CARELESS parking and a popular bus route are creating a dangerous bottleneck in Coley.

That is according to frustrated neighbours who told the borough’s transport bosses that Wensley Road is an accident waiting to happen because of the re-routing of Reading Buses’ Bronze 11 down the narrow street in March last year.

Wensley Road residents Nick and Dawn Fudge told the traffic management sub-committee on Wednesday last week that the parking bays put in after the popular bus route changed were making parking a nightmare and causing the street to become blocked off.

Mrs Fudge said: “Parking has become absolutely ridiculous.

“The bays that were put in after we put in some complaints were not very well thought out, in fact some of them have made travelling along the road much more dangerous.

“Between Carsdale Close and Shaw Road it is a complete bottleneck in the mornings and evenings.”

Lesford Road neighbour Peter Turner added: “Something has to be done – before long there is going to be a bad accident and fatalities.” Reading West MP Alok Sharma sent out a survey to around 100 Wensley Road, Lesford Road and Holybrook Road neighbours in December, which found that despite 72% supporting the new bus route, 71% felt the parking in Wensley Road was inadequate.

Speaking at the meeting outgoing Reading Buses CEO James Freeman stressed the profitable Bronze 11 – which is seeing soaring numbers of passengers – is vital to the firm, but admitted the road is frequently blocked by “careless” parking.

He said: “The current situation isn’t satisfactory but it would not be satisfactory to revert to the old route.

“If everyone parked with consideration for the free flow of traffic through the area this problem would not arise. At times it is deliberate.”

Committee chairman Cllr Tony Page agreed the road needed improvement but added: “It is a popular local service – there is no question of it being withdrawn.”