Lower speed limits proposed to improve borough’s road safety

Residents are being asked for their views on proposals to introduce safer speed limits in five areas in Wokingham Borough.    

The plans represent the first phase of a longer term ‘Safer Streets’ programme, designed to reduce vehicle speeds and improve road safety across the borough. The aim is to proactively introduce safer speed limits, particularly in places where pedestrians, cyclists and children may be at risk.

The first areas where a mixture of 20mph and 30mph lower speed limits are being proposed are: 

• Wokingham town centre and Norreys Avenue: an interconnected town centre and suburban residential area
• Twyford: a village centre and surrounding residential area
• Finchampstead village: a village centre
• Silverdale Road, Earley: a suburban residential area
• Hare Hatch: rural minor roads

Following the adoption of a new speed limit policy in January this year, Wokingham Borough Council asked residents, and town and parish councils to tell us where they think speed limits should be lowered.

The two-month engagement generated 1,911 suggestions from 841 participants, alongside submissions from town and parish councils.

Cllr Adrian Betteridge, the council’s executive member for active travel, transport and highways, said: “Tragically, every year on roads in Wokingham Borough, road traffic collisions result in death and serious injury. The evidence is clear that reducing speeds in towns, villages, residential estates and on rural minor roads will improve safety.  

“We want our roads to be safe for everyone and lower speed limits will play an important part in achieving that. These initial proposals are a first step in a proactive, evidence-led programme.

“We adopted our new speed limit policy earlier this year and now want to see it making a real difference, particularly in areas where pedestrians, cyclists and children may be at greater risk.

“We’re grateful to everyone who has taken part so far. Local people identified speeding as a major concern in the type of areas we are focusing on, in 2023-24 during consultation on our Local Transport Plan. We look forward to continuing that conversation as this programme develops.”

Residents’ 1,911 suggestions were grouped into 76 shortlisted areas and assessed against six criteria: 

• Evidence of a road safety issue
• The likely improvement in safety for pedestrians, cyclists, children and other people at greater risk
• The likely encouragement of walking, cycling and other active travel
• Likely compliance with a lower speed limit
• Evidence of local community support
• The scheme can be delivered

The first five proposed locations have been chosen to include a town centre, village centres, residential areas and rural roads. This will enable the programme’s impact to be monitored in different settings and inform future phases and proposals.

Residents can find out more, view maps and share their views on the first proposed areas until midnight Monday 9 November 2026.