A report seeking approval from the Sub-Committee to undertake a statutory consultation for the removal of the eastbound bus lane on Oxford Road, between 816 Oxford Road and Tidmarsh Street.  This revocation is required to enable the new westbound lane to be introduced in line with the previously approved Bus Service Improvement Plan Programme.

Further to Minute 39 of the previous meeting, the Sub-Committee received a report that sought approval to carry out a statutory consultation for the removal of the eastbound bus lane on the Oxford Road, between 816 Oxford Road and Tidmarsh Street.  The revocation was required to enable the new westbound lane to be introduced in line with the previously approved BSIP programme.  A copy of the Oxford Road Revocation Drawing was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report explained that whilst the designs that had been appended to the report that had been submitted to the previous meeting had set out the scheme, the report had not clarified the requirement to revoke the existing eastbound bus lane between 816 Oxford Road and Tidmarsh Street or sought approval to carry out a consultation on these changes.  The removal of the eastbound bus lane was not expected to have a detrimental impact on bus or vehicle movements as this section of Oxford Road had been observed to be relatively free flowing and traffic would clear through each signal phase at the Grovelands Road Junction as it was seen to do currently. 

Resolved –

(1)        That the report be noted;

(2)        That the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to undertake statutory consultation/notification processes for the proposed bus lane revocation, in accordance with the Local Authorities Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996;

(3)        That subject to no objections being received the scheme be considered as agreed for implementation enabling delivery to commence;

(4)        That should a scheme receive objection(s) during the statutory consultation period, that these be reported to a future meeting for consideration and decision regarding scheme implementation.