Formal Council Questions and Responses

Councillor Fouweather asked the Cabinet Member for Assets and Infrastructure to review the timing of two pedestrian crossings on Queensway and at Cambrian Road, which he said cause traffic queues, and to consider removing a bus lane. Councillor Howells replied that the crossings work within specification and that the bus lane should stay. The minute records these questions and answers but no decision.

1. Pedestrian crossing timings and a bus lane on Queensway

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Councillor Fouweather said the pedestrian lights on Queensway opposite the railway station and at Cambrian Road stay red for too long, causing traffic to back up to the roundabouts at Bridge Street and the Old Green. He also said the bus lane from the Old Green onto Queensway forces three lines of traffic into one, and asked whether it could be removed. Councillor Howells replied that the crossings have been in place for over 15 years and serve high demand at the railway station and the Devon Place active travel bridge (a bridge for walking and cycling), which records about 500,000 uses a year. The railway station crossing was recently upgraded to modern standards, which needs suitable green time for safe crossing. At the last inspection both crossings were found to be within specification (meeting set technical standards) and without fault. On the bus lane, Councillor Howells said journey time reliability is key to bus use, that the lane helps buses that connect residential areas with the city centre keep to time, and that regional and coach services also use this corridor. He said retaining the lane is essential to service reliability.

   Based on the minutes

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 1

   Question to the Cabinet Member for Assets and Infrastructure - 2026/08 Red Lights, Cambrian Road

   Minute

   Councillor Fouweather asked: The pedestrian lights on the Queensway opposite the railway station and at Cambrian Road need to be altered. Both sets of lights are red for too long causing congestion with traffic backing up to the roundabout at Bridge Street and the Old Green. Can you ask your officers to investigate with a view to altering the timings. On a second point there is a bus lane that runs from the corner of the Old Green onto the Queensway. This bus lane forces three lines of traffic into one. Would you consider removing this bus lane. Councillor Howells responded: The controlled crossings on Queensway, have been in place for over 15 years. They reflect the significant demand at the Railway Station and Devon Place active travel bridge, with the bridge recording annual flows of 500,000 uses. The railway station facility has recently benefitted from upgrades to meet modern standards, which requires suitable green time to enable crossing movements to be made safely for all users and to encourage better opportunities to walk and wheel. During the last inspection, both crossings were found to be operating within specification and without fault. Journey time reliability is one of the most important factors in the decision to use buses; therefore, the provision of bus lanes is essential to assist in the punctuality of buses. The bus lane at the entry to Queensway from Old Green assists the reliability of bus services in the city that connect significant residential areas with the city centre. This corridor is also utilised by regional bus and long-distance coach services, which provide wider access to employment and leisure opportunities and support inward access to the city, supporting economic activity. Retaining this bus lane is therefore essential to assist service reliability.

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