Reading East MP, Matt Rodda, held a public meeting to discuss Reading Buses’ plans to change services in the northern part of Reading.

The meeting allowed residents to raise concerns about the changes and also to discuss ways to promote bus use and consider alternative sources of revenue for the bus company to help protect and reinstate services.

Matt Rodda said: “Buses are a lifeline for many people, particluarly older and disabled people, families, young people and commuters, and the meeting helped residents to point out how much they value local local services to the bus company.”

“I am going to work with Reading Buses, councillors, residents associations like CADRA, EGRA, Caversham Park Association, and with the Concerned of Caversham campaign group, to consider other ways of protecting services and reinstating those which have been lost, through considering a range of measures.”

“These incluse seeing what can be done to encourage more people to use buses, and also what can be done to reduce the cost of traffic congestion to the bus company.”

“I think it is also important to listen to residents’ views on Reading Borough Council’s consultation on considering a workplace parking levy or a congestion charge, which the council has launched to consider ways to help support improvements to public transport.”