Sutton Seeds Roundabout Set for Major Upgrade

A major roundabout used by thousands of people each day is set to change to speed up journeys for bus passengers heading into Reading.

The Sutton Seeds Roundabout links the A4 London Road between Woodley and Reading, Thames Valley Park and the A3290.

It isn't just drivers who use it: Reading Buses Orange 13 and 14, the Thames Valley and Winnersh park and ride services, and other routes all pass the junction.

Wokingham Borough Council, the highways authority, is pressing ahead with a scheme to add new westbound bus lanes to ease trips into Reading. One part will create a westbound bus lane on the roundabout between the A3290 entry and exit slip roads, and another will widen the A4 London Road approach to form a bus lane.

The work is funded by a £635,909 capital bus grant from the Department for Transport (DfT), plus developer contributions.

The first phase, on the roundabout itself, is due by March 2027, with the rest expected to finish by September 2027.

Adrian Betteridge (Liberal Democrats, Barkham & Arborfield), Wokingham Borough Council's executive member for transport and highways, said: "Attractive bus services which are frequent, reliable, connected and affordable help residents make greener travel choices, whether that's getting to work, education or for leisure.

"These proposals are about making everyday journeys more predictable and encouraging more people to choose the bus, while also improving the A4 corridor for all road users."

In further comments he said: "We're not taking space away from drivers - whilst buses will overtake the cars, we're not taking space away from cars - there is space for the extra lane to be built, that's why it was quite straightforward through the consultation stage.

"Drivers shouldn't have space taken away from them rightly or wrongly, and I think everyone can see this is a bus positive thing - it shouldn't impact those who continue to wish to drive."

John Ennis (Labour, Southcote), lead councillor for transport, said: "The consultation showed overall support within the borough for the introduction of a right turn lane into Liverpool Road.

"Our aim has always been to improve the reliability of public transport on this key route into Reading, and I believe this package of measures, on both sides of the borough boundary, would lead to improved traffic flows and journey times for both buses and general traffic."

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter