Plans to create major new segregated cycle lanes in south and east Reading will be voted on next week.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) is set to choose Shinfield Road as the scheme to go forward with, following a public consultation which saw it gain more support than three other proposals.

The cycle lanes, if approved, would run along both sides of Shinfield Road, from Christchurch Green to Shinfield Rise,  going in each direction.

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If approved, the scheme will be funded with the £1,179,000 awarded to RBC by the Government’s Active Travel fund.

Running alongside the University of Reading’s Whiteknights campus, the route will connect the University to residential areas as well as existing cycle routes, schools, parks, shops and places of worship.

Reading Chronicle: PICTURED: Cycle lane plansPICTURED: Cycle lane plans

Reading Chronicle: PICTURED: Cycle lane plansPICTURED: Cycle lane plans

Reading Chronicle: PICTURED: Cycle lane plansPICTURED: Cycle lane plans

As well as segregated cycle lanes, there will improvements to junctions and crossing facilities.

The scheme has been chosen for approval out of four schemes after receiving the most support and least opposition in a public consultation which 928 people responded to.

The other three schemes being considered were:

  • Bath Road: Mostly segregated cycle lanes from Southcote Road to the IDR.
  • London Road: Segregated cycle lanes from Cemetery Junction to Kendrick Road.
  • Southampton Street: Two-way segregated cycle lanes from Crown Street to Bridge Street

The response from organisations towards the Shinfield scheme was also favourable, although the Bath Road scheme was considered the best by Cyling UK and Reading Cyle Campaign.

Reading Chronicle: PICTURED: Response from organisationsPICTURED: Response from organisations

The council hopes to complete construction of the Shinfield Road segregated cycle lanes in Spring 2022 if approval is granted at next week’s Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport committee.

The project follows the nine temporary cycle-focused schemes which were put in place last year in response to the Covid-19 pandemic (although one was quickly abandoned).

READ MORE: All Reading temporary cycling schemes now complete

In its application, the council said of the scheme: “Shinfield Road (A327) is a key radial route between Reading and Wokingham Borough.

"This is a busy route which provides direct access to the University of Reading and links to the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

“It is one of the only strategic routes in Reading which does not currently offer any cycle provision and lacks in quality crossings for pedestrians, according to the council.

“There is also a great need to provide better access between South Reading, which has high levels of deprivation, and these key destinations, including the town centre.

“Therefore, this route is a key missing link in the existing active travel network.”