The following notification has been received from Highways England
​
M4 Junctions 13 to 14 Wickham – Bridge Repairs
 
We’ll shortly be carrying out essential repairs to the bridge which carries the M4 over Welford Road (near Wickham, West Berkshire). During our inspections we have found that water is leaking through to the bridge joints and this needs to be repaired.
 
To ensure the bridge remains in a safe condition, work will include:

• reconstructing the central reservation
• replacing the joints across the M4 motorway
• replacing the waterproofing material below the road surface
• resurfacing the M4 across the bridge
• upgrading the safety barrier along the M4 verges

 
This work is currently scheduled to start on 14 May 2021 and is expected to be completed by the end of October 2021.
 
For the safety of our workforce and customers, the following traffic management restrictions will be in place on both the M4 eastbound and westbound, and on Welford Road beneath the bridge:
 
Welford Road
Whilst we are replacing the central reservation of the M4 above, we will close Welford Road from Monday 12 July through to Saturday 18 September 2021. A diversion will be in place via Welford Road, Rood Hill, High Street and the B4000.
 
Access will be maintained for pedestrians and cyclists, and for emergency services.
 
M4 motorway
From Friday 14 May 2021 for up-to five weeks, there will be a 24/7 closure of the hard shoulder on both carriageways and overnight lane closures.
 
Then from Monday 21 June 2021 for up-to 12 weeks, 24/7 narrow lanes and an enforceable 50mph speed limit will be in place on both the westbound and eastbound carriageways. Free vehicle recovery will be available for anyone who breaks down in the narrow lanes.
 
Once the central reservation has been replaced, the narrow lanes will be removed, and the remaining activities will be done using full weekend closures of the M4 eastbound and westbound carriageways.
 
M4 weekend closures
To replace the central reservation, a large crane will be required, and we will need to close the entire motorway for the full weekend. A further weekend closure of the M4 will be required to replace the waterproofing material and surfacing. This is to allow enough time for the material to cure.
 
These weekend closures will be between junctions 13 and 14. The dates of the weekend closures are currently planned as follows:

• 9pm on Friday 30 July through to 6am on Monday 2 August
• 9pm on Friday 20 August through to 6am on Monday 23 August
• 9pm on Friday 10 September through to 6am on Monday 13 September (contingency)
• 9pm on Friday 24 September through to 6am on Monday 27 September
• 9pm on Friday 8 October through to 6am on Monday 11 October (contingency)

 
During these closures, signed diversions will be in place via the A338, A4 and A34.
 
All our work is weather dependent, particularly when using a large crane. We’ll advertise the closures on yellow signs placed in advance alongside the road, via the media and on our South-East Twitter feed @HighwaysSEAST.
 
We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption you may experience during this work.
 
If you have any questions, or if you would like to know about our work, please contact us on 0300 123 5000 or email info@highwaysengland.co.uk. Alternatively, please visit www.highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/south-east/south-east-maintenance-schemes/

​Join Welford Park - Walk for Parkinson’s UK or take part virtually - the choice is yours!  

• Every pound raised, matched by the Frank and Evelyn Brake Connect Fund, will help transform information and support services for people affected by Parkinson’s

 
You  can now sign up to Welford Park Walk for Parkinson’s on Sunday 4 July  to help fund vital support for people affected by the condition, or if you would like to volunteer at this event please contact us too.
 
Charity Parkinson’s UK has launched its annual Walk for Parkinson’s series, which was cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This year, there are three ways to take part:

• Join one of our socially distanced organised walks in your area at Welford Park.
• Walk for Parkinson’s 66 mile challenge: complete 66 miles of walking in July
• Walk for Parkinson’s Your Way: walk 2 or 6 miles wherever you are over 25 and 26 September.

The money raised by Walk for Parkinson’s will help transform the way the charity offers information and support to people with Parkinson’s, and the people in their lives. This year, thanks to the Frank and Evelyn Brake Connect Fund, sponsorship will be matched pound for pound, doubling the impact for people affected by Parkinson’s.
 
Organised walks taking place include Welford Park in Newbury on Sunday 4 July. The walks will comply with local coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance. 
 
This year, there will also be two virtual walking challenges: Walk for Parkinson’s 66 mile challenge and Walk for Parkinson’s Your Way. 
 
If you know 66 people, you know one person living with Parkinson’s. So why not take on Walk for Parkinson’s 66 by walking 66 miles throughout July?  How you want to complete this challenge is up to you. Whether it’s alone or socially distanced, all you have to do is reach the target of 66 miles by the end of the month.
 
With Walk for Parkinson’s Your Way, you choose your own course, when you do it and who you walk with over the weekend of 25 and 26 September. Participants can choose from two distances - 2 or 6 miles - depending on what suits you best.
 
To take part in Walk for Parkinson’s, visit: www.parkinsons.org.uk/get-involved/walk-parkinsons or www.events.parkinsons.org.uk/walkwelfordpark
 
Or call 0800 138 6593 or email fundraising@parkinsons.org.uk

West Berkshire Council is responsible for around 740 miles of public footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways and byways. There are public rights of way across the whole of West Berkshire, in both urban and rural areas. These form an important network for enjoying and exploring the countryside and travelling to work or school, as well as supporting tourism and good health. They provide hundreds of miles of free routes on which people can walk, cycle, ride horses or use other means of travel.
Our rights of way improvement plan helps us to make sure the public rights of way network meets the needs of the public, now and in the future. Our current Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) was adopted on the 27 May 2010 and it now needs updating.
Speaking about the work Councillor Richard Somner, Executive Member for Transport and Countryside, said:
"Many people have used public rights of way more during the pandemic, or have discovered them for the first time. Accessing the countryside and West Berkshire's network of paths has been very important to people for their health and mental wellbeing. We want to better understand the value of the public rights of way network to those who currently use them as well as how we might other residents to discover and make use of them."
The rights of way service is also using the process of reviewing its ROWIP to understand the needs of residents of West Berkshire more fully. It will use the opportunity to make sure the ROWIP addresses the priorities of the area in terms of health and wellbeing, supporting people living with disabilities and mental health issues, regeneration, growth, transport, climate change, tourism and other priorities.
To make sure the new ROWIP reflects the needs of West Berkshire's residents, we'd like to know about your experience of using our public rights of way, and how important the network is to your health and wellbeing. We also want to know if you've encountered any problems using the PROW's, and whether your concerns were addressed. 
An online survey has been set to gather people's views - take part before 30 May 2021.
A public right of way is a path that anyone has the legal right to walk on. Some public rights of way can also be used by cyclists, horse riders or motorists. You can use:

• Footpaths for walking, running, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs
• Bridleways for walking, horse riding, bicycles, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs
• Restricted byways for any transport without a motor, except mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs
• Byways open to all traffic for any kind of transport, including cars (but they're mainly used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders)

You can explore public rights of way on the West Berkshire Online Map.