A controversial bus lane near central Reading has once against drawn the ire of nearby residents - as a pedestrian recorded an ambulance on blue lights get stuck in traffic along the new lane. 

The bus lane going west towards the town centre in London Road - between its junctions with Liverpool Road and Amity Road - came into effect from mid August. 

The lane has sparked an outcry from nearby residents and road users, who have said its impact on traffic has been "appalling."

Residents have created a Facebook group - Newtown Traffic Concerns - to highlight problems caused by the scheme. 

Now a passer-by has posted online and kindly shared with The Reading Chronicle a video that shows an ambulance on blue lights unable to navigate through heavy congestion along the new bus lane. 

One social media user commented: "Well caught - I’m livid with the whole thing. Whose quality of life are they actually improving here?"

Concerns about emergency service vehicles becoming essentially trapped in traffic have been repeatedly voiced over the past two months. 

Providing a statement to The Reading Chronicle last month, a spokesperson from South Central Ambulance Service said that the local operational management team had not been consulted on the new traffic measure. 

Reading Borough Council responded that SCAS were contacted as part of the usual Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process, but no response was received .

The ambulance service added it had not received any complaints from ambulance drivers - but local crews had reported that traffic has been "reluctant" to move into the bus lane to allow ambulances to filter past. 

Following the Chronicle's reporting, the council clarified that drivers will not be penalised for moving into the bus lane if there is clear evidence the manoeuvre is to allow emergency vehicles to pass.