Reading School Streets planned in Caversham and off Oxford Road

The very first School Street was approved in November 2020 on Downing Road and Lambourne Close, outside Park Lane Primary (Junior School) in Tilehurst, but its opening has been delayed by Covid-19.

A School Street allows closures of roads to the traffic outside schools for up to 45 minutes twice a day during term time.

READ MORE: Reading's first ever School Street is approved - here is what you need to know

The second and third School Streets are planned at Wilson Primary School and Thameside Primary School, it has been revealed.

Reading Borough Council’s Strategic Environment, Planning, and Transport committee will vote on whether to approve the two new School Streets next Monday (March 15).

The council has also been sent a joint submission from Maiden Erlegh School in Reading, UTC Reading, and Alfred Sutton Primary School for a School Street on Crescent Road, which it is yet to decide on.

The School Streets will have six-month trial periods. If no objections are received, the scheme will become permanent. If objections are received during the trial periods – which could be extended up to a maximum period of 18 months – these will be reported back to committee “at the appropriate time”.

Wilson Primary School

Wilson Primary School

Wilson Primary School undertook an informal consultation with affected properties and parents/carers on the proposal to implement an experimental six-month School Street on Wilson Road (Oxford Road to Wantage Road).

Council officers have recommended the School Street cover a reduced area of Wilson Road (Oxford Road to Westbourne Terrace), following an assessment of the application.

The impact of the School Street on neighbouring roads, including Westbourne Terrace, Lundy Lane and Tofrek Terrace will be monitored during the initial trial period, in response to concerns raised by some residents through the consultation.

Motorised traffic will be banned from entering Wilson Road (Oxford Road to Westbourne Terrace) during term times, from 8:20am to 9:05am and from 2.35pm to 3:20pm, Monday to Friday, if the plans are approved.

Thameside Primary School

Thameside School

Thameside Primary School undertook an informal consultation with affected properties and parents/carers on its proposal to implement an experimental six-month School Street on Harley Road.

Council officers are recommending the School Street on Harley Road is granted approval but the impact of on neighbouring roads, including Elliotts Way and Wolsey Road, will be monitored during the initial trial period in response to concerns raised by some residents.

Motorised traffic will be banned from entering Harley Road during term times, from 8:40am to 9am and from 3.05pm to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday, if the plans are approved.

Three-School Street on Crescent Road

The council says it recently received a joint application from Maiden Erlegh School in Reading, UTC Reading, and Alfred Sutton Primary School for a proposed School Street on Crescent Road (Wokingham Road – Bulmershe Road).

The schools have undertaken an informal consultation with affected properties and parents/carers on the proposal.

RBC said there were a significant number of responses and so a full review is before bringing a recommendation forward to a future committee meeting.

Progress on Reading’s first School Street

Park Lane Primary (Junior School) was the first school to submit an application and the SEPT committee approved the plans in November 2020 for an experimental six-month School Street on Downing Road and Lambourne Close.

The School Street was due to open on January 18 but is now set to open after the Easter holidays, with schools having only just opened for all students this week due to the Covid lockdown.