| Newbury shoppers can move freely around the town again after workmen completed the Northbrook Street refurbishment with a week to spare.
Headley contractors Hope & Clay removed their plant and railings today after four months of dust and disruption that left many town traders out of pocket.
The £450,000 kerbless cobbled street only reaches Waterstones, as it’s envisaged it will eventually join up with a new street into Park Way, made possible by flattening four listed buildings.
Newbury market traders will occupy the street for the next four months while West Berkshire Council splashes out £1m of taxpayers’ money resurfacing the Market Place with imported Italian granite.
Although the Vision clearly indicates that the Market Place is to be a café quarter, district councillor Emma Webster said: “When complete, Market Place will be an enhanced shopping environment, with public space opened up for community and commercial events. It will also mean better facilities for the market. It will be a tremendous boost for Newbury.”
The Market Place will include mature trees, as will Northbrook Street. But workmen will have to dig up the newly cobbled street later in the year to install them. | 
