Derby City Council has acted on community feedback on proposed bus lanes for Duffield Road and Osmaston Road, reinforcing the importance of public consultations in shaping Council projects.
With approximately 1500 responses received during the two twelve-week consultations, the proposals did not receive sufficient public support. As a result, the Council will now explore alternative options to improve transport in these areas
For the Duffield Road route, this includes the installation of bus detection technology at Five Lamps, light segregation of the current marked cycle lanes, potential upgrades of pedestrian crossings, and adding kerbside parking on the A6.
Along Osmaston Road, future proposals could include a redesign of road markings, updating the signals at Ascot Drive and linking them to the Spider Island signals, and improving walking and cycling provision to the district centre.
The Council is working to create a better-connected Derby and is taking steps to improve public transport and deliver better bus services, as outlined in the National Bus Strategy.
Both Osmaston Road and Duffield Road are key strategic corridors, providing vital connections between the city centre and surrounding communities. Along both routes there is a need to consider improvements for all road users, including busses, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, said:
Thank you to everyone who took part in these two consultations. While it is disappointing that there wasn’t more support for the proposals, this process has highlighted the importance of the consultation process, which only works if you, the people of Derby, tell us your views.
At the heart of these proposals was the desire to make Derby a more sustainable city, championing public transport and active travel as a way to contribute to decarbonisation, air quality, and health improvements.
We will now investigate options for both routes that can deliver the infrastructure to support our transition to a greener Derby.
The Council will now investigate these new options and assess the benefits. Any new proposals will still reflect the conditions of the funding from the government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, which was allocated for the development and implementation of bus priority measures.
Work to improve bus services sits alongside a larger programme around the city as the Council continues to invest in local transport and build a strong network. This includes upgrades to traffic signalling and active and sustainable travel infrastructure such as cycle lanes and EV charging points.