A main road in Woodley will be getting a new 20mph speed limit to make it safer for ‘vulnerable road users’.
Woodlands Avenue is one of the main arterial roads into Woodley, and currently has a 30mph speed limit.
That is now set to go down to 20mph between its junctions with Roslyn Road and Crockhamwell Road, following a decision by Wokingham Borough Council.
A consultation into the change was held last September, which received 114 objections and 51 supportive responses.
One resident wrote: “Keep the current speed limit of 30 as it is, or change it to 20mph only during school times.
“Reducing speed to 20 mph at all times will create severe delays on this road, church road and all other roads as this busy road will become a bottleneck.”
Addington School and The Bulmershe School are both located along Woodlands Avenue.
A fellow neighbour said: “A lower speed is not needed. A protected bike lane is the answer, not to slow other road users down for a route that most cyclists won’t take, as they already have a route to Reading.”
While it is unclear where the objector is referring to, Palmer Park in East Reading is used by cyclists as an alternative to using the road network.
Another objector stated: “This is one of Woodley’s main arteries. It is unenforceable and will do absolutely nothing.
“You would have a much better route going along Beechwood Avenue to connect with the alley that leads to Pitts Lane. This is an absolutely pointless exercise and will make the junction with Crockhamwell Road a danger zone.”
Wokingham council officers made responses to some of the objections raised. A reply stated: “Woodlands Avenue is an unclassified road and residential along most of the road.
“Motorists are expected to comply with posted speed limits. The route was determined through use of modelling flow and predicted routes for cyclists and through consultation with the public.
“Alternative routes were assessed as part of this process.
“Safety along the route, including at the Crockhamwell Road junction will be carefully reviewed as part of the monitoring process.”
The speed reduction is part of the Reading to Woodley Active Travel route by Wokingham council, aimed at encouraging walking and cycling between the two towns.
The reduction was approved in an individual member decision by Adrian Betteridge, the council’s executive member for active travel, transport and highways.
Councillor Betteridge (Liberal Democrats, Barkham & Arborfield) said: “This is part of an active travel scheme from Woodley town to the Reading boundary, which was originally proposed and agreed to take forward in 2021, and it’s been through a couple of public consultations since then.
“Adjustments have been made to reflect feedback from the public, I’m conscious that the 20mph sections in this route are an integral part of the scheme to improve the safety for vulnerable road users and have been endorsed by Active Travel England as being appropriate for the scheme.
“The evidence is quite clear of the benefits of 20mph speed limits in the presence of vulnerable road users, and it certainly will make the route more attractive, easier and safer for vulnueravle road users, and will encourage more people to walk, cycle and wheel instead of driving when doing this journey, and therefore reduce congrstion for people who choose to drive through the route.”
He noted that Woodley Town Council did not object to the scheme and acknowledged that all objectors would be notified of the decision, which was made on Friday, January 9.
