A report provding the Sub-Committee with details of the Woodley Active Travel Scheme and in particular the Palmer Park Avenue Parallel Crossing and seeking approval to carry out the appropriate statutory consultation.

The Sub-Committee received a report that set out the details of the Palmer Park Avenue Parallel Crossing that formed part of the Woodley Active Travel Scheme.  A plan that set out the Palmer Park Avenue and Wykeham Road crossing facilities was attached the report at Appendix 1.

The report explained that in November 2020 Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) had secured funding through the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund Tranche 2 and 3 to improve walking and cycling provisions within the Borough and to develop and deliver such schemes.  WBC had agreed to use this funding to improve the cycling and walking connection between Woodley town centre and the Reading Borough boundary at Palmer Park with the final section being within the Reading Borough boundary on Culver Lane and Palmer Park Avenue.  The overall scheme consisted of the provision of a new cycle route connecting Woodley town centre and Palmer Park including an upgrade to the existing shared footway/cycleway sections, junction upgrades and priority crossing points.  Part of Woodlands Avenue was to be reduced to 20 mph as part of the proposal, with Palmerstone Road and Culver Lane proposed to form part of a wider 20 mph zone which was being delivered as a separate scheme.  Church Road was to remain 30 mph.

A section of this scheme fell within Reading Borough and consisted of the provision of a new Parallel crossing over Palmer Park Avenue at the entrance to Palmer Park and improved crossing facilities, including raised table/crossing, at the Wykeham Road junction with Palmer Park Avenue.  The pavement was also to be converted to shared space on the south side of Culver Lane between its junction with Wykeham Road and the Borough boundary.  The introduction of a raised table at the Wykeham Road junction would be implemented under Section 90C of the Highways Act 1980, subject to consultation and the section of the scheme within the Borough had been developed with the engagement and feedback from the Council’s Transport officers.

The report stated that this was one of the key routes which had been identified in the Council’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).  The proposed link would create a safe, inclusive and direct access to Woodley town centre while connecting it to several schools and leisure facilities. 

An independent combined stage 1 and 2 road safety audit (RSA) had been carried out in accordance with the principles of the National Highways document GG 119 Road Safety Audit and had raised an observation regarding the width of the shared crossing as it was below the minimum recommended width of three metres.  Officers from the Council had agreed with WBC’s response to this, being that “where feasible crossings would be increased to three metres, however, in the majority of locations due to local constraints, such as driveways and widths of proposed cycle track it was not possible to meet the minimum recommended widths”.  At Palmer Park Avenue crossing due to these constraints it had not been possible to increase the width.  The RSA had not raised any other safety issues regarding the section within Reading Borough.

The Sub-Committee discussed the report and Councillor Ennis paid his respects to Councillor Paul Fishwick, Executive Member for Active Travel, Transport and Highways at Wokingham Borough Council who had recently passed away.  Officers also confirmed than an updated and properly annotated plan would be worked on for the consultation.

Resolved –

(1)          That the report be noted;

(2)     That the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to undertake statutory consultation/notification processes for the proposed changes on Palmer Park Avenue and Wykeham Road junction;

(3)     That the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services in consultation with the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services, the Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport and the Chair of the Sub Committee be granted authority to make minor amendments to the agreed proposals if required, prior to implementation;

(4)     That subject to no objections being received the scheme be considered as approved for implementation;

(5)     That should any objections be received during the statutory consultation period, they be reported to a future meeting for consideration and decision regarding scheme implementation.