A NEW park and ride planning application for Coppid Beech has been submitted, following congestion concerns on the A329M.

The plans were submitted in the hopes of improving congestion on the busy road, as well as improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions.

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport, said: “A new park and ride at Coppid Beech will help us to ease congestion on the A329 London Road in and out of Wokingham town centre.

“It helps give residents in the area more sustainable transport options for travelling into Wokingham or Bracknell thanks to the potential to link up with the already high quality bus service in the area.”

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The new park and ride, costing a total of £3 million to build will hold 250 spaces, including cycle and motorcycle spaces, as well as electric car charging ports.

Of the £3 million, Wokingham Borough Council will only pay £600,000, with the rest of the fee being covered by a government local growth fund.

Cllr Gregor Murray, executive member for climate emergency, added: “Our climate emergency action plan has set ambitious targets to increase use of public transport to help cut our carbon footprint and improve air quality.

While this park and ride was conceived before we declared a climate emergency, it provides the kind of infrastructure we need to achieve our targets.”

Provided the permission is granted, construction work for the park and ride on Coppid Beech, based on the Wokingham-Bracknell border, is set to begin this winter and to be completed by late 2021.

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Alison Webster, CEO of Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) added: “We are delighted that a contribution from the LEP’s Local Growth Fund will be able to help ease congestion for commuters and residents in the Bracknell and Wokingham area.

"This funding supports the additional infrastructure projects being delivered in Berkshire.”

Other park and ride areas, such as Winnersh Triangle, are also in the planning application process, with hopes to build a second storey for cars to park on at the site.

Cllr Jorgensen added: “We’re grateful to Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership for its continued support of our schemes to provide more sustainable transport options for our residents in all parts of the borough, especially as the council continues to work towards its goal of a carbon neutral borough by 2030.”