Shoppers dodged buses, cars and bikes just one day into a six month experiment which saw Reading Borough Council switch off traffic lights at a major town centre junction.

In just thirty minutes more than seven people were either pulled back from the road or verbally abused by vehicle drivers at the crossroads of St Mary’s Butts, Broad Street, Oxford Road and West Street after signals were switched off on Tuesday morning.

Reading Borough Council have said the trial aims to reduce bus journey times for thousands of customers.

But the borough’s residents have branded the scheme as “controversial and dangerous”.

Robert Dunston, a retired Royal Navy officer from Southcote, said: “I think it’s disgusting. We need traffic lights at this junction otherwise how else will people cross the road safely?”

The 80-year-old added: “It just seems bizarre to put improving transport links before the lives of people in Reading.”

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.

“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.”

He added: “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.”

He added: “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.”

But a Borough Council spokesman said all feedback from the trial will be taken into account.

He said: “Signage has been placed on all our approaches to the junction for drivers warning them of the trial and covers have also been placed over the push buttons for pedestrians at the junction, warning that the signals are not in operation.”