OPINION: Letters to the editor of the Newbury Weekly News
What is the point of extra pedestrianisation?
As readers are probably well-aware, West Berkshire Council will be introducing, next spring, an experimental extension to pedestrianisation in Newbury town centre (closing off through-traffic until 11pm).
If you visit their website (https://www.westberks.gov.uk/pedestrianisation-pre-trial) they give a short list of the “anticipated benefits” that such a change would bring.
First they mention a “boost to the local economy” and making Newbury “more attractive to visitors”. So, visitors from where exactly?
Well, from all points of the compass presumably – Oxford, Winchester, Reading, Swindon, or maybe even further afield – the Outer Hebrides? Singapore? – from where, no doubt, hordes of punters will be flooding in with their digital wallets full of dosh to spend in Newbury town centre, because it’s traffic-free until 11pm.
Seriously though, can you imagine someone in, say Marlborough, getting wind of the news and shouting: “Hey guys! Let’s get down to Newbury town centre tonight. We can shop, eat and drink till we drop until eleven o'clock at night without any danger of getting knocked down by a passing motorist!”
And to whose economy would this be a boost? Not my economy for sure, nor my neighbour’s.
It would, just possibly, benefit some restaurants in the town centre. But most of these seem to be chains owned by international conglomerates.
Take Zizzi for example. Zizzi is run by the Azzurri Group, which is owned by Towerbrook Capital Partners which is an investment management firm headquartered in London and New York.
Côte is much the same. It’s owned by Partners Group Holding AG, a Swiss-based global private equity firm.
I could carry on with other examples. So much for “local economy”!
Moving on, to next on the list of “anticipated benefits” – “offering a more pleasant atmosphere for outdoor dining and public events”.
I have absolutely no problem with shutting off the streets for public events from time to time, but strictly on an ad hoc basis, which maybe, say, once every month or two.
But as for outdoor dining... let’s take a quick reality check.
Newbury is a pleasant enough provincial town in central southern England, but its geographical situation – approximately 50 degrees north of the equator – means that for about seven months of the year (October to April) it becomes too cold/wet/windy to even contemplate eating al fresco.
For the remaining five months of the year there’s probably about a 20 per cent chance that, again, it’s too cold/wet/windy to be exposing both you and your spag-bol to the elements.
I don’t think the “benefits” of extended pedestrianisation are going to have much impact in this department.
The last two anticipated benefits on the list are couched in airy-fairy terms, relating to health and safety; eg “reducing the interaction between motor traffic and pedestrians”.
But what’s this? It says, “creating a more walkable and bike-friendly town centre”.
Hold on! You can’t have the penny and the bun. You either make it more pedestrian-friendly or you make it more bike-friendly. You can’t have both.
Pedestrians hate cyclists. Cyclists think pedestrians are just a bloody encumbrance – obstacles to try and avoid. The two are like oil and water.
And as a pedestrian who has experienced a number of near misses from cyclists on Northbrook Street I would advocate a less bike-friendly town centre.
In fact, if I had my way, all cyclists would be made to dismount and walk their bikes through the town (and, while I’m about it, along the canal towpath as well).
All in all, this half-cocked mission statement from West Berks advocating an extension to pedestrianisation in Newbury town centre is pretty much flawed from start to finish, as I hope I’ve demonstrated.
You have to ask yourself, why? What’s the point of this needless tinkering to a system which seems to be working perfectly well as it stands?
I don’t have an answer. Do you?
Richard Howell
Newbury
Move coffee trailer from war memorial
I very much share your reporter’s pleasure at the recent cleaning of Thatcham’s War Memorial.
For all with a Naval background: Bravo Zulu (well done!).
However, I wonder if fellow Thatcham residents might also share my considerable astonishment and concern that a luminous green/blue coffee shop trailer has recently become the principal visual backdrop to the newly-cleaned memorial when viewed from the east or south?
I hope that this overbearing and inappropriate commercialisation of the area immediately adjacent to the memorial is removed to another part of the car park before Remembrance Sunday and – please – not to return.
Owen Jeffery
Liberal Democrat councillor for Thatcham Colthrop and Crookham ward
West Berkshire and Thatcham Town Councils
Bulldozers spoiling tranquil Donnington
Donnington Castle is arguably the most picturesque landmark in the Newbury area, with a stunning view across the Thames Valley.
I often visit the castle when I need somewhere quiet to recharge, and I have been enjoying learning about its history thanks to the information plaques that were recently installed.
You can imagine my dismay, then, when I visited today to find that bulldozers have descended on a nearby field.
While not directly adjacent to the castle, this field is close enough for the flashing yellow lights and beeping alarms of reversing vehicles to disrupt the usually tranquil atmosphere.
Once the work has been completed, the resulting monstrosity (probably another tastelessly-designed housing estate, with houses built as closely together as possible to maximize profits) will spoil the view at this important historic site.
Isn’t it about time someone said ‘no’ to these greedy developers so that Newbury residents can enjoy the countryside in peace?
Callum McPherson
Dene Way, Newbury
Firms won’t respond to pen and paper any more
As I’m not on the web I find it hard to communicate by pen and paper as they can’t be bothered to reply.
I even sent a self-addressed stamp to an important firm but they failed to send it back.
I write to a lot of firms but just a few reply.
Since the web came to life we no longer have privacy.
As soon as one gives the postcode that’s it, you don’t have to give one’s address, just your name.
I get more letters from charities now than I did before, but I don’t give to charities as there seem more started that I’ve never heard of before.
I live on my pension.
Keith Haines
Poplar Place, Newbury
Great music to finish Lions Club fireworks
Well done to Newbury Lions for putting on its firework display at the racecourse once again, polished off by setting it to the tune Land of Hope and Glory.
More of this sort of thing, and less talking Britain down, will only be good.
How about flying the Union Flag over our market place, for a change (… the clue, Union, is in the title, to those who can see).
Hamish McCracken
Adeys Close, Newbury
Eight Bells can help with challenges
This is to say thank you to the people of Hungerford and Newbury who kindly supported recent collections in aid of The Eight Bells for Mental Health.
The Hungerford collection raised £32.97 and Newbury £68.70.
Living with a mental health diagnosis can be challenging. I, myself, live with PTSD, stress and anxiety.
Having a warm, friendly environment to go to can make such a difference and Eight Bells for Mental Health provides such an environment.
We offer friendship, peer support, a warm welcome to all, we are non judgemental, understanding that times can be difficult for someone.
There are also a number of regular activities and we sometimes have trips out.
This warm, safe welcoming environment can help those living with the challenges a mental health diagnosis can bring.
It also means a person may not be isolated, something which can exacerbate mental health.
Once again many thanks for the support given.
Rachel Jones
Newbury
I’ve moved but I still buy the NWN every week
I used to live in Stockcross but now reside in a leafy suburb of South Reading.
However, I continue to purchase the Newbury Weekly News as I know of no better regional newspaper.
Justin Tahany
Lower Earley
Don’t forget vandals destroyed new poplars
What a shame it is to see the poplar trees on Stroud Green being cut down.
Of course the short life of poplars means that this hole in our landscape was well foreseen.
On two occasions the local authority planted rows of replacement trees behind the poplars, but on both occasions these trees were partly vandalised.
Those people regretting the hole in our view and the lack of trees might reflect upon the yobs who tore the replacements down.
Chris Austin
Stroud Green
