THE LEADER of the town's planning committee has praised Reading FC's proposal to offer free travel to Madejski Stadium as an alternative for match-day parking as a "commendable solution".

Councillor Tony Page suggested he would be delighted to see thousands of fans flock into the town-centre on match days to board special football shuttle buses, should the Royal Elm Park plans go ahead tomorrow.

The proposals have been earmarked for approval by council officers and the massive £500m development could see hundreds of flats, new shops, an ice-rink and conference centre and public space surround Madejski Stadium by 2019.

Fans slammed the plans when it was revealed the club's Thai owners wanted to demolish match-day parking spaces to make way for the project, but Reading FC want to alleviate their concerns by offering free transport from Reading town centre to the stadium.

Cllr Page said: "I think it's a very commendable solution but the devil will be in the detail just like all these schemes.

"There have been detailed discussions between the football club and Reading Buses.

"People are going to be coming into the town centre by public transport such as rail or by other buses and then transferring to the special football shuttle buses.

"It has to be made to work and it is a potential solution but getting the details right will be critical for the scheme and that is at both ends.

"That's at the town-centre end and at the football club.

"There are plans explaining how the club intends to manage that along with new bus lanes which have been proposed going into and out of the site (Madejski Stadium)."

The development will see match-day parking spaces scrapped to make way for new buildings. The project does include a multi-storey car park but it is estimated there will be 833 fewer match-day parking spaces than are currently available to fans.

Loyal fans and season ticket holders at Reading FC voiced their concerns over the plans.

One resident told RBC: "I am opposed to this planning application because of the lack of sufficient car parking spaces for visitors to the Stadium. Many Reading FC season ticket holders, like myself and my wife, live many miles way, in our case 60 miles.

"Public Transport is not a practical option. We currently park at the stadium car park. People like us will be forced to use street parking in local residential areas that will significantly inconvenience local residents in places like Whitley Wood.

"It will also slow down traffic in these areas and will also be dangerous as other drivers try and manoeuvre around all the extra parked cars."

The plans are expected to be approved at a council meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) night.