Residents will get the opportunity to have their say on revised plans to develop a controversial new cycleway, Wokingham Borough has announced.  

A survey conducted by the council earlier this year received mixed views from residents regarding the new cycle route between Reading and Woodley, with many respondents slamming parts of the scheme.  

The council is working on a revised proposal to take back to residents for their views later this year.  

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The executive member for highways, Councillor Pauline Jorgensen, said: “In 2021, residents told us they want to see segregated cycleways because these would make them feel safer to travel around the area on their bikes, with buggies, wheelchairs and on foot. 

“We need to find ways to make it easier to cycle, walk and wheel around our communities – not only is it better for our health, but it reduces congestion and is better for the environment.” 

The previous proposal included a two-way stepped cycle track along Woodlands Avenue, Church Road and Culver Lane, a speed limit reduction to 20mph along Woodlands Avenue, Palmerstone Road and Anderson Avenue and a one-way system for motor vehicles between Howth Drive and Lytham Road. 

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MP for Reading East, Matt Rodda, said: “‘I support efforts to make it easier to walk and cycle and I believe that encouraging walking and cycling can help protect the environment and enable more people to stay active and healthy. 

“However, I am very concerned about some aspects of the proposed scheme, including the proposed one-way system on Woodlands Avenue, and new junctions at the end of Culver Lane, where there is a difficult bottle neck near the bridges under the railway and motorway.” 

The council has been awarded £2.95 million for the plan. This is in addition to the £575,000 it received in 2021 as part of its Active Travel Fund (ATF), a government scheme designed to support the creation of long-term walking and cycling projects. 

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“This is great news for Wokingham borough. The Department for Transport clearly likes what we are trying to do,” said Cllr Jorgensen. 

“We want to give our residents choices and people aren’t going to get out of their cars until we give them a safe space to walk and cycle.”