Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?

[Number 6]

Given the miniscule progress to be made around Newbury at present during peak periods one has to ask if this is just another scheme that will convince employers that Newbury is not a good location to run a business from. Like it or not for many (particularly those who cannot afford housing in the locality) the car is the only choice of transport and if the road system cannot support journeys in peak times companies will locate elsewhere. Spending money just because it's offered seems very short sighted.

https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/news/22869/green-light-for-a4-cycle-route-upgrades.html

[Old Goat]

This fits the vision our elected representatives have agreed for Newbury.  Being the end point of the newly electrified railway together with the residential re development of the Town Centre will support us as a commuter dormatory/retirement suburb for the Thames Valley.  So there is no real need to attract or retain business.  All we actually need is effectively a semi skilled maintenance workforce; well within the training capability of our local FE College.  Could be quite nice really.

[Number 6]

Relocation, Relocation, Relocation. Let's hope it's not coming to a business near you.

https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/23150/west-berkshire-council-set-to-receive-2m-business-rates-boost.html

[Old Goat]

Unbelievable.  So, we keep the business rate, give up an equivalent in grants and any credit extra kept from this sleight of hand is given to a quango.  WBC; stiched up like a kipper!

[Old Goat]

Ironic really; we've had the usual flock of relatives with us over Christmas and the title of this thread was the response from one of them after a morning walking round the town. That started a general tirade from even the locals about the slow collapse of the market, Kennet Centre and the like.  Took the shine off what up 'till then had been a happy visit!

[Number 6]

Newbury should be and is positioned to have a very vibrant mixed economy including commercial and light industrial companies as well as it's more traditional blend of attributes. Together with Hungerford and Theale there is an obvious opportunity to become a commercial centre based on the M4 corridor. Instead we seem determined to ignore the opportunity and this can only be a political stance taken by a leadership that is marching to someone else's tune and agenda, to the detriment of the population as a whole. The eyeball indicator of this is the lack of proper traffic infrastructure creating gridlock. Without commercial success the town and district declines. Nowhere is this more evident than in the difference in pay rates between Newbury, Reading and elsewhere in the Thames Valley. Only a total leadership refresh will change this.

[Number 6]

I see in today's NWN that the local council is now considering encouraging Micro Focus to feel so unloved that it should up sticks and move out of the town by creating a problem for the company rather than helping identify and provide solutions. No doubt encouraged by their Christmas hangovers they seem determined to share the pain. The only conclusion that others can reach looking in from the outside is that Newbury is not business friendly and is best avoided. Numbskulls !

[Old Goat]

Yes, there were some pretty snide comments made by our local political 'worthies'.  Still, it's  fairly effective way of delivering the Council's real Vision for the District; to be a Dormitory / Retirement suburb.  It's not now a matter of if key firms move, more when.

[Number 6]

Another nail in the coffin for local business. As well as voting itself a very under publicised 5% increase in council tax the local council are determined to screw every penny from the local population. I wonder how long before the costs escalate just like they have in Newbury? Also I think we have a right to know just how much of this increase in taxation is going in wage rises - particularly for the senior staff and officers ? It would be interesting to know how much more is being paid from this April for any given role to say 5 years ago. I think we would be shocked to find how the supposed wage freeze (1%) has been broken. Time for a huge axe to be wielded in cutting this waste of space money eating machine back to a proper size.

https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/news/23344/pay-by-phone-charges-proposed-for-thatcham-town-centre.html

[Number 6]

How many more large companies need to leave because Newbury is gridlocked before the penny drops ?

https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/24809/thatcham-s-a4-set-to-go-greener.html

[Old Goat]

Simply another small element in delivering the vision WBC are working towards delivering.  They knew it would be a long job, so both Conservative and LibDems signed up to it - local political establishment can't conceive of any other party anywhere near.  No use kicking against the reigns, Newbury will be a dormatory / retirement suburb, no matter what - politics count more than people.

[Number 6]

Another new vision but traffic brought to a complete standstill for hours at a time for months on end ? At some point reality will intrude as the cost to business becomes unbearable but for many it will of course be too late by then.
https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/25760/overhaul-of-newbury-town-centre-roads-will-begin-in-january.html

[Number 6]

Nuff said to use the vernacular.

https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/26278/a339-junction-works-in-newbury-begin-on-monday.html

[Old Goat]

It's all part of the Vision, the more businesses that fail, the more land in the town centre up for new flats development. Triples all round.

[Number 6]

In a short walk along Northbrook Street I saw 5 people at various locations sat begging. Shopkeepers must be getting alarmed at the proliferation ? Taking your perspective Old Goat I guess this is all part of a clearance exercise to remove the commercial outlets asap by accelerating the flight of physical shoppers? Much as I sympathise with the plight of the homeless and destitute begging on the high street is not a solution to their issues. Our district council will of course be rubbing their hands in anticipation of the shiny new offices they want to build.