A 20mph speed limit could be implemented throughout the whole of an estate in Caversham.
There have been requests for reduced speed limits in Lower Caversham stretching back a decade by neighbours who want safer residential streets.
Plans for 20mph speed zones first emerged in September 2016 from a petition that was considered by Reading Borough Council at the time.
Years of work followed, and ultimately a decision was made to separate out the Amersham Road estate for more detailed planning for reduced speeds in November 2022.
The council’s highways team devised a scheme for a 20mph speed limit in Amersham Road, Dickens Close, Mead Close, Meadow Way, Clonmel Close, Charles Evans Way, Ian Mikardo Way, Rhine Close, Nire Road, Honey Meadow and Managua Close.
This scheme was discussed at a recent meeting of the council’s traffic management sub-committee.
Councillor Jacopo Lanzoni (Labour, Caversham), who lives in the area, said: “Residents of the Amersham Road estate, and I’m one of them, have been campaigning for 20mph for many years.
“I want to thank the people who campaigned for it and organised a petition.
“The introduction of the limit is particularly important both because the area is a residential area, so I think 20mph is appropriate.
“It has also had historically at times issues with speeding, and so residents look forward to seeing this implemented.”
The petition submitted in September 2016 was organised by the Amersham Road Estate Neighbourhood Association (ARENA) with the support of Labour councillors.
Initially, a 20mph limit was proposed for the entirety of Lower Caversham, between Hemdean Road and Star Road.
However, this was reduced to the Amersham Road area to create a scheme that is easier and cheaper to implement.
This history was acknowledged by cllr Lanzoni during his speech.
Proposed traffic calming measures involve installing three speed humps in Charles Ewans Way and two in Ian Mikardo Way.
Cllr Lanzoni also made it clear it is the responsibility of the police to enforce speeding.
He said: “It would be nice if Thames Valley Police was investing some resources into the enforcement of 20mph, which it is good to remember doesn’t fall onto the local authority.”
Cllr Lanzoni praised previous Caversham councillors Adele Barnett-Ward and Richard Davies for pushing the scheme forward.
Cllr Davies (Labour, Thames) said: “Yes, I was involved in the petition and bringing it to this committee back when my hair was more lustrous and brown and voluminous.
“I remember the residents were really keen and very much supporting this, so I congratulate you [cllr Lanzoni] really, and your ward colleagues for getting it to this stage, because we didn’t and you’ve done it.
“I think if we go forward with it, it’ll be a great scheme for that area, and people will be really pleased with it.”
Councillors unanimously agreed to put the 20mph zone to a statutory consultation at the meeting on September 10.
Cllr Davies previously represented Caversham from 2016 to 2022.
