Wokingham borough council is expected to approve a traffic regulation order relating to residents’ parking next week – but it will amend its proposals for Ormonde Road following a number of objections during a consultation.
Initial plans, which were described as being “drastic” and “extreme” would have seen Ormonde Road, off Barkham Road, become residents-only parking seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
This would have impacted a variety of groups, including allotment holders, Wokingham Men; Shed and football teams who use the neighbouring recreation ground for their home matches in the Bracknell Sunday League.
The decision is expected to be confirmed by Cllr Adrian Betteridge, the council’s executive member for active travel, highways and transport next Tuesday, March 24.
Notes for the meeting said: “It is recommended that the executive member consider the results of the consultation and approve the sealing and implementation of the Traffic Regulation Order with the changes specified, and approve the amendments to proposals relating to Ormonde Road.
During the consultation, concerns were raised by Wokingham town council, who asked that the views and needs of both residents and visitors be taken into consideration.
They wrote: “For those visiting their allotments on Ormonde Road, although there is a car park for the allotments, it only caters for 15 cars and, currently., allotment holders use Ormonde Road for parking as a necessity.
“There are also the Men’s Shed group who currently use Ormonde Road for parking.
“The current parking restrictions in Ormonde Road work well and should stay as they are.”
Wokingham Horticultural Association also expressed its concerns.
The president wrote: “Wokingham Horticultural Association – founded in 1953 and with over 400 members – has their trading store based at the top of Ormonde Road with an area for car parking, which is also used by the many allotment holders also working in this area.
“If people are unable to park for the store or other WHA events they will stop coming, which will have a knock on effect with the store finances and other fundraising like workshops. plant sales etc.
“If it also closes the Men’s Shed too, then their retired members will lose their valuable social woodworking base,”
An informal consultation on the revised residents’ permit policy took place between August 12 and September 28, 2025.
The revised resident permit policy was subsequently approved by Wokingham borough council’s executive on November 20, 2025.
To introduce the approved changes on street, the statutory consultation for Amendment No. 4 of the on-street Traffic Regulation Order was carried out between January 22 12 February 12, 2026, with notices displayed on affected streets, in local newspapers, and letters issued to residents in affected areas.
A total of 177 responses across all areas were received as part of this statutory consultation comprising of 146 objections, 28 comments of support , and 3 representations from wider organisations that did not fit either category
The highest number of responses came from Zone W1, which accounted for 98 objections. This zone includes Ormonde Road, Latimer Road, Oxford Road, and several adjoining streets.
A significant proportion of respondents raised concerns about the proposed extension of operating hours, particularly the impact on evening and weekend parking.
Many noted that their streets do not experience parking pressure outside the morning peak and felt that extended controls would make it more difficult for family, friends, carers and tradespeople to visit, with implications for households with adult children and broader community connections.
The council said it will monitor the impacts of the parking schemes post-implementation, and make adjustments where required.
