Outcome from the TMAP Meeting

Safer routes to schools - Reading School

Scheme put forward to investigate the possibility of a 20 mph restriction to be placed on the lower part of Erleigh Rd and Denmark Rd. This scheme is being proposed to make it safer for children to walk to and from school. I pointed out that the majority of children enter the school from the Craven Rd entrance and asked for this road to be included in the study.

Special Parking Area Amendments No. 6 (SPA6)

As detailed in earlier blog entries, we were not impressed by the lack of information fed to us, as ward councillors, and the last minute advertising of the schemes to you. At the start of this section, the lead officer pointed out that there had been many teething problems this time, as they had been trying to make the process more efficient. This process had gone from a small procedure to a beast of a process, he'd hoped to improve and streamline the process for the better. Unfortunately, they hadn't met there expectations and ended-up keeping to the same time scales as last year. He also pointed out that they would learn from their mistakes and will be looking at the process as a whole in order to make it work better.

Elmhurst Rd/Marlborough Ave

Residents were whole heartedly in favour of this scheme and it will be implemented as proposed, with out amendment.

Donnington Rd

Several residents replied to the adverts, for which you have our thanks. Most residents didn't want the double yellow lines extended on both sides, as parking was already restricted. Thus, the scheme will be implimented on one side only. It is hoped that residents of Weavers Court will then be able to access their car park, and wont need to use Donnington Rd.

New Rd

Possibly the most controversial scheme proposed in Redlands ward. The original request for 'access only' was met with a scheme which would massively reduce the parking along the road. The lead officer did point out that all the pitfalls had been pointed out by Cllr Benson and Bayes, but the officers want to provoke comments so as they could find out what residents wanted.

Provoke they did! More than a dozen letters were received, all damming every aspect of the scheme. As a direct result of resident comments, this scheme will not be imposed. Instead, a more outward looking review of the area around New Rd will be carried out in SPA7. This could potentially lead to the reduction of parking restrictions on Upper Redlands road, in order to reduce the pressure on New Rd.

I was very happy to support this proposal, but added that the officers should contact the residents of New Rd directly, and consult the UoR and RBH directly (as they form the bulk of the non-resident parking on New Rd).

Special Parking Area Amendments No. 7 (SPA7)

In addition to the New Rd review, several roads (Hatherley Rd, Blenheim Rd and Donnington Gdns) will be examined in order to make refuse collection easier.