Earlier this this year we reported on Wokingham Borough Council’s plans for a Woodley to Reading cycle route using funding from the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund.
The route was planned to connect the centre of Woodley to the outskirts of Reading via Woodlands Avenue, Church Road, Palmerstone Road and Culver Lane to reach Palmer Park and the borough boundary.
The scheme at that time proposed that part of Woodlands Avenue would become one-way for motor vehicles, which generated significant opposition and led to Wokingham Council ditching the plans. We feared that the funding for the scheme would lapse and an opportunity for some quality cycle infrastructure be lost.
However, we are pleased to report that continuity of funding was secured, and Wokingham Council has revised the plans to provide a segregated two-way cycle on Woodlands Avenue without the need for any sections to be made one-way for cars. This has been achieved by narrowing the carriageway to 5m and the proposed cycle lane to 2.3m.
Consultation on the revised scheme closed in August. Compromises have been made to balance competing interests and aspirations and we hope that the scheme can now progress to implementation.
Keith Elliott, RCC Secretary
