News

Talks held to find new site for Loddon Bridge park & ride

August 10, 2012

Negotiations are taking place to move Loddon Bridge Park and Ride to a new location.

Wokingham Borough Council is currently looking to move the service, which is used by workers and shoppers travelling to Reading, from its current spot at Showcase Cinema in Winnersh Triangle to another place within the immediate area.

The council’s lease with land owner National Amusements is up for renewal in March.

Councillor Keith Baker, executive member for highways and planning, said: “There is work taking place to find an alternative site and we would prefer to move it because the Loddon Bridge site makes it less sustainable.”

The current park and ride site regularly floods during heavy rain and has to close when flood alerts are issued for the neighbouring River Loddon.

Cllr Baker added: “If we haven’t completed our work to locate to a new site then we would discuss with Showcase owners for an extension on the lease.”

The council is due to publish its park and ride strategy within the next few weeks which sets out its aims to have a park and ride at Thames Valley Business Park, at Loddon Valley and at Coppid Beech roundabout.

| Submit Comments | View Comments (12)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

Most recent user comments 12 of 12

Champs - you are very wrong, this is everything to do with WBC. The residents of RBC don't actually need a park and ride as they can get on a regular bus from inside the borough boundary. It is the residents of WBC and beyond that use the Park and Ride at the moment and are the people who should use any new schemes to reduce the number of cars on the roads. It is the residents of neighbouring authorities that cause much of the congestion in Reading, but sadly the neighbouring authorities don't really care.

Smiffy, Reading
14/08/2012 at 09:42

Dear "Dangermouse" (suspected made-up name) I have given my opinion - I didn't want a conversation with you for goodness sake eugh.

If you have an opinion to add then feel free to air that too however it is just a bit juvenile to simply use this valuable space to "have a go" at other peoples opinions - don't you think?

Much love

D

David Williams, Reading
12/08/2012 at 14:23

The Winnersh Park and Ride was 'given' to the Council initially as part of a 106 for the consent for the cinema. The cinema was raised up since the site had a history of flooding - its in the Loddon flood plain! . The failure by WDC to deal properly with surface water run off from Lower Earley has made the situation much worse. Looking at Google, there seems to be no other 'vacant' land between Loddon Bridge and Cemetry Junction where a park and ride could be constructed, hence RBC trying to use existing space at Palmer Park etc. WDC/WBC could have used the construction of Thames Valley Park and more recently the Brake development as opportunities to provide towards park and ride but thinking outside the box is not something WBC seems capable of (they appear to have 'forgotten' to ask Brakes to finance anything for the community). Cutting essential services and saving money to spend on irrelevances is more their style.

Old Man in the Moon, Woodley
12/08/2012 at 11:12

So that's a no then.

I actually thought for one impossible second that you would of had a good idea or some practical attempt at a solution. Unfortunately all you could manage was a puerile monologue.

Once again -the empowering fantasies of the dispossessed. It's a just shame this didn't incur sensible debate. Decisions over viable park and ride schemes need to be made collectively between the councils and the people who wish to use them. All this toing and froing because no-one can make up their mind which areas will serve the most practical purpose- greater input is needed.

~Dangermouse~, Baker Street
11/08/2012 at 22:25

Empty carparks in Wok TC - that could be the park and ride into Reading!

Champs
11/08/2012 at 20:35

Yes "dangermouse" I am ready to take that step.

I only capitalised the start letter for each bullet point (for my suggestions, not demands) but this site can't handle bullet points properly - even you should be capable of realising that nugget.

Give me access to RBC planners computers and pay me basic minimum wage and then I'll find somewhere for you.

I am not going to do their job "for" them although I will work "with" them.

If you're clenching your Saturday morning ablutions, I suggest you go and sit on your throne and take time to consider more carefully, you may feel a little less retentive afterwards.

..... oh and at least I comment under my real name and not some made-up tosh

David Williams, Reading
11/08/2012 at 10:43

Minimum wage, David Williams? Do you feel you're ready to take that step up the ladder?

A list of demands, plenty of DO's and DON'TS (yes, it feels bloody marvellous to state things in capitals) -yet not even the sniff of a practical suggestion.

So where is that place then?

Go on, I'm clenching in anticipation.

~Dangermouse~, Baker Street
11/08/2012 at 10:11

It's nothing to do with WBC - Shut it and let RBC find their own site in their admin area.

Champs
10/08/2012 at 20:07

May I offer some advice here ?

Don't build the ruddy thing on a flood plain Don't earmark spaces in any public parks Don't have the entrance in a residential street Do put it where motorists need it Do make it cheaper than driving a car into town and parking there for a day. Don't imagine shoppers going to IKEA to load up with flat-pack furniture would even dream of using it.

It is quite simple really. I am available for town planning and I will work for minimum wage. Employ me - I am your only hope ...

David Williams, Reading
10/08/2012 at 16:35

I am still baffled as to what genius approved building a park and ride on a flood plain in the first place.

Hugh J, Reading
10/08/2012 at 12:53

Cllr Baker... would you please provide the heads up on the park and ride options to generate some feedback from Getwokingham readers

Stig2, Wokingham
10/08/2012 at 11:57

With the speed WBC go there is no chance of sorting out by the time the current lease expires! On a more serious note, what is the point of using Coppid Beech roundabout? I understand Thames Valley Park, but surely anyone who wants P&R will drive past Coppid Beech and go for the closer location at Thames Valley Park. Also, where is the mention of Mereoak which keeps getting mentioned in passing, but never in articles - but that could just be bad reporting!