Reading Borough Council in Berkshire announced on 25 February 2026 that it wants to change the road layout on Sidmouth Street to increase vehicle capacity and facilitate a new bus lane on London Road. The proposal aims to make bus journeys quicker and more reliable while managing the flow of traffic heading toward the town centre.
The plan involves scaling back a segregated cycle lane that was made permanent in 2022 but has since been described by the council as underused. By reducing the size of this lane, the council intends to provide the necessary road capacity for the introduction of a new bus lane on London Road, which was first approved in January 2024 as part of a government-funded improvement project.
If the changes go ahead, drivers will see a two-lane entry onto Sidmouth Street from London Road. The road will then widen to three lanes between South Street and Queens Road, featuring one lane for left turns and two lanes for right turns.
Cllr John Ennis, the Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said the current cycle lane lacks connections to other routes because of a lack of funding. He explained that prioritising more space for vehicles is a logical step to support the wider bus lane project and prevent traffic from spilling over into smaller side streets.
The proposal will be presented to the council’s Traffic Management Sub-Committee on Thursday 5 March 2026. If the committee approves the plans, residents and local businesses will have the opportunity to take part in a formal consultation regarding the changes.
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