The council’s Local Transport Plan (LTP) has been delayed by months due to the failure of a major transport scheme, it was announced on Monday evening.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) had planned to adopt the LTP in spring 2019 but it will now be ready ‘later this year’ following the failure of the East Reading Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) scheme.

The bus, pedestrian and cycle route, which aimed to tackle congestion in East Reading, was rejected by Wokingham Borough Council twice last year, and was withdrawn shortly after the second defeat.

RBC will carry out further consultation to help identify new schemes following the major project’s failure.

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport (SEPT), said: “As a result of the MRT failure it meant we needed to take a step back and review where we are in terms of transport planning.

“We wanted to carry out even more detailed consultation. It has been delayed but we are focused to deliver it later this year.”

RBC announced in July 2018 that would be updating the seven-year old plan.

The local authority’s fourth LTP aims to reduce congestion, improve air quality and encourage more people to switch to sustainable modes of transport, to help the town cope with future growth.

The new LTP will be updated to reflect the latest national guidance and legislation, with schemes such as Road User Charging, Workplace Parking Levy, Clean Air Zones and Low Emission Zones likely to be included.

In parallel to the development of LTP4, discussions on a third Thames crossing continue with Oxfordshire and South Oxfordshire.

Revisions to the LTP will also reflect the council’s commitment to eliminate carbon emission in the town by 2030.

RBC declared a climate emergency last month, accelerated its commitment to eliminate carbon emissions in the town to from 2050 to 2030.

The council instructed officers to report to the SEPT and Policy Committees on further potential measures that could accelerate the timescale for reducing carbon dioxide emissions to zero by 2030,

The authority is also updating its strategy for climate strategy as a result.

Green Party Cllr Josh Williams asked for updates on the LTP and climate strategy at Monday’s SEPT committee.

He said: “People are concerned that a report will come five months down the line. Emergencies do not hang around for five months.”

Cllr Page said the timetable for revising its climate change strategy is ‘elastic’ but ‘there is no lack of commitment’.

He added the council could not deliver transport schemes without the support of neighbouring local authorities.

Cllr Paul Gittings called for all council reports to contain an environmental impact assessment.