The controversial bus bays in West Lothian towns are set to disappear after councillors voted to reject their continuation.
The vote came after a summary of a 74 page report put together by Operational Services into the Spaces for People (SfP) project was presented to a meeting of West Lothian Council.
Roads officers also gave reassurances that any move to install 20mph zones as permanent would only take place after a lengthy consultation process involving the public and statutory bodies.
The existing 20mph zones installed under SfP are all temporary and cannot be simply converted into permanent without statutory consultation.
Another controversial element of the SfP programme was the widening of bus stances out into the road on sometimes very narrow village roads and also in busy town centres.
SNP group depute leader, Councillor Frank Anderson proposed an amendment to a motion from the Provost Tom Kerr to note the contents of the report, adding in the demand to remove the bus bays with immediate effect.
Seconding the amendment, fellow SNP councillor Willie Boyle pointed out that the design cut into cycle lanes and thus contradicted the aims of the project in the first place to make the roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
The amendment won cross-party support and was carried by 15 votes to 12.
Councillor Anderson said after the meeting: “The whole concept of buses stopping out in the road and causing frustration for others traffic.
“The fact that they block cycle paths, people queuing awaiting a bus, defeats the original purpose of encouraging more people to walk or cycle during the pandemic.”
Also speaking after the meeting Conservative Councillor Chris Horne said: “I welcome the report from the council officers, but it is clear from its reception that it raised as many questions as it does answers.
“Aside from the upset about Spaces for People measures being put in place with little consultation, it seems there is plenty of work to be done about what communities want and therefore what may stay in place.
“One size does not fit all. However, one thing where most communities seem in agreement is about restoring bus pull ins as they were before, and I am glad to see that that has been passed today.”
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