Wokingham borough council has apologised after an email newsletter it sent last week said: “You said, we did” about new 20 mph speed limits in Woodley and Earley failed to take notice of a recent consultation that saw a majority of respondents object to the plans.
The Conservative group on Wokingham borough council said that in the January email update, the Lib Dem-run council boasted “You said it, we did it.”
They said the consultation figures told a vastly different story, with 69% of respondents objecting to the plans for Woodley, and 60% opposed in Earley.
The incident, which appeared in national media and television earlier this week, said the council ignored the results of its consultation.
In its latest email on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Wokingham borough council wrote; “In our last newsletter, we included an article about the new 20 mph speed limits in Earley and Woodley, which form part of a new walking and cycling route.
“We said that most respondents to the October 2025 consultation objected to the new limits, but that the scheme was still going ahead because of road safety benefits.
“This oversimplified the situation, and we apologise for the wording.”
Conservative group leader Pauline Jorgensen slammed the decision.
She said: “This is a consultation theatre.
“Residents said no – and the Lib Dems did it anyway.
They’ve ignored local voices time and again, and they bragged about it.
“If you are going to consult with people, you need to take into account their views.”
Cllr Stephen Conway, leader of Wokingham borough council, said:
“We did not ignore residents.
“Consultation feedback informed the decision, but consultations are not votes and do not determine outcome by majority rule.
“We must consider safety evidence, national guidance and the needs of all road users alongside the views expressed.
“Across both consultations, less than half of responses commented specifically on speed limits proposals and many raised general views rather than issues with the detail of the scheme.
“Consultation allows residents to bring attention to matters that may not have been considered.
“In this instance, no new issues were raised that had not already been carefully considered during the design stages.
“Strong evidence shows that lower speeds improve road safety and wider engagement shows clear support for safer roads.
“Taken together, these factors informed the decision to introduce 20 mph limits as a necessary part of the new walking and cycling route from Woodley to Reading.”
Adrian Betteridge, executive member for highways, admitted communications could have been better.
He told Wokingham Today: “The important thing is that people are dying and being injured on our road.
“They don’t think it is safe to walk or cycle, and we are doing something about it.
“This latest consultation saw 160 people registering an objection, with 83 supporting the change, a difference of 77.
“In the previous consultation during the design of the route in 2022 55% supported the lower speed limit with just 32% against.
“We are doing it because it’s the right thing to do.”
The changes form part of a new walking and cycling route linking Woodley town centre to Palmer Park in Reading, with work set to start on January 26.
