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Tunnel vision to improve access to King's Meadow for pedestrian and cyclists

Plans to reopen the tunnel under the railway linking Newtown to Napier Road could see the work completed by next summer.

Green councillor Rob White asked about a ^better-lit and more accessible route for people pushing buggies, wheelchair users and bikes ^ from Kenavon drive in Newtown through to Napier Road and the King^s Meadow area^.

He asked what plans there were to reopen the tunnel under the railway, during the council meeting on Tuesday, October 22.

Lead councillor for strategic environment, planning and transport Cllr Tony Page said the development of the underpass was a commitment in the council^s central area plan and was one of the schemes to be paid for by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. He said: ^The Napier Road underpass will provide a link from Napier Road through Kenavon Drive linking housing with retail, leisure and green space while also providing an additional shorter traffic-free route for pedestrians and cyclists.

^Delivering the opening of the Napier Road underpass will encourage the greater use of alternatives to the private car in improving connectivity between residential areas and leisure and retail facilities as well as improved access to the centre of Reading and key employment locations. In addition the scheme will support the regeneration of adjacent sites.^

Cllr Page said the underpass was owned by Network Rail which has to agree to the use of the link.

The council is not seeking a public right of way, just allowing public use of the land.

It needs to enter a Basic Asset Protection Agreement with Network Rail and then carry out work on the tunnel which would take eight to 12 weeks.
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