Council accused of passing Newbury traffic problem to Hampshire

The radical plans were discussed at a hearing into the West Berkshire Council’s core strategy, a housing document which outlines the council’s plans to build 10,500 new homes in the next 14 years.
Part of the strategy includes proposals to construct up to 2,000 new dwellings to the south of Newbury on Sandleford Park, the inspiration for Richard Adams’ classic novel Watership Down.
Government-appointed independent inspector Simon Emerson called a hearing into the core strategy because he wanted to know why the council selected Sandleford as its preferred site for housing over other sites in north Newbury and Thatcham.
During the hearing, which ran from May 15 to 22, the council confirmed that if Sandleford gets the go ahead the A339 could be reduced from dual lanes to single lanes to encourage motorists to use the Newbury bypass rather than congested town centre roads.
Chairman of Burghclere Parish Council, Chris Saint said the proposal would encourage motorists to use the roads through Burghclere and Newtown.
“People already speed down the Newtown straight at the moment, not realising there are many access roads of it, so this will just exacerbate the problem.
“West Berkshire Council wants to shunt its traffic problems to us. I think we would strongly object to this suggestion,” he added.
Hampshire County councillor for Whitchurch and Clere ward, Tom Thacker said the houses should not be built if West Berkshire’s roads cannot cope with an influx of motorists.
“It seems that if the council is saying that the existing roads can't cope with an extra 2,000 homes, then it would not be sensible to build there.
“If West Berkshire Council wants to reduce the A339 from dual lanes to single lanes to encourage motorists to use the Newbury bypass rather than congested town centre roads; and if that need is purely to cater for the new development, then the best solution would be to build the 2,000 homes elsewhere,” he added.
Liberal Democrats spokesman on planning, Tony Vickers (Lib Dem, Northcroft) said: “Our group is opposing the idea of reducing the A339 from dual lanes to single lanes, especially in mitigation for the Sandleford development.
“It’s one thing asking people from Basingstoke to use the bypass, but its another to ask the people of Newbury to use the bypass to get to their homes in the town.”
West Berkshire Council spokesman, Keith Ulyatt said reducing the A339 from a dual carriageway to a single carriageway is only an option at this stage.
He said “Consideration of reducing part of the A339 to one lane was included in the transport assessments for the core strategy, but is not in the core strategy itself because it is not necessary for the delivery of the core strategy.
“The option does not look at the whole of the A339 being reduced to single lane. If it were to be considered further, additional work would need to be done regarding which parts of the A339 should be altered and how.”
Reducing the number of lanes on the A339 could decrease pollution, especially at the Burger King roundabout (pictured), which was declared an Air Quality Management Area by West Berkshire Council in May 2009, after the average nitrogen dioxide levels in the area were found to exceed the government targets.
Mr Ulyatt added: “The main aim of such a scheme would be to reduce speeds and make the route less attractive for through-traffic which should be encouraged to use the bypass. Reduction of pollution would be an additional benefit.”
Mr Emerson is expected to inform the district council on June 8 when his decision on its core strategy will be made.