ANGRY residents have submitted a petition against plans for a new £8m rapid bus service in their busy road.

More than 70 households in London Road have signed the petition objecting to the Slough Mass Rapid Transit (SMaRT) scheme.

They say it will increase congestion in the already busy road and have accused Slough Borough Council of running a half-hearted consultation to push the scheme through.

The council says residents will only have to wait 10 minutes instead of 18 for a bus - which will reduce congestion and pollution. It added some consultations sessions ran until 7pm and residents could have had their say online 24/7.

But resident Jasvinder Chodha, 53, said: “A lot of people are expressing anger over this. We feel the council is doing the work for the sake of it, just to spend the Government money it has been given. We can’t see any value in the plans.” The petition states there will be increased noise and pollution, loss of footpath making it more dangerous for pedestrians and will result in a fall in house prices.

Residents also raised issues with the consultation run at the end of October, for which most the sessions were held during working hours, on weekdays.

Upton ward Cllr Rayman Bains, Conservative, added: “The fear is Slough Borough Council has done a consultation just to say they have done a consultation - rather than having a meaningful dialogue with residents in order to address their concerns and fears.” The council said: “The aim of the consultation was to get people’s views and we thank everyone who took the time to respond.

“The petition, along with all the other feedback we received, will be presented to the council’s cabinet, who will be taking it all into account before making a decision.” The council will receive £3.6m for the SMaRT project in 2015/16, with a further £2m to come the following year from the Berkshire Local Transport Body.

Additional costs are expected to be funded by the council and contributions from section 106 agreements.

Work could start next year.