MORE bus lanes across west London could be removed because they "trap" motorists, the Ealing Times - sister paper of Local london - can exclusively reveal.

Six lanes in Acton, Petts Hill and Ealing could be taken out because they end too close to junctions and unfairly catch people trying to turn.

That will add to the six lanes in Northolt and Yeading already under review by Ealing Council.

Officers have been carrying out a consultation on the lanes in Church Road, Mandeville Road and Yeading Lane for the last 18 months to see if they are really needed.

Last July Transport for London threatened the council with legal action and said it would withdraw £4.6million for carrying out the consultation, with transport commissioner for London Peter Hendry calling it "anti-commuter" and "anti-public".

But in January this year TfL back-tracked, making no objection to the next stage of the consultation process which has seen a massive reduction in the bus lanes' operating hours.

Insiders at the Town Hall said the new plans to get rid of even more bus lanes in Ealing are bound to infuriate TfL, who are already at loggerheads with the council over the controversial West London Tram.

One source said: "This is going to kick it all off again.

"We want to start doing work in the very forseeable future - these lanes are on our radar now."

The reviews of bus lanes has attracted the most amount of engagement from the public of any consultation this year.

Our source said: "Residents have told the transport and environment scrutiny panel that this is one of their concerns. In this regard it is about proximity of the lanes to junctions. They feel that these things trap them.

"We want to review how these lanes work with a mind to getting rid of them altogether.

"That is the mentality - we are not just looking at Northolt but across the whole borough."

A new report by transport officers suggested work on the lanes should start in 2009, but council leader Cllr Jason Stacey was adamant he wanted the reviews to begin "sooner rather than later".

He said: "We have a lot of work to do and have a lot of expense towards the end of the year, but we have raised public expectation and now we are effectively asking them to wait before we do any work - I don't think that can be done."

The review will cost an estimated £200,000 but as yet, no money has been set aside by the leadership.

It is hoped preliminary work will start as soon as 2008.

Cllr Will Brooks, portfolio holder for environment and transport, said: "At the end of the day we have to get this right and balance this with public expectation.

"We need to look at what we can do this financial year and what can come next year where the majority of the costs will be incurred."

TfL were unavailable for comment at the time of going to print.