Derby Council's U-turn on bus lanes for busy roads welcomed after hundreds of residents opposed
A U-turn by Derby City Council not to install bus lanes on two busy roads has been welcomed by residents.
The city council has announced it is looking at “alternative options” for Duffield Road and Osmaston Road after its proposals were met with strong opposition.
The council said that following approximately 1,500 responses received during two 12-week consultations, the proposals for bus lanes did not receive sufficient public support.
Hundreds of people opposed the plans to install a bus lane on Duffield Road, with one resident calling it a “waste of money”. There were also concerns about similar plans for Osmaston Road with fears a bus lane could make traffic even worse on the already congested route.
Carmel Swan, Derby city council cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “While it is disappointing that there wasn’t more support for the proposals, this process has highlighted the importance of the consultation process, which only works if you, the people of Derby, tell us your views.
“At the heart of these proposals was the desire to make Derby a more sustainable city, championing public transport and active travel as a way to contribute to decarbonisation, air quality, and health improvements.”
But David Parker from the Darley Abbey Society said there were many people against the council’s proposals in the first place.
He said: “The council were on damage limitation with the comment that ‘the proposals did not receive sufficient support’ – this is a massive understatement as we understand that it was a huge vote against. I have yet to speak to anyone who thought it was a good idea. At least it shows that local democracy can work.
“The council now refer to alternative options such as the installation of bus detection technology at Five Lamps. This was planned to be introduced within one year from June 2023 according to the Bus Service Improvement Plan. This technology was also planned for the Broadway junction to improve southbound bus times, so I presume this will also happen.”
Michael Moss from the Broadway Action Group was also against the bus lane plan for Duffield Road. He said: “I am very pleased (it is not happening). We as residents were surprised it was suggested by the council. They tried a bus lane here in 2008 and it lasted three weeks.
“We support public transport but to put that on a road which is too narrow to support that and cause chaos for other motorists is something we can’t support.”
Resident Roy Woolley sent the council a 20-page report about his and other people’s concerns over the plans at Osmaston Road after the plans came to light. Mr Woolley said he was impressed with the council’s decision.
He said: “I am impressed by the council’s willingness to consider a multiplicity of different viewpoints when working towards their decision.
“I fully agree with Councillor Swan’s statement about the importance of the consultation process. In the current highly polarised political environment, we all benefit when we work to understand positions different from our own, whether climate-related or otherwise. I look forward to the new Osmaston Road proposals.”