Controversial Reading street parking changes to be decided

Proposals to change parking restrictions in The Mount in East Reading has divided neighbours.

Currently, restrictions are in place from Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm for two hours, with no return within two hours.

Reading Borough Council has proposed changing them so they are in place from 8am to 8pm Monday to Sunday for two hours with no return.

A decision on the changes is set to be made at the council’s traffic management sub committee which will take place at 6.30pm on Wednesday, June 15.

READ MORE: Council blasted for Reading parking consultation that's been 'hijacked by non residents'

Some residents welcomed the changes, arguing the parking restrictions are too lenient, hampering their ability to park and denying parking spaces to care visitors and friends.

However others fear restrictions could ‘devastate’ the Progress Theatre, which is located in The Mount.

To address the concerns, Redlands area councillors David McElroy (Green), Kathryn McCann (Green) and Will Cross (Labour) held a meeting to discuss the issues with neighbours.

Cllr McElroy said:  “The debate was mainly concerned with defining the problem.

“It was near unanimously agreed that it is not difficult to find parking on The Mount as a whole.

“It was acknowledged that parking was more difficult at the Lower Mount end of The Mount.

Councillor David McElroy, Green representative for Redlands ward. Credit: Reading Green Party

“It was also largely agreed that the situation was not serious enough to warrant making the currently proposed changes to the waiting restrictions.

“The council is not willing to make substantial alterations to the current proposal at this point, so we will be recommending that the sub-committee rejects it at their June meeting. That is what we expect to happen.”

However, cllr McElroy summarised that proposals to add double yellow lines along the length of Shinfield Road could create a problem in The Mount.

READ MORE: Reading Progress theatre hit with potential parking restrictions

The A327 Shinfield Road is a major north south route into Reading, with The Mount being accessed via the A327 Christchurch Road.

As a result of discussions, the councillors are considering the feasibility of suggestions that could ease parking on The Mount without changing the waiting restrictions.

These include:

• the theatre allowing residents to use its car park out of hours
• making the car park in Sutton Walk  more secure by improving lighting;
• making the terms of nearby pay and display spaces more appealing to theatre-goers and other users;
• the university making parking on campus more affordable for administration and auxiliary staff, who may be on lower incomes – thus reducing the appeal of parking in The Mount
• Negotiating with the university to allow theatregoers to use its car parks

The private meeting took place at Progress Theatre on Thursday, May 26 .

The double yellow lines for Shinfield Road will also be discussed at the traffic committee meeting on June 15.