Decision details

West Reading Study

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Decisions:

The Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report providing an update on the measures that had been introduced to date and those measures that were yet to be implemented as part of the West Reading Study.  It also explained an issue of traffic rat-running in the vicinity of Fawley Road and proposed a solution to this issue.  Drawings that demonstrated the current issue and the proposal to resolve the issue, which was recommended for statutory consultation, were attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report explained that the West Reading Transport Study had been established in June 2015, with the purpose of identifying, defining and prioritising transport schemes within Southcote and the western section of Coley Park. The overriding objective of the study was to take a balanced approach to enhancing the local area and connecting links, through measures that improved accessibility, road safety for all users, better managing traffic and parking, and encouraging the use of public transport, cycling and walking.

a)       Progress Update

The report set out measures which had been delivered in the study area and the following measures which were being developed:

  • Conversion of a strip of verge on Wensley Road into a parking layby;
  • Procedures and costings were being developed and considered for the potential Highway adoption and street lighting of the long footpath that ran between the western end of Wensley Road and Coley Avenue (south);
  • Options for uncontrolled crossing facilities were being investigated for Southcote Lane, near to the junction with Fawley Road;
  • Herringbone surface printing would be installed to highlight uncontrolled crossing points around the two roundabouts on Southcote Lane at Circuit Lane and Virginia Way;
  • Alterations to the speed cushions on Southcote Lane, near to its junction to Burghfield Road, were being considered to increase their effectiveness;
  • Signing ‘tidy-up’ in Southcote – removing unnecessary and damaged signing;
  • Designing and sharing a ‘kiss & drop’ lining proposal with Southcote Primary School, which they could consider for implementation on their land to aid with school traffic flow.

b)       Recommendation for statutory consultation

The report explained that, to avoid peak time traffic on sections of the A4 Bath Road, and the eastbound bus gate on Southcote Lane, a significant number of motorists were using Silchester Road and Faircross Road to access Southcote Lane.  They were turning left onto the road (there was a no-right turn and traffic island that restricted the right-turn) and conducting a U-turn in the junction with Fawley Road so that they might re-join the A4 Bath Road further to the east.  These movements posed a number of issues and concerns as follows:

  • It increased traffic levels in the already-congested residential streets around Southcote Primary School during school drop-off times;
  • Motorists turning at the junction with Fawley Road did so with varying levels of success and consideration of those around them.

The report proposed that the most effective method to stop the rat-running and turning movements was to reverse the one-way directions of Silchester Road and Faircross Road.  The ‘left-turn only’ restriction from Faircross Road onto Southcote Lane and ‘no-entry’ from Southcote Lane onto Faircross Road would be revoked, with a ‘no entry’ from Circuit Lane onto Silchester Road and from Silchester Road onto Faircross Road also being proposed.  Reversing the one-way directions of Silchester Road and Faircross Road would remove the ability for traffic to bypass the Southcote Lane bus gate and proceed toward the town centre.  This would stop the rat-run and stop the turning movements in the junction of Fawley Road for this purpose. 

The report acknowledged that changing the one-way direction would require those wishing to access Southcote Lane in the morning by private motor vehicle to do so via its eastern end at the roundabout with the A4 Bath Road.  However, this could have some benefit to reducing the use of private motor vehicle travel and increased consideration of using other modes of transport.  Residents of Silchester Road and Faircross Road wishing to travel eastbound would also be required to join the A4 Bath Road via Circuit Lane during the times at which the Southcote Lane bus gate was operational. 

The report explained that the proposal would require statutory consultation and therefore recommended that authorisation to conduct the consultation should be granted to officers and that any objections should be reported to a future meeting.  If no objections were received, the report recommended that officers be granted authority to develop the proposals for implementation, with the West Reading Transport Study Steering Group.

The report noted that the proposal, set out in Appendix 1, highlighted a number of considerations, such as the movement/removal of traffic islands and adjustments to the Highway to accommodate the one-way reversals, so the plan should be considered as indicative at this stage.  Pending the outcome of the statutory consultation, detailed investigations could be carried out, the designed finalised and costed.  The Steering Group would consider the cost of the changes alongside the anticipated costs for the remaining aspects of the study and the Steering Group could then decide its delivery priorities against the remaining level of developer funding available.

Resolved –

(1)     That the report be noted and the ongoing delivery of the study outcomes be supported;

(2)     That the recommended proposals for reversing the one-way directions of Silchester Road and Faircross Road in ‘Part b)’ of the report proceed to statutory consultation;

(3)     That the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to carry out the statutory consultation and advertise the proposals in accordance with the Local Authorities Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996;

(4)     That subject to no objections being received, the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to make the Traffic Regulation Order;

(5)     That any objections received following the statutory advertisement be reported to a future meeting of the Sub-Committee;

(6)     That the Head of Transport, in consultation with the appropriate Lead Councillor, be authorised to make minor changes to the proposals;

(7)     That no public enquiry be held into the proposals.

Publication date: 26/07/2019

Date of decision: 12/06/2019

Decided at meeting: 12/06/2019 - Traffic Management Sub-Committee

Accompanying Documents: