Newbury town centre is likely to be pedestrianised next spring.

The pilot scheme to pedestrianise part of Newbury town centre is likely to happen next spring.

That will be three years since the idea was mooted, but is still dependent on the public giving it the nod.

A ‘light touch’ survey – likely to be in the form of a referendum – will be sent out to residents and businesses in a few weeks time.

If the majority are in favour, then the town centre will see cars culled from the streets next April/May for six months.

Council leader Jeff Brooks said he was ‘optimistic’ the vote would go in favour of the plan.

The council has been told by the Department for Transport (DfT) that it must do a light touch consultation before applying for an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO).

The proposal was initially put forward in the summer but faced a temporary delay due to essential road works and ongoing discussions with the DfT to confirm the process for implementing the ETRO.

With an ETRO, the trial and the consultation run in parallel, meaning feedback is based on real experience of the changes.

The proposed trial seeks to extend the pedestrianised zone’s timings, stretching from 10am to 11pm, and would affect Northbrook Street, Bridge Street, Bartholomew Street (north), Mansion House Street and Market Place.

The trial, which will be in place for a minimum of six months, will not only assess the impact on the town but also engage with residents, businesses, and stakeholders for their views on the changes through a consultation.

The council’s aim is to determine whether pedestrianisation can make the town centre more attractive to shoppers, workers and visitors by boosting the day- and night-time economy to create the café culture ambience and alfresco evening dining, increase the number of evening events, reduce traffic movement, and reduce air pollution in the town centre while giving priority to pedestrians and cyclists where appropriate.

The trial also supports the Newbury Town Centre Masterplan, which was shaped by 4,000 survey responses from residents and businesses and endorsed by the council’s executive earlier this year.

What is an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order?

Traffic Regulation Orders are legal documents which restrict the use of the public highway in many ways, either permanently, experimentally or temporarily.

An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order can be in place for place for up to 18 months.

The first six months should be used for the public to comment on how the scheme is working, or not.

The local authority then has the following 12 months to review all of the comments, decide how to proceed and make the permanent order if the public support outweighs the objections during the consultation.

The benefit of an ETRO is that it gives the community the opportunity to experience the proposed restrictions rather than asking them to comment on something that is theoretical without the commitment of it necessarily being permanent.

An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order does not end at the end of the six-month period but remains in place for up to another 12 months, while the local authority considers the evidence and feedback from the trial and makes a decision on whether or not it should be made permanent.