Frustration over cycle scheme delay

Reading Borough Council won funding for the scheme in March 2022

Frustration has been voiced over the delay to a £1.3m cycling project that is having to be redesigned.

Reading Borough Council won government funding to improve active travel for cyclists and pedestrians back in March 2022.

Councillor Tony Page asked for an update on the project at a recent council meeting, saying it still had "considerable local support".

But lead councillor for climate strategy and transport John Ennis said the scheme was having to be redesigned because there was "insufficient funding for the full scheme as originally designed".

The plan to put a cycle lane on Bath Road and Castle Hill still has local support, according to one councillor

Of the funding awarded by the government, £1.3 million was allocated to create a cycle lane along Bath Road and Castle Hill, with work set to start this year.

Mr Page said residents on both roads were "facing daily challenges with often speeding cyclists using the pavements in a dangerous manner".

"The sooner the segregated cycle lanes are installed, the better it will be for the respective safety of pedestrians and cyclists," he said.

He asked Mr Ennis to explain the "continuing delays" and provide a timeline for the work.

'Complex roundabout'

Mr Ennis said that because the funding was no longer sufficient, transport officers had paused and put together "a series of options" to be discussed by councillors.

"These predominantly relate to the signals on the Castle Hill roundabout, and the design option for cyclists and pedestrians to traverse through this junction," he said.

"Once the updated design has been approved by members, officers will recommence the tendering process and aim to commence construction on this scheme next year."

He said one of the reasons for the delay was to consider the safety of the scheme, saying "that is one hell of a complex roundabout".

He said there would be a consultation on the redesign.