Earley news and Wokingham Town Centre

I was out with Councillors in Earley today listening to  views on the doorsteps.

The main local issue remains traffic and congestion. I am pursuing this with the Council who remain determined to improve the local road system, increase capacity on main roads, put in by passes and provide alternatives to cars where these are feasible. The current high level of disruption of Wokingham town is related to the big programme of works to improve the town centre which does have knock on effects to the rest of the Borough. We all look forward to the successful early completion of those works to ease things a bit. The general idea of expanding the shopping space and modernising the town centre environment is popular, but there are adverse  effects from doing the work.

4 Comments

  1. Pauline Jorgensen
    October 22, 2017

    Good of you to join us John as always its great to give our Earley residents the chance to talk and
    tell you what they think.

  2. alan jutson
    October 24, 2017

    Feel so sorry for the local businesses in Wokingham Town centre at the moment.

    9 months of absolute chaos, to such an extent that people are no longer bothering to even try and get into the Town.
    Had to go into Town myself yesterday, late morning and it was almost deserted, spoke to a couple of the businesses owners who have been established for many years in the Town all said worst it has ever been, with one business having just one customer all day, the day before.
    Many small local shops and businesses will simply not survive.

    Aware that you cannot make omelettes without breaking eggs, but why no 24 hour working on the roads, to get them fixed as soon as possible.

    Great example:North Woodley/ Sonning railway Bridge, coned off with three way traffic lights for 6 weeks now, and work not even started.
    Its due to last into the Spring, for what, simply to raise the parapet walls of the bridge a couple of feet, which should take no more than a couple of weeks at most!

    Main roads, Earley Way, A329 Reading Road both coned off for months, with little work going on.
    When work does take place its only from 10am until 3.30 pm. !
    Resurfacing during the day leading to traffic chaos, why not work at Night ?

    Now we have the new parking restrictions with the private enforcement regime, and increased house of parking charges in the Town.

    Absolute Bloody Chaos.

    Reply I have asked the Council to look at ways at improving access, and at the issue of rate relief for disruption.

    1. alan jutson
      October 24, 2017

      oops House = Hours.

    2. alan jutson
      October 24, 2017

      Reply-reply

      Rate relief would be a start, but why not allow free parking all day every day whilst work continues to at least try and encourage people into Town.

      So simple just put bags over all signage/machines which says free parking.

      Witnessed three cars being ticketed yesterday by the new enforcement regime for overstaying, which is not a surprise given the time to complete the assault course route pedestrians now have to take to visit shops.

      Spoke to a Local Conservative Councillor today, he says Council do not really have a clue. !

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