Newbury's Congested Roads - The situation is getting worse.

[BrianB]

When I was a teenager in the sixties, I was fortunate enough to own a car. I had to travel from Great Bedwyn to Newbury on a daily basis. Now car sharing was relatively new in those days. I picked up 3 other passengers on the way, one in Little Bedwyn one in Hungerford and one in Kintbury. They all contributed to my petrol costs and everyone was happy. (As an aside this deprived the railways of 3 paying passengers).

Nowadays during the rush hour virtually every car has only one occupant - the driver. This is the reason that our roads are overcrowded. Nobody wants to share anymore.

[Number 6]

Volume of traffic and the unnecessary journeys which create it are certainly one possible explanation. A reading of this weeks local paper perhaps points to others as well which may raise more serious questions. What cannot be denied is that Newbury is now reaching a point of ongoing major congestion that needs proper and competent analysis and resolution and quickly if the local economy at all levels is not to suffer, including the health of all who live and work here.

[Old Goat]

Yes, I can remember that too!  Being picked up and doing the same myself; always a bit of a bind really, plus you had to try and find some pleasant conversation.  I suppose I'm much like the rest, moan about the traffic, but in reality, so long as I can get to work, sitting on my own, listening to what I want, lost in my own thoughts isn't too much of a burden.  I work out of Newbury these days at various locations, tbh, even in rush hour I prefer the car to the train - you actually get to sit down and don't have some git eating his burger and dropping bits on your coat!  Anyway, compared to Southern Cal, where I was for a couple of years, Newbury has a long way to go before it experiences real jams.  My view; just relax and enjoy!

[Number 6]

This is now getting really serious as traffic backs up for long periods of time. The economic cost will inevitable cause some organizationals to consider moving from Newbury as the realize even when the road works are completed the congestion will not disappear.

[Old Goat]

I'm not sure the Council would be too worried about that. Some years back, I was in Thatcham and a chatting to a LibDem Councillor wannabe who said our problems would go away, if only a few businesses moved up North. 

[Number 6]

I see Vodaphone are loosing corporate head office jobs in Newbury.  Is this just the start ?