After five years of bashing the motorist and urging us all to switch our journeys to the train or bus, the government has woken up to the problem of traffic congestion. Slowly and reluctantly they have come to understand that even with a much more successful public transport policy than the one we have there will still be a need to use motor vehicles on many occasions. Motorists  are paying the taxes, and  have some rights as well.  The more transport planners try to frustrate us the worse congestion and pollution becomes. For many the daily journey to school, work or the shops is becoming a nightmare.

Last week the government introduced a Bill to cut congestion. It contains some well meaning proposals to hasten street and roadworks carried out by utility companies. It targets motorists who park badly or straddle box junctions. It is unlikely to move many traffic jams, let alone mountains. It does nothing to create a better public transport alternative, which is what many of us would like to see.

In the debate that followed I made ten suggestions to get traffic on the move on existing roads, to enhance safety and encourage bus and train use. I urged commonsense programming of traffic lights, giving priority to the main route at a junction with traffic sensors for the side roads. Creating right turning lanes at junctions wherever possible would  improve flows. More safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists away from the main highway where space permits can provide a bonus to all road users. More car parking, especially at stations and main bus stops helps encourage public transport use and reduces the number of vehicles circulating looking for parking places at busy times. More garage and off street parking in residential areas removes vehicles from the roads when they are not being used.

New bus stops with pull-ins off the highway, and retail developments with proper rear access for deliveries would reduce obstructions. Reducing the number of through roads with pinch points and humps would reassure the emergency services and help traffic flows. Traffic could be allowed to treat red lights as Stop signs when turning left. The Highways Agency should carry out its maintenance and improvement works at off peak times of the day and night, and should  insist on faster contractual working. It is ridiculous that expanding a short section of the M25 in the west will take two years.

To my pleasant surprise the Minister welcomed these ideas and said that he was keen on four or five. I am seeking a place on the Bill committee and look forward to seeing if he will now accept amendments to his Bill where those are needed.

Many of the ideas can be carried out without new legislation. I know Wokingham Council are looking at ways of easing congestion in our district. Sensibly they are targeting junctions, where delays and accidents are more common than on the open road. Rephasing of lights and  longer right turn lanes will help at crucial congestion and accident blackspots. They are investigating ways of controlling speed without putting in more humps and cushions on the highway. Small pieces of extra highway at the Station roundabout could make a huge difference to the congestion and delays caused by the train gates.

I look forward to progress, now that more people have come to recognise the folly of  frustrating the motorist. Even those who are wedded to much more public transport must agree that many of these proposals would help the bus as well as the car.