UKIP bridge proposal dismissed by Thatcham Town Council

Plans to bypass rail crossing not viable because of 'the vast expense involved'

POLITICS is about building bridges but Thatcham town councillors have dismissed UKIP’s proposal for a bridge to bypass the level crossing.

Plans for a bridge have been floated and abandoned at the notorious congestion spot since the 1970s.

As reported in the Newbury Weekly News in October, fed up members of Newbury UKIP put forward a proposal which they say will cost between £22m and £30m.

UKIP said its proposal could be funded by Network Rail, West Berkshire Council and Government departments.

Other funding would come from housing developments planned for Thatcham, while another source could come from applying a levy on the sold price of houses.

The scrapping of the HS2 high-speed rail project between London and the North could pay for this scheme and many others, UKIP said.

The party said it was responding to articles questioning whether a bridge would ever be built.

Network Rail and West Berkshire Council told the paper earlier this year that they had ruled out building a bridge at Thatcham or Colthrop.

Network Rail said that Thatcham was “a complex site” while the council said that a bridge would “resolve a relatively local problem”.

It added that a bridge would not be affordable without significant private or government funds.

The party’s suggestion came before a proposal for two bridges over the railway, a new primary school and leisure centre – at a cost of 700 homes – being prepared by the Colthrop Village Consortium was revealed in the Newbury Weekly News three weeks ago.

UKIP’s proposal would see a double bridge constructed off Pipers Lane over the railway and the Kennet and Avon Canal.

The new road would then curve across farmland south of the railway, crossing the River Kennet at a third bridge, and join the junction at Crookham Hill and Chamberhouse Mill Lane.

Thatcham Town Council discussed the idea at a recent meeting.

Town council leader Richard Crumly (Con, Thatcham Central) said that councillors had “noted the scheme with interest” but decided to take no further action because of the vast expense involved.

“It would be great and useful to have a proper bridge over the railway, canal and river and if someone else would pay for it or we knew where the money was coming from it would be attractive.

“I don’t think we took it much further because it’s not something that’s going to be economically viable.

“Thatcham Town Council to put it on the precept? I don’t think so. And West Berkshire Council are making reductions all the time.

“The list of who is not going to contribute goes on and on.”

Liberal Democrat town councillor Jeff Brooks (Thatcham West) said: “We can all say let’s have a bridge but only the district council would have the technical expertise to put in a bid like that.

“What also needs to be taken into account is we would open up the south of the railway line to developers.”

Mr Brooks said that while he didn’t want to rubbish the idea for a bridge he would want to consult the public on the wider issues: “When you are sitting in traffic you want a bridge but when you are sitting at home you may see the bigger picture.

“I don’t want to be against a bridge but I want the public to understand whether one is the answer and how we get the council to do the bid.”