A £6.8 million project to upgrade and extend the park and ride car park at Winnersh Triangle looks like being a waste of money after Reading Buses confirmed they have no plans to reinstate the service.
The council undertook the project in the hope of encouraging more people to ditch their cars and use buses to get into the centre of town. The service was suspended while building work took place – but now with the work complete Reading Buses say they don’t have the funds to run the service again.
At a full meeting of Wokingham Borough Council on Thursday, Heather Howath is set to ask the Executive Member for Active Travel, Transport and Highways: “We have been waiting for 19 months for the Winnersh Park and Ride to resume the 500 bus to Reading. A lot of money has been spent and what for, may I ask?
“I travel on this bus service regularly to Reading and the bus was very popular. It was the most convenient way to Reading without taking my car. The Mereoak Park and Ride is too far away from Hurst to make it viable to use.
“While the Winnersh Park and Ride was temporarily out of action, you provided a bus from the TVP – not ideal but it was temporary so that was ok. That stopped due to lack of demand.
“What a White Elephant and waste of money the car park is unless the 500 Park and Ride Bus continues to run. Please reinstate our number 500 Park and Ride Bus.”
On the Reading Buses website it states two years ago: “Construction has begun to increase capacity at Winnersh Triangle park and ride, which means fewer parking spaces will be available until work finishes on this essential and exciting new development.”
Mereoak Park & Ride opened in 2015 and is found on Mereoak Lane, Grazeley, just off the A33 by Junction 11 on the M4. Running approximately every 20 minutes, buses will get you into Reading in around 20 minutes.