A report informing the Sub-Committee of objections and other feedback received during the statutory consultation undertaken on the revocation of the eastbound bus lane on Oxford Road between 816 Oxford Road and Tidmarsh Street.  This revocation is needed to enable the new westbound lane to be introduced in line with the approved Bus Service Improvement Plan programme.

Further to Minute 49 of the previous meeting, the Sub-Committee received a report informing them of objections and other feedback that had been received during the statutory consultation that had been carried out on the revocation of the eastbound bus lane on 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 Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) programme.  A copy of the Oxford Road Eastbound Bus Lane Statutory Consultation Results was attached to the report at Appendix 1 and an Oxford Road Location Drawing was attached to the report at Appendix 2.

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 details of the scheme, officers had not made it clear to the Sub-Committee that the requirement to revoke the existing eastbound bus lane between 816 Oxford Road and Tidmarsh Street or that approval to carry out a consultation to this effect needed to be sought.  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. 

A statutory consultation had been carried out between 21 March and 12 April 2024 and a total of five responses had been received, of which three were objections and two had been in support.  The common objection regarding the removal of the bus lane had been the perceived lack of significant traffic improvements that it would have. The objections had also identified the westbound bus stop, in the area, as causing traffic disruption, which the implantation of the scheme would improve.  Supporters had highlighted the necessity for the new outbound lane to enhance bus journey speed.

Resolved –

(1)       That the report be noted;

(2)       That the implementation of the proposed measures be approved;

(3)       That the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to make the Traffic Regulation Order and no public inquiry be held into the proposal