HAPPY passengers, faster services, fewer complaints - a review of Newport's bus lanes shows users and operators are delighted with the results.

But motorists are furious and even city council leader Sir Harry Jones believes drivers "will scoff" at claims of delays of only seconds on Newport's major roads affected by bus lanes.

A report to the council says the controversial green lanes, which can be used by buses, taxis and motorbikes, have proved critics wrong, and are a hit with passengers and bus companies.

The bus lanes - which have led to Newport being dubbed 'the city of the green roads' - have met with a mixed reaction since the scheme started in 2001 following the publication of the local transport plan and formation of TIGER - transport, integration in the Gwent economic region.

The bus lanes have been introduced on major roads such as: Chepstow Road; Clarence Place and; The Kingsway.

They are due to be completed on Cardiff Road and are also planned for Malpas Road between the Harlequin roundabout and the M4.

The report, by Newport city council's head of engineering, Brian Kemp, was presented to councillors this week.

His report found a package of moves to improve the bus services had seen passenger numbers rise.

Mr Kemp said that in the Chepstow Road area figures last year were up from 393,883 in 2001 to 418,370.

And he said comments from bus operators about the priority lanes included: Improved journey time reliability; Reduced journey times because buses can bypass queues; Increased frequency and fuel efficiency; Increased customer satisfaction; Reduced complaints from passengers and; People can see how well the schemes are working.

In his conclusion, Mr Kemp said the bus lanes had led to: An increase in the number of bus passengers using routes; Improved journey time reliability for buses and; Little impact on car journey times.

An assessment of the schemes, carried out by Gwent Consultancy, assessed the impact on motorists and asked: 'Is the inevitable delay as long as anecdotal evidence claims?' Car journey times were assessed over 12-hour days. One of the conclusions of the report was that the impact of the scheme on car journey times is "very small."

But motorists are claiming that the bus lanes have caused havoc in the city. And council leader Sir Harry Jones told councillors: "I believe that many motorists would scoff at the time delay given here, although they are taken on an average in a 12-hour day."

He welcomed the findings but said there were still some problems. "We're working very hard to engineer our way out of problems concerning the Old Green Roundabout," he added.

Cabinet member for transport and sustainable development Graham Dally promised that scrutiny of the measures won't stop with the report.