Christmas Eve in Newbury

As pedestrians continue to slip and slide around the streets of Newbury, newbury.net would be interested to receive any details of sightings of any form of gritting vehicles or council operatives undertaking gritting duties, particularly in Newbury Town Centre.


West Mills in particular has been very sadly neglected. This area of the town is one of the main pedestrian routes into Northbrook Street from the Westfields area of Newbury.

I think somebody must have been out there as the main roads looked particularly clear fairly quickly but as the gritters tend to work during the night, their audience is very limited.
Having looked at the gritting map however I must believe that some of the important roads that are a problem because of the gradient, were missed in the first sweep but 'may' have been covered later, Turnpike Hill and Pyle Hill spring to mind.

Around 9 this morning saw a group with a lorry gritting pavements in front of library.  They were doing a pretty good job at double quick time.  I don't know what it is, but have been to two other towns, just as badly hit, but the locals seem to be having a laugh and a joke - trying to make the best of it.  Newbury on the other hand, ever other person is moaning.  If you really want to have a go at a Council, try Hampshire - who are far more deserving!

I have a german friend who expressed dis-belief at this country.  In Germany and probably other EU contries, it is the land owners responsibility to clear the road/path outside their property.  I really think we all need to start taking personal responsibility about the space we live in, and not queue up to moan when we could all be mucking in, sorting the problem out.  If we know the LA are so bad, then, as the old saying goes...If you want something done, DO IT YOURSELF.

There is a logic to your opinion, but some think we pay a big premium for the services we are meant to get.  What we are talking about though, is public space, not necessarily private land.  I think the gritting around Sunday/Monday was in large part poor.  In previous years, the gritting was evident, but on some premium routes, there was barely any evidence that there had been any gritting/salting commensurate with the weather.

Like I said, sure, while I'm fit enough I'll clear the road and path outside my land, but meanwhile I don't expect council tax to go through the roof, or for the LA to go and waste £1,700,000.00 on an unnecessary repaving exercise in town.

Quoted from Administrator

Christmas Eve in Newbury

As pedestrians continue to slip and slide around the streets of Newbury, newbury.net would be interested to receive any details of sightings of any form of gritting vehicles or council operatives undertaking gritting duties, particularly in Newbury Town Centre.


West Mills in particular has been very sadly neglected. This area of the town is one of the main pedestrian routes into Northbrook Street from the Westfields area of Newbury.

I phoned the council to ask for gritting at the St Johns roundabout and was told quite clearly that WBC only grit and clear town centre pavement. This is also a primary pedestrian route into Newbury. The WBC website states that pavements are not part of their remit. I am not sure where the town centre stops as Blackboys Bridge was in a poor state with pedestrians find difficulty in crossing, although the rest of the road into town was gritted.

Quoted from Greenham Common

Like I said, sure, while I'm fit enough I'll clear the road and path outside my land, but meanwhile I don't expect council tax to go through the roof, or for the LA to go and waste £1,700,000.00 on an unnecessary repaving exercise in town.

Is this a new project or an old one (past it's sell by date for complaints) and what on earth has it got to do with gritting?

Quoted from buttonf1

I have a german friend who expressed dis-belief at this country.  In Germany and probably other EU contries, it is the land owners responsibility to clear the road/path outside their property.  I really think we all need to start taking personal responsibility about the space we live in, and not queue up to moan when we could all be mucking in, sorting the problem out.  If we know the LA are so bad, then, as the old saying goes...If you want something done, DO IT YOURSELF.

We cleared the path and road in front of our house and put grit down, so I agree with just getting on doing something about it if no one else does. It would be impossible for the authorities to grit every road in the country but there's a slight hypocrisy here. We should take personal responsibility about the space we live in, in this instance the road outside our dwellings, yet we shouldn't expect to park outside them in some areas of town.

Your German friend, does he pay an equivalent to our council taxes?

Quoted from Dig of the Stump

Is this a new project or an old one (past it's sell by date for complaints) and what on earth has it got to do with gritting?

Cash...idiot.

Quoted from Greenham Common

Cash...idiot.

I thought the term was cash cow but whatever. An old project then, if they hadn't built the clock house in 1929 you could have had your road gritted  

Gritting was v good in W Berks compared to other districts I've visited in the last few days.

Quoted from Bartholomew

I phoned the council to ask for gritting at the St Johns roundabout and was told quite clearly that WBC only grit and clear town centre pavement. This is also a primary pedestrian route into Newbury. The WBC website states that pavements are not part of their remit. I am not sure where the town centre stops as Blackboys Bridge was in a poor state with pedestrians find difficulty in crossing, although the rest of the road into town was gritted.

WBC may have done an excellent jon in the town centre.  Pity few could get to see it as most roads, bus routes and pavements were not negotiable.  

There was no pavements gritted at all around st marys rd or the london road at all.

Quoted from red berret

There was no pavements gritted at all around st marys rd or the london road at all.

But I did my own drive and frontage[community path] with a whole tub of SAXA table salt.....76p.....and still had some left over for dinner!

Rather odd letter in NWN this week on this very subject.  Initially suggesting Council response abysmal as they didn't clear paths - but goes on to suggest that we all clear our own frontage!  That must go for the shops as well - same issue; a small shop in Thatcham complaining that her path hadn't been cleared.  Quite a simple solution folks; and for those who really can't help themselves, what a chance to show some real community spirit; that's what I would call putting something back.