Money for Thatcham congestion hotspots

Town and district councillors have gained money for traffic study at Thatcham railway station level crossing

FUNDING has been secured for a traffic study at one of Thatcham's congestion hotspots.

Ward members Roger Croft and Dominic Boeck (Con, Thatcham South and Crookham), who applied for the grant from West Berkshire Council, hope that the study will lead to a solution to the congestion around Thatcham railway station level crossing.

Mr Croft said: “We are both local people; we have both lived here for 20 plus years.

“We are stuck in the same traffic jams as everybody else.”

In July, Thatcham Conservatives were criticised by Newbury Labour Party spokesman Richard Garvie, who said that they had gone back on one of their key election pledges – to look into the traffic problems on Crookham Hill and Station Road, caused by the level crossing – just three months after taking seats on West Berkshire Council.

Recently, the pair applied to the district council for the money for the study, expected to cost about £12,000, through their members' bid.

They are also asking residents and council members to put forward their suggestions on how to solve the issue.

Mr Croft said: “We promised to do it and we are doing it.

“The crucial thing is that we wanted to do something but at the time of the elections we didn't know what.

We said we would look at the options and that's what we are doing.”

For many years, the possibility of a bridge being built over the railway line has been mooted. However, Mr Croft confirmed that the idea had been ruled out because it was not economically viable and that it would have to be constructed on a flood plain.

Anyone with suggestions they would like to put forward can contact either Mr Croft by emailing rcroft@westberks.gov.uk, or Mr Boeck at dboeck@westberks. gov.uk, or by calling West Berkshire Council on (01635) 42400.