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People in Reading are asked to help come up with innovative plans to try to solve the town's notorious traffic problem.

Reading Borough Council has launched one of its biggest ever consultations and is looking for people's contributions to formulate a new local transport plan, which will manage the town's transport network up to 2036.

The consultation will ask for people's views on subjects like introducing a congestion charge for parts of town and a workplace parking levy.

There will be an online survey, leaflets to every home, discussion sessions, public drop-in events, school workshops, and crucial meetings with Reading's neighbouring authorities like Wokingham Borough Council , West Berkshire Council and Oxfordshire County Council.

People will be asked a range of questions on their travel choices and preferences, and what needs to change to tackle Reading's congestion, air quality issues and climate emergency.

The council's research shows a number of surprising factors about traffic in Reading which can be considered by anyone taking part in the survey.

These are:

Major roads in Reading like the IDR carry large amounts of 'through traffic' which doesn't stop and creates additional noise and air pollution.

The council's research shows a third of these trips during peak times using the IDR could be avoided if other orbital routes were provided.

86 per cent of people who commute into Reading for work from outside the borough travel by car.

Reading has a number of hotspots where nitrogen oxide is higher than national legal limits including Oxford Roda, Prospect Street in Caversham , Cemetery Junction/London Road, Friar Street and parts of the IDR.

Just 5.4 per cent of adults in Reading, Berkshire , cycle three times a week and just over a quarter walk three times a week.

And it's not going to get any easier

Reading's population is expected to increase by around 12 per cent from 162,666 to 181, 900 by 2039.

There are also 671 new homes planned in Reading every year until 2036, in addition to 801 in Wokingham and 990 in South Oxfordshire.

Councillor Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said: "Congestion and poor air quality is having a negative effect on the health and wellbeing of residents in Reading.

"It is a situation no responsible local authority can ignore.

“Reading’s challenge is to successfully absorb the growth in housing, jobs and commuting in the future, whilst protecting the health of its residents.

"The council does not have all the answers, which is why we are now asking residents, businesses, schools, interest groups and neighbouring local authorities for their input.

"This is Reading’s biggest ever transport consultation and will play a big part in shaping the future of transport in the town."

The consultation starts on Monday, July 29, and runs until Friday, September 20.

poll loading Should a congestion charge be introduced in Reading? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Yes No Not sure

A series of public events are planned for people to take part.

They are:

Tuesday, August 6, South Reading Community Hub, Northumberland Avenue, Whitley, between 3pm and 7pm.

Thursday, August 15, Church House, Church Street, Caversham between 3pm and 7pm.

Wednesday August 28, Salvation Army, Reading West , 522 Oxford Road, between 3pm and 7pm

Wednesday, September 4, Waterhouse Chamber, Reading Town Hall, between 3pm and 7pm

Tuesday, September 10, 7am to 10am, Reading Station Forecourt.

The council says no future options have been taken at this time and that everything submitted will be looked at to formulate the new local transport plan, which will be consulted upon in the spring.

Councillor Adele Barnett-Ward, chairman of the Clean Air and Safer Transport Forum, said: “With Reading’s success comes some major challenges in terms of congestion and air pollution. The survey is designed to gather information on how people choose to travel, why they make those choices and what would convince them to consider alternatives in the future.

“Everybody has an opinion on transport in Reading. Now is the time for people to make their voices heard.”

To find out more and take part in the consultation, visit the website.