THE council's controversial plans to restrict many of the borough's bus lanes and remove three entirely were passed at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday night.

Richmond Park MP Jenny Tonge and Twickenham MP Vincent Cable have both expressed concern about Richmond upon Thames Council's proposals.

Dr Cable described the increased speed and reliability of buses as: "one of the few success stories in the last few years of growing traffic congestion and poor public transport".

He added: "Although some local bus lanes have not been brilliantly planned, now that they are in place it seems perverse and wasteful to tear them up.

"Richmond upon Thames Council has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds in the last year endlessly resiting traffic lights and crossings, redesigning the bus lane and generally fiddling around near Twickenham station. It would do well to let the system settle down for a while."

However, he gave the council his support for their pilot allowing motorcycles into bus lanes, claiming it will increase safety for riders.

The cabinet member for transport, Cllr Mark Kreling, insists that the Upper Teddington Road bus lane needs to be removed to provide access to a doctor's surgery, but Dr Tonge is unconvinced.

She said: "The Conservatives have always been against bus lanes but where they move buses faster they should remain."

The report, read to the cabinet, reviewed the use of bus lanes in the borough by looking at the number of queues and congestion alongside bus lanes. Ward councillors and other local stakeholders were consulted.

The main points agreed by the cabinet were for a consultation to be carried out on the removal of the Upper Teddington Road bus lane and the London Road bus lane.

Another consultation will reduce the Hospital Bridge Road bus lane to peak hours only, 7am-10am and 4pm to 7pm.

A pilot study will allow motorcycles to use the bus lanes along Paradise Road in Richmond and London Road in Twickenham with a view to extending this to all bus lanes if it works.

A further pilot study will allow heavy goods vehicles to use the bus lanes along Hampton Court Road and Cross Deep in Twickenham.

The council are going to request Transport for London to remove Kew Bridge bus lane and extend CCTV footage to the other bus lanes in the borough.

The 2002 surveys that led to the report looked at all the 17 bus lanes along the borough roads as well as one Transport for London's bus lane on Kew Bridge.

Brian Holder of The Teddington Society admitted he was very surprised to be consulted on HGVs being able to use all bus lanes.

He said: "This will only encourage HGVs to rat-run through the borough."

He also drew attention to the existing danger to cyclists and the fairly recent fatalities on Kew Bridge.

The report reviews the use of bus lanes in the borough, taking into account the number of queues and congestion alongside bus lanes as well as the views of ward councillors and other key stakeholders.

The cabinet agreed that consultation be carried out on the removal of the Upper Teddington Road bus lane and the London Road bus lane.

Hospital Bridge Road bus lane will be reduced to peak hours only, 7am-10am and 4pm to 7pm.

They also agreed to consult on a pilot study to permit motorcycles to use the bus lanes along Paradise Road, Richmond and London Road, Twickenham with a view to extending this to all bus lanes if the pilot is a success.