Fears over Winnersh Relief Road open date
THE long-awaited Winnersh Relief Road has been slammed before the first phase has even opened, writes James Hastings.
Two of three candidates in the local council elections have claimed the road will worsen traffic conditions and cause problems for people living along its route.
They say their views are backed up by local people concerned the new road will cause more issues than it solves.
Only one said it would alleviate congestion and provided “much needed investment” for the village.
With Phase 1 of the route due to open in the next few weeks, Wokingham Borough Council has now submitted a full planning application for Phase 2.
It claims the road, part of a £400million infrastructure to support the Borough’s growing population, will relieve congestion.
It would also improve existing routes and create new connections for pedestrians and cyclists that live and work in the area between King Street Lane and Reading Road.
However, Labour candidate for Winnersh, Steve Stanton claimed the relief road would not provide “relief for Winnersh residents”.
“The Winnersh Relief Road, even with both parts in place, has always been expected to significantly worsen traffic in the Winnersh and Lower Earley areas,” he said.
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Mr Stanton continued: “Why is it that, despite admitting in 2011 that the (supposed) benefits of the relief road could not be achieved until Phase 2 was completed, WBC failed to even APPLY for planning permission for it until this year?
“This unwarranted delay to Phase 2 means there will be huge impacts on traffic in King Street Lane and Lower Earley Way when phase 1 opens. It may be Winnersh Relief Road by name but there’ll be no relief for Winnersh residents.”
Prue Bray, the sitting
Liberal Democrat councillor said local people had been waiting for the relief road “for about 30 years.”
"It is supposed to ease some of the congestion for people travelling through Winnersh, which is important, as none of us wants gridlock.
“But it does very little for anyone who lives here. In fact, it will create a lot of problems for people living near it.
“I am very unhappy about a lot of the details of the council’s design for Phase 2 of the road, which has just been submitted as a planning application.”
Ms Bray claimed there was a lack of pedestrian and cycle crossings on a major school route which is also a cycleway and slammed the 40 mph speed limit in a residential area.
“I am hopeful that we can get some changes to the design to get rid of some of the worst problems, and that is what I intend to work towards as the application for Phase 2 goes through the planning process.
“I am anxious about the opening of Phase 1, which is likely in the next few weeks.
“On the one hand, people living off Longdon Road need the new traffic lights working to improve safety when they turn out onto King Street Lane. On the other hand, I fear that queuing on King Street Lane will get far worse, and some residents will struggle to be able to turn into their homes without Keep Clear markings.”
Conservative candidate, Ethan Stacey said he backed the relief road: “I fully support the investment into the new Winnersh Relief Road, which will help alleviate traffic congestion through our village. “This is much needed investment for Winnersh and I look forward to the full opening in 2021.”
The plans for Phase 2 of the road would connect the B3030 King Street Lane to the A329 Reading Road.
This new road would include two new roundabout junctions on the A329 Reading Road.
Phase 2 also includes an extension to the existing Longdon Road and if approved, once completed, this road would take traffic from Lower Earley Way all the way through to Coppid Beech Roundabout.
Mark Cupit, assistant director for delivery and infrastructure for the Borough said: “The completed Winnersh Relief Road would help relieve the existing congestion and improve network resilience through Winnersh village and on the wider road network.
“It is also designed to provide additional capacity, which will help the Borough meet its objectives for housing and economic growth, and job creation.”