Slough: Controversial A4 bus lanes are here to stay

A ‘horrible idea’, ‘bonkers’, and a ‘waste of money’. Those were some of the words used throughout the years by angry motorists and residents ever since Slough Borough Council implemented the lanes between Dover Road and Uxbridge Road junctions in 2020.

About 8,000 people signed petitions urging the council to abolish the £90,000 scheme, which was funded by the government’s active travel grant, back when it was operational 24/7.

Now the experimental order has come to an end where cabinet councillors made a final decision to keep the bus and cycle lanes on that stretch of the A4.

READ MORE: What is happening with Slough's cycle 'superhighway'?

Along with this, it also permits electric vehicles with authorised green number plates to use the bus lanes at any time.

This will mean the Labour-run council will spend nearly £100,000 from the government’s integrated transport block funding grant to adapt and add to existing lines and signs.

The permanent bus lanes will remain operational at peak times only, which means it will only be active between 7am and 10am and 3pm and 7pm Monday to Friday.

The move came to prompt more people to swap their private cars for public transport, cycling, and walking when it comes to short journeys in order to ease off congestion along the A4 and improve air quality.

Council leader James Swindlehurst (Image: Slough Borough Council)

Council leader James Swindlehurst (Lab: Cippenham Green) said: “When I joined the council, people often only had one or two cars on their drive. Now all those people’s children have got cars as well and we’re talking five cars for a property.

“We can’t make available that amount of space for people and for people to be healthy given the pressures we’ve seen in health and social care, we have to get to a better balance between people walking, cycling, engaging in other modes of transport, and using their car when necessary.

“The problems are far too many people taking the short journeys, where there are other options to take, are still getting into cars because it’s easier.

“A part of this process has to be about providing a little bit of disincentive to hop in your car because it’s the easiest thing you can do.”

READ MORE: Elizabeth line: Set to open first half of 2022, TFL announces

Meanwhile, Cllr Rob Anderson (Lab: Britwell & Northborough), the former lead member for transport, hinted more measures like this could be introduced to create a “modal shift” for people to move away from their cars.

Officers found the dedicated lanes increased bus journey time by two minutes, saving two hours a day where more bus services could be introduced following negotiations via the Bus Back Partnership scheme.

However, the bus lanes have contributed to an increase in journey time for motorists by nearly three minutes, but officers believe this is not “significant” to warrant removal.

With the town’s population growing and needing 15,000 homes in 15 years time, Slough’s roads could be gridlocked, causing delays of up to eight minutes if the council does not do something to encourage more people to leave their private cars.

The A4 bus lanes near Dover Road junction (Image: Google Maps)

They also found bus timing has improved, no spike in accidents, and congestion has not increased as a result of the bus lanes.

Air quality along the A4 has improved, however, officers cannot say for definite if it is because of the bus lanes but more data on this will be forthcoming. Slough’s pollution level in 2021 was 28 points, which is the borough’s second-best year, whereas the legal limit is 40.

Cllr Dexter Smith (Image: Slough Conservatives)

The leader of the opposing Conservatives, councillor Dexter Smith (Colnbrook with Poyle) said the decision on the A4 bus lanes should be delayed until the council has accurate air quality data.

He said: “I think you should defer taking the decision here until you look at why it is other councils – Leeds City Council, Rotherham Council, Southend City Council – are all removing their bus lanes due to air quality, and I find it rather strange that we’re not including in this report information about all of our air quality monitors.”

But Cllr Swindlehurst reiterated the decision is not based on the air quality data but on the council’s policy on active travel.

He also said the decision has been delayed for a couple of months to organise the report better, collect more technical data, and check it with legal.