Big puddle in bike lane 'dangerous' for cyclists

Councillor Rob White says the puddle is "dangerous"

Concerns have been raised over a large puddle in a bike lane forcing cyclists to swerve on a major road.

Work to build cycle lanes on Shinfield Road in Reading began in 2022, with the aim of making journeys speedier and safer for cyclists.

But the big puddle, caused by a blocked drain, has been present for at least 10 months, according to councillor Rob White.

John Ennis, in charge of transport at Reading Borough Council, said he was "aware of a number of issues with the drainage and the gullies".

The cycle lanes were created after the council received nearly £1.2 million from the previous Conservative government's active travel fund

Mr White, leader of the opposition on Reading Borough Council, questioned what work the authority was undertaking to fix it.

"Shinfield Road cycle lane remains unfinished and maintenance problems are making it dangerous," he said.

"One cyclist said while trying to avoid this puddle he was nearly knocked off his bike."

Mr Ennis said the council had been speaking with Reading Cycle Campaign about the problem.

"While some of the drainage issues are more historic and require larger works from Thames Water, there are a number of remedial actions that we can take to address the issues," he said.

"This includes installing new gullies and ensuring existing gullies are clear."

Transport officers were due to meet with colleagues from highways before Christmas to review the situation, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Possible solutions would include connecting a new gully to the Thames Water sewer in the New Year, Mr Ennis added.