Action group to be formed for A339 access road plans

It follows the submission of a formal planning application to build a traffic light-controlled junction 230-metres south of the Robin Hood roundabout, to feed into Fleming Road, off Faraday Road.
It will also feature a signal-controlled pedestrian and cycle crossing to link the estate with Victoria Park.
Managing director of Fleming Road business Acedes Gear Tools, Tony Coleman, organised a public meeting into the plans, held at Newbury Football Club on Friday, which attracted more than 20 business owners, employees and local residents, all of whom claimed inadequate information had been provided by West Berkshire Council so far.
“This meeting isn’t about objecting to the road,” Mr Coleman said. “I’m frustrated. Our council has got a difficult job to do, we know that, they can’t satisfy everyone. My bug bear is not with the road, my bug bear is with the information being provided by the council.”
West Berkshire Council project manager for the London Road Industrial Estate regeneration, Bill Bagnell, said: “This journey, which will start in January, is going to be 10 years plus.
“Everything you are asking will be revealed by St Modwen. It’s their strategic journey, in partnership with us.”
He added that the chief executive of West Berkshire Council, Nick Carter, intended to hold a public meeting in the early New Year to answer any questions that local people have.
An action committee is being formed to voice the concerns of affected parties in the industrial estate. Anyone interested in joining should contact Mr Coleman by calling (01635) 524252.
The scheme is expected to cost in the region of £2.5m, with £1.939m to come from the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, £250,000 from developer contributions and £250,000 from the council’s local transport policy funding.
To view and respond to the plans, visit www.westberks.gov.uk/planning and search application reference 14/03039/FUL
All responses must be submitted by December 24.
For more on this, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Newbury Weekly News.