We need a ring road Options

[Ziggy]

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=14945

Now I have no particular qualifications or expertise in town planning, but is this not rather shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted? Ever since I have lived in the area, new housing and retail developments have been given the go-ahead with seemingly no strategic thinking whatsoever about roads or other infrastructure.

[Iommi]

Suggestions as to possible routes please. IMHO it would be as waste of time.

If we had a ring road we could then have a 'proper' pedestrianise shopping centre.

The councillor is suggesting that we don't want through traffic. Drivers will always opt for the shortest route, regardless of the traffic flow so a ring road would be under used.

It is what Reading, Swindon and Basingstoke did and do. Not that I am a great admirer of them.

[dannyboy]

If we had a ring road we could then have a 'proper' pedestrianise shopping centre.


It is what Reading, Swindon and Basingstoke did and do. Not that I am a great admirer of them.

None of the above really have a 'proper' ring road - they have disjointed bits of dual carriageway, usually which end in a bottle neck. Swindon has only just had two of their bottle necks removed ( on the A419/7 ) but all that has done is make the situation at Birdlip worse.
Most of the traffic in Newbury is folk either driving into town to go to work, or mums driving their kids to school.

You only have to look at the situation in the Wharf & over the canal bridge every day to realise that drivers are their own worse enemy. They deserve to sit in traffic

[Iommi]

Most of the traffic in Newbury is folk either driving into town to go to work, or mums driving their kids to school.

Why then is Sunday lunch time often so bad on the A339?

You only have to look at the situation in the Wharf & over the canal bridge every day to realise that drivers are their own worse enemy. They deserve to sit in traffic

That is a bit unfair; no-body looks for a traffic jam and one can develop in a matter of minutes in Newbury.

One of the problems is a lack of 'north circular' on the west said of town. If we had more canal crossings, that might improve things.

I still maintain that the pedestrianisation project is partly let down by an inappropriate road system in the town.

[dannyboy]

Why then is Sunday lunch time often so bad on the A339?


That is a bit unfair; no-body looks for a traffic jam and one can develop in a matter of minutes in Newbury.

One of the problems is a lack of 'north circular' on the west said of town. If we had more canal crossings, that might improve things.

Unfair? I bet it is the same drivers each day. The A339 is a longer, but faster alternative, but people still drive down park way.

A339 on Sundays? Which bit?

[Iommi]

Unfair? I bet it is the same drivers each day. The A339 is a longer, but faster alternative, but people still drive down park way.

Although it is besides the point; how do you know?

A339 on Sundays? Which bit?

Down the link and on to the Police Station, etc...

[dannyboy]

Although it is besides the point; how do you know?


Down the link and on to the Police Station, etc...

Well Watson, using parkway to get across town isn't a route a person who does not know the town would take. Therefore one must assume those waiting on the one-way bridge etc know the town well, which means they must use the route often to be familiar with it.

The traffic on the A339 is hardly bad enough to warrant building a by pass - which I am sure would only be used by 'out of towners' I wonder, how many local people wanting to get from Wash Common to Shaw would ever think of using the A34?

[Iommi]

Well Watson, using parkway to get across town isn't a route a person who does not know the town would take. Therefore one must assume those waiting on the one-way bridge etc know the town well, which means they must use the route often to be familiar with it.

OK, so it is an assumption then.

The traffic on the A339 is hardly bad enough to warrant building a by pass - which I am sure would only be used by 'out of towners' I wonder, how many local people wanting to get from Wash Common to Shaw would ever think of using the A34?

I'm not sure a by-pass was what was proposed. My view is about making navigating around town better so as to improve exit/access and so that we may have a 'proper' pedestrian shopping centre.

It is all rather pointless anyway, as it ain't going to happen any time soon. If anything, perhaps Thatcham deserve a bridge for the railway crossing more than anything.

[dannyboy]

OK, so it is an assumption then.


I'm not sure a by-pass was what was proposed. My view is about making navigating around town better so as to improve exit/access and so that we may have a 'proper' pedestrian shopping centre.

It is all rather pointless anyway, as it ain't going to happen any time soon. If anything, perhaps Thatcham deserve a bridge for the railway crossing more than anything.

Unless a survey is conducted the nature of the journey origination of anyone at the wharf is assumption....

A ring road in town - pushed through existing development?

[Iommi]

A ring road in town - pushed through existing development?

Huh?

[dannyboy]

Huh?

If it isn't a green field by-pass, ( or on the W side of town utilising the A34 ), ie a distance from the town centre it will have to be built over existing development won't it. ( I agree that it is all hypothetical as it will never be considered ).

Not like the A339 Newbury - Basingstoke dual carrigeway plan that was considered at great cost.

[Iommi]

If it isn't a green field by-pass, ( or on the W side of town utilising the A34 ), ie a distance from the town centre it will have to be built over existing development won't it.

Exactly; which is why I sure this is all that we will hear of it. That doesn't necessarily mean it wouldn't be a good idea if we were able to though.

Not like the A339 Newbury - Basingstoke dual carrigeway plan that was considered at great cost.

Sorry, my thickness strikes again and I don't know what you mean!

[dannyboy]

Exactly; which is why I sure this is all that we will hear of it. That doesn't necessarily mean it wouldn't be a good idea if we were able to though.


Sorry, my thickness strikes again and I don't know what you mean!

About 20 years ago a plan was drawn up, with scale maps, elevations plans, a fully proposed route, etc etc to make the A339 into dual carriageway, from Basingstoke to Newbury.

The DoT produced a thick A4 sized consultation document which was available to all & sundry. I don't know if it was to do with the use of Greenham as a base for Cruise, but the plan must have cost a fair few £ to design & produce.