Independent Transport Commission - Public Hearings

Reading's Independent Transport Commission has held the following public hearings.

Evidence from the hearings and summaries of all the sessions held have been posted on the website, as well as supplementary information supplied after the event.   (please see the PDF documents at the bottom of the page).

Thursday 17 January 2008

• Initial evidence was taken from Reading Council Officers on the current transport infrastructure in Reading as well as development plans and the likely impact of these on future traffic patterns.

Tuesday 22 January 2008

• Evidence was taken from representatives of the Emergency Services, from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) and Reading's neighbouring authorities Wokingham Borough Council, West Berkshire Council and Oxfordshire County Council.
• The session investigated the government's plans for Reading as a focus for regional economic growth and the extent of cross-boundary working on the necessary infrastructure, in particular the transport infrastructure. In addition, Thames Valley Police and South Central Ambulance NHS Trust gave their views on traffic issues in the greater Reading area.

Monday 28 January 2008

• Evidence was taken from Reading Transport Ltd, the Thames Valley Campaign for Better Transport, Reading Cycle Campaign and Reading Cycle Club on the role of public transport in Reading now and in the future and the issues around cycling and walking in the town.

Monday 11 February 2008

• Evidence was taken from Reading UK CIC (Community Interest Company), the Federation of Small Businesses, Reading Football Club/Madejski Stadium Complex, the Oracle Ltd Partnership, John Lewis plc and Prudential Property Investment Managers (PruPIM), which reviewed both the impact of transport issues on inward investment in Reading and the extent to which business itself contributes to local traffic congestion.

Monday 18 February 2008

• Evidence was taken from the University of Reading, Sackville Developments (Reading) Ltd, Network Rail, Worton Grange Industrial Ltd, Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and Red Kite Electrical, which reviewed both the impact of transport issues on inward investment in Reading and the extent to which business itself contributes to local traffic congestion.

Tuesday 26 February 2008

• Evidence was taken from selected members of the public who had submitted written evidence, including individuals representing Reading Friends of the Earth, Reading Green Party, Emmer Green Residents' Association and the Common Sense Party.

Tuesday 4 March 2008

• Evidence was taken from selected members of the public who had submitted written evidence, including individuals representing Caversham & District Residents' Association and the Motorcycle Action Group.

Wednesday 12 March 2008

• Local Issues - Evidence was taken from Reading Borough Council officers on local issues which concern the public, and questions were asked on the following topics:

1. How the Council makes decisions on road, traffic and transport issues
2. Traffic Pinch points:
• Rose Kiln Lane
• London Road
• Oxford Road
• Basingstoke Road bus gate
• Oracle/Queens Road Car Parks
3. Chatham Place Development – impact on traffic flow
4. Traffic Lights – phasing/technology
5. Public transport, buses and bus lanes
6. The school run
7. Cycling, including cycle routes
8. Motorcycling
9. Pedestrians
10. Road Signs
11. Enforcement

Wednesday 19 March 2008

• Strategic Issues - Evidence was taken from Reading Borough Council officers, to examine strategic issues and some possible solutions to Reading's transport problems, and questions were asked on the following topics:

1. Reading's Transport, Planning & Economic Policies
2. IDR
3. Third Thames Bridge
4. Cross Town Route
5. Public Transport
6. Park & Ride
7. Congestion Charging/Road Pricing/Weight Restrictions on Lorries/Lorry Routing

Thursday 27 March 2008

• A working session was held with selected members of the public who had submitted detailed written proposals for Reading's traffic. As these relied heavily on maps and/or graphic explanations of issues concerning specific traffic pinch points, this evidence was tested in a public but informal setting, round a table, with maps and marker pens to hand.

Members of the Transport Commission also attended the Local Strategic Partnership on 11 February 2008, the Transport Users' Forum on 27 February 2008, the Access Forum on 29 February 2008 and the Pensioners' Working Group on 28 March 2008.  Information from these is available on the "Supplementary Information Received" page of the website.

Downloads

PDF

Some of the following documents are in pdf format. You can download and install a free PDF reader to enable you to read and print them. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Reader from the Adobe website.