OPINIONS remain split months into the controversial introduction of a new bus lane in Reading that drivers say has made congestion on the already busy route worse.
In August, the left side of London Road has been shut off for cars, as it became dedicated for bus journeys, in a move that has left traffic ‘appalling’ according to residents.
Reading Borough Council (RBC) introduced the change to the route along London Road to Sidmouth Street as part of a £26m investment in bus services across the town.
But concerns have not only been raised by those living in Reading. Wokingham Borough Council has also raised issue that it wasn’t ‘formally consulted’ on the scheme and was ‘concerned’ about the spillover of cars into the neighbouring town.
As well as this, Thames Valley Police claim to be the only emergency service to respond to the consultation process.
Despite the wide upset, others have been more positive – arguing that it could lead to a long-term habit change for many commuters, who could opt to take public transport, cycle or walk.
Why was the bus lane approved?
Plan for the bus lane were approved in January this year as part of wider changes to bus routes across the borough.
The lead councillor for climate strategy and John Ennis said the scheme would encourage people to change their journey habits, improve air quality and help the council meet its net zero emissions targets.
Plans also aimed to improve standards for residents on London Road who have ‘suffered from poor air quality for many years’.
But leader of the opposition Green councillor Rob White claimed that the change would increase morning traffic by around 70 cars. He asked for the decision on the London Road lane to be deferred, while supporting plans for five other routes.
Retired Councillor Tony Page described the plans as a ‘second best’ option to ease traffic in Reading after the failure of a more ambitious project to establish a speedy bus route near Thames Valley Park.
The proposal between Thames Valley Park and Napier Road was refused by neighbouring Wokingham Borough Council, of which part of the route would have fallen into.
After implementation, RBC has argued residents will see longer-term benefits to the new bus lane, and will contribute to the town achieving net zero carbon by 2030.
Why is it so controversial?
With the added traffic to the roads, many residents are worried about the impact on emergency service vehicles.
Dan Shockley said that he had seen ambulances ‘get caught up in the backed up traffic’ while trying to get to nearby Royal Berkshire Hospital.
RBC confirmed that Thames Valley Police were part of the consultation process, during which the force said it was ‘concerned’ about the impact of the bus lane.
Potential impacts include ‘rat run’ speeding along nearby moves.
When consulted, Thames Valley Police said they wanted the council to monitor the traffic after implementation to ‘identify any adverse impact the scheme has’.
But a spokesperson from South Central Ambulance Service said that the local operational management team had not been consulted. Local crews had reported that traffic had been ‘reluctant’ to move into the bus lane – as residents said they were fearful they would be fined.
The spokesperson said: “It might be helpful for the council to confirm or raise public awareness that should traffic need to temporarily move into the bus lane to allow an emergency vehicle on blue lights to pass coming in the opposite direction, the drivers wouldn’t be fined for that.”
As well as emergency services, Wokingham Borough Council has expressed worries.
Councillor Sam Akhtar said at a recent full council meeting that the effects were being felt by Wokingham residents.
Cllr Akhtar said it had led to ‘increased congestion, more stationary traffic and a displacement of vehicles onto roads within our borough, particularly near the boundary with Reading’.
Leader of the Council Stephen Conway said he shared concerns and said that although the authority were ‘aware’ of the plans they were ‘not aware of any formal stakeholder consultations’ on the scheme.
But RBC said Wokingham officials were invited to public informal meeting as well as ‘statutory’ meetings on the matter – through which the council were ‘generally supportive’.
A spokesperson from RBC said the new lane was ‘expected to have an impact’, especially given the closure of Church Road in Wokingham is ‘impacting current traffic flows’.
Wokingham’s leader said his council wanted RBC to act ‘as soon as possible’.
But some have been more positive – as cyclists and hackney carriage taxis are allowed to use the new lane.
Susan Children from Reading Cycle Campaign said: “If a lane is taken away in the short term there will be more congestion, but people ill then change their views. People don’t want to be stuck in traffic, and will start thinking ‘maybe I could take the bus, cycle or walk?”
