MP raises traffic issues caused by IKEA build

Alok Sharma takes motorists' pleas to contractor for better flow

MEASURES are being taken to help ease congestion in Calcot while roadworks for IKEA take place.

Works being carried out in preparation for the store in Pincent’s Lane have led to a lane closure and temporary traffic lights on the A4 and, as a consequence, traffic problems, particularly at peak times.

IKEA is contributing around £5m in developer’s contributions to try and mitigate the impact of the store on local roads.

The installation of the temporary lights has been required in order to construct splitter islands in the junction. Temporary signals will be replaced by permanent signals in April.

Residents have raised concerns over the works and delays with the MP for Reading West, Alok Sharma, who raised the problems in a meeting with the chief executive of West Berkshire Council, Nick Carter.

The council’s head of highways, Mark Edwards, and contractors Breheny Civil Engineering have also discussed the problem with Mr Sharma.

Mr Sharma said he was assured that the contractors have workers manually managing the traffic lights 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

And continual minor alterations to traffic light times are being made to ensure a balance in the traffic flow.

A proposal to prevent motorists from turning right into Sainsbury’s and diverting traffic around the M4 interchange roundabout was rejected by the council as it may have caused problems for M4 traffic.

Mr Sharma said: “I know this situation is incredibly frustrating for motorists, but, having spoken to the contractor, I know they are fully aware of the problems and I am assured that they do now have people on site 12 hours a day who are able to alter the timings of the traffic lights depending on traffic flow.

“Of course if the traffic does get worse, I would ask residents to get in touch and I am happy to raise this issue again.”

Residents can find out more information about the road works online by visiting: www.breheny.co.uk/2015/08/ikea-highway-works-reading-updates/.

Managing director of Breheny Civil Engineering, Trevor Stiff, said: “We appreciate this is a difficult time for all motorists using this route, however, please be assured that we are doing everything we can to minimise disruption to the road users and travelling public, while also maintaining the safety of our workforce and the general public.”

Planning permission was granted in 2012 for a 40,000 sq m store over three floors, a 1,179 space multi-storey car park, cafe, creche facilities and a bus interchange area.

In 2014 IKEA applied to reduce the size of the store to two levels instead of three, reduce the height by eight metres, and have a footprint of 32,000sqm.

IKEA Reading will open this summer but no date has been announced yet.