Caversham residents say they are facing years of traffic disruption due to construction works for a new housing estate.
Last year, Reading Borough Council approved plans to convert Reading Golf Course in a 223 home development. In March this year, when details of the construction project were approved, Conservative councillors warned that construction traffic could cause problems.
They were worried about construction vehicles using Kidmore End Road, a narrow residential street, leading to the golf course site.
The Emmer Green councillors suggested that construction traffic should enter the site by heading north into Kidmore End Road then turn left out of the site and loop through less busy roads to avoid disruption.
Instead, Reading Borough Council and development company Vistry are currently entering and leaving the site by using the stretch of Kidmore End Road between the White Horse Pub and the old golf course.
In order for there to be space for construction traffic to move, a passing point has been created at the expense of eight parking spaces.
Of those, four unrestricted spaces in front of terraced homes have been removed, with the remaining being two-hour spaces. The parking spaces are unavailable from 8am to 4.30pm on weekdays excluding bank holidays.
Reading Borough Council permitted this by using a temporary traffic regulation order (TTRO).
The restrictions were imposed on Tuesday, August 22, and due to be lifted on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
Conservative councillors have suggested that construction traffic should instead utilise a one-way system which would see vehicles leaving the site from the north.
Cllr Simon Robinson (Conservative, Emmer Green) said contractors could exit the site using a service gate previously used by the golf club for deliveries, but the access point is too narrow for construction vehicles to use.
A spokesperson for the council explained: “A current secondary access onto Kidmore End Road cannot be used as it is too narrow and bounded by trees, which are to be retained, on either side and utilising this access would create a significant risk of damage to the trees.”
While Conservative suggestions for a one-way system have been considered, work would need to take place on the existing access to the site.
The council spokesperson said: “During discussions with Vistry Homes, it was agreed that a TTRO would be required during the initial phase.
“An informal one-way loop system for construction vehicles only has been proposed, with vehicles entering via Kidmore End Road and exiting via Courtenay Drive. Vistry Homes are keen to adhere to this proposal once a suitable access can be provided that facilitates a left turn out of the site.”
While Cllr Clarence Mitchell (Conservative, Emmer Green) has been pushing for a one-way system to relieve traffic in Kidmore End Road, Vistry has to conduct widening works on its existing access which are predicted to take six weeks.
Cllr Mitchell and his fellow councillors are in the process of organising a public meeting to discuss traffic concerns with Vistry and neighbours.
Conservative councillors were hoping for the one-way system established following a meeting with the council’s highways team before the end of July, but it was later established that a left turning out of the site could only be undertaken once the existing access was widened.
Vistry has called the development Emmer Green Drive.
A spokesperson for the housebuilder said: “As part of the planning agreement for our Emmer Green Drive development, a number of highway safety initiatives have been agreed. These are included in the Construction Method Statement.
“This requires us to apply for a TTRP to create passing places along Kidmore End Road.
“At a later stage, once the new access point to the development has been created, a one-way system will be introduced for construction traffic at the request of Reading Borough Council.”
Disruption was also caused earlier this month when a ‘road closed’ sign emerged in Kidmore End Road, which related to the closure of Chalkhouse Green Lane by South Oxfordshire District Council.
That road has since reopened and was not related to work on the Golf Course site.
