EVERYONE knows that a thing in the Ding is jams – so a new consultation could be just the (non-speeding) ticket for the borough.
Reading Borough Council has announced plans to enforce moving traffic offences across the town, in a move aimed to boost road safety, reduce congestion and improve air quality.
But before it’s green for go, it is asking residents for their views.
If agreed, initial enforcement would be for tackling drivers who block yellow box junctions, but other measures tackled could include driving the wrong way down a one-way street, ignoring no entry signs, and making illegal turns.
Other enforcements could include driving in bus and taxi lanes, and turning left or right when not allowed to do so.
Council outside of London have only now been granted the option to apply for the same powers by Central Government, and Reading wants to be one of those with access to this enforcement.
If, following the consultation, the Council opts to make an application to the Department for Transport and is granted the powers, it would initially envisage enforcement on a number of existing ‘yellow box’ junctions across Reading which are regularly blocked by motorists, causing congestion and poor air quality through increased emissions.
Reading Buses has additionally identified yellow box junctions as a particular issue which regularly delay its services and bus passengers.
An application will be made to DfT and all responses will be considered over the summer before a final decision is made.
Reading Borough Council said that, as with all traffic and parking enforcement fines, if the Council chooses to adopt the powers following the consultation any revenue raised would then be used to invest in transport and highways improvements across Reading.
Cllr Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said: “The Council has lobbied for many years for local authorities outside of London to be given these powers, in order to be able to take action against people who break the Highway Code through illegal manoeuvres, causing delays and inconvenience for others.
“In Reading we have a particular issue with people blocking key yellow box junctions at strategic locations, which can have a massive knock-on effect for other road users. This includes adding to poor air quality and putting cyclists and pedestrians in danger, as well as the obvious inconvenience of delays for all road users. The Council is considering these powers as an additional tool to help reduce poor air quality from transport related emissions, as we work towards our new zero carbon target in 2030.
“This consultation is an opportunity for all road users, residents, businesses and other interested parties to have their say ahead of the Council deciding whether to adopt these powers or not. I’d urge as many people as possible to take a few minutes to complete the consultation so that we can get a broad range of views for consideration.”
The consultation is open until Friday, May 20, at https://consult.reading.gov.uk/dens/moving-traffic-offences-consultation/
