OPINION: Letters to the editor of the Newbury Weekly News
Our views shouldn’t be trumped by manifesto
In the letters page (Newbury Weekly News, May 29), Paul Walter justified the extended pedestrianisation by saying it was promised in their manifesto.
This kind of says it’s the stupid electorate’s fault for voting Lib Dem if they didn’t want it.
Now, elections and manifestos don’t quite work that way.
Assuming one reads the manifesto, it is unlikely everyone voting Lib Dem actually agreed with every promise.
People tend to vote for a party that represents the majority of their views and simultaneously think that the more seriously stupid promises would get shelved discreetly.
But no, despite a consultation with the majority stating they didn’t want it, they carried on regardless.
Why did they waste money on a consultation if our views are to be trumped by a manifesto promise?
It seems to put the ‘Democrat’ part of their name in conflict with the Trade Description Act.
Maybe they should swap Democrat for Dictator in their name.
John Gotelee
London Road, Newbury
We need more people living above shops
The letter headlined ‘I felt uneasy walking through empty streets’ (Newbury Weekly News, May 29) has reminded me of the times when accommodation over shops was residential.
If I remember correctly the tax system business/residential was changed and may have resulted in shops being unoccupied at night.
There may be a good case for making an assessment of the present situation.
The benefits for the town could be many fold;
1. Rented accommodation for people without cars.
2. Security provided by occupants living there day and night.
3. Lower shop rentals to help small businesses.
While the new build is important, but difficult to achieve, this may help in a small way on many fronts.
Governments appear to overlook the small changes and concentrating on what makes the headlines in the papers.
Doris R Colloff
Kintbury
Is this the vision Lib Dems have for town?
Firstly Northbrook Street, then Kings Road. What next – Bartholomew St, West Mills?
Just how many roads are the Lib Dem-run council going to close?
All this is doing is adding to congestion and pollution in Newbury, as cars sit in stationary traffic jams.
I had to drive across Newbury last Friday evening at 6pm, usually a 10/15 minute journey using Northbrook Street, but it took me almost 30 minutes sitting in queues of traffic on the ring road.
I simply can’t understand the thinking behind all this, or even if there is any.
There again, I suppose if you are a West Berkshire councillor living in Pangbourne, Tilehurst or Theale you are not that bothered about congestion in Newbury.
I walked through Newbury town centre at 6.30pm a few days ago and it looked awful.
Desolate streets with no one about, apart from a few homeless people setting up their cardboard boxes and blankets in empty shop doorways and someone on an e-scooter racing down the pavement outside Camp Hopson (which is illegal).
As a lady said in a previous letter, it made me feel very vulnerable and uneasy.
It looked like the Covid lockdown was back in place.
Is this really the vision that the Lib Dems have for Newbury?
Paul Walter mistakenly says in his letter that the Lib Dems had pledged to extend pedestrianisation if you voted them in.
They actually said they would consult people if we wanted this.
A clear majority voted no in the referendum (me included), but our views have simply been ignored.
I voted Lib Dem in the last local elections.
It’s a mistake I won’t be repeating.
If Mr Gourley had any gumption, this trial would be scrapped immediately and the town centre returned to the way it was.
Rose Curtis
Andover Road, Newbury
Exactly what is going on at Junction 13 of M4?
Have you ever done a report/investigation into why there are frequent morning rush hour delays, over recent weeks, at the A34 Junction 13?
I reckon it has happened at least four times in as many weeks.
The highways reason given is ‘congestion’ – but that is the result.
The reason it seems to us is poor traffic light management, something that has been recently adjusted by them. Thousands of man hours are being wasted due to this.
Absolute carnage and no-one seems to want to fix it.
Allan Woodfield
Curridge
Get involved with Newbury Sea Cadets
Newbury Sea Cadets has been supporting 10- to 18-year-olds in Newbury for many years.
It is one of 400 units in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and Bermuda.
After a period of heavy investment in our building we now have a first-class facility offering the cadets opportunities on and off the water, and opportunities for cadets to travel further afield on the Sea Cadets’ fleet of sea-going boats, including visits to overseas ports.
Each Sea Cadet is a standalone registered charity and we need to raise the funds needed to provide our cadets the best possible experience.
Newbury Sea Cadets is a thriving charity but we need help moving to the next level.
To this end we are looking for a number of new trustees and an individual to take over the chair.
If you are interested in helping, would like to either come and see the unit in action, or like a discussion, please drop me an email at chair@newburyseacadets.org.uk
There are no specific skills required, but experience in fundraising, youth services or the Royal Navy would be a bonus.
You will be required to undertake a DBS check before you start.
James Cohen QVRM RD VR
Commander RNR (Retd), chair, T/S Victory, 3 Craven Dene, Newbury RG14 2AY
New street signs are just a waste of money
WHAT a stupid thing to do, with all these silly signs telling one where to go and how long it takes on a bike.
It’s not your money to spend on such silly things like this. We don’t need silly people like you to tell us where to go.
I was told once that I didn’t need to go up Western Road.
You don’t know much about Newbury like I do.
Different councillors have altered Newbury, but don’t live here.
You have already wasted money on three things.
It’s not your cash to spend as you like.
I don’t care what you think about me as the truth always hurts.
Keith Haines
Poplar Place, Newbury
Help us to mark 80th anniversary of VJ Day
Newbury has recently been commemorating VE 80, the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, marking the end of the hostilities of WW2 in Europe.
Events were well attended and appreciative comments were made.
Now preparations are being made to commemorate VJ 80 on Friday, August 15, 2025.
VJ Day, Victory over Japan Day (August 15, 1945) marked the end of the fighting which had continued in the Pacific after VE Day.
This followed the surrender by the Japanese on August 14, 1945, but the documents confirming the surrender were not to be signed until September 2, 1945.
Following the exuberant celebrations of VE Day in the UK on May 8, 1945, the celebrations for VJ Day were rather subdued and seem to have continued in a similar manner.
This year a service of commemoration for VJ 80 will be held at the Newbury War Memorial at 11am on Friday, August 15.
The organisers are hoping to hear from local residents if they have any special recollections of family members who were involved in the Pacific operations or to whom VJ Day has extra special meaning.
If you have a story to share please get in touch in any of the following ways:
Send an email to mayor@newbury.gov.uk
Write a letter to The Mayor of Newbury, Mayor’s Parlour, Town Hall, Market Place,Newbury RG14 5AA.
Or, why not record a video of your story and send that to the email address above?
Stories you send may be featured in an event at the town hall, or the Royal British Legion as a part of the commemorations.
If you can help by sharing your story please do get in touch and help make this year’s commemoration of VJ 80 significant and special.
Councillor Jo Day
(on behalf of the VJ 80 commemoration organising group)
We are so lucky to have NHS and must protect it
About three weeks ago at 8am I had a stroke and I don’t remember the two subsequent seizures, only the trip in the ambulance, and not the seven paramedics and not the air ambulance.
I have wonderful neighbours…
I would just like to say how lucky/ fortunate we are to have the NHS and for us be aware of politicians who would sell it it out without a second thought
Ian Hall
Ashampstead
