Reading's roads during Reading Festival

22 August 2012, 11:43 | Updated: 22 August 2012, 12:48

People living in Reading are being reminded that town centre traffic will be very heavy in the run up to the Reading Festival.

Traffic volume is expected to peak from Wednesday August 22nd through to Friday August 24th, and again with the departure on Bank Holiday Monday (August 27th). 

Reading Borough Council has given us loads of tips on how to not lose your cool in a traffic jam over the weekend.

Advice for residents

Reading residents who need to get into town during the build up to the event are being advised to carefully consider their journey.

Where possible taking the bus, cycling and walking may offer quicker journeys. If you need to drive at these busiest times please allow plenty of time for the expected extra demand on the road network.

Although the majority of visitors to the festival arrive by public transport, this also includes road-based travel. Around 15,000 people will be heading for the site by coach throughout the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Route information will be displayed on the existing variable message signs along the major routes into Reading, advising both local and festival traffic of conditions. 

If you're worried about anything to do with this year's festival, you can call the Hotline number on (0118) 938 0405 which is open from 7am Wednesday, August 22nd until midday Monday, August 27th. Before and after the festival, residents with concerns or queries can call Reading Borough Council on (0118) 937 3737.

For Festival visitors

Parking restrictions are in place around the Richfield Avenue site, and this area should be avoided during the festival period. Festival car parking is available at Mapledurham and Kings Meadow. There are no facilities directly around the site for drivers to drop off and pick up passengers - instead drivers should follow the directions to the official drop off and pick up points at Kings Meadow.

For festival visitors parking at Mapledurham, a pedestrian bridge has again been constructed into the site to ensure easy access to the festival. For those parking in Kings Meadow a boat service is provided free of charge to help transport everyone and their belongings to the festival.

On Monday 27th there will be no access to Richfield Avenue through Cow Lane Bridges, Diversion signs will be in operation, along the Oxford Road and along the IDR. In addition, temporary traffic management will be in operation at the Napier Road/Vastern Road roundabout and it is advisable to avoid these areas during Bank Holiday Monday.

A night time closure of the Thames Path (from 9pm to 6am) will be in operation from Thursday August 23rd to Saturday August 25th inclusive. The closure will apply between Scours Lane to the far end of Thames Side Promenade. The temporary closure is implemented for security and safety grounds.

Reading Borough Council has again worked with the festival organisers to produce travel information leaflets that have been sent out with tickets with details of bus, rail and park and ride services. As in previous years a special shuttle bus will be running between the station and the festival site to help visitors that arrive by train.

To help maintain traffic flow, the council's parking enforcement officers will be working alongside the police during the weekend to crack down on people who park illegally and cause an obstruction.

Throughout the duration of the festival a temporary taxi rank will be operating in Tessa Road - opposite the Rivermead Leisure Centre next to the Festival site - as a further option when travelling to and from the site. There will be another taxi rank in Loverock Road (close to Wigmore Lane) on Bank Holiday Monday only. There will be a third taxi rank at Thames Prom. Visitors are being reminded that they should pre-book private hire vehicles rather than hail them from the roadside. All licensed vehicles will display a Reading Borough Council plate on the back and all drivers should have an identity badge in full view. 

The Highways Agency has told Heart the M4 will be busiest on Thursday and Friday, and again late on Sunday evening and Monday.