Reading bus lanes set for green light despite opposition

Oxford Road is set to have a bus lane created

Plans to introduce six new bus lanes on key routes in Reading are set to be approved, despite criticism from local businesses.

The lanes would be introduced on Oxford Road, Bath Road, Southampton Street and London Road as part of a £26m investment in bus services.

Some traders have criticised them as "a nail in the coffin" for businesses.

Reading Borough Council said they would "cut congestion and improve the environment".

It said the six bus lanes have been identified for areas in Reading where services suffer from the most delays due to congestion, particularly at peak times.

Amy Kaur, who works for Lansley property agents on Oxford Road, said: "A lot of businesses round here rely on passing trade.

"We need access in and out of the car park at the back, we need our cars for viewings and for the general running of the business. I'm a bit shocked - I can't see it working."

New Reading bus lanes:

• A329 Oxford Road - outbound bus lane between Zinzan Street and George Street

• A329 Oxford Road - outbound bus lane between Pangbourne Street and Norcot Junction

• A4 Bath Road - outbound bus lane from Circuit Lane to Granville Road

• A327 Southampton Street - inbound bus lane from Pell Street to The Oracle roundabout

• A4 London Road - inbound bus lane between Sidmouth Street and London Street

• A4 London Road - inbound bus lane between Liverpool Road and Cemetery Junction

Jonathan Ryz, of the nearby Demain menswear store, said: "It's just another nail in the coffin for independent traders because a lot of people would like to drive into Reading, park up and have the convenience of shopping with their car outside the business."

John Ennis, lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, said: "Reading already has a popular and well used bus network and it will become even more attractive to people if buses can avoid congestion and run even more reliably, faster and more frequently.

"Everybody knows there is limited road space in Reading and some of the proposed changes will impact on traffic flows in the short term, but this has been taken into consideration in the design of the new lanes and measures will be taken to mitigate this where possible.

The proposed new bus lanes form part of the council's bus service improvement plan, which secured funding from the Department for Transport.

They have been recommended for approval at a meeting of the council's traffic management sub-committee later.

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