| The controversial redevelopment of Park Way faces its first test next week when town councillors decide whether to give their blessing to the mammoth shopping centre and seven-storey tower.
The £120m plan involves flattening historic buildings, removing medieval outbuildings, and closing Park Way Bridge to all traffic except buses, in a bid to stop shoppers going to Reading or Basingstoke.
Around 50 shops are planned – creating 1000 jobs – topped with 187 executive apartments, and the 570 parking spaces will be replaced by 757 spaces in the new development, due to open in 2009. The developer claims that the town’s other car parks, less than 1400 spaces, can cope with the loss of parking while construction is underway.
It’s also envisaged that the bus station will move from Market Street into Park Way, and for buses to be banned from Northbrook Street by making Park Way Bridge two-way for buses only.
The Grade II listed shops housing Rymans, Argos, Wilds Sports, along with the former Timpsons unit and Going Places shop, will be demolished, after English Heritage said they were of “limited value”. These will make way for a new street from Northbrook Street to the parade of shops, open-air cafes, and rooftop gardens.
An earlier charm offensive by developer Shearer Properties found 74% support from Newbury shoppers for the development, and the town council has already had a presentation in November.
But a lively debate is expected as nearly a third of the town’s parking spaces will be lost for two years, and there’s public opposition to banning buses from Northbrook Street.
The meeting is on Wednesday 4th January at the town hall, starting 7.30pm. | 
