Reading will get two new School Streets, with plans approved for road closures at peak times outside schools in Caversham and by Oxford Road.

The very first School Street in Reading 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 will be at Wilson Primary School and Thameside Primary School, with the plans approved by Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Strategic Environment, Planning, and Transport committee last night (Monday, March 15).

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”.

Technical issues lock out public and press

Due to technical difficulties, the public and press were unable to access the meeting and the recording also failed.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to Councillor Tony Page, lead member for SEPT, to find out what happened at the meeting.

Cllr Page, who lamented the technical failures, said the new School Streets had approved without any disagreement, with councillors “welcoming” the plans.

The two new School Streets

School children crossing sign with copy space.

School children crossing sign with copy space.

The Wilson Primary School Street will be on Wilson Road (Oxford Road to Westbourne Terrace).

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.

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.

The Thameside Primary School Street will be on Harley Road.

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.

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.

A fourth School Street?

The council has received 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 three School Streets approved so far have been “some of the easier ones” to approve, Cllr Page said, but he said this one will be more complicated and will be voted on at the next SEPT meeting in June.

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All three schools have backed plans for the a road closure at peak times

All three schools have backed plans for the a road closure at peak times

Due to the volume of comments for and against the Crescent Road scheme, he could not currently say whether it is likely to go ahead or not.

Progress on Reading’s first School Street

Park Lane Primary (Junior School) was the first School Street to be approved in Reading, in November 2020.

The School Street on Downing Road and Lambourne Close 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.