A road in Woodley will have been closed for roadworks for more than half of 2025, causing disruption to hundreds of residents who live there.
In April, SGN closed Colemansmoor Road at its junction with Loddon Bridge Road for a three-month project to replace gas pipes.
This closure saw buses diverted along Colemansmoor Lane, leaving many people unable to catch the popular Orange 13/14 buses into Reading.
The works were completed at the end of June, and since then SGN has been working on upgrading pipes to homes across the Loddon ward.
Now, the company has turned its attention back to Colemansmoor Road, this time closing a section between Stonehaven Drive and Vauxhall Drive.
Work started on Monday, August 11, and is due to be completed by the end of November. This means there have been road closures in place for seven months this year.
During these works, Reading Buses will be diverting its Orange 13/14 and 19c services to completely avoid Colemansmoor Road and part of Loddon Bridge Road. The diversion will use Miles Way, Spitfire Way, Headley Road East and Loddon Bridge Road, meaning many residents face long walks to get to temporary bus stops, while services face delays caused by the diversions.
Loddon ward Labour councillors Greg Bello and Majid Nagra said they have been contacted by residents concerned about the length of the works, the rerouting of the buses, and the impact this will have on their lives.
Cllr Bello said: “Some of the people who live in and around Colemansmoor Road are elderly, have mobility issues or simply don’t have a car. For the most vulnerable, they will become prisoners in their homes because asking them to walk 20 minutes uphill to a different bus stop is impossible.
“It is unfathomable that SGN are inflicting a second lengthy closure on Loddon ward residents.
“Why weren’t the works scheduled together? For such an important road and on Woodley’s main bus route, being shut for seven months out of 12 is a disgrace.
“Wokingham Labour has previously highlighted the problem of phantom roadworks – where temporary closures and traffic lights are left up and no one is working.
“We sincerely hope that won’t happen here and SGN will be working hard to get the gas mains replaced ahead of schedule.”
This view was echoed by Cllr Nagra, who wanted to see more support for residents.
He said: “It is not good enough that this artery of Woodley must shut for another four months.
“SGN should have done more to condense the timeframe of the works and looked to have kept the closure to a minimum.
“If they must keep the roads closed for four months, at the very least they should be providing support for the most vulnerable residents who rely on the buses to get to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Woodley town centre or Reading. A shuttle bus or similar would make all the difference.”
The works have been logged with Wokingham Borough Council, and the reference number is XW013W121015925-00346.
