READING Borough Council is investing nearly half a million pounds in measures to improve pedestrian safety around the town.
The Community Infrastructure Levy will see £480,000 of funding used to install new handrails and modify kerbs, including improvements to tactile paving.
In total, 35 kerbs around Reading are set to be dropped, bringing them flush with the road, which improves usability for those on foot, using wheelchairs or pushchairs, and those with reduced vision or mobility.
They will also include tactile paving, which uses tiles with raised bumps to indicate safety information to those using canes or other tactile sensation to help navigate.
In addition, 24 handrails will be installed on steps around the town.
Handrails are fitted as a safety standard on new steps on public highways in Reading, but the works will bring steps installed prior to that provision up to the modern standard.
The council has also explained that damaged steps or those in need of resurfacing will have repair works undertaken as part of the installation.
It follows works by the council’s in-house highways and drainage operations team to install dropped kerbs on pedestrian crossings.
Crossings on Addington Road, Audley Street, Curzon Street, Forbury Retail Park, Grange Avenue, Kenavon Drive, School Road, Queens Road, and St Michael’s Road will be among those undergoing work.
Handrails will be installed in Church End Lane, Cockney Hill, Honey End Lane, Tilehurst Road, and Church End Lane, among others.
Karen Rowland, Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said:
“The Council is investing significantly in road and transport improvements for easier travel by car, public transport or bike, but we’re equally interested in ensuring that crossing Reading on foot becomes a go-to option for residents.
“Walking is the best environmental choice we can make and brings with it important health benefits too– we are eager to ensure that our foot travel routes are more attractive and easier to access.”
She explained: “Many of our public highways were built at a time when pedestrian access across roads was not considered and investing in dropped kerb crossings will improve foot travel safety through Reading for our residents.
“Making sure people can easily navigate steps is also critical and that forms part of the work around the improvements we’re making to resurface many of Reading’s pavements.
“Now is the perfect time to take that next trip around Reading on foot.”
