Wokingham politicians are divided on new plans for the A4 in Reading, saying that creating new space for the bus lane on the London Road won’t slow down drivers.
Whether you arrive in Reading from the A329M or the A4 via the Sutton Seeds roundabout, or from Winnersh via the A329, you know you’ve got a wait on your hands.
It’s true even for buses and the emergency services because the bus lane stops and starts.
Now there’s money to improve the situation – by lengthening the bus lane under the A3290 at the Sutton Seeds Roundabout using space currently unused.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, locals disagreed with a proposed turn-right ‘pocket’ into Liverpool Road, arguing that it should be ‘no-right-turn’ both in and out of that road, with a barrier down the middle of the road.
But pending the consultation, Liberal Democrats and Labour are generally supportive, whilst Conservatives feel skeptical.
Former Wokingham Borough Councillor, and current Town Councillor, Andy Croy (Labour) commutes past Sutton Seeds roundabout every day.
He said: “I think it’s a good idea. Drivers have got to learn to drive. Nobody should begrudge the bus going to the front of the queue.
“I can imagine a no-right-turn at Liverpool Road working well.
“I’m very supportive of making buses work quicker.
“People always worry about the loss of car lanes but If people look at the plans, in this instance there is no loss of car lanes.
“They’re narrowing the lanes. Creating some extra room is a good thing.”
Conservative leader Pauline Jorgensen said: “Generally, I do not support bus lanes when they take road space away.
“Most of the time they stand empty and they cause congestion.”
However depending on the results of this year’s borough council elections, it is likely to be Cllr Adrian Betteridge and his Liberal Democrat colleagues in Wokingham Borough’s executive making the final decision.
Cllr Betteridge said: “These proposals are designed to improve the flow of both buses and other vehicles, by adding road capacity on and on the approaches to the roundabout.
“The existing road layout and housing constrain what can be achieved in busy areas such as on London Road, but I expect this design to make things better for all.
“Faster bus journeys will lead to more people choosing to travel by bus rather than by private car, also freeing up road space for those who choose to drive.”
The beginning of the A4 bus lane on the corner of Liverpool Road is a historic legacy of bus money being awarded to Reading Borough Council for a joint project, but no money to Wokingham, so the bus lane ends on the boundary.
According to the consultation, this change will: “improve the reliability and punctuality of bus services by removing the delays caused when buses have to contend with general traffic and parking activity.”
Possibly the worst bottleneck in the whole system is at the corner of Liverpool Road where cars running into Reading currently arrive along two lanes, and they all have to merge into one.
This is set to continue, with a new ‘right turn pocket’ expected to be created to allow traffic to turn right into Liverpool Road.
Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils have both opened consultations into the proposals.
Residents can comment on the plans here: bit.ly/lpbuslane
