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Historic access to Benham Valence to be reinstated despite safety concerns for A4





Members of West Berkshire Council’s western area planning committee approved the plans on Wednesday night, despite safety concerns for the busy road voiced by nearby residents.
The gravel driveway will be installed approximately half way between the current east gate entrance and the former west gate on Gravel Hill, at which two grandiose pillars still stand.
The darker stretch of brick wall (pictured) shows where the new access will be.
It will be a private driveway for whoever purchases the mansion and its grounds, once its renovation has been completed by current owners Michael Fresson and Harry Marriott.
Responding to concerns of speed on the A4, West Berkshire Council highways officer Paul Goddard said that 85 per cent of motorists did not exceed 58mph when passing the proposed entrance site, according to a recent speed survey, and that no accidents had occurred within 400m of it.
Recent accidents just outside of that range, however, have been serious.
On February 26, a woman died in a two-vehicle incident near the junction with Milkhouse Road and five weeks later, a cyclist was left with serious neck injuries following a collision close to the same junction.
Gavin Jones, objecting on behalf of the Marsh Benham Residents Action Group, which is campaigning for a reduced speed limit and additional measures to make the A4 safer, said: “It seems crazy to add another access on this road. Junctions create accidents.”
West Berkshire Council’s western area planning committee approved the plans on Wednesday night.
For a full report, pick up a copy of next Thursday’s Newbury Weekly News.



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