Subject:        Deputations from members of the public

Date: 6th October 2026

A period of not more than fifteen minutes shall be allowed at each ordinary meeting of the committee for the hearing of deputations from members of the public. Each deputation may be heard for a maximum of five minutes following which the committee Chair shall speak in response. It shall then be moved by the Chair and voted on without discussion that the spokesperson for the deputation be thanked for attending and its subject matter noted. 

One deputation has been received for the 6th October 2026 meeting. The spokesperson is entitled to speak for 5 minutes.

 

1          Subject of Deputation

SPEECH IN SUPPORT OF THE PLANNED RED ROUTE ALONG WESTERN ROAD

 

2          Supported by

Nigel Perkins

Peter Elvidge

Alec Horner

Graham Mulliner

Suzie Kitson

Stephen Thomas

David Nash

 

3          Summary of deputation

Due to the Climate Emergency that we all face, it is even more important that we take all possible steps to encourage means of transport which have the lowest carbon emissions created per person per kilometre travelled.

 

Buses have a much lower impact on the environment in terms of carbon emissions per kilometre travelled per person. Red Routes always help to make bus services more efficient and hence more attractive to the travelling public.

 

 As the Red Route is subject to an Experimental Traffic Order, the Council will be able to make changes before it is made permanent. Following a 6 week consultation period, closing on 4th January 2026, residents and businesses were able to make their views known. Feedback from the consultation confirmed that there was significant support for the plan. The Council also made changes to the number of loading bays and disabled parking spaces in response to the feedback.

 

 As with the 2 other Red Routes, we are confident that the Council will continue to deal with the concerns of residents and businesses before they are made permanent.

 

It would be a terrible shame to lose this opportunity of a Red Route just when the road has finally been re-surfaced. We believe that the Council complied with established procedures before the cabinet made the decision to introduce a red route along part of Western Road.