Changes to Newbury pedestrian zone brought forward

Motorists will soon be able to pass through the town centre from 5pm, rather than 6pm

PLANS to alter the pedestrian zone times in Newbury town centre have been brought forward.

From March 17, the pedestrian zone in the town will change from 6pm to 5pm, allowing motorists to drive through an hour earlier than usual as West Berkshire Council aims to improve traffic flows.

The zone will continue to be closed to traffic from 10am.

The change to the pedestrian zone times was part of a planned new traffic system due to come into effect when the Parkway development opens in October.

The developers of Parkway, Standard Life Investments, have announced that from March 7 the Park Way bridge in Newbury, which is currently used by all southbound traffic, will be closed to all traffic.

On the same day, improvements to paving in the town centre are due to finish and the pedestrian zone will return to normal.

From October, the single-lane bridge will be available to buses, taxis and cycles only in both directions under traffic signal control.

West Berkshire executive councillor, Pamela Bale (Con, Pangbourne), said: “As it has become necessary to close Park Way bridge, we are bringing forward the change in pedestrian zone times to help compensate. To comply with traffic legislation, March 17 is the earliest we can do this.

“Come October, car drivers would no longer be able to use the bridge anyway, so for them this is simply bringing forward an agreed change with the benefit of being able to use Northbrook Street from 5pm.”

Park Way itself will remain open at all times with full access for vehicles using the Camp Hopson car park, businesses in Park Way, and for deliveries by service vehicles.

Improvement.