A LONG-AWAITED bus gate which was installed as part of the Priory Vale development is finally to come into operation today — more than a year after the markings and signage were put in place.

The scheme, which will give special passage to buses on part of Torun Way, was not implemented by Swindon Council for months and the signs were covered up because a former cabinet member allegedly had reservations about the bus gates.

The move means that all other traffic will be banned from driving on Torun Way south approximately 97 metres from the junction with Casterbridge Road to the junction with White Eagle Road.

Coun Keith Williams , cabinet member for leisure and strategic transport, said that he did not share the reservations of his predecessor, Peter Greenhalgh , and thought the bus gate would improve road safety and bus travel.

“The previous cabinet member for transport had reservations about this. However, I have no such reservations. I have been involved since May,” he said.

“We started a consultation and that’s completed.

“The bus gate is to help rapid bus transit from the north of Swindon. If you have this idea of people moving from using their cars to using public transport if possible, one of the things that’s important is ensuring that the buses keep moving.

“It’s allowing buses to bypass parts of the highway network that might become congested at peak periods.

“It allows buses to bypass difficult bottlenecks and it ensures that the buses are a viable alternative to use.”

Earlier this year, Haydon Wick Parish Council called on Swindon Council to make a fast decision on safety grounds to either implement the scheme and uncover the signs, or reject it and remove the signs and markings, as they felt it was an accident waiting to happen.

Chairman Richard Hailstone said: “The buses are using it already so its effect will be to prevent a lot of traffic using the lower part of Torun Way as a way out into Westfield Way.

“The problem is it’s been so long now that the people have got used to using it as a way out so it will be interesting to see what happens when it comes into effect, whether people observe it or not.

“Hopefully, the police won’t be too vigorous to start with and advise people rather than give them fines, but I think it will take quite a while for people to get used to the bus gate being in operation.”