Plans for the Corn Exchange to erect banners on the BT tower, to advertise forthcoming events, were discussed recently at a meeting of Newbury Town Council.

The telephone exchange has long been branded as Newbury’s ugliest building. Constructed in the late 1960’s, the telephone exchange has been a prominent town centre landmark since it replaced the old manual exchange which used to serve the town.

The suggestion is to use the blank wall which faces onto the Sainsbury’s roundabout. It would certainly be in an eye catching position for traffic entering the town from the Kings Road direction. Several councillors thought that it might be a distraction for drivers on the A339.

Initially, it is intended to use the building to advertise and promote the Puss in Boots pantomime over Christmas and the New Year. If it is successful, then it could be used to promote other events within Newbury town centre.

What do you think? Is it a good advertising opportunity? Please use the blank canvas above to create your own suggestion for an advertisement.

Looks as if you have a new job Factfile!  If the images were changed regularly might even bring a smile to those waiting at the lights.

I thought maybe use some pedestrian paving and some bollard awareness!

That's too risky GC. It would encourage people to drive straight into the building.

Quoted from 133

That's too risky GC. It would encourage people to drive straight into the building.

Uh-ah, I would install rising bollards; that'd learn 'em.

Perhaps we could show Newbury off better with these tinted items!

GC - fantastic - didn't realise you could see Market Street from that position.

I wasn't aware that this was public space available for rent. When I asked about this two years ago, I was given short shrift.

We're desperately short of outdoor ad space in town, so I'm pleased BT are now keen to rent it out.

I think that we need to warn visitors to the town about our enthusiastic civil enforcement officers:

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Quoted from MoonPhoenix

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90?........9 MAX!!

Quoted from Uncle

90?........9 MAX!!

3 or 4 minutes feels like 90 to some just because they can't put their foot down. (Not me, of course  )

I've never experience the jam personally, I can't drive.

But I thought the perpetual traffic jam down the middle of the town was it's biggest issue, apart from roaming squads of attack bollards.

Quoted from MoonPhoenix

I've never experience the jam personally, I can't drive.

But I thought the perpetual traffic jam down the middle of the town was it's biggest issue, apart from roaming squads of attack bollards.

Yes I remembered you don't drive for some reason. It might be a perpetual jam but it isn't the same cars stuck there all day.

Ah, I've put my keyboard in my mouth again haven't I?
Sorry.

Quoted from MoonPhoenix

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I go up and down the 339 several times a day and whilst it has been a bit of a pain due to the one way Market St closure it is usually max ten minutes even at peak times.

Quoted from MoonPhoenix

Ah, I've put my keyboard in my mouth again haven't I?
Sorry.

Never mind. Good pic anyway!

Quoted from brian

I go up and down the 339 several times a day and whilst it has been a bit of a pain due to the one way Market St closure it is usually max ten minutes even at peak times.

FF, you didn't bite.

Quoted from brian

FF, you didn't bite.

I didn't see anything to get my teeth into Brian. In fact, I was very impressed by your restrained response. It seems you actually got to realise that, although it's not quite what you're used to, the closure hasn't really been that bad.  Perhaps we should keep it one way  

Quoted from 133

Perhaps we should keep it one way  

I'd vote for that - it makes all the difference to Wharf Road and hence makes the Park Way bridge a viable route across the river.

Quoted from blackdog

I'd vote for that - it makes all the difference to Wharf Road and hence makes the Park Way bridge a viable route across the river.

I'm sure you wouldn't be the only voter for it but there would, probably, be as many voters for it to return to 2 way. Just goes to show that, no matter what, some get caught up at some place or other. The only way of making any difference is to introduce a couple of 'escape routes'.

Quoted from 133

I'm sure you wouldn't be the only voter for it but there would, probably, be as many voters for it to return to 2 way. Just goes to show that, no matter what, some get caught up at some place or other. The only way of making any difference is to introduce a couple of 'escape routes'.

Or have a Newbury equivalent to an Inner Distribution Road (IDR), but I digress...

Quoted from 133

I'm sure you wouldn't be the only voter for it but there would, probably, be as many voters for it to return to 2 way. Just goes to show that, no matter what, some get caught up at some place or other.

It would be nice to have the chance to vote - as it is those preferring it two way will get what they want regardless.

I wonder if it will have an impact on footfall when the Wharf Road car parks once again get to be a misery to use?

Quoted from 133

The only way of making any difference is to introduce a couple of 'escape routes'.

One solution would be to leave the existing escape road - via the southern end of Cheap Street and on to the A339 (which need to be made one way anyway).  Just make Bear Lane and north Cheap Street one way with a nice mini-roundabout outside the cinema.

Another would be lights at the Wharf Road / Bear Lane junction to give Wharf Road traffic a chance to get out. Synchonise them with the Sainsbury's roundabout lights as part of the new 'intelligent' lights system they are about to spend £50k on. Let the traffic from Bear Lane and Wharf Road out during alternate greens on to the main roundabout.

At lest these options would share the pain (which can be far worse than a ten minute wait for the poor beggars stuck in Wharf Road).  

Quoted from blackdog

Another would be lights at the Wharf Road / Bear Lane junction to give Wharf Road traffic a chance to get out. Synchonise them with the Sainsbury's roundabout lights as part of the new 'intelligent' lights system they are about to spend £50k on. Let the traffic from Bear Lane and Wharf Road out during alternate greens on to the main roundabout.

Use of common sense is not allowed BD. Anyway, I seem to remember a certain member of WBC saying this couldn't happen and everything was working fine as it is (I've heard the same on town centre signage for 20 years). No budging when the minds made up eh?