WOKINGHAM Borough Council says it backs a fresh bid to create a new road bridge over the River Thames.
The Labour administration at Reading Borough Council wants the crossing to link the A329m with Henley Road in Caversham, and added it to its draft transport strategy for 2040. Lib Dem-run Wokingham has expressed qualified support for the plan – South Oxfordshire, however, won’t.
Wokingham’s response states: “Although the scheme is half in Wokingham borough and half in South Oxfordshire district, the majority of the benefits will be felt by Reading residents.
“Wokingham Borough Council remains supportive. It is essential that a financially sustainable model for construction and ongoing maintenance be identified.
“It is also essential that this is designed as a sustainable route corridor and not an extension of the A3290/A329(M).”
The new bridge would theoretically be used by cyclists and buses as well as cars.
The ‘Cross Thames travel’ section in Reading Borough’s draft transport strategy states the bridge would provide outcomes that would improve bus journey reliability and increase cycling levels.
Wokingham council’s support for the scheme is conditional on the impacts the route would have on its own Climate Emergency Action Plan.
It wants a full business case and emissions assessment, with particular consideration for the amount of emissions vehicle use and the construction of the bridge would generate.
Wokingham Borough Council’s response to Reading council’s draft transport strategy 2040 was sent after a decision by councillor Paul Fishwick (Liberal Democrats, Winnersh), the executive member for active travel, transport and highways.
In 2020, South Oxfordshire District Council’s then-leader Cllr Sue Cooper (Liberal Democrats, Benson and Crowmarsh) said the council did not believe a third Thames crossing would be the right solution to congestion issues in and around Reading.
In order for the Department of Transport to fund the project, a strategic outline case, an outline business case and a full business case would have to be submitted for departmental approval.
