
Reading's major roads resurfacing programme restarts
Fifteen sections of a Berkshire town's major roads will be resurfaced over the next six weeks, as part of an £8m local authority scheme.The work will begin in Northumberland Avenue on Tuesday and conclude in Berkeley Avenue on 5 July, with 13 other road sections resurfaced in between, said Reading Borough Council.The authority said it would take the number of major road sections improved so far this year to 30, after 15 other stretches were resurfaced in a previous phase of the programme in March and April.The road improvement scheme also covers smaller residential roads, 100 of which were surfaced between February and April.
Road closures and a temporary "no waiting at any time traffic order" will be in place to prevent parking on the roads while the work is carried out, said the council. Residents and businesses directly affected will get advance notice, alerting them to the work, along with on-street closure notices and letters to residents, it said, adding that bus diversions will also be put in place.Reading Borough Council said its commitment to improving highways had already produced results, including a 39% reduction in the number of pothole reports from the public and improvements to over 800 roads since 2019.Karen Rowland, the council's lead for environmental services and community safety, said she hoped residents "are as pleased as we are to see the momentum continuing with our road improvements in Reading".She said: "We recognise that, at times, there are frustrations with road closures but we ask everyone to bear with us as we do our best to get these improvements made as quickly and efficiently as possible."The full schedule of the upcoming works can be found on the council's website.
You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Auto Express
6 hours ago
- Auto Express
Vauxhall Astra Griffin jumps in price but still costs just £26k
The Vauxhall Astra Griffin launched last year, providing a better-equipped trim for less money in Vauxhall's family hatchback line-up, and now it's been revised for 2025 with a new hybrid powertrain to go with the petrol and pure-electric versions. Not only does it now come in Astra Hybrid Griffin specification, there's also new cosmetic tweaks. There's a bit of a price bump, however, while it still comes in £2,775 cheaper than the outgoing Design trim, the Astra Griffin starts at £26,090 - making it £1,275 more expensive than before. The Astra Electric Griffin is only £10 more now, at £35,005, and the new Astra Hybrid Griffin splits the two, at £28,540. You can also have the Griffin model as a 'Sports Tourer' estate, commanding premiums of £2,800 over the hatchback version for the petrol and hybrid, or £1,200 for the EV. Instead of the still relatively fresh Hybrid 136 system that's used across the Stellantis group, the Astra Hybrid Griffin gets the newer and more powerful Hybrid 145. It's still a mild-hybrid set-up employing an electrified six-speed automatic gearbox with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, but there's 143bhp for a nine-second 0-62mph time and a fuel efficiency of 58.9mpg. The other powertrains remain unchanged, with the Astra Electric Griffin still managing 260 miles on a charge and the 128bhp turbocharged 1.2-litre model offered in manual or automatic guises. There's quite a lot of kit included, considering the Griffin is the cheapest Astra you can get. On the outside there's a new contrasting black roof, rear tinted windows and diamond-cut 17-inch alloy wheels, with the Astra Electric model getting 18-inch rims. Heated front seats remain, along with wireless smartphone charging – both of which weren't offered on the old Astra Design trim. There's also a heated leather steering wheel, an armrest (for petrol models), a frameless rear-view mirror, keyless go and a 180-degree rear-view camera. The Astra's dual-screen set-up of two 10-inch displays still sit on the dash, and have wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Advertisement - Article continues below The all-electric model is also offered with Vauxhall's 'Electric All In' package, which includes eight years of roadside assistance and a £500 credit that can be used towards an Ohme home charger installation. There's also the equivalent of 10,000 miles of free home charging if you switch to the Octopus GO energy tariff. Click here for our list of the best hatchbacks ... BUY A NEW VAUXHALL ASTRA NOW Find a car with the experts Car Deal of the Day: Super sci-fi Kia EV6 for an exceptional £260 per month Car Deal of the Day: Super sci-fi Kia EV6 for an exceptional £260 per month Our Deal of the Day for 31 May is an extremely attractive price for this extremely capable electric family car Car Deal of the Day: new Omoda 5, with all the kit you might need, for less than £200 per month Car Deal of the Day: new Omoda 5, with all the kit you might need, for less than £200 per month The Omoda 5 is one of the newest arrivals to the family SUV market, and now it's our Deal of the Day for 1 June Car Deal of the Day: Get the Range Rover look for (a lot) less with the Jaecoo 7 for £244 a month Car Deal of the Day: Get the Range Rover look for (a lot) less with the Jaecoo 7 for £244 a month Jaecoo is another Chinese brand that has recently arrived in the UK, and its 7 SUV has made a bit of a splash. It's our Deal of the Day for 3 June.


The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Inside Kia's refreshed Sportage including comfy cabin, punchy new looks and driving mode young families will love
PEOPLE say never work with children or animals. Because they're totally unpredictable. Treats will only get you so far. 5 5 But I'm not one to listen. So when Kia said Britain's favourite SUV is better for the family than ever before, I had to put it to the test. Meet Maisie and her new bestie, Bijoux the cockapoo. Two little fluff balls, perfect for having a proper rummage around the refreshed Sportage. Here are five things you need to know. 1. It's got a 'baby and toddler mode' which smooths out acceleration and driver inputs. Makes everything less jolty. So little toddlers like Maisie stay sound asleep. Happy babies = happy parents. You know that. 2. The boot. Comfortably beats a Nissan Qashqai at 587 litres v 504. Swallows pushchairs, luggage and all the usual family debris — even a dog crate to keep Bijoux safe. Which also means no muddy paws on the seats. Bonus. Some dogs will appreciate the baby mode, too. The Sun's Motors Editor, Rob Gill test drives the Kia EV3 3. New front end. OUT go the 'boomerang' lights from today's Sportage. IN comes the 'star map' LEDs inspired by Kia's growing EV line-up. Looks punchy. More aggressive. Will help Sportage stand out from the crowd. The rear lights have also been updated, as well as some other little details to keep things fresh. 4. Cabin. Absolutely nailed it. Lots of big-car tech in here but still knobs and buttons for the things that need knobs and buttons. Comfy. Roomy. Lots of handy storage, big cup holders, even USB-C charging ports in the side of the front seats for people sat in the back. Three well-equipped trim levels, not four as before. Posher versions get Apple CarPlay satnav arrows integrated into the Head-up Display. 5. Engines. Three choices — 1.6-litre petrol mild hybrid, full hybrid or plug-in hybrid. The last two have a bit more oomph than before and the option of four-wheel drive. Here's some good news for caravanners and people with weekend toys. Maximum towing capacity has increased to 1,510kg. No diesel. No pure electric. If you want to go electric next, there's a Sportage-sized EV5 coming soon. 6. Sorry, I can't count. Price. No official numbers from Kia yet but I'm guessing £31k for the petrol manual when it hits showrooms in September? That would be a lot of car at a sensible price. Maisie's parents own a Kia Niro by the way. You can guess what car they want next. 5 5


Auto Blog
9 hours ago
- Auto Blog
Land Rover Dropped Two New Special Editions To Celebrate 35 Years Of The Discovery
The Discovery Tempest and Discovery Gemini honor 35 years of a British off-roader icon Providing a unique take on the Discovery's versatile personality, the 2025 Land Rover Discovery Tempest and Discovery Gemini are striking special editions that further elevate the off-roader's distinct sense of charm. Where the Discovery Tempest aims to accentuate the model's penchant for luxury and its surprisingly sporty dynamics with satin paint and large-diameter wheels, the Discovery Gemini leans in the direction of the model's sophisticated-yet-sensible, family-oriented rigidity with its understated styling and added comfort features. Both special editions of the 2025 Land Rover Discovery aim to celebrate and emphasize the SUV's timeless versatility, seamlessly blending everyday comfort with off-road ruggedness, athletic excitement, and an unmatched sense of style. 2025 Land Rover Discovery Gemini — Source: Land Rover The 2025 Land Rover Discovery Gemini is all about understated comfort The 2025 Land Rover Discovery Gemini takes its name from the rugged turbodiesel engine that powered the original, 1989 Land Rover Discovery. The Gemini is available in six different paint colors, including Sedona Red, which it borrows from the Defender and is exclusive to this model, and pairs it with a black-painted roof for contrast. Gloss black paint is a theme throughout the rest of the Gemini's exterior styling as well, with the Discovery's lower body cladding, forward wing vents, and front grille surround all painted in stealthy black. Source: Land Rover Both of the 2025 Land Rover Discovery special editions get their own unique branding graphic, with the Gemini donning a double-hexagon pattern on its fuel filler cap, throughout the interior, and projecting it through its side door puddle lamps. Source: Land Rover With a focus on understated comfort, the 2025 Land Rover Discovery Gemini comes equipped as standard with a 'host of extra comfort and convenience features, including a cooler compartment located between the front seats, powered gesture tailgate and four-zone climate control.' The Discovery Gemini is what a Chelsea boot would look like if it magically became a car. Elegantly stylish, ruggedly capable, and dynamically versatile enough to take out for a light jog, the 2025 Land Rover Discovery Gemini is the perfect all-rounder to celebrate the model's history of seductively mating form with function, unlike anything else. The 2025 Land Rover Discovery Tempest celebrates the SUV's first-classman athleticism 2025 Land Rover Discovery Tempest — Source: Land Rover Land Rover calls the 2025 Land Rover Discovery Tempest 'the most luxurious, comfortable, and highly specified Discovery vehicle ever produced.' For the first time ever, the Land Rover Discovery can be specified from the factory with Matte Protective Film, offered over the top of either Charente Grey, Varesine Blue, or Carpathian Grey paint. Also standard is its visually striking Petra Copper Gloss roof, although a Navrik Gloss Black roof is optional. Source: Land Rover The 2025 Land Rover Discovery Tempest's 22-inch Diamond Turned wheels match the standard roof in their Petra Copper Gloss finish–a new colour for the Discovery lineup and one that is exclusive to the Discovery Tempest. According to Land Rover, the Tempest 'takes its name from the secret development launch program for the second‑generation Discovery vehicle launched in 1998.' Source: Land Rover Like the Discovery Gemini, the 2025 Land Rover Discovery Tempest gains its own unique badging–a spiral pattern which can be found on the Tempest's 'B-pillars, treadplates, puddle lamps, and interior finishers.' Other stylistic enhancements within the Discovery Tempest's cabin include Shadow Aluminum detailing and extended Ebony Windsor Leather upholstery. Final thoughts These two special edition Land Rover Discovery models celebrate 35 years of an icon with a pair of unique and visually striking SUVs. I do, however, wish that we could also see some more rugged editions of the Discovery, as those variants tend to be extremely popular with contemporary Defender buyers, and would likely have a similar effect on the Discovery's desirability. Regardless, and speaking as a Discovery owner myself, it's always nice to see Land Rover give much-needed attention to this model, and these unique special edition Discoveries excellently emphasize the model's signature ability to bind elegance with grit.