Shinfield roads see 30 mph limit introduced to improve safety

Coming to a road near you soon

Shinfield is set to reduce the speed limit from 40 mph to 30 mph on a cluster of key roads, following longstanding demands from local residents and councillors. The changes, proposed by Wokingham Borough Council, were officially approved in late 2024 and will come into effect this year.

What’s changing?

• Roads affected: Basingstoke Road, Tabby Drive, Church Lane, Hyde End Lane, Hyde End Road, and Beech Hill Road will all be reduced to 30 mph

• Some reductions are being implemented through street lighting (automatically enforcing 30 mph zones), while others (like portions of Hyde End Road) will require physical signage .

• The move follows a consultation initiated in 2019–2020, which was delayed due to police concerns over enforceability; support from housing developers to install traffic-calming measures has addressed those issues.

Voices from the community

Councillor Chris Johnson, representing Shinfield South, said the reduction on Basingstoke Road was “ten years overdue,” pointing to increased housing development, more pedestrian junctions, and school traffic as clear safety concerns.

Local authority wonks echo the sentiment. A highways officer confirmed the green light for a Traffic Regulation Order, saying the change would come "in approximately four weeks" in late with physical calmings to follow.

Why now?

Councillors and residents alike emphasise the need to reduce speed to enhance pedestrian safety—particularly with growing residential developments—and support active travel like walking and cycling. Council documentation highlights that slower speeds reduce the likelihood and severity of collisions—a core reason behind the shift .

What’s next?

• Traffic calming measures (speed humps, chicanes, etc.) will be delivered by new housing developers.

• The official legal order (Traffic Regulation Order) will be advertised in local papers and signage will follow soon after.

• The council expects the new limit to create safer conditions for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.

Overall, this change reflects Shinfield residents’ decades-long push for safer streets, the council’s renewed commitment to sustainable travel, and a growing trend of local authorities acting on road safety.