A £100,000 project that aims to stop drivers from speeding in east Reading has taken a big step forward.

Reading Borough Council plans to install speed humps, 20mph signs, speed cushions, ‘build out’ kerbs that narrow junctions and traffic islands in the Redlands area, which includes Royal Berkshire Hospital and the University of Reading.

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for transport, said: “It’s quite clear that simply painting 20mph on a road or having a sign displayed does not deliver the necessary compliance.”

He added: “I know that we’ve already had comments from the public.

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“They are all welcoming the fact that we recognise more needs to be done to enforce safety and reduce speeding in this area.”

The project includes plans to install speed ramps on Allcroft Road, speed cushions and built out curbs on Kendrick Road and priority-flow traffic islands on Redlands Road.

There are also plans to install more 20mph signs on 12 roads, including Addington Road, Alexandra Road and Redlands Road.

The council’s Traffic Management Sub-Committee backed the plans at a meeting on Thursday, November 12 and agreed to send them out for consultation.

The council has to consult various organisations and allow an independent road safety audit to be carried out.

After that has been completed, the committee will decide whether to proceed with the project in January 2021.

The council had considered buying speed-activated signs that capture vehicle details, so police can send those drivers warnings, but it decided they would not be cost effective.

In 2016, the council introduced 20mph zones and some traffic calming measures in Redlands, but it says drivers still “willingly exceed the speed limit and regular police enforcement cannot be expected”.

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Councillor David Absolom (Labour) said: “On the whole, it has helped in reducing speeding. Unfortunately there’s always going to be people who won’t abide by the law.

“We are having to look at alternative ways of enhancing the 20mph system.”

According to the council, funding for this £100,000 scheme would come from local Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions.

Developers are required to make CIL payments when they are working on a major development and councils use that money to pay for local infrastructure projects.