A pothole that forced Reading Buses' number 26 to be diverted — making journeys longer for elderly and disabled residents in Calcot — has been fixed.
Charles Croal, who lives in Calcot, complained the bus was being routed along the A4 Bath Road instead of through a bus gate between Pollards Way and The Chase after a pothole restricted access. He also supplied a photo showing the damage.
He said: "The Number 26 Bus has been diverted along the A4 Bath Road instead of Pollards Way in Calcot for the last two weeks owing to a pothole which has formed in the bus gate. A local resident has been informed by West Berks Council that it could be 28 days before the pothole will be fixed, because Pollards Way will need to be closed. It was inconveniencing many residents, including the elderly and disabled who rely on this popular bus service to access Sainsbury's and Reading town centre."
A West Berkshire Council spokesperson confirmed the pothole was fixed in the morning yesterday (Thursday, March 5).
Mr Croal added: "Now it's fixed the buses will run through again, but it's been there for more than two weeks. The diversion signs were still up on Wednesday."
He explained the impact on neighbours: "People would have to walk over to Bath Road to get the bus, so it's had quite an impact on those living in Pollards Way and The Chase, they were quite badly affected. They would have to cross the road for part of their journeys."
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
