Bus boss speaks out in road charges row

Adam Hewitt • Published 17 Nov 2009 12:00 2 Comments

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THE independence of Reading Buses has been dragged into a political row over road closures at the station.

The borough's ruling Labour group and the Tories want to press ahead with the major changes (see below) to accommodate the station upgrade and Station Hill 2 development, but the Lib Dems say bus users are being ignored.

At last Wednesday's meeting of the Traffic Management Advisory Panel, Reading Buses chief executive James Freeman said that - despite speculation - he backed the changes, which would benefit and not hurt passengers.

But Lib Dem transport spokesman Cllr Ricky Duveen said the bus company was too close to the council to be considered independent, adding: "I think James Freeman knows which side his bread is buttered on. I don't understand why we should consider that as an unbiased opinion. We are going to have buses dropping people a long way from the station entrance, in the street.

"They will be blocking the street, passengers will need to cross the road. All in all I think it's a very poor show for passengers.

"The root of the problem is that we've allowed the Station Hill development not just to carry on, but to extend its footprint, stopping us having the bus interchange that Reading actually needs. I think what's being proposed is frankly a disgrace."

But panel chairman Cllr Tony Page accused him of "arrogance" and demanded he apologise to Mr Freeman for the "grossly offensive" slur.

He added: "Confronted with copious amounts of briefing, you still trot out the same ill-informed criticisms that bear no relation to reality."

Tory transport spokesman Cllr Richard Willis added: "To impugn Mr Freeman's judgement, status and integrity is wholly unacceptable."

He backed the traffic plans, calling them "the only sensible option".

Mr Freeman said: "There is no virtue in having a great big bus station for its own sake. I think I'm the only one who would want that!

"People will still be able to get to the station, The Oracle, Broad Street Mall and other places they need to get to quickly."

There were eight objections from the public and politicians, but the panel's three Labour and one Tory member voted for the changes to go to Cabinet for final approval. Cllr Duveen voted against.

- MORE on the fall-out from the meeting in Thursday's Chronicle.

Town centre traffic network changes:

- Station Hill closed to traffic

- Most buses to stop along Forbury Road and Station Road, with a turning circle

- Park and ride and some other buses to stop at the bottom of Station Hill near Greyfriars Road

- Some buses from the north to stop along Vastern Road on their way to and from the town centre

- Friar Street made two-way between West Street and Station Road, but westbound buses and taxis only

- West Street and St Mary's Butts made two way, but southbound buses and taxis only

- Friar Street between Blagrave Street and Station Road to be one-way west instead of one-way east

- Valpy Street made one-way east

- Blagrave Street to be made one-way south

- Station Road made one-way north

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Howard Thomas
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Nov 21, 16:39
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I'm no great supporter of the Libdems, but on this occasion they are absolutely spot on, and cllr Duveen is quite correct to say that the bus stops are being arranged to suit John Madeski's Station Hill development, which is a quite absurd way of addressing the needs of public transport.

The council should be producing the best public transport system that it is possible to get , and the monsterously oversized Station Hill development should be staying within its own 'footprint' and not expanding into areas that it has no right to do so.

This is quite simply a matter of the council, who should be putting the needs of its redsidents first, allowing a major private developer to trample all over them.

Why?-------------make your own minds up!!

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james
Unregistered User
Dec 2, 11:29
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People will have to cross the road to catch a bus? Most do at the moment. The glass wating area, you have to cross in front of moving traffic exiting the station. You have to cross station hill to get to buses from outside Thames Tower. These plans are the only sensible option, with what the town has available.

Station Hill will propel Reading even further in it's advancement. The Oracle, it's big, others have had to follow, because it worked. Reading FC, moved stadiums, it is such a great stadium, London Irish have also made it their home until 2025, it's big it works. Station Hill, it's big, bold, it's going to work. Reading and the area around has many examples of thinking big paying off. To borrow a statemnt of Donald trump. Think big, kick ass. When the recession is over, this develpment will not yet be finished, but when it is, it will work, and Reading will along with it.

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