'PLAN AHEAD' - that is what Reading residents have been told ahead of this year's Reading Festival week.

The Reading Borough Council issued a statement on their website today, August 16, warning residents that shops, public transport, and roads will be a lot busier at the end of the month due to the event, with more than 100,000 revellers expected to attend the three day event.

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The popular music festival, taking place from Friday, August 27 to Sunday, August 29, is known to cause chaos in the town, however last year's absence means that the return of the festival could hit the town harder than usual.

The council said that those planning to travel into or around the town centre from Wednesday, August 25 to Friday, August 27 are being asked to leave early and be prepared for longer travel times as festival goers arrive.

Reading Chronicle: Reading Festival main stageReading Festival main stage (Image: Newsquest)

Near to normal travel levels are expected on the Saturday and Sunday (28 and 29 August), although shops and supermarkets will likely be busier than usual. Roads are expected to be extremely busy again on the Bank Holiday Monday (August 30) as festival goers leave the event.

Parking restrictions will be in place around the Richfield Avenue site as usual, and the area should be avoided wherever possible. Festival car parking is available at Mapledurham and Kings Meadow for parking pass holders.

As usual, temporary traffic management will be in place at various locations around town, including a night-time closure of the Thames Path from 8pm to 6am from August 26 to August 30, and a full closure of Richfield Avenue between its junctions with Cardiff Road and Tessa Road from 10.30pm to 1.00am from Friday-Sunday.

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On Bank Holiday Monday, the Napier Road / Vastern Road roundabout will be particularly busy, and temporary traffic management will be used if needed.

A hotline number has also been set in place for residents 'who wish to offer comments or to raise queries' during the event, which will be open between 9am and 5pm on August 25, and then 24 hours from August 26 until Monday, August 30 at 3pm.

For more information on getting to the festival site, noise checks, and access to the Rivermead Leisure Centre, visit https://www.reading.gov.uk/news/reading-festival-returns/.