Reading taxi drivers are celebrating the news that they have been given access to one of the town's main bus lanes after years of pleas.

The outbound King's Road bus lane in Reading can only be used by buses, motorbikes, bicycles and hackney carriage cabs, with private hire taxis being excluded from it.

Private hire taxi drivers have argued for years that they should be given access to the bus lane, as it would speed up journeys to and from the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and getting out of Reading to get to the M4 and Heathrow Airport.

Now private hire drivers have been given access to the lane.

Kamran Saddiq, chairman of the Reading Private Hire Association (RPHA) said: "It's going to be a massive help for all passengers, particularly for people going to the hospital for surgeries, now we can avoid all this traffic, it's a big big help.

"Also it's helpful for children with special needs who use us as school transport, so they can get to and from their education centres on time."

Private hire taxis differ from cabs as they must be pre-booked, with prices typically pre-agreed as well.

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Access to the bus lane for private hire drivers went live after signage was installed on Tuesday, October 1.

Mr Saddiq said: "The signs have gone up, a driver told me and I personally took a drive there."

Rule changes mean only cab and private hire drivers who are licenced with Reading Borough Council can use the lane.

Therefore, it is expected that those drivers who don't have a Reading licence will receive a penalty charge notice if they use the lane.

The installation of the signs has taken a while, as the decision to grant drivers access was made at a Reading Borough Council traffic management sub-committee meeting in March.

However, drivers had been pre-warned that the project could take time.

Mr Saddiq said: "We weren't too fussed. They said it would take a bit of time as they had other more urgent projects.

"They said they would give us a date, then in June they updated us to say it would take until the end of September to have everything completed.

"They kept us in the loop, they were not fobbing us off, none of that.

"Other works had to be facilitated, they gave us a time plan and they kept to the time plan.

"Now I'm proud to say the signs are up."

READ MORE: Taxi driver's 'humungous thanks' after decision to give access to bus lane is made

Mr Saddiq added: "Thanks to all councillors involved, cllr John Ennis (Labour, Southcote) former cllr Tony Page, James Penman, the council's network services manager, and every single cllr who voted for us.

"I want to say a big thank you for finally taking this seriously, and for recognising private hire taxis as an important form of transport, thanks from me and the association."

Mr Saddiq also thanked Mian Saleem, chairman of the Pakistan Community Centre for his support and help.

Additionally, he announced that Paul Seaward has been appointed as the vice-chairman of the RPHA.