Bus services to get £1.9m boost for new routes

Bus services in Wokingham are set to receive a £1.9m boost after councillors approved plans to invest in new and existing routes.

The borough council has received grants from the Department for Transport and developers' contributions to offer certain routes more frequently.

Plans include continued funding for the Winnersh Triangle Park and Ride, with the service running every 15 minutes.

However, Labour councillors said the plans were full of "vague, feel good platitudes".

The council also suggested enhancements to the 850 route, running between Reading and High Wycombe, as well as the Leopard 3, between Reading and Wokingham station, via Shinfield and Arborfield.

Other suggestions included providing services on the 600 Mereoak Park and Ride on Sundays, launching a park and ride from Coppid Beech, a route between Crowthorne and Wokingham railway stations and between Lower Earley and Wokingham.

Martin Alder, executive member for active travel, transport and highways, said the plans "reflect changing travel trends".

He told councillors: "It supports our local priorities, including a prosperous economy, improving quality of life for residents, reducing the environmental impact of transport and the first stages in the transition of the transport sector towards lower carbon emissions and net zero."

Labour councillor, Marie-Louise Weighill, said: "The reality of local transport in Wokingham borough is not reflected in the Local Transport Plan.

"Again and again, transport infrastructure is delivered well after housing, if at all."

The plans were approved by full council, with Labour members abstaining, on 20 March before being given final approval by the executive on 27 March.

At the executive meeting, Mr Alder reiterated the funding was "crucial" for subsidising bus services and making public transport more accessible to residents.

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