Congestion at Thatcham Station, Traffic survey approved but no bridge will be built Options

[Richard Garvie]

Congrats to the two ward councillors for securing £12,000 of funding for a traffic survey at Thatcham Station. I'm not sure in all honesty what it will achieve though when the council have already ruled out a bridge and / or any measures that require investment but I guess it's a step in the right direction. The £12,000 has been taken out of the members pot which is used for projects in individual members wards.

I was pretty scathing of both members when I asked the council about this previously to find they had done nothing, and it's only fair that I should give them some credit for starting to do something about it (better late than never). They have a long way to go, their pledge was to look far and wide to resolve the issue, and I for one hope they can sort it out.

[user23]

In one thread Richard is moaning about the lack of consultation or studies before a decision was made.

In this he's moaning that a consultation or study is taking place perhaps as a precursor to a decision about improvements being carried out.

I wish he'd be a bit more consistent.

[Richard Garvie]

In one thread Richard is moaning about the lack of consultation or studies before a decision was made.

In this he's moaning that a consultation or study is taking place perhaps as a precursor to a decision about improvements being carried out.

I wish he'd be a bit more consistent.

Rubbish. The council claim they have already identified the only available solution - a bridge!!! What will a traffic survey contribute? If any work was to be carried out, they should establish the cost of the bridge. How can they say it's unaffordable if it's not even been costed up?

[Andy Capp]

Rubbish. The council claim they have already identified the only available solution - a bridge!!! What will a traffic survey contribute? If any work was to be carried out, they should establish the cost of the bridge. How can they say it's unaffordable if it's not even been costed up?

You don't have to be developer/engineer to know that it will cost more than several million pounds, which already writes it off as an idea. You're barking up a wrong one here.

[Richard Garvie]

You don't have to be developer/engineer to know that it will cost more than several million pounds, which already writes it off as an idea. You're barking up a wrong one here.

All I'm saying is that a £12k traffic survey is pretty much worthless. It will provide no value to delivering a solution, I fear that the council will simply use it to say that the number of cars using the hill does not justify a bridge and that's the end of the matter. The officers have already said nothing could be done, this survey is all about the elected members responding to criticism that they promised the world and won't be able to deliver.

[Andy Capp]

All I'm saying is that a £12k traffic survey is pretty much worthless. It will provide no value to delivering a solution, I fear that the council will simply use it to say that the number of cars using the hill does not justify a bridge and that's the end of the matter. The officers have already said nothing could be done, this survey is all about the elected members responding to criticism that they promised the world and won't be able to deliver.

I'll repeat:

The only solution to any hold-up is a bridge, but a survey might bring about data that might mean better traffic management, or maybe show how pressure could be applied to the rail company to partner an idea to mitigate the delay.

Just because something can't be fixed, doesn't mean things couldn't be done to help reduce the nuisance.

Another big problem at that junction is the right turn to the post office depot; that could do with some thought.