Wokingham Borough Council has bid for funding to build a new traffic-free route between Twyford railway station and Charvil via the Loddon Nature Reserve and Charvil Country Park to encourage reduced emissions and improved active travel in the area.
The authority has reportedly asked for a multimillion-pound contribution from central government towards the scheme from the £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund.
The 1.4km off-road path would, if approved, be constructed parallel to the railway and offer access to both the station and the town centre for those who wished to walk or wheel.
The path would need to be completed by March 2026 to meet funding requirements but the council hopes to finish the project sooner.
The proposed route is intended as part of a broader link between Twyford and the borough’s western boundary at the edge of Reading and would connect with this area via Charvil and Woodley.
What’s more, by encouraging active travel links with surrounding areas and communities, the council hopes to reduce reliance on private car journeys and promote more sustainable travel.
Wokingham’s goals to improve local air quality align with its declaration of a climate emergency in 2019 and its corresponding commitment to being a net-zero carbon producer by 2030.
Paul Fishwick, councillor and executive member for active travel, transport and highways, said: “We’re pleased to have taken the first step in making the route from Twyford to Charvil a reality and very much hope that our application will be successful.
“It will have benefits for many residents, from those who live in the area and want to make onward trips by train, to those further afield when it becomes part of our growing network of high-quality, borough-wide walking and cycling routes.
“We know some people don’t feel safe riding on the main road in that area, and it’s vital that we find ways to make active forms of travel more comfortable and attractive if we’re going to make a serious contribution towards reducing congestion and environmentally harmful emissions.”
The council claims to be working on other initiatives to promote green transport options in the region, including an increase in the rollout of electric vehicle charing infrastructure, as well as plans to open a consultation on drafts to a new transport plan.