OPINION: Letters to the editor of the Newbury Weekly News
Leave the area in front of our town hall as it is
The proposal to do away with the existing parking in the area in front of Hungerford Town Hall, at enormous cost, filled me with dismay, disbelief and despair, that anyone could be so stupid and unaware of what we have there at the moment.
It is an attractive and handsome setting that many would envy in the middle of their town.
The centre of the town, as you all know, has traffic from four, yes four, roads and a crossing, where cars etc are required to wait for others to cross, with engines idling or revving to leave. The air there must be toxic.
Why would you want to sit there? It must be hard to breathe.
Please remember, just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
I request, have a little respect for the past and what Hungerfordians have left us.
Ann Hughes
Upper Eddington
Thanks for helping me at Thatcham Town FC
Back in early November I had an accident at Waterside Park, Thatcham, which resulted in me suffering a fractured hip and having a lengthy stay in hospital.
I am writing to express my thanks to those members of Thatcham Town FC who stayed with me and gave me their support during a very long wait for an ambulance.
In particular, I would like to thank Karen, Declan, Julie and Matt who stayed with me the entire time.
They embodied everything that is good about many of our local organisations and sports clubs and we should take pride that such a culture of care is still there in our community.
Bill Bateman
Thatcham
Many bus routes are not suitable for buses
Many bus routes are run on narrow country lanes unfit for a bus to be on, and there’s a cause for concern on safety issues in those country lanes.
They should run small community buses in those lanes instead.
I would like the route planner to get on every bus to see that route planned first before putting buses on them.
If a bus breaks down in them then the whole area will be inconvenienced.
Even while the bus is struggling to drive, the emergency vehicles would not be able to go past them in a case of any emergency.
I’ve never seen a bus in my life on a route where, at the end of that route,the poor bus driver has to reverse next to a pond on a very narrow road to go back. How silly is that for a bus route?
Well, I’ve seen that at the end of Ilsley route. They actually put a bus on a route where the bus cannot turn around to go back to Newbury.
Amazing bit of route planning by someone who has probably never been on that poorly planned bus route I guess.
There’s also more vehicles on the roads nowadays but they still expect the bus to complete a silly route in certain time limit, which is also a very dangerous idea.
That idea can put the driver and passengers at risk,where the driver under pressure may have to speed to meet that time limit in narrow roads,which then, as a result, can cause potential and fatal accidents.
Why not increase the time limits and have ETA put in front of every arrival time? Wouldn’t that be safer?
In short, passengers’ safety cannot come first under the current conditions and some (unfit for a bus) bus routes.
Lee Moustafa
via the Newburytoday Facebook page
Happy to have served you for so many years
This notification is to formalise the fact that after almost 70 successful years of continuous trading, Thatcham Glass Centre ceased operating as from December 20, 2024, due to the owners’ decision to retire.
We feel so proud and privileged to have successfully continued the family business and feel that this is the right time to conclude on a high note.
The business partners (Kevin and Veronica) would like to take this opportunity in thanking everyone for all the lovely messages and unexpected gifts, which has been overwhelming.
It has been a pleasure working and assisting our local community with all their glass and glazing requirements.
We’d like to thank all the thousands of private customers, builders, schools, councils, small businesses, estate agents etc for all their loyalty and support over many years.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish our son Matthew all the very best in his new venture to continue serving the area with all their glazing requirements in the future (West Berkshire Glazing Co).
I am sure he will receive the continued support and co-operation from the local area as we encountered.
We’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and healthy Happy New Year.
Kevin and Veronica Heimsoth
Thatcham Glass Centre
Thanks for supporting Sampson’s walk
This is to say a big thank you to everyone who supported little Sampson on his sponsored coffee shop walk in aid of Eight Bells for Mental Health, which raised £170.50.
Eight Bells provides a warm, friendly and safe environment for those living with a mental health diagnosis.
As well as the warmth, friendship and support we run a number of activities and do occasional trips for the members.
Living with a mental health diagnosis can be challenging.
I myself have PTSD, stress and anxiety, so having a safe place to go can be a lifeline.
It also means that you don't have to be isolated, as that can also be detrimental to a person’s mental health.
Please try to reach out if you are struggling or if you know someone who is struggling, try and help them reach out.
Little Sampson would like to say thank you once again for the kind support and also to all his favourite coffee shops and please be kind.
Rachel Jones and Sampson
Eight Bells members
