Following concerns raised by local residents, Alok Sharma, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West, together with Rob Vickers the Conservative Council Candidate for Southcote, has launched a Traffic Survey, which was delivered last week to homes on New Lane Hill and the surrounding roads.

Alok said: “During a recent street surgery in Southcote we spoke to many local residents who were concerned about speeding traffic and vehicles weighing above the 7.5 tonnes weight limit using New Lane Hill. I know Reading Borough Council currently operates an Over-Weight Lorries Scheme (OWLS) designed to discourage over-weight lorries from using New Lane Hill, but talking to some local residents this scheme does not appear to be working particularly successfully.”

Alok added: “Our survey is designed to find out what kind of traffic calming measures local people want to see introduced in the area. We have also asked residents for their views on whether they believe the Council’s Over-Weight Lorries Scheme is working and if not, what kind of control measures should be implemented instead. Once we hear back from local residents we will certainly be raising their concerns with the Council.”

Rob Vickers, who lives on New Lane Hill, said: “I know from first-hand experience that speeding and over-weight lorries rumbling along local roads are a real nuisance for local people and I would ask all those who have received this survey to make their views known.”