I received a letter today from an elderly constituent living in one of the streets off Erleigh Road, worried among other things that "now I hear that they (Reading Buses) are going to take away our 19 Bus".
After the closure of Erleigh Road Post Office earlier this year, it's not surprising there is a heightened level of concern about local services in the area.
My correspondent is right - bus services around Reading, including Route 19, are under review. Reading Buses is currently consulting on proposed changes to it's bus services. The bit that affects Redlands is as follows (from the Reading Buses website):
"Routes 18/19
The Problem
These are long and complicated routes and there is confusion between the two different routes to Lower Earley provided by Routes 18 and 19. As a result, levels of patronage are unsustainably low and we need to attract more riders.
In addition, the section of Route 19 to Napier Road Tesco store cannot be justified by the level of demand. It would be discontinued as a commercial operation now that a similar store is available on the Oxford Road, which is served by many services.
Reading Borough Council, in its role as transport authority for the town, will need to consider what should be done in the light of this commercial withdrawal. It has the powers to provide alternative provision of service under the Transport Act 1985.
Our Proposals
A single route would be created, Route 38, to replace current Routes 18 and 19. The level of service would be broadly as now, but to the east of Reading town centre (past Royal Berks Hospital to Lower Earley), buses would all follow a common route as Service 38 via the Royal Berkshire Hospital area, Erleigh Road, Addington Road and Alexandra Road to Upper Redlands Road on journeys towards Lower Earley and Alexandra Road, Addington Road, Erleigh Road, Alexandra Road, Addington Road and Craven Road on journeys towards Central Reading, providing a 30 minute frequency over this section between Central Reading and Lower Earley.
All journeys would go via Silverdale Road and Toseland Way and would terminate at ASDA, including those that at present only go as far as Toseland Way
.Route 19 would be discontinued and the section between Central Reading and Napier Road, Tesco Store, would no longer be served."
I have asked James Freeman what Reading Buses is doing to ensure students are consulted - given that I have asked James Freeman how students have been consulted on these changes, given we are now in the University vacation period.
Reading Buses' are also consulting on proposed changes to Routes 20/21:
"The Problem
Since the change of times on 25 February there have been a number of issues with journey times and delayed buses in the morning peak heading for Central Reading. We will be seeking customer feedback as to what is needed to put this right. Some modest changes were made from 26 May, but we need to add an extra bus to the frequency in the morning peak to make it work.
Our Proposals
A revised morning peak timetable for Premier Routes 20 and 21, incorporating an extra bus to improve reliability, is proposed. In addition we are working with The University of Reading and Reading Borough Council to implement the diversion of Premier Route 21 through the University campus at all times, to reduce the confusion as to which buses do and which do not serve the University and to improve peak journey times for Premier Route 21 both to and from Central Reading.
Please let us know what is wrong with the current timetable for Premier Routes 20 and 21. A proposed timetable will be published here shortly – does this address your issues?"
Are you affected by these proposed changes? If so, please use the comments function and let me know your thoughts on the proposed changes to the 19 and 20/21 Bus Route.
The consultation closes on 17 July: find all the details about the routes affected here. I hope to meet Mr Freeman before then to discuss so do please get in touch.
Given the number of elderly people who use this route I have also asked him what local consultation has been undertaken, beyond the website (after all plenty of people do not have web access).
Lack of Sunday bus services for Erleigh Road has also been a longstanding gripe so I asked him about that too.
Not that long ago a young woman contacted me about the fact that the last bus (Route 19) from Town to Erleigh Road finishes at 6.45pm - hardly ideal if you're commuting or working late.
I have written to James Freeman, CEO of Reading Buses, asking him for more information about these proposed changes, in particular about any changes in frequency or start/end times of the timetable.
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