Clarity was sought on the Twyford station parking issues at last month’s full council meeting of Wokingham borough council.
Leon Cook asked Cllr Adrian Betteridge, executive councillor for active travel, transport and highways: “Can the council update us on their last exchange with Great Western Railway with regards to additional parking at Twyford station, including how much money they have requested and secured, details of any proposals with assumed funding sources commissioned by or considered by the council, including indicative timelines, when they will carry out the station survey, who will be eligible to comment on that survey given the vast area of users of the station, and when they will produce the results.
In reply, Cllr Betteridge said: “Our last face-to-face meeting with GWR was on January 5 at Twyford station.
“We have had multiple email and telephone conversations since then.
“I met together with Clive Jones MP, the rail minister Lord Peter Hendy and representatives of GWR. We discussed the situation and the need for Department of Transport (DfT)and Network Rail to support enhancements to access to the station.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this includes additional car parking, as well as other means of travel.
“GWR is progressing an option to add around 50 spaces to the existing car park.
“More are needed, but this is the only short-term option within the railway’s control and they believe it has a sound business case.
“They are requesting funding from DfT, the details of which are commercially sensitive.
“A passenger survey has already been completed, funded by GWR, with the results currently being analysed.
“We are also looking at jointly funded options to improve the forecourt at the station to provide better facilities for public transport, pedestrian, cycle and disabled access.
“The bus service review currently under public consultation includes potential enhancements of services to Twyford Station.
“We are working on the further steps needed to properly resolve this long-standing issue, across all modes of travel.
“The potential solutions involved a number of different organisations and some sensitive issues that need to be addressed.
“Solving this problem has eluded everyone for over a decade and, at this stage, as I am sure you understand, it won’t be helped by negotiating in public, nor by seeking to politicise the issue. I trust that you understand this.
“When there are clear options that can be disclosed these will, as a minimum, be available for public comment through the planning system, and likely more widely.
“In the meantime, I expect you are aware that a cross-party working group is being established where the above issues will be able to be discussed subject to existing confidentiality arrangements.
“I have asked officers to arrange the first meeting ahead of the pre-election period starting in late March.”
In his supplementary question, Mr Cook asked: “With regard to the passenger survey, I understand that it took place on the platform in October and it was not advertised.
“In relation to the working group, indeed it is being put together. An email was sent out at 5.37pm last night. That is a full month after the previous meeting.
“I should start by saying that all forms of sustainable transport should be looked at. We are all in agreement on that.
“The principal issue, however, is the lack of capacity in the coal yard. The answer is in plain sight of platform one.
“The council could generate about £1.3 million in revenue from on-street parking.
“By 2019 levels, Twyford parish council estimated that the capacity of demand was 1,000.
“You could do that tomorrow. This is completely in keeping with public use of highways.
“All the roads towards Hurst could be made mixed use resident parking or business parking with controlled hours, tomorrow.
“The council could control this problem tomorrow. Will it commit to do so? Yes or no?”
Cllr Betteridge responded: “Perhaps you would like to write to me Leon, explaining how you would solve this tomorrow, given the previous administration’s failure to do so over more than a decade.
“I have explained how we are dealing with this.
“I am sure that your colleagues from the Conservative party will be looking forward to having a full discussion when the working group meets.”
