A clash broke out on the radio over the prospect of a third bridge over the River Thames that would alleviate traffic passing through Reading.

The idea of a third Thames Bridge was recently discussed on BBC Radio Berkshire, as it forms part of Reading Borough Council’s Transport Strategy 2040.

A section of the strategy suggests that journey times could be improved if a third Thames bridge were to be built.

But a leading councillor from Reading and a councillor from South Oxfordshire clashed over the idea on the BBC’s Andrew Peach show.

John Ennis, the lead councillor for transport on Reading Borough Council, said that neighbours in Caversham are ‘fed up’ with drivers and goods vehicles using the roads as a cut-through for onward journeys.

He argued that a Third Thames Bridge would alleviate this issue, but neighbouring South Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire County councils mean hopes for a third bridge have stalled.

Reading Chronicle: John Ennis, lead councillor for climate change and transport. Credit: Reading LabourJohn Ennis, lead councillor for climate change and transport. Credit: Reading Labour

Cllr (Labour, Southcote) said: “We’ve always been stuck with our neighbours, and we’re desperate to engage with them.

“Let’s be honest with you, North Reading and Reading are fed up with the beautiful area, small roads, being used as a shortcut to the M4.

“We’ve really got to come to some sort of conclusion soon about what we’re going to do if there is always an obstruction and objection to building the bridge because we’re desperate for it.”

Any third bridge would require cooperation with South Oxfordshire District Council and Wokingham Borough Council to implement, as a prospective bridge would link Thames Valley Park in Earley with the junction of Henley Road and Caversham Park Road just outside the borough boundary.

Reading Chronicle: A design for a Third Thames Bridge which would link Thames Valley Park in Earley with Caversham. Credit: Reading Borough CouncilA design for a Third Thames Bridge which would link Thames Valley Park in Earley with Caversham. Credit: Reading Borough Council

While Reading council wants the bridge to be built, it is a suggestion that has proved unpopular in South Oxfordshire.

Also speaking on the Peach Show, Mike Giles, (Liberal Democrats, Sonning Common) said: “Cllr Ennis is trying to win hearts and minds in South Oxfordshire by threatening to bring in road user charging, and I’m not sure that’s really the right way to go about it if you want to engage with the local people.

“In terms of the bridge itself, I think the proposal is a bit half-baked, the proposed bridge would be very expensive probably costing hundreds of millions of pounds, it’s opposed by many residents across the district, and its construction and usage will harm the local environment.”

Reading Chronicle: Councillor Mike Giles (Liberal Democrats, Sonning Common), a representative on South Oxfordshire District Council. Credit: SODCCouncillor Mike Giles (Liberal Democrats, Sonning Common), a representative on South Oxfordshire District Council. Credit: SODC

Cllr Ennis replied: “If South Oxfordshire say ‘ we don’t want it’, we have to move on.

“If all councils were engaging and in favour of it, we could move forward with a bid. We’ve done that before.

“We want to work with our neighbouring colleagues, we’re not threatening. The people of North Reading are fed up.”

He then said that 25 per cent of traffic has no destination in Reading, but adds to congestion nonetheless.

Cllr Ennis floated the idea of charging drivers using Reading roads as a cut-through route in a conversation about the Reading Transport Strategy 2040 with the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

You can view the strategy’s aims and proposals and provide feedback on the Consult Reading website.