TRAFFIC lights in Reading town centre will be switched off on a trial basis in a bid to help bus journeys become more efficient.

Reading Borough Council will turn off the signals at the crossroads of St Mary’s Butts, Broad Street, Oxford Road and West Street from 10am tomorrow morning.

The change will run for at least six months, with an aim of reducing bus journey times for thousands of customers.

In September last year, official Department for Transport figures confirmed the number of bus journeys in Reading had soared by 1.5 million year-on-year and means the town now has the fourth highest number of bus journeys per head of population outside of London.

Cllr Tony Page, the council’s lead member for strategic environment, transport and planning, said:

“The latest figures on bus journeys confirm what we already know – that more and more people are choosing the bus as their preferred way to travel. Over 2,000 buses, covering more than 25 bus routes, travel through this junction everyday.

"By switching off these traffic signals we estimate that journey times will be cut for the many thousands of passengers on these buses.

“This is being done on a trial basis for at least six months. At the end of that trial, together with Reading Buses, we will look at the effect on bus journey times and the benefit to their passengers.

“We know that many towns and cities across the UK are seeing the benefit of introducing ‘shared space’ junctions, where buses, cars, cyclists, pedestrians and taxis all share the same space.

"Evidence from other places suggests it can improve safety, as all road users slow down and look out for other road users when crossing junctions.

"It also makes for a much more pleasant environment for everyone.

"We want to examine the results of this trial and obviously listen to public feedback, especially from pedestrians, the bus companies and taxis.

"We will then decide later this year whether or not to make it permanent.”

Martijn Gilbert, chief executive of Reading Buses added: “We wholeheartedly welcome this trial.

"We saw significant improvement in the timekeeping of buses within the town centre when these lights were turned off previously for roadworks, with no detriment to other road users or to pedestrians.

"Indeed, it helps make all parties more aware as you are having to check whether there is other traffic approaching.

“With nearly 3,500 timetabled journeys a day, we have to ensure that we do everything we can to keep each and every one of those buses on time, and a measure such as this should help with that.

"Obviously we will be communicating to our staff to proceed with caution through the junction, especially at the start when the arrangement will be new to both road users and pedestrians alike, but we are sure that with careful management and a common sense approach by all parties, this scheme could be a success in this particular area.”