AN ESSENTIAL road used every day by Woodley commuters will be closed for a month while maintenance is carried out by an electric company.

Loddon Bridge Road will be cut off at its junction with Coppice Road and Wokingham Road for the whole of April, as Scottish and Southern Electric (SSE) install circuit power ducts.

Drivers travelling to work or dropping children off at school will likely face bumper-to-bumper traffic and diversions while the key route is out of use between April 3 and May 1.

Residential and business access will be permitted throughout the renovations and a public meeting is to be held tomorrow, March 13, between 5pm and 7pm at the Oakwood Centre in Headley Road, to discuss the changes.

Kevin Kitchen and Colin Gee apologised to those who were due to affected by the works in a letter this week, explaining: "We apologise for any disruption and appreciate your patience while we carry out the works.

"This will require redirection of traffic with a diversion route in place for the duration of the works.

"Residential access to home and businesses and pedestrian access under Loddon Bridge will be maintained.

"If you have any concerns related to the above works or experience any issues whilst works are ongoing, please do get in touch directly on 07767 850713.

"We will make every effort to limit noise from the operations."