New Shinfield Road Segregated Cycle Route to be Progressed Following Public Consultation

A KEY new segregated cycle route in the south of Reading on Shinfield Road is set to be progressed to the next stage of development after nearly 1,000 public responses to the Council’s recent Active Travel public consultation.

The proposed new route along Shinfield Road – running between Christchurch Green and Shinfield Rise – would link south Reading and the Royal Berkshire Hospital, the University of Reading, local centres and Reading Town Centre. It would also link with existing new cycle routes delivered by the Council on Redlands Road and Christchurch Road in the first phase of its Active Travel Programme. Benefits to pedestrians also form part of the scheme.

Shinfield Road was one of four proposed new cycle schemes which formed part of a recent initial public consultation which included consultation postcards sent to 20,000 homes - nearly one in three of all households in Reading. It followed the award of £1.179m from the Department for Transport (DfT) for further investment in sustainable travel options in Reading, as part of ‘Tranche 2’ of the national Active Travel Fund.

The Council received a total of 928 responses from residents, businesses and organisations. All four proposed schemes attracted substantial levels of support.

Consultation results showed:

• 61.3% supported or strongly supported proposed two way cycle lanes on Shinfield Road – the highest level of support among the four options
• 18.4% opposed or strongly opposed the Shinfield Road scheme – the lowest level of opposition among the four options
• Shinfield Road also scored the highest level of support relative to opposition on the desire to see improved facilities for cyclists at junctions (62.8%) and on the desire to see improved crossing facilities for pedestrians (65.2%).

Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said:

“While all four of the Council’s proposed cycle schemes attracted a high level of public support, it is clear the Shinfield Road option performed best of all and that is the option the Council will now develop further. The next step is for more detailed designs to be undertaken through the summer, with a further period of statutory consultation to follow in the autumn.

 “I would like to thank each and every one of the nearly 1,000 respondents to the Council’s public consultation – local residents, businesses and organisations among them - for taking the time to consider and feedback on the options.

 “In an ideal world, of course, the Council would prefer to take forward more than one option, but the budget allocated to Reading by the DfT at this time limits the progression of only the Shinfield Road scheme, based on initial estimates. The level of public support for the remaining three options is however extremely encouraging and the Council will of course continue to seek funding opportunities from the DfT and other external sources in order to progress them at a future time.”

Consultation responses from a variety of organisations were also taken into account, including key stakeholders like the Cycle Forum, Clean Air and Safer Travel Forum and the Older People’s Working Group. These are highlighted in full in a report to the Council’s Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport (SEPT) Committee on Wednesday June 30^th  https://democracy.reading.gov.uk/documents/s17612/Active%20Travel%20Programme%20and%20School%20Streets%20Update.pdf

On the same SEPT Committee are details of a separate Active Travel Capability Fund project, for which the Council is currently awaiting an announcement on funding from the DfT. If funding is awarded, this would aim to promote increased levels of physical activity through walking and cycling for everyday journeys  and to support access to new and existing employment, education and training.

The following proposed programme of walking and cycling initiatives would be delivered in partnership with a new Liveable Towns Officer, funded through the grant:

A secure town centre cycle hub 

Cycle security measures

Adult cycle training

Cycle maintenance training

School travel planning

School travel challenge

Led walks

Led cycles

Cycle loan scheme

E-cycle loan scheme

Support for Reading Cycle Festival

Active travel marketing/comms activities

A research programme to identify key barriers to encouraging walking and cycling in Reading

The funding would also be used to update Readings Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan to ensure it is consistent with new national guidance including Gear Change (the UK’s vision for cycling and walking) and Local Transport Note 1/20. This will put the Council in the best possible position to secure funding for future walking and cycling schemes.

More information on the Council’s Active Travel Schemes can be found at www.reading.gov.uk/activetravel

Notes To Editor:

The Council’s segregated cycle lane proposals were developed in the context of uncertainty regarding changes to traffic flows and unknown future travel demand post Covid 19. Over the past year the pandemic has changed people’s travel options, with more flexible working arrangements now the norm. Changes in travel behaviour and attitudes towards cycling, walking and public transport may reduce commuter car use in the longer term. It is possible that peak hour traffic will not return to previous levels, even if a level of normality returns.

Last November, the Council successfully secured £1.179m from the Department for Transport for further investment in sustainable travel options for Reading, as part of ‘Tranche 2’ of the national Active Travel Fund. The investment aims to improve cycling, walking and public transport in the local area, including safe, dedicated cycle lanes, new crossings and wider footways. The latest funding would allow for key ‘missing link’ cycle lanes in the town to be created, which would be fully segregated from traffic.

The four proposed Active Travel schemes consulted on were:

Bath Road / Castle Hill (Southcote Lane – Inner Distribution Road / Castle Street)

A predominantly segregated cycle facility in each direction, which includes a segregated cycle facility across the IDR junction, created by removing sections of the highway currently dedicated to general traffic. This scheme would be complemented by improvements to junctions and crossing facilities along the route.

 London Road (borough boundary to London Street)

A package of predominantly segregated cycle facilities in each direction, and shared bus and cycle lane, providing access to key destinations including the Royal Berkshire Hospital, achieved by removing one inbound traffic lane. This will be complemented by improvements to junctions and crossing facilities, including at Cemetery Junction.

 Shinfield Road (Christchurch Green – Shinfield Rise)

A segregated cycle facility in each direction, providing access to key destinations, including the University of Reading. This will be complemented by improvements to junctions and crossing facilities, including at the Christchurch Green and Shinfield Rise local centres.

 Southampton Street (Pell Street / Crown Street – Bridge Street / Fobney Street)

There are two alternative options on this key route into the Town Centre; either a two-way segregated cycle facility, or a shared bus and cycle facility. Both would be achieved through the removal of one inbound traffic lane. Either scheme will be complemented by segregated cycle facilities on Crown Street and through the Oracle roundabout, along with improvements to junctions and crossing facilities.