Poyle Road: Experimental Northbound Width Restriction and Bus Gate Consultation

Overview

We consult residents, commuters, businesses, and stakeholders to understand what people think about proposed developments, changes to our roads and pavements, or other traffic-related issues.

For several years, Slough Borough Council has received feedback associated with HGV issues on Poyle Road and Bath Road (Colnbrook) from the Colnbrook with Poyle Parish Council. The main traffic-related issues are the perceived speed and volume of HGVs passing through the residential area along Bath Road (approximately between Poyle Road and Bath Road (Elbow Meadow) to the east).

We are now seeking your views on the experimental scheme.

Background

• As part of the Horton Road, DHL site was subject to a planning obligation contribution towards a local traffic scheme to narrow the Poyle Road in order to ensure that the issues associated with HGV movement in the area were not exacerbated further following the DHL site completion. The contribution was secured in May 2015, as part of the DHL site’s planning permission where local stakeholders would have been invited to make comments / representations at the time of it being reviewed by Slough Borough Council.
• A consultation exercise was undertaken in Autumn 2016, and the scheme was not well-received by the majority of respondents, (mainly businesses but also some residents) due to a number of issues: including the view that the scheme would result in increased traffic in the area (in particular at M25 Junction 14), and longer journeys for key business freight routes to Heathrow Airport. During the consultation process, a planning application for the quarry site was approved and this enabled the bus gate scheme to be relocated further south and redesigned.
• A further consultation with additional options to be delivered under an experimental traffic regulation order was undertaken in 2017. The implementation of the scheme was delayed due to delays with the S278 works and Covid-19, this increased participation in active travel amongst underrepresented groups.

The Poyle Road Width Restriction and Bus Gate Scheme aims to:

• divert HGVs to roads more suitable for their needs
• reduce issues currently experienced in the layby south of Mathisen Way
• ensure bus routes and journey times are not impacted
• improve road safety in the area
• ensure businesses and their operations are not affected
• improve air quality and reduce congestion, carbon emissions, and noise pollution by minimising HGV movements through predominantly residential areas.

The relevant Slough Borough Council policies are:

• Corporate plan

• Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan

• Low Emission Strategy
• Local Transport Plan

What are we proposing?

The Council is proposing to amend the existing northbound experimental width restriction on Poyle Road (south of Mathisen Way). The current restriction of 2.7 metres is proposed to be reduced to 2.1 metres.

This proposal is being brought forward in response to feedback from residents and local stakeholders who have raised concerns that heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) continue to use the route despite the existing 2.7m restriction. Reducing the permitted vehicle width aims to improve compliance and further discourage inappropriate through-traffic, particularly HGVs. No changes are proposed to the existing bus gate, which will remain in place and operational.

The ETRO will be in place for not more than 18 months with the consultation exercise undertaken until the 16th January 2026.

This plan shows the proposed design in more detail:

• Plan – Poyle Road Experimental Bus Gate & Width Restriction General Arrangement

Why your views matter

We want to know your views on the experimental Poyle Road northbound width restriction and bus lane scheme.

We now would like to receive your views on the experimental scheme. We will continue to collate and respond to the experimental Poyle Road northbound width restriction and bus lane scheme that preceded these amendments.

This consultation will start from 13^th June 2025 under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order. The consultation period will end on 16^th January 2026.

To make your comments on the Experimental Poyle Road northbound width restriction and bus lane scheme, please go to the Consultation Hub where you will find the consultation document.

What happens next

We will take your views on to review the Experimental Poyle Road northbound width restriction and bus lane scheme. The results of this consultation will then be used to decide on whether to implement the experimental scheme changes permanently. You will be notified of the outcome in due course.

Further information and how to respond

If you would like further information to enable you to respond to this consultation, or a copy of this information in another format or language, please:

• Email us at TransportPlanning@slough.gov.uk, stating " Experimental Poyle Road northbound width restriction and bus lane scheme – Enquiry" in the subject line, or
• Write to us at Experimental Poyle Road northbound width restriction and bus lane scheme – Enquiry, Transport, Slough Borough Council, Observatory House, 25 Windsor Road, Slough SL1 2EL, or
• Call us on 01753 475111, asking for a message about "Experimental Poyle Road northbound width restriction and bus lane scheme – Enquiry" to be passed to the Transport team, or
• Visit Observatory House, 25 Windsor Road, Slough SL1 2EL during their opening hours to view a larger version of the above plan and / or to pick up a leaflet about this consultation.

To respond to this consultation, please, if possible:

• Complete the online survey form below.

If you are unable to complete the online survey, please:

• Email us at TransportPlanning@slough.gov.uk, stating "Experimental Northbound width restriction and bus lane – Response" in the subject line, or
• Write to us at Experimental Northbound width restriction and bus lane consultation response, Transport, Slough Borough Council, Observatory House, 25 Windsor Road, Slough SL1 2EL, or
• Call us on 01753 475111, asking for a message about "Experimental Northbound width restriction and bus lane consultation response" to be passed to the Transport team, or
• Complete a paper survey form (included in a leaflet about this consultation) that you can pick up from Observatory House, 25 Windsor Road, Slough SL1 2EL or from Colnbrook Village Hall, Vicarage Way, Colnbrook, SL3 0RF during their opening hours and return it to us, using one of the above methods.

Please respond by 11.59pm on Friday 16^th January 2026.