A reduction of speed limits to 20mph for roads in the university area of Reading has moved closer to a reality after the project has been two years in the making.
Neighbours living in Northcourt Avenue have called for speed restrictions for years amid reports of drivers reaching speeds of 50-60 mph and serious crashes.
The concerns led neighbours, members of the Northcourt Avenue Residents Association (NARA), and councillors to request that speeds be reduced to 20mph in the road and Wellington Avenue.
The pleas for slower speed limits were accepted in 2022, with Reading Borough Council’s highways team devising a speed restriction scheme since then.
Now, the scheme is finally moving ahead after being discussed by councillors at a recent meeting on September 11.
Councillor Andrew Hornsby-Smith (Labour, Church) who represents the area, said: “This is a long, straight residential road, it suffers very badly from rat-running and speeding, and I have certainly seen cars going down that road, 50-60 mph on the wrong side of the road.
“I’ve heard of incidents of cars playing ‘chicken’ with school age kids.
“I’ve seen photos of accidents where cars have hit trees right next to a care home.”
He was also ‘absolutely delighted’ with the project, calling it a ‘bottom-up’ collaboration between neighbours and the council.
But the change cannot go ahead yet, as a statutory consultation with neighbours must take place first.
The council’s traffic management sub-committee unanimously agreed to begin the consultation on Wednesday, September 11.
The change involves the installation of 17 new speed signs. Painted ’20mph’ roundels will only be used at the entrance to the speed zone.
The council will spend £200,000 on the scheme using Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) acquired from charges paid by developers in the town.
