THE CHAIR of the Labour party has backed calls for a new bridge over the River Thames.
On Friday, Annalise Dodds was in Shinfield to show support for the party’s candidates in the forthcoming general election. She also campaigned for Labour in the old Reading East seat in the 2010 contest, so is familiar with the requests for a crossing.
If built it would go from Thames Valley Park in Earley to the junction of Henley Road for years with campaigners saying it would ease traffic and congestion and improve air quality.
Asked whether she would work closely with Matt Rodda, the Labour candidate for Reading Central, Reading Borough Council and Oxfordshire councils to push for a third Thames bridge, she said: “I know Matt Rodda has always been keen to be a voice for his constituents, and he has done a very good job on that, particularly on transport issues but many others as well.
“I know he’s keen to ensure that there is better connectivity, of course, it’s got to make environmental sense too, that’s something very important for him.
“I know he’s been trying to have those conversations with different bodies to make sure we have a solution that works for everyone. I’ll keep in touch with him on that as well.”
Supporters of the scheme said it would allow drivers to bypass the town, improve air quality and reduce traffic running through Caversham.
It forms part of Reading Borough Council’s transport strategy 2040, with a desire to improve air quality. But South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) are against the project.
Asked whether she would support park and ride sites to assist travel from the north into Reading, Ms Dodds said: “The most important thing for me is that these transport developments are driven by local people and their needs.
“I’m sure that Matt Rodda and more Labour MPs will be able to push that case as well, so that local peoples’ voices are heard when it comes to transport development, and that would cover any park-and-rides but also services too.”
Any third Thames Bridge would require the consent of Oxfordshire County Council and Wokingham Borough Council as highway authorities and SODC as a planning authority.
Any park-and-ride facilities north of Reading would also require SODC approval as well, and theoretically fall under the new Henley and Thame parliamentary constituency.
