People in Reading would prioritise sorting out the town’s roads and connecting its network of cycle lanes if they were in charge.

Recently, councillor Jason Brock (Labour, Southcote), the leader of the council, said completing swimming pool upgrade projects and tackling inequality were among his top priorities.

This prompted the Local Democracy Reporting Service to ask users on Facebook what they would do to improve the town if they were the council leader.

Of the suggestions, not all are within the council’s power to deliver, but frustrations with cycle lanes and road layouts stood out.

Kat Hatton sarcastically said she would “put in a load of cycle lanes that lead to nowhere” if she were in charge.

READ MORE: Reading driver's emergency service fears over cycle lanes

Similarly, Norma Downham said she would “stop putting cycle lanes that just end just like that.”

Sulahaddin Ayyuni suggested that the cycle lanes should be scrapped altogether.

Reading Borough Council received £1.3 million to fill in the ‘missing links’ to its cycle network in March.

Mr Ayyuni also suggested building a ‘metal road’ flyover above busy roads like Kings Road and improving road surfaces.

Replying to the question of how to improve Reading, Andrew O’Hare simply wrote “Third Bridge!”

Fellow commenter Guy Gillbe replied:  “To be fair, the problem isn’t Reading Council.

“It’s always been opposed by Oxfordshire who have to sign off on it.”

He added comically: “Maybe we need a dictator of Reading and Oxfordshire…problem solved!”

South Oxfordshire Council most recently poured cold water on the third Thames bridge dream in 2020 when it opposed Reading council’s draft local transport plan.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire Council renews opposition to third Thames bridge

The commenters also had other suggestions of what they would do if in power, with some of the requests are already being addressed by the council.

Norma Downham said: “Make it easer to get doctors appointment, do something with the empty homes, pubs, care homes and prison.

“Also put the traffic lights back outside the Metro Bank in town and build affordable social homes to live.”

In her half joking response to the question, Kat Hatton said: “I’d build more flats, make the number 17 bus more frequent, make the black bins smaller and put council tax up by the absolute maximum every year.

“Oh, and every so often I’d put a one way system in place and then take it out ten days later.”

Her reply refered to a moment in 2020 when the council hurriedly reversed making Gosbrook Road and Westfield Road in Caversham a one way system.

It also raised council tax by 2.99 per cent this year, the maximum it could do without triggering a referendum, and introduced smaller black bins in 2021.

READ MORE: Find out how to apply for your council tax rebate in Reading here

Meanwhile, Susannah Marie Pearce said: “I would start by making venues for youngsters, where they can use their energy, like Reading prison, open it up get the youth busy, training, woodworking, life skills etc, that would cost far less even with security guards.”

The council and MPs have supported a campaign to transform Reading Prison into an arts hub.