Woodley Town Council opposes Woodlands Avenue one-way plan
WOODLEY Town Council has opposed a proposal to turn a stretch of a Woodlands Avenue into a one-way system and cycle path.
If approved, it would see the closure of Woodlands Avenue to eastbound traffic, between Howth Drive and Lytham Road.
On Tuesday evening last week, more than 50 residents attended a town council planning committee meeting at the Oakwood Centre to oppose the change.
It meant that discussions on the plan were extended from 15 to 30 minutes to allow for more residents to speak.
Reasons for opposing the plan included concerns over the impact it would have on emergency service arrival times.
Two emergency first responders at the meeting said that their navigational systems can sometimes overshoot an address. They said that having to follow the one way system would add significant time to the response.
Also discussed was access for disabled and elderly residents, and delivery vehicles.
Some cyclists at the meeting said that they regularly use Woodlands Avenue and have never felt unsafe. They questioned why there was the need for such a significant change to the road.
During the meeting, Cllr Keith Baker, speaking as borough councillor and not borough mayor, said that council officers had not consulted with borough councillors prior to issuing the consultation.
He noted that this was disrespectful to both councillors and to the public who had elected them.
Cllr Baker said that Woodlands Avenue is one of the busiest roads in Woodley and strongly objected to the one-way proposal.
Cllr Shirley Boyt, Labour councillor for Bulmershe and Whitegates encouraged all residents to respond to the consultation, and said that the plan was not a done deal.
And Cllr Al-Sanjari, Woodley town councillor for Bulmershe asked whether Wokingham Borough Council officers had met with borough councillors.
Cllr Bill Soane, Conservative councillor for Loddon and Cllr Baker confirmed that they had not, with Cllr Soane adding that this was not normal.
Cllr Baker, who is also Woodley Town Council leader, explained that he is trying to find out why this had not happened.
After the discussions, the committee agreed to register its opposition to the one-way route, and highlight significant concerns over the lack of prior consultation and communication.
It also agreed to invite a Wokingham Borough
Council representative to attend a future Planning and Community Committee Meeting to hear views from councillors and residents.
A petition against the route is collecting signatures. Anyone wishing to sign it is invited to contact Cllr Baker by calling 07917 673370 or emailing him.
The proposal is being considered as part of a Wokingham Borough Council consultation on creating a Woodley to Reading travel route.
It closes on Monday, February 21.