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Bus lane for A4 |
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Apr 1 2011, 10:49 AM
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A couple of years ago, there was an idea to turn a lane of the A4 between Newbury and Thatcham into a bus lane. It's now happening next year (see p164)It appears from this that it's just westbound.
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Newbury's #1 ill-informed internet poster
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Apr 1 2011, 11:05 AM
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QUOTE (JeffG @ Apr 1 2011, 11:55 AM) Rather than have everyone wade through hundreds of pages of council output, could you post a brief summary, please? Edit - sorry, I see you posted a page number. Do you really read all this stuff? You're right Jeff, sorry it's dreary to understand what's going on locally and why. Maybe WBC have had to let go of their Website Development Manager in a bid to protect frontline services
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Apr 1 2011, 01:01 PM
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QUOTE (Bofem @ Apr 1 2011, 11:49 AM) A couple of years ago, there was an idea to turn a lane of the A4 between Newbury and Thatcham into a bus lane. It's now happening next year (see p164)It appears from this that it's just westbound. Obviously there is far greater need to get people quickly into Parkway than to take them away. I guess there is not enough space to do it both ways - unless they did it up the centre of the road? As there are so few buses they would almost never meet in the middle. Might be a bit of a problem dropping off passengers .
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Apr 1 2011, 06:01 PM
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QUOTE (Bofem @ Apr 1 2011, 11:49 AM) A couple of years ago, there was an idea to turn a lane of the A4 between Newbury and Thatcham into a bus lane. It's now happening next year (see p164)It appears from this that it's just westbound. You may have misinterpreted the information. As it is not costed (yet) I doubt it will be done next year, and almost certainly not fo0r any great lengths of the route. With the land required and engineering costing a fair amount there will be quite a run-up before work begins. This is a proposal that was given a target for delivery (hence 2011/12 and 1012/13), and stands as an agreed item. I wouldn't start driving down the middle of the road just yet.
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Apr 1 2011, 09:16 PM
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QUOTE (Bofem @ Apr 1 2011, 11:49 AM) A couple of years ago, there was an idea to turn a lane of the A4 between Newbury and Thatcham into a bus lane. It's now happening next year (see p164)It appears from this that it's just westbound. That is exciting.... are you bored then?
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Apr 1 2011, 10:39 PM
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QUOTE (Bofem @ Apr 1 2011, 10:49 AM) A couple of years ago, there was an idea to turn a lane of the A4 between Newbury and Thatcham into a bus lane. It's now happening next year (see p164)It appears from this that it's just westbound. So after the main bus route was diverted via Turnpike (number 1), we now get a bus lane even though the number of buses on the A4 has significantly reduced? I'd rather see this money spent on resurfacing works.
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Apr 1 2011, 11:09 PM
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QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Apr 1 2011, 11:39 PM) So after the main bus route was diverted via Turnpike (number 1), we now get a bus lane even though the number of buses on the A4 has significantly reduced? I'd rather see this money spent on resurfacing works. And there you have a core problem with (local) Government funding...... Once something goes in a programme it stays there, regardless of need and regardless or whether something better comes up (almost). Having decided to put in a bus lane, changing the plan is all but impossible - especially if the opposition would latch on to it as a U-turn by the majority group. The locals who drove the idea, and the councillor who sponsored it would kick up an awful fuss.... Maybe the better reason for a bus lane is the income from enforcement......
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Apr 2 2011, 07:37 AM
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QUOTE (NWNREADER @ Apr 1 2011, 11:09 PM) And there you have a core problem with (local) Government funding...... Once something goes in a programme it stays there, regardless of need and regardless or whether something better comes up (almost). Having decided to put in a bus lane, changing the plan is all but impossible - especially if the opposition would latch on to it as a U-turn by the majority group. The locals who drove the idea, and the councillor who sponsored it would kick up an awful fuss.... Maybe the better reason for a bus lane is the income from enforcement...... Who was the member that sponsored it, and what support did they have?
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Apr 2 2011, 07:45 AM
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QUOTE (Bofem @ Apr 1 2011, 10:49 AM) A couple of years ago, there was an idea to turn a lane of the A4 between Newbury and Thatcham into a bus lane. It's now happening next year (see p164)It appears from this that it's just westbound. Is there a costing for this anywhere?
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Apr 2 2011, 08:38 AM
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QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Apr 2 2011, 08:37 AM) Who was the member that sponsored it, and what support did they have? Not a Scoobie. Just commenting on the 'normal' way these things happen.
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Apr 2 2011, 08:46 AM
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QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Apr 2 2011, 08:45 AM) Is there a costing for this anywhere? as per the document - not yet costed. Hence my comments re unlikely to be soon. Politically, now it is in the plan and the plan must be delivered, 'something' could be done fairly cheaply - a bus lane to by-pass Turnpike roundabout, for instance. 150 yards can be a bus lane. Truth is, the benefit is minimal. There is a long-standing wish to promote use of buses and to appear 'green'. I believe the idea first surfaced in the Lib-Dem years. If so, there is not likely to be much enthusiasm for cancelling the project. Highways spend quite a lot on consultants for projects, That and cancelling some of the projects would be a way to reduce costs, but built environment projects are vote-winners. Savings would also only be in-year....
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Apr 2 2011, 11:43 AM
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QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Apr 2 2011, 12:29 PM) Well I think we have seen in other threads how serious the council are about saving money. Especially when it impinges on their self imposed importance. Oh, yes.... which means we've got a contradiction here. Just a matter of interest; the work that was supposed to be carried out in Gaywood Drive, Turnpike was not wanted my the majority of the residents... but that didn't stop them trying to throw money at their project.
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Apr 2 2011, 12:22 PM
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QUOTE (GMR @ Apr 2 2011, 12:43 PM) Oh, yes.... which means we've got a contradiction here. Just a matter of interest; the work that was supposed to be carried out in Gaywood Drive, Turnpike was not wanted my the majority of the residents... but that didn't stop them trying to throw money at their project. That is the way of the world. Capital projects that look good get grant money and Councillor enthusiasm. Maintenance (revenue) is not sexy, so is at the bottom of the pile. I don't think money can be moved from maintenance to capital (and reverse) either, so money for a project cancelled cannot simply be used to resurface roads etc. I also believe it is so that it cannot be transferred to social care, especially as it is 'in year' allocation and social care is a rolling cost.
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Apr 2 2011, 02:11 PM
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QUOTE (NWNREADER @ Apr 2 2011, 12:22 PM) That is the way of the world. Capital projects that look good get grant money and Councillor enthusiasm. Maintenance (revenue) is not sexy, so is at the bottom of the pile. I don't think money can be moved from maintenance to capital (and reverse) either, so money for a project cancelled cannot simply be used to resurface roads etc. I also believe it is so that it cannot be transferred to social care, especially as it is 'in year' allocation and social care is a rolling cost. If it had to be something new, why not infrastructure to improve Robin Hood Roundabout? Your other point is very sensible too, and I think you hit the nail on the head. Road condition is a big topic though too, lots of people raised it as an issue in Newbury Town Centre today at our stall.
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