THE RESURFACING of pavements across Reading is set to improve the borough as part of a £9m investment for residential roads.

The work is being funded by Reading Borough Council's (RBC) Capital Programme to improve conditions for residents.

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Works have begun this week, fulfilled by RBC's Highways team, and will continue until the end of March 2021.

This will conclude the first phase of improvements, which will be scheduled over the next three years.

Prioritising the pavements most in need of repair means that those which require reconstruction will be the initial focus, with sections of pavements in those roads being repaired.

The first phase of work, which will see £250,000 of improvements to the 17 most damaged pavements in the borough over the next five months, will be carried out on the following roads:

1. Aldeburgh Close (Peppard)

2. Blandford Road (Whitley)

3. Bourne Avenue (Katesgrove)

4. Bridgewater Close (Battle)

5. Deacon Way (Kentwood)

6. Dovedale Close (Thames)

7. Dulverton Gardens (Church)

8. Erleigh Road (Redlands)

9. Highmead Close (Church)

10. Hollydale Close (Church)

11. Lancaster Close (Redlands)

12. School Terrace (Park)

13. The Mount (Redlands)

14. Venetia Close (Peppard)

15. Westcote Road (Minster)

16. Willow Gardens (Church)

17. Woolacombe Drive (Church)

The work is part of a wide reaching three-year programme of resurfacing residential roads which began in September and will recommence in spring due to winter weather conditions.

The projects were driven by the results of a Citizens Panel survey conducted by the Council in November 2018, which revealed that more than 50 per cent of respondents listed ‘better roads and pavements’ as top of their lists for improvements.

A further scheme of major road resurfacing has been completed this week, which has seen resurfacing work on 18 major arterial routes across the Borough.

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Erleigh Road will be the subject of additional resurfacing work in the spring.

Cllr Tony Page, RBC's lead member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said: "We are pleased that pavement reconstruction and resurfacing is an important element of our street improvements for residents.

"Along with the major and residential road resurfacing projects this is all part of a concerted effort to make life easier for residents whether they walk, cycle or drive around town.

"Despite the difficult economic climate, investing in transport routes to help all residents remains a key priority for Reading Borough Council"