Parkway Bridge closed forever (for the ordinary motorist)
Park Way Bridge will be closed to all traffic from today (March 7th). It will reopen in the autumn but for buses and taxis only.
From today, March 7th 2011, Park Way Bridge will be closed to allow the construction of the new road for the Parkway Shopping Centre. It will reopen in the autumn, but for buses and taxis only. The bridge has been an arterial route for southbound traffic since the Second World War. Traffic will now be expected to join the increasing congestion on the A339 for all journies during the hours of pedestrianisation. To alleviate traffic jams during the evening rush hour, the hours of pedestrianisation will be changing to finish at 5.00pm instead of 6.00pm from Thursday March 17th. This move is also expected to ease the horrendous traffic hold-ups in the Wharf, where some motorists have been stuck in queues for nearly 30 minutes during busy periods. Traffic on the A339 is increasing at an alarming rate, as more and more heavy lorries are starting to use the route through Newbury as a short cut between the M3 and M4. The situation will obviously get worse if the Racecourse development is allowed to go ahead, without the construction of the proposed railway bridge in Hambridge Road. The construction of new tower blocks in Kings Road, would also increase congestion on the Sainsbury's Roundabout.
We often see debates about the traffic problems in Newbury, but what would each poster suggest to relieve some of the pressure on Central Newbury. I saw mention of a interchange with the A34 at the Enborne Road, is that viable? What about an Eastern relief Road, from the East of Thatcham around the southern part of Greenham Common and connecting with the A34 south of Newbury? An elected member previously suggested a ring road. What would you do if money wasn't an issue, and what do you think should be done with the limited financial resources available?
Some people like to talk of a 'Park & Ride' as if that would solve all traffic ills. I'd like the idea as as it would free some of the congestion and allow ME to drive into town (but I wouldn't use it myself and I suspect few others would either in truth) And where would one go?
We often see debates about the traffic problems in Newbury, but what would each poster suggest to relieve some of the pressure on Central Newbury. I saw mention of a interchange with the A34 at the Enborne Road, is that viable? What about an Eastern relief Road, from the East of Thatcham around the southern part of Greenham Common and connecting with the A34 south of Newbury? An elected member previously suggested a ring road. What would you do if money wasn't an issue, and what do you think should be done with the limited financial resources available?
An Enborne Road junction would help a little but the heavy traffic issue is about traffic coming through town going between Basingstoke and the M4. Plus, of course, heavy traffic from Greenham Common's increasingly busy industrial area. An eastern bypass would move this traffic out of town and also take traffic between Thatcham and the A34 at Tot Hill. A ring road would be completed by a road along the county boundary between the Swan roundabout an the A34 at Wash Common/Highclere - this alone would take a lot of Basingstoke/Greenham traffic out of town (could even get the Sandleford developers to pay for a lot of it).
A low cost solution to the Basingstoke traffic problem would be to impose a weight limit on the A339 - forcing heavy traffic to use the A303/A34 route.
Another idea would be to make the A339 through Newbury a toll road (with free passes for local residents), I believe councils are allowed to charge congestion fees these days? At least we'd get some income from those still determined to come through town (and from all those WBC and Vodafone employees commuting in from their distant homes).
A low cost solution to the Basingstoke traffic problem would be to impose a weight limit on the A339 - forcing heavy traffic to use the A303/A34 route.
Didn't Basingtoke & Dean Council try to introduce a weight restriction on the A339 through Headley (and therefore on the north approach to Basingstoke) as a kneejerk to the proposed Prologis site being located at Greenham Park? ... It wasn't successful...
Another idea would be to make the A339 through Newbury a toll road (with free passes for local residents),
A bad idea for numerous reasons but for a start.. you think rat-running is bad just now, just wait till something like that was considered!!(it would never get introduced anyhow)
Didn't Basingtoke & Dean Council try to introduce a weight restriction on the A339 through Headley (and therefore on the north approach to Basingstoke) as a kneejerk to the proposed Prologis site being located at Greenham Park? ... It wasn't successful...
Ah, but there is a reason B & D BC were against the Sainsbury depot. The Greenham warehouse was intended to replace the current Sainsbury depot in Houndmills Basingstoke. Trucks delivering & carry goods from it have been using the A339, through Headley for over 30 years. Odd that B & D BC should suddenly wish to impose a weight ban.................
Ah, but there is a reason B & D BC were against the Sainsbury depot. The Greenham warehouse was intended to replace the current Sainsbury depot in Houndmills Basingstoke. Trucks delivering & carry goods from it have been using the A339, through Headley for over 30 years. Odd that B & D BC should suddenly wish to impose a weight ban.................
I still would still wish for there to be a weight limit, even if the council's motives were not for altruistic reasons.
Right through Crookham Common? Strange from the bloke who has been campaigning about keeping green spaces.
Certainly worth looking into Brian? Where it cuts across the green at the eastern end of the racecourse would be an ideal site for the new pigeon loft Pavilion. Plenty of road access and it would leave a green space in the center of Newbury IE Victoria Park that they want to concrete over?
Right through Crookham Common? Strange from the bloke who has been campaigning about keeping green spaces.
Quite right, if anybody proposed it I would probably be against it. It is hypothetical anyway but it would skirt the edge of Crookham Common and across the end of Greenham Common rather than going through the middle as you suggest. I'm not looking for a full blown motorway by the way, just a link road but capable of taking the Thatcham to Basingstoke M3 traffic.
Maybe the link could be further East but would need a new rail bridge at Colthrop. Money was no object so would that work ?
Certainly worth looking into Brian? Where it cuts across the green at the eastern end of the racecourse would be an ideal site for the new pigeon loft Pavilion. Plenty of road access and it would leave a green space in the center of Newbury IE Victoria Park that they want to concrete over?
You are right of course, plenty of water for the canoeists and I'm sure a circular bus route would work well so easy access as you suggested.
hmm..... Quite a few Newbury snobs still look down their noses on Thatcham don't they... Still, it's becoming increasingly difficult to know when Newbury ends and Thatcham begins... Perhaps Thatchamites should consider renaming their town to 'Greater Newbury' (just to wind up the Newburians and obviously take an instant jump up the social ladder as their friends will be dead impressed that they suddenly come from 'Newbury'...)
I've been told just by having a Thatcham post code - as many in Greenham do - can adversely affect the cost of insurance.
Until Thatcham was flooded, insurance was cheaper than Newbury. Now they are pretty much the same. There is also a 2 tier insurance band in Thatcham the North of the A4 is cheaper than the South - again due to the flooding.
So it has nothing to do with crime etc etc (unless of course you live in Newbury and think you are somehow superior, in which case you DESERVE to pay more just for being a snob)
Until Thatcham was flooded, insurance was cheaper than Newbury. Now they are pretty much the same. There is also a 2 tier insurance band in Thatcham the North of the A4 is cheaper than the South - again due to the flooding.
So it has nothing to do with crime etc etc (unless of course you live in Newbury and think you are somehow superior, in which case you DESERVE to pay more just for being a snob)
I think the person I was referring to was talking about car insurance.
Me thinks the battle of Thatcham and Newbury should be re introduced
Going way off topic, there used to be a bottle kicking match between two villages up where I was brought up back in the day. Something like that on boxing day would be excellent. You start at a central point, and the idea is that your team kick the bottle back to the market place / centre of the village / town etc. Nothing like a bit of town / village pride!!!
In 1125, King Henry I granted the manor of Thatcham to his new foundation of Reading Abbey. Thus the all powerful Abbots became lords of the manor and, as well as being exempt from taxes and having the right to hold their own manor courts , they were allowed to hold a Sunday market in the church. It was during this period that Thatcham became the great rival of nearby Newbury, a 'new town' set up soon after the Norman Conquest. Henry II issued three charters confirming Thatcham's market and compelling the men of Berkshire to attend, but the Newbury townsfolk became jealous and attacked the Thatcham merchants, overturning their stalls and scattering their wares. The King immediately ordered that the Newbury folk restrain themselves; but the animosity between the two towns remained and this was not helped by a further grant, in 1222, for a fair in Thatcham, to be held on St. Thomas A'Becket's Day (7th July). Around the same time, the town's prosperity was reaching its peak and the Abbot of Reading, being in financial difficulties, appears to have used his influence with King Edward I to gain borough status for Thatcham. The incorporation charter no longer exists but, by the early 14th century, Thatcham was certainly one of the 'four boroughs of Berkshire'.
In 1125, King Henry I granted the manor of Thatcham to his new foundation of Reading Abbey. Thus the all powerful Abbots became lords of the manor and, as well as being exempt from taxes and having the right to hold their own manor courts , they were allowed to hold a Sunday market in the church. It was during this period that Thatcham became the great rival of nearby Newbury, a 'new town' set up soon after the Norman Conquest. Henry II issued three charters confirming Thatcham's market and compelling the men of Berkshire to attend, but the Newbury townsfolk became jealous and attacked the Thatcham merchants, overturning their stalls and scattering their wares. The King immediately ordered that the Newbury folk restrain themselves; but the animosity between the two towns remained and this was not helped by a further grant, in 1222, for a fair in Thatcham, to be held on St. Thomas A'Becket's Day (7th July). Around the same time, the town's prosperity was reaching its peak and the Abbot of Reading, being in financial difficulties, appears to have used his influence with King Edward I to gain borough status for Thatcham. The incorporation charter no longer exists but, by the early 14th century, Thatcham was certainly one of the 'four boroughs of Berkshire'.
Is the granting of a fair not celebrated these days? I thing that would be a great little event for Thatcham, an annual fair on or around 7th July.
Before I go way WAY off topic again... has the bridge closure brought traffic movement around the town centre to a crashing halt? (I haven't been into town this week) And are the mindless drivers with brains in neutral (who used to wait for hours to use Parkway Bridge regardless of the fact that the A339 was running freely) just sat in their cars in a queue along Parkway honking their horns and wondering why they're not moving?
Presumably it's easier for drivers to get out of the Wharf St car parks and join Bear Lane if there's nothing coming over the bridge?
As for Thatcham, interesting bit of history there Brian. I quite like the place (not ALL of it). In a town that boasts continual habitiation since 7,700BC we seem to still have more than our fair share of Neanderthals wandering around with vacant expressions and knuckles dragging, but if you know the pubs to avoid then it's not too much of a problem.
Even though there has been plenty of warning about the closing of park way bridge people still cannot read, I just spent 20 miniutes standing at the camp hopson end & the amount of cars that still tried to go over the bridge was unbeliveable, one guy was even trying to move the barriers. sorry but it seems that most driv ers are blind idiots that cannot read.
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yeah, better at partying !
Even though there has been plenty of warning about the closing of park way bridge people still cannot read, I just spent 20 miniutes standing at the camp hopson end & the amount of cars that still tried to go over the bridge was unbeliveable, one guy was even trying to move the barriers. sorry but it seems that most driv 
