Bus lanes change could leave Hull roads ‘crumbling’, Labour says

The decision to end all-day bus lane enforcement is a simple solution to complicated traffic problems, which could leave Hull's transport infrastructure underfunded and crumbling, the leader of Hull's Labour group has said.

Bus lanes will return to peak-time only enforcement within months^[1] after the ruling Lib Dem cabinet approved the move on Monday. But Cllr Daren Hale warned that the change could put future funding for roads at risk, after council officers warned that government cash could be withheld.

Cllr Hale also defended the decision to introduce all-day bus lanes in 2020, when his party was in charge of the council. He said that, at the time, the move was necessary in order to obtain funding for improvements to Stoneferry Road and other major routes.

On Monday, Cllr Mike Ross. the Lib Dem council leader, said the move to peak time-only bus lanes showed that the authority had listened to people's concerns about traffic problems. All-day bus lanes had failed to encourage enough people to switch from their cars to public transport, walking and cycling, he added.

His ruling group pledged to continue to promote alternative modes of transport, but said making driver harder was not the right way to move forward. However, the decision came as a council report suggested that the change to peak-time bus lanes would make little difference to congestion and could put at risk funding that hinges on the promotion of active travel, such as cycling or taking the bus.

Labour group leader Cllr Hale highlighted concerns for road safety and clean air. He said: "Their talk of listening to people assumes that the people speak with one voice, but the public have very different and diverging opinions. Commuters driving into Hull from the East Riding will be more concerned about their car journeys, but for people living here it might be more about the air they breathe or their child's safety.

"People tend to favour their own form of travel – as someone who cycles I can tell you I have a different mindset when I'm riding a bike to when I'm driving a car. Most of the congestion in Hull is during peak hours when the bus lanes will still be active, so [the change] won't really make a lot of difference.

"In 2020, the Liberal Democrats supported our active travel plans, including all-day bus lanes. They were originally opposed to the cycle lanes. They did one thing while they were in opposition and now they're in power they've done another.

"When we brought in all-day bus lanes in 2020, we had to agree to active travel in order to get the money for projects like the Stoneferry Corridor. During my period as leader there was congestion on Stoneferry, but its gone from average speeds of 5mph to a breeze apart from rush hour.

"But these things came as an overall package; we had to agree to active travel to get the money for Stoneferry and for works on Hessle Road and Anlaby Road, and those are things we won't apologise for. So are the Liberal Democrats saying they're now against those works? Because they can't pick and chose."

Cllr Hale warned that moving away from the active travel agreement could have dire consequences. He said: "Council officers have now said that this could affect future money coming in, so what will probably happen is that all the roads will end up crumbling.

"The Liberal Democrats have gone against council officers and their own national policies with this decision, and we feel they didn't consider the other options. We wouldn't have gone against council officers' advise and we would have only made a decision when we had all the evidence.

"The reality is that they've said that this is a simple solution to complicated problem, but what happens if it doesn't work? They've made their decision now so let's see what happens.

"The proof of the puddling will be in the eating. But I think this will end up getting kicked down the road."

References

1. ^{^} Bus lanes will return to peak-time only enforcement within months (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)