A call has been made for speeding fines to be waived as limits have been reduced along major roads in the area.
Speed limits have gone down from 40mph to 30mph along five stretches of road in Wokingham Borough.
The longest of these is the A329 Reading Road, running from Winnersh Triangle all the way into Wokingham town centre.
The change was initiated on Monday, June 30, using a traffic regulation order.
Councillor Geoff Harper from Winnersh Parish Council has implied that drivers were not properly informed about the reduced limits.
He has asked the borough council whether any speeding fines could be rescinded, arguing that there was a lack of communication with neighbours.
Cllr Harper asked: “Are there any plans for temporary signage and individual household communications to indicate the change in speed limit on Reading Road from 40mph to 30mph and, due to the lack of resident communications, are the council prepared to rescind any fines issued during the period when residents were likely to be uninformed?”
However, as procedures for speed limit changes have been followed, this request has been rebuffed.
Mr Harper’s question was answered at a full council meeting by councillor Adrian Betteridge, the executive member for active travel, transport and highways.
Cllr Betteridge (Liberal Democrats, Barkham & Arborfield) said: “I do accept there could have been proactive in our communications around the date of the change, and the change process, and that doing so may have reassured residents about the transition.
“The comprehensive communications which were issued in the early days of the change seem to have achieved this, and have been well received, but they were a few days later than ideal.
“Lessons have been learned from this for any future such changes.”
He went on to say that notifying neighbours by letter would have been an “impractical proposition” and reminded Mr Harper that speed limits are enforced by Thames Valley Police, not the council.
Cllr Betteridge added: “In the unlikely event that a resident has received a fine, they can, as ever, appeal the penalty.”
On his part, Cllr Harper said: “I conducted a brief survey round where I live, and of the 40 people I spoke to, only 11 had heard about the speed reduction.
“None of them were aware of it before it was introduced.
“We at Winnersh Parish Council believe there are still people who are unaware of this.”
Cllr Betteridge has encouraged neighbours who feel the limit has not been properly signposted to report that to the council.
The answer was given at the full Wokingham council meeting on July 31.
