PLANS for two relief roads to cope with an increase in Wokingham’s population are moving a step closer.

The roads are planned to accompany the development of thousands of new homes being built in the borough.

The North Wokingham Distributor Road (NWDR) and the Arborfield Relief Road, form part of Wokingham Borough Council’s Strategic Development Locations, in North Wokingham and the Arborfield Garrison.

A public consultation was carried out last year – with more than 2,500 responses – when residents expressed their preferences for routes.

Residents preferred Option ‘B’ in both instances. The Arborfield Relief Road will connect to the A327, intersecting Swallowfield Road, terminating next to the garrison. The NWDR would join Reading Road, run parallel to the A329M and link to Bellfoundry Lane.

The next stage involves a ‘detailed technical appraisal’ of the preferred routes and last Thursday the council’s executive approved funding to carry out these studies, at a cost of £150,000 per scheme Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for strategic planning and highways, said: “These roads are a crucial part of the Strategic Development Locations, so it is vital that we get them right. The large-scale commitment to the consultation, and now the care we are taking to analyse the responses, are part of efforts to ensure we do end up with the right roads.” For more detail on the routes, visit www.wokingham.gov.uk/transport/roads