FOUR in five residential roads in Reading are now deemed to be in good condition – with none rated ‘poor’ – according to the borough council, after a £9 million investment.
More than 500 roads have been treated by the council, raising standards – before the programme began, just over a third were considered good.
And the number of reports for potholes has gone down by nearly half – 44% – since the work started three years ago. There were 970 in 2019/20, and just 543 in 2022/23.
The figures are in the council’s Carriageway Annual Status and Options Report (ASOR), which is being presented to the Housing, Neighbourhoods and Leisure Committee which meets at the Civic Centre on Thursday, July 6.
Reading Borough Council says a new £8 million investment in resurfacing means the number of roads in good condition will continue, while a £250,000 two-year National Highways Grant will upgrade highways assets on roads between junction 11 and junction 12 of the M4: the A33, Rose Kiln Lane, Berkeley Avenue and the Bath Road.
Cllr Karen Rowland, lead member for Environmental Services and Community Safety at Reading Borough Council, said: “While the results are excellent, we’re keen to push on from here and improve even more of Reading’s roads, so the additional £8m investment will help us take the number of ‘good’ residential roads up beyond 80% and give the residents of Reading the high-quality road network they deserve.
“It is important to us that we enable our infrastructure to continue to support our economy, and this plan along with the additional grant funding will deliver that”.
But the findings were disputed by opposition councillors, who had reports from residents that the new road surfaces put in place left grit on the road and were unfinished for days.
Cllr James Moore, the leader of Reading Liberal Democrats, urged caution over the figures.
“While it is true that the funding Reading Borough Council received from the Government has improved road surfaced and potholes across the town, we are still seeing issues on many residential roads and even some main roads, especially in Tilehurst,” he said.
“So Reading Lib Dems say: so far so good, but there is still more to do – it is not job done.”
Reading Conservatives did not respond to a request for comment.
And Green Party councillor and leader of the main opposition party in Reading Cllr Rob White said: “After years of underinvestment in our roads from Labour it is good to see some improvement on some of our residential roads.
“There are still sections of a number of residential roads that are real hazardous bone shakers though – Palmer Park Avenue, St Peter’s and Alexandra for example.
“The number of major roads in a poor condition has also unfortunately been increasing in recent years.
“More investment is needed to create a decent, safe road surface for all. This is especially important for vulnerable road users such as cyclists.
“Green Party councillors will keep working to tackle potholes.”
