Questions have been raised over council involvement in the creation of a drone ‘superhighway’ set to take flight in the skies over Reading.

Drone technology has accelerated over the last 10 years and has been used in a variety of ways, as drones can be used as an ‘eye in the sky’, to take photos and even for deliveries.

Earlier this year, Project Skyway was launched which would see increased drone activity in the skies above Reading.

The project is being led by Altitude Angel, a Reading-based company, with funding from BT, which will engage in trials investigating the potential for drones to assess maintenance needs and inspect damage to critical infrastructure such as power lines and railway tracks.

READ MORE: BT invests in firm looking to create UK drone 'superhighway' above Reading

Reading Borough Council is listed as one of the partners of the project.

Councillor Rob White, the leader of the opposition on the council, asked about the level of council involvement in the project.

Cllr White (Green, Park) said: “BT is said to have invested £5 million in the project and its website lists one of its partners as Reading Borough Council.

“Residents are understandably confused and concerned and are scared that plans that affect them are being made behind closed doors.

“Can the lead councillor responsible give us any information on the council’s plans for drone flights above Reading?”

The question was answered by John Ennis, lead councillor for climate strategy and transport.

Cllr Ennis (Labour, Southcote) said: “The council has partnered in Project Skyway for the very reasons that cllr White has raised concerns.

“Drone and beyond the line of sight technology and regulation thereof is emerging and without engagement from local authorities, without council engagement and local placemaking and regulation risks missing out on scrutiny and expertise as well as engagement with residents.

“The council, along with Oxfordshire County Council and Coventry City Council are partnering to provide advice on the application of the technology across the originally scoped super highway flightpath, which starts outside the borough boundary and up to Coventry.

“Whilst the super highway is the focus of elements of the commercial case for the project current proposals for drone flights within the borough are highly limited in scope and scale and would be subject to consideration on a case-by-case basis.”

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Project Skyway is being supported by Innovate UK, the national innovation agency, which itself runs the Future Flight Challenge to capitalise on the opportunities that drones and other emerging technologies present.

Cllr Ennis said: “Officers are engaging with the Future Flight project team to provide advice as part of regular workstreams and recently conducted two focus groups with residents which forms part of the feedback into the project team.”

He finished by saying Thames Valley Police and other commercial drone operators conduct regular flights above Reading.

Cllr White asked for clarity on the route drones in the project would take over the town, but cllr Ennis responded that this information could only be provided in a detailed response submitted through the ‘councillors enquiries’ procedure.