan. Developers also contribute and we're in talks about funding with town and parish councils.

Facing station parking challenge from all angles

We're working with GWR and others, including Twyford Parish Council, to investigate ways of relieving parking pressures at Twyford station.

This includes exploring potential sites for additional parking spaces in the local area, though all have their own challenges.

GWR is pursuing an opportunity for 50 extra bays in the former coalyard, and seeking Government funding to progress this, but there's no other suitable space on site.

We're considering how on-street parking restrictions near the station could be improved to increase space for passengers while still meeting residents’ needs.

Once we have a clearer idea of what's feasible, we expect to share preferred options for initial, informal consultation among station users and residents. 

Sustainable station access is just as important

Our bus service proposals (above) will improve provision at Twyford, and we intend to work with GWR for safer bus passenger and pedestrian access to the forecourt.

While a previous funding bid for a new cycle route from Woodley and Charvil was unsuccessful, we'll continue to investigate how this can built, and GWR is looking at opportunities for better and more secure cycle parking.

Making the station more accessible, however people get there, will benefit residents and the environment as rail is highly sustainable for travelling long distances.

Our recent platform survey found 95 per cent of 1,108 passengers at Twyford were satisfied with their journeys. Most came from the RG9 and RG10 areas, so there's scope to promote shorter local travel by walking, cycling or bus.

Upcoming roadworks

We think these works will be most disruptive, but you can see a list of all upcoming works in your area or browse our interactive map.

Shinfield

Temporary lights - School Green
Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 May

There'll be two-way lights between Arborfield Road and School Green while Openreach replace an access cover.

Twyford

Road closure - A4 New Bath Road
Monday 25 to Friday 29 May, 9.30am to 4pm

The road will be closed between A3032 Old Bath Road and A3032 London Road while we reconstruct a footway.

Road closure - King Street Lane
Monday 25 to Friday 29 May

The road will be closed between A329 Reading Road and Hatch Farm Way (northbound) while Thames Water make a new connection.

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