Newbury - Council urges motorists not to drive over Park Way Bridge

[Administrator]

Newbury - Council urges motorists not to drive over Park Way Bridge

Car drivers are being urged to obey traffic regulations and not drive over Newbury's Park Way Bridge, which is for buses, cycles and taxis only.

The plea is being issued as latest figures show that 3,900 motorists have disregarded the regulations and driven across the bridge between November 2012 and February 2014. In that time only three drivers have challenged their fine through an independent tribunal and only one has been successful. 

Signs on both sides of the bridge warn drivers it is for buses, taxis and cycles only and show the camera enforcement symbol. The council does not have control over the layout and wording of these road signs. These are dictated nationally.

The bus lane on the bridge was introduced in November 2011 with much publicity at the time, and there has been much since. It was introduced to support the public transport network for the town.  Motorists should use one of the two other bridges in town that cross the canal.

The plea is also being issued in the light of misleading publicity about one motorist who had been let off his fine. The story in a local newspaper stated that thousands of motorists may have been wrongly issued fines because an adjudicator at the independent tribunal branded the signage as being illegal. The adjudicator made no such statement, so the prospect of lots of other drivers being wrongly fined simply doesn't arise.

West Berkshire Executive Councillor for Highways, Pamela Bale, said: "I would be delighted if no more motorists were fined for crossing the bridge. It is difficult to see why many drivers are still ignoring the traffic rules. Clearly drivers would not deliberately jump red traffic lights or drive the wrong way down one-way streets which are also subject to traffic regulations."

"The signs in place are more than adequate. They are reflective, illuminated at night, reinforced by road markings and fully comply with regulations.

"The system works well for public transport which was the aim of the scheme.  I again urge drivers to obey the rules and not drive over the bridge."

[Old Goat]

I thought this is rather a strange statement from the Council!  It's wholly unnecessary as the answer is quite simple.  The Council say the signs are installed properly, so it follows that motorist disobeying can be prosecuted.  If recent press reports are accurate and the Traffic Commissioner has apparently inadvertently said otherwise, surely he would simply issue a clarification or a retraction?

[Uncle]

Many motorists just follow taxis,like sheep.

[Old Goat]

I must admit, I've seen that before now.  Nonetheless, I can't see why an exception has been made for taxis or indeed private busses.

[Uncle]

Can't you?   Good job your not on the planning committee,then!

[Old Goat]

Really? Care to give a rational explanation as to why taxis differ from any other commercial vehicle in a time critical trade trying to keep schedules. Or, better, why Vodafone are so scared of their customers (or think so poorly of them) that they can't share public transport.  Please note, I really don't believe to bull about passengers being a security risk on their site! 

[Uncle]

No,to the first.....and the Vodafone one.....buses were a deal clincher( probably suggested by WB) when the volume of jobs were made public,along with worldwide visitors every day.

[Old Goat]

I seem to recall WBC insisted as part of the planning constraints...the yellow greens being in power at the time.  The rationale touted at the time being that restricting the number of cars by having the busses would be more green.  Really works that one, having virtually empty big diesel engined busses chugging round town all day; well done WBC!

[Uncle]

Mmmm? Not sure,but at that time,our town centre was buzzin busy,they didn't foresee the shops going to retail park,and as it is today,recession hit, £150 million shopping centre not being the money magnet it should be ....but ,hey ,give it time,cos whoever invented time,made plenty of it!

[Old Goat]

I'm a relative newbie to the Town, just been here 25 years!  During that time, I can't remember the town 'buzzing', for the most part it was pretty sleepy.  Parkway gave a creditable impression of a derelict WWII bomb site.  When my dear old Dad used to come to visit, he'd often joke about it being a free war time experience theme park.  Given the number of staff they employ, I'm really quite shocked that WBC didn't foresee the effect retail parks would have on the town centre.  What did they think would happen? Equally, the Voda busses have been 'running empty' for ages now, one would have thought the first rule of dead horses should have been applied - if you find yourself on one, get off.

[Uncle]

I said TOWN CENTRE....buzzin....not the whole town,but hey,25 yrs? You never saw our town before Sainsbuys roundabout was built,causing jams for evermore! Yes. It took them years to clean up Parkway,but it's how Newbury goes....we either get it wrong,or take forever to progress( from one cock up to another! I come from Coventry,so I appreciate little ol Newbury,even tho it has it's unique blueprint for the future..