Reading’s Public Rights of Way Plan (ROWIP) Consultation – will close 19 February 2023

Organisation
Reading Borough Council (RBC)
Author
Lilian Green
Article date
17 January 2023
Primary interest
Planning and Development
Have your say on plans to improve Reading’s pathways and get more people walking

We are inviting you to have your say on our second Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP2) which includes the Councils plans to maintain and improve the borough’s rights of way network in a bid to get more people using them.

A 12-week public consultation launched on 24 November and will close on 19 February 2023. Click this link to have your say online!

For further information or to request alternative formats please contact: transport@reading.gov.uk

Some of the existing achievements outlined in the document so far include:

  • Resurfacing of key routes in the borough including the River Thames and River Kennet footpaths, with bank repairs alongside the River Thames;
  • Construction of Christchurch Bridge, providing enhanced access between the Thames Path and Caversham.
  • A new pedestrian bridge installed in west Reading over the railway linking the Thames Towpath (Footpath 1) with the A329 Oxford Road (Footpath 29).
  • Modifications at Fobney Lock for better access to cyclists and wheelchair users.

For the future, the action plan proposes:

  • Identifying new paths – including creating new paths as part of new developments.
  • Reviewing suggestions for historic routes and exploring options with the aim to claim or reinstate them;
  • Focussing on removing barriers for cyclists – such as gates and narrow paths, and on paths for those with restricted mobility and visually impaired such as gates, surface, gradient, and width;
  • Long-term addition of street-lights on existing dark paths.

The plans have been developed following a previous public consultation in 2021, when residents and local organisations were invited to have their say on how they currently use Reading’s network, and to highlight any barriers or issues to increasing its use as well as suggesting enhancements. E.g. make it more accessible to all users, better maintained or signposted.

For more information on the Council’s management of public rights of way visit the public rights of way page. View the previous Improvement Plan and consultation results on rights of way improvement plan page.

We look forward to your feedback.