To receive any other petitions on traffic management matters submitted in accordance with the Sub-Committee’s Terms of Reference.

Petition in respect of Making Reading’s Cycling Routes fit for Cycling

At the invitation of the Chair, John Lee, presented a petition which read as follows:

“Reading Borough Council has announced that it will implement “Reading’s biggest ever road repair programme with £9million on new road surfaces, prioritising residential streets.”

After years of cuts to local government funding it is recognised that Reading’s roads are in a poor state of repair.  Pot-holed and rutted road surfaces disproportionately affect cyclists, who are amongst the most vulnerable of road users, and this discourages the take up of cycling for urban journeys.

Reading Borough Council has declared a climate emergency and needs to take action to actively promote sustainably modes of transport.  To this end we request that the upcoming road repair programme prioritises the roads that form Reading’s designated and branded cycle network.”

A report was tabled recommending that officers consider the contents of the petition and make any consequential recommendations to a future meeting.  Additionally, the Sub-Committee was advised by the Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning & Transport, that the Strategic Environment, Planning & Transport (SEPT) Committee on 16 March 2020 would be receiving an outline of the proposed Highway Maintenance 2020/2021 works programme and spend allocation and an update on the 2019/2020 Highway Maintenance Programme.  The agenda papers for the meeting would be available for public inspection from 6 March 2020.

Resolved –

(1)     That the report be noted;

(2)     That the issue be investigated and a report be submitted to a future meeting for consideration;

(3)     That the lead petitioners be informed accordingly.