Caversham Residents Celebrate 20mph Speed Limit Plans

A 20mph speed limit could be introduced across the Amersham Road estate in Caversham.

Neighbours have pushed for lower limits for more than a decade, starting with a petition in September 2016. Reading Borough Council later separated the Amersham Road estate for more detailed planning in November 2022.

The councils highways team has drawn up a scheme for streets including Amersham Road, Dickens Close, Mead Close, Meadow Way, Clonmel Close, Charles Evans Way, Ian Mikardo Way, Rhine Close, Nire Road, Honey Meadow and Managua Close.

The plan was discussed at the councils traffic management sub-committee and councillors unanimously agreed to put the 20mph zone to a statutory consultation at the meeting on September 10.

Proposed traffic calming includes three speed humps in Charles Evans Way and two in Ian Mikardo Way.

Councillor Jacopo Lanzoni (Labour, Caversham), who lives in the area, said: "Residents of the Amersham Road estate, and I'm one of them, have been campaigning for 20mph for many years."

He added: "I want to thank the people who campaigned for it and organised a petition."

On enforcement he said: "It would be nice if Thames Valley Police was investing some resources into the enforcement of 20mph, which it is good to remember doesn't fall onto the local authority."

Lanzoni praised previous Caversham councillors Adele Barnett-Ward and Richard Davies. Cllr Davies (Labour, Thames) said: "Yes, I was involved in the petition and bringing it to this committee back when my hair was more lustrous and brown and voluminous."

Cllr Davies previously represented Caversham from 2016 to 2022.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter