New 30mph speed limits have officially been introduced on roads across Berkshire.
Roads that have had 40mph speed limits in Wokingham, Winnersh, Shinfield and Finchampstead have had these speeds reduced to increase road safety.
The speed reduction applies to the A329 Reading Road in Wokingham and Winnersh, the A329 London Road in Wokingham, Hollow Lane and the A327 Arborfield Road in Shinfield and Reading Road in Finchampstead.
The limits have also been applied on New Mill Lane and Park Lane in Finchampstead, and Bearwood Road in Barkham.
The decision was made by councillor Martin Alder (Liberal Democrats, Twyford, Ruscombe & Hurst), Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for active travel, transport and highways in an individual member’s decision on May 2.
Matthew Gould, head of network management and transport planning, said: “The proposals are in place to ensure that driver compliance is achieved.
“The data shows that vehicles are driving at speeds that are similar to the speed limits that we wish to post.
“And it’s also to support continued road safety along the A329, specifically where there is an on-road cycle scheme, in which it would be more appropriate to have 30mph.”
Mr Gould added that the public consultation initiated last November received 44 responses, with 39 people supporting it and one person objecting.
He said: “There are no grounds, we believe, not to proceed.”
Cllr Alder’s decision was made in May, with the traffic regulation order that officially imposes the new speed limits coming into force on Monday, June 30.
The objection received during the consultation related to the 30mph speed limit in Bearwood Road, Barkham.
The neighbour wrote: “As a resident living off and using the Bearwood Road daily for 25 years I have witnessed the speed limit reduction in various sections and times from 60 to 50 to 40 to 30 mph.
“The Bearwood Road has now become significantly busier with the Wokingham road network failing to keep up with demand. As such, the daytime free-flow speed has naturally reduced, it does not need legislation to effect this. It is self-regulating.
“There are also times when the limits are too low, e.g. for a shift work on an early summer morning. A fixed limit is a very blunt instrument.”
In response, a council highways officer stated that current guidance requires councils to set speed limits which are consistent with the mean speeds of drivers.
Therefore, officers proposed the new limit following speed surveys conducted in Bearwood Road.
In a comment, Earley Town Council expressed its ‘disappointment’ that a 30mph limit for the Wokingham Road between the Showcase Cinema and Mays Lane had not been considered.
An officer replied that this proposal would be considered during a review of the new speed limits that have been imposed.
