Wokingham

An updated, more user-friendly guide from Wokingham District Council is set to bring better highway design to new developments in the district.

Wokingham district council has committed to make regular reviews to its highway design guide and is asking for everyone’s views before it publishes a first revision towards the end of this year. The guide, first published in November 2004, has proved invaluable in helping to guide development in the Wokingham district. It has been designed as a ‘live’ document with regular updates to reflect changing design techniques.

The council is consulting people in the Wokingham district who have an interest in the use of the guide, including those who commented on the original guide. Comments from residents or interested groups are invited by email or letter by September 25.The draft document and list of amendments are available for viewing on the council website at www.wokingham.gov.uk/spg/drafthighwaysdesign. Copies are also available for viewing at the environmental services reception desk at the council’s Shute End offices. The document is primarily of interest to developers but may also be of interest to those who wish to understand or comment on planning applications in the district.

The main amendments included in the first revision are:

· Inclusion of design standards for private access roads. Although private access roads are not the responsibility of the council as highway authority, poorly designed accesses can result in additional street parking and congestion. Therefore the updated guide is set to include advice on how to design private accesses.

· Further advice on junction spacing. The revised guide is set to offer clearer advice on the frequency of junctions onto different types of roads.

· More detail on cycleway requirements. The updated guide offers clearer advice on sightline requirements both for vehicles crossing a cycleway and for cyclists.

The updated guide also provides information on how refuse storage should be included in any design as well as a list of contact details for electric, water, gas and telephone companies – known as statutory undertakers.

Those who have purchased a copy of the original design guide will receive a copy of the first revision when it is available.

Executive member for Wokingham highways and transport Cllr Anthony Pollock said: “The highway design guide is something that should evolve with the changing needs of road users, and it is therefore very important that we involve the ideas of our user groups every time we revise it. This is an opportunity for users to help us tailor our service as carefully as possible to their needs.”

Wokingham District Council