Labour Councillors are backing local residents in their calls for immediate review and action to sort the problems with the Shinfield Road scheme, to improve both traffic flows and road safety.
Labour transport lead Cllr. Tony Page says “Our suggestions come from local people in South Reading who’ve been affected by the way the scheme has been implemented. We are asking Council officers to look urgently at ways to allow more capacity for traffic at both junctions, changes to the lights to stop the long tailbacks, changes to the bus stops to remove the reasons for holdups, and improvements in safety at the crossings.”
Whitley Councillor Mike Orton, who has been contacted by many residents in South Reading about the scheme, has written to the Council’s Head of Transport with detailed comments. He says: "We have had so many residents contact us with their concerns about the problems with the implementation of the scheme that there must be an immediate review and action. We want a comprehensive set of changes to sort things out as quickly as possible. We will continue to listen to the concerns and suggestions of residents and make sure these views are represented."
Cllr. Page points out that the scheme had been developed through an all-Party Councillor Steering Group comprising the party spokespeople and Councillors from Church, Katesgrove and Redlands Wards (4 Conservatives, 6 LibDems and 2 Labour) and had been endorsed unanimously at the Traffic Management Advisory Panel on 12 January 2010, with Cllrs. Willis and Townend both present and voting.
He adds: “The detailed plans were approved by this all-party group, but it is very clear that the implementation of the scheme has not worked out as intended and that changes are needed and needed urgently. Labour Councillors have spent a lot of time talking to residents about the scheme over the past few weeks and we need the Council to respond quickly.”
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