Racecourse bridge won't be used to alleviate traffic chaos
Through traffic banned from using route from Hambridge Road
MOTORISTS have been warned of another three months of “traffic hell” to come – but there are no plans to allow through traffic to use the new bridge from Hambridge Road to Newbury Racecourse when it opens later this year.
Roadworks on the A339 and the closure of Boundary Road – in place until October 31 – have caused havoc on the town’s roads in recent weeks, with some drivers telling the Newbury Weekly News it had taken them 40 minutes to travel the 1.3 miles from St John’s Road to the Robin Hood roundabout.
Councillor Billy Drummond (Lib Dem, Greenham) warned that the closure of Boundary Road would cause motorists three months of “traffic hell”, adding that frustrated drivers would probably have to “grin and bear it”.
It has led to calls from many motorists to allow the new bridge (pictured), due to open in November, to be used as a through route to alleviate some of the traffic problems on the A339.
However those hopes were dashed this week, after West Berkshire Council confirmed it was a no-go due to a planning agreement between itself and David Wilson Homes, the developer in charge of building 1,500 new homes at the site.
The council also said that it did not want the bridge to be used as a rat run for through traffic, adding that it would not be opening it up when Boundary Road closes again later this year for the railway bridge to be replaced.
Former Lib Dem district councillor for Victoria ward, Roger Hunneman, said: “What I would like to see happen is the racecourse make a community gesture and, when the bridge is finished, come to an agreement with the council for the road to be used for through traffic, particularly while Boundary Road bridge is closed.
“The developer doesn’t want it because they think it would be used as a handy short cut and I can sort of see their argument.
“The current planning condition states that no through traffic can use the road, but wouldn’t it be nice if they could open it up, even if it is just temporarily, while Boundary Road is shut.”
However, the council’s portfolio holder for highways and transport, Garth Simpson (Con, Cold Ash) said: “It is not in our gift to provide access.
“The planning condition explicitly states that no access will be provided through the racecourse plus we don’t want a rat run pouring into Stroud Green and the Burger King roundabout.
“If you come in from Stroud Green there is about 200 metres of public road then the road continues on and then it is a private road.
“There are legal liabilities of the public using a private road and the developers were not prepared to accept liability for the public using a private road.”
Former Lib Dem district councillor for Greenham, Julian Swift-Hook, echoed those comments, saying: “I have long been concerned that if the road was opened to through traffic it would cause considerable rat-running problems for both existing and new Greenham residents.
“Everyone knows that every time Boundary Road is closed, even for a day, it causes havoc on the roads in Newbury. That is a problem that needs to be solved but allowing the racecourse bridge to be used as a rat run is not the way to do it.”
What do you think the council could do to alleviate the town's traffic problems? Email dan.cooper@newburynews.co.uk
