Bypass 'would drain town's lifeblood'
The controversial proposal was added to the agenda of a meeting of Hungerford Town Council’s highways and transport committee on Monday night.
That prompted Hungerford district councillor James Podger (Con) to email committee members, warning: “Having moved to Hungerford from Billingshurst due to the bypass there killing the village and many of its businesses - including mine - I would caution against any such proposal. The traffic we have is the life blood of this town.
“We have a bypass - it's called the M4.”
Mr Podger, who owns Great Grooms Antique Centre in Charnham Street, said the cost would be prohibitive and added: “Any calls for a bypass are the voice of the vociferous minority and not the silent majority. I do not support any traffic rerouting.”
He warned that diverting traffic via Charnham Park would be a “blight” on a vibrant town.
However, the committee meeting was told by town mayor Martin Crane that proposals for the A4 to be re-routed via Charnham Park have been in the Town Plan since 2010 and were reinforced in the Refresh document.
Mr Crane said: “This is something the town wants. I recognise it’s not going to be easy but if it’s not put into a rolling programme now then it’s never going to happen.”
Town clerk Claire Barnes pointed out that the 78 per cent of Town Plan Refresh respondents strongly agreed that the project should be “investigated.”
David Small, who opposed the idea, responded: “That simply means they want it looked at. The Chamber of Commerce should be consulted if there’s any question of businesses being hurt.”
Mr Small said the council should not be bound by views expressed in the document unless they had been voted on.
Anthony Buckwell said: “I’m not sure of the point of the Town Plan Refresh if the commercial community doesn’t buy into it.”
Responding to Mr Podger, Mr Crane said: “Traffic in small towns can also kill business as traffic jams, and the pollution it creates, makes life a misery for many.
“To balance the threat that you see to the life of the town, it behooves us to make it as attractive as possible for visitors and tourists rather than force them through a heavily congested zone. Given space in Charnham Park, and the newness of the road, the major requirement is for a roundabout at the western end to allow it to rejoin the existing A4.”
Committee chairman Roger Thompson said Mr Podger’s views “no doutbr reflect those of his fellow traders in Charnham Street” but added: “The issue is not so much one of a bypass...more of mitigating the effects on Charnham Sreet and the High Street of HGV traffic, in resonse to public concerns.”
The committee agreed discuss the matter at a meeting with West Berkshire Council highways chiefs next month.