DESIGNS for an expansion of the park and ride car park at Winnersh Triangle received the ‘go-ahead’ recently have been revealed.

The £5.4 million project will see a decked parking area and improved entrance space to the business park, after the application was approved last week.

This includes improvements to areas between the park and ride bus shelters, railway station and paths leading to Wharfedale Road.

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These improvements include creating a new natural open space, feature lighting, covered pedestrian waiting area and a new paved pedestrian link between the railway station and the car park.

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport., said: “This crucial investment in public transport infrastructure helps not only us free up the space here in Wokingham Borough but in neighbouring areas as well.

“As well as providing the much needed increased capacity for parking we hope the area will brighten up mornings and evening for commuters thanks to the visual improvements we will be putting in place.”

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The plans will also boost the car park capacity to 500 spaces, including 36 spaces for electric vehicles and sheltered cycle spaces, as well as an additional ‘arm’ to be added to the Wharfedale Road/A329M slip road roundabout, with traffic lights reconstructed to accommodate.

Charles Eales, infrastructure programme lead and board director at Thames Valley Berkshire LEP and co-chairman of the Berkshire Local Transport Body said: “We’re delighted to be able to invest in this scheme.”

The developments will be completed away from traffic, in order to avoid disruption.

Work to start later this year and expected to be complete in 2021.