LABOUR councillors in Wokingham and Reading have clashed over the controversial Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) public transport link between the two towns.

Original plans for the MRT were refused by Wokingham borough councillors in June as a majority of councillors voted against the scheme, including Labour councillor Carl Doran, who claimed the MRT “does not seem like a high express service” at the June planning meeting.

Ahead of new MRT proposals going to Wokingham council’s planning committee, Reading borough Labour councillor Tony Page told the News: “These less well-informed people that claim that this is not a MRT – they are talking rubbish. It enables public transport to be given priority with a much faster service.

He continued: “There are some members of the planning committee who refuse to accept this as a public transport project – that’s their problem – not mine.”

The new application for the public transport link, which would be used by buses, cyclists and pedestrians between Thames Valley Business Park and Napier Road, has outlined changes including a camouflage addition to the scheme, in which “planters containing ivy, or a similar plant,” would provide a “greening of the structure”.

Cllr Page added: “I regret that we are in dispute with Labour members in Wokingham. I hope they will reconsider their position because of the amendments that have been made.

“This isn’t a party political scheme. I have been working with Conservative members in Wokingham over this scheme. David Lee (former deputy leader of the council, who lost his Norreys seat to Labour councillor Rachel Burgess in May 2018) was and still is a great supporter of this scheme.

“I regret that my Labour colleagues – all of whom are new to the council – perhaps they need to do a bit more homework at looking at the history of work between Wokingham and Reading.”

Labour councillor Carl Doran declined to comment before the amended MRT application goes back to Wokingham borough council’s planning committee on Wednesday (December 12) evening, but colleague Andy Croy, who is also a Labour representative, told the News: “There is no dispute with Labour in Wokingham.”

Commenting on Cllr Page’s suggestions, he added: “His dispute is with residents of the areas close to the proposed bus-lane who simply do not want it, do not see the value in it and are angry at the permanent loss of quality amenity which the scheme will cause. That is his dispute.

“My job as a Labour councillor is to stand up for the residents of my ward. In fact, the first two lines of the Wokingham Labour Manifesto say:

“’Your Labour councillor is elected by you to stand up for you, your family and your community. Every Wokingham Borough Labour councillor is expected to adhere to this principle.'”

Cllr Croy continued: “Tony is welcome to deliver his manifesto – but just not in our borough.

“The local plan contains an MRT – this is not an MRT, it is a road. Of course Tony doesn’t like this, if it’s not in the plan, it undermines the whole legitimacy of the scheme.

“One of the reason’s David Lee lost his seat to Labour was because the Tory council were perceived as out of touch, not listening and ploughing on with their own agendas, regardless of public opinion. Tony would do well to reflect on this.

“There have been no material changes to the scheme. It’s a concrete monstrosity, a few hanging baskets won’t change that. I expect the Wokingham Borough Planning Committee to do the right thing and reject the scheme again.”

Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee is set to vote on proposals for an amended MRT scheme on Wednesday, 12 December.

The scheme is recommended for approval, but deputy leafer of Wokingham Borough Council Cllr Pauline Jorgensen and Cllr Chris Smith have both voiced their opposition to the proposals.

More than 300 residents have also submitted letters of objection to the council, with five Wokngham and Reading community groups also demanding the plans be refused.