Pollution data fails to account for virus impacts

Despite two separate petitions receiving over 7,000 signatures and public outcry, Slough Labour defended their £60k bus lane vanity project and committed to make ‘things more inconvenient’ for residents, at July and September’s Full Council debate.

Destroying local trade, running rampant with taxpayer money and neglecting resident needs is Labour’s speciality.

Is there anything Slough Labour won’t do to avoid accountability to the electorate?

Sadly, Labour resorted to creative statistics in their desperation to justify their bus lane chaos and dismiss residents’ concerns.

Labour’s claim that similar traffic flow (time per journey) for cars and other vehicles, and a reduction in pollution during July and August are due to their bus lanes is disingenuous.

As the Conservative Group highlighted, a reduction in traffic, vehicle movements and pollution was due to the impact of COVID-19; schools were closed and residents were working from home or made redundant.

Moreover, another important background factor is that neighbouring Heathrow Airport is still operating at a reduced capacity, with less than half the number of flights.

Interestingly during July’s meeting, bus lane pioneer Cllr Anderson insisted on ‘gather[ing] real data rather than just people’s opinions’.

Yet, Labour’s data is misleading and fails to account for the impacts of COVID-19 across the town as factories, shops and schools are not fully functioning.

The limited statistics prove that their experiment has not worked as well as Labour would have liked.

As Conservatives we believe resident needs are a priority and residents’ opinions are crucial.

This is why the Conservatives were the only members prepared to vote for what the petitioners asked for – the abolition of the bus lanes.

Labour’s solution to deploy 100 free bikes only serves to highlight how out of touch they are with residents, as they fail to recognise freebies will not suddenly encourage residents to use cycle lanes and buses.

It is clear to all the bus lanes are unsustainable and cause more congestion, resulting in greater pollution.

Not to mention, the catastrophic impact it is having on local businesses who are struggling to sur vive.

During this difficult time we should be supporting local businesses, self-employed people and all our residents who have struggled to get back to work or safely see their families.

Yet Labour have decided to conduct their vanity ‘experiments’ at the expense of resident wellbeing and at a time of need for stability.

It is clear to all that the Slough Labour leadership team is not fit to lead and represent residents.

Residents need to be listened to instead of being ridiculed. It is time for a change. On behalf of SLOUGH CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLOR GROUP and all at SLOUGH CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION