Transport bid "must succeed"

Adam Hewitt • Published 1 Nov 2009 09:00 Comments 1 Comment

Share this

COUNCIL bosses must convince a sceptical public that the £313m bid for better transport in Reading is worth their while - or see it die like the one-way IDR.

That is the call from Lib Dem Cllr Ricky Duveen, who says that the cross-boundary bid to the Government's Transport Innovation Fund (Tif) faces defeat unless Reading Borough Council sells the idea to motorists often completely hostile to congestion charging.

He said: "The council needs to get out there and sell the enormous benefits this scheme could bring to Reading and its neighbours, from the extra park and rides to better roads, buses, cycle routes, trains and a third Thames Bridge. Transport in Reading could be completely transformed if the bid works. There's so much more to it than potential future congestion charging."

Earlier this month The Chronicle revealed a leaked draft Tif business case showing three potential charging cordon zones.

One or two of the cordons may need to be implemented after 2016 if congestion remains above set 'tipping points' despite the 53 public transport projects that a successful bid would bring.

These projects include a Low Emission Zone, which could be implemented in the first phase from next year, banning polluting lorries from entering the town centre or coming 'inside' the IDR unless they pay. The document continues by describing the potential road user pricing cordons to be implemented at a later date and shows a map with the three cordons up for consideration:

- the town centre

- Reading's borough boundaries or

- the Reading urban area

It adds: "The conceptual starting point is that everyone who may want to cross the proposed cordon should have a public transport alternative before a charge is ever introduced."

"It is acknowledged that there is a risk implicit in maintaining political support throughout not only the bidding process, but also in future political administrations to deliver the proposed package."

Borough transport leader Cllr Tony Page has insisted that discussion on charging is still at a very early stage and that the council hopes never to have to introduce it.

He confirmed in a written answer to Cllr Duveen that the Tif bid includes a Low Emission Zone, adding: "The council with its partners is progressing its full Tif bid...Details of the scheme are still being developed and will be shared with the people of Reading and our partners as soon as they are completed."

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Unregistered User
Nov 3, 12:09
Report comment

Clearly, suitable alternatives must be provided before any change take place, and the acquiescence of residents must be sought if the Council is to be seen to have any regard for local democracy.

Unfortunately, RBC's record on public consultation is not encouraging. They have not come clean about their real intentions regarding their proposed A327 "corridor", for example. They aim to create congestion along this radial route into Reading by removing its 3 mini-roundabouts.

In spite of their much trumpeted "consultation", they have dismissed residents' letters and communications for the past 11 months. It is only now, when the Keep Our Roundabouts petition has reached nearly 400 signatures, that they appear to listen.

To congest central Reading deliberately by replacing the roundabouts with traffic lights, instead of providing the town with a much needed ring road system, seems like a daft idea. It has a rational explanation only in so far as controlled congestion may reinforce their argument for congestion charging.

However, their proposal to congest the residential areas around Shinfield Road by pretending to "improve the neighbourhood" is seen by local residents as cynical and morally indefensible.

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Follow @rdgchronicle