Newbury Community Forum

General Boards => Got something to say? => Topic started by: Number 6 on November 16, 2017, 07:47:51 pm

Title: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Number 6 on November 16, 2017, 07:47:51 pm
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
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Old Goat on December 06, 2017, 06:49:04 pm
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.
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Number 6 on December 22, 2017, 11:40:58 am
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
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Old Goat on December 23, 2017, 06:14:11 pm
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!
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Old Goat on January 03, 2018, 10:36:12 am
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!
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Number 6 on January 03, 2018, 02:52:54 pm
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.
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Number 6 on January 04, 2018, 03:34:08 pm
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 !
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Old Goat on January 07, 2018, 09:32:10 am
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.
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Number 6 on January 31, 2018, 12:20:05 am
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
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Number 6 on July 08, 2018, 11:40:03 am
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
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Old Goat on July 11, 2018, 08:54:29 am
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.
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Number 6 on November 02, 2018, 06:20:11 pm
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
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Number 6 on January 03, 2019, 11:33:20 pm
Nuff said to use the vernacular.

https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/26278/a339-junction-works-in-newbury-begin-on-monday.html
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Old Goat on January 07, 2019, 08:24:22 pm
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.
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Number 6 on January 08, 2019, 03:18:56 pm
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.
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Old Goat on January 09, 2019, 12:37:27 pm
Interesting one this.  Of course, last thing any 'decent' shop wants is even a few old dossers lying about the town.  So, what to do?  Parkway is an excellent example; their security people seem to keep the area clear of all undesirables; including the odd tv company! The new developments inevitably open with a permanent maintenance/security contingent and thus at no extra cost, problem is solved.  The areas which aren't regarded as prime shopping - back end of Bart. Street can push the BID for a warden.  Anyway, it's going to be a minor issue because WBCs recent pronouncements suggests that the issue is overstated and the existing arrangements work well....
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Number 6 on January 19, 2019, 05:39:47 pm
Oh dear !
https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/26421/roadworks-lights-cause-traffic-chaos-in-newbury.html
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Old Goat on January 20, 2019, 03:14:41 pm
Contractor - Nothing to do with me, we asked the Council, they said yes, they know the area,
Council - Contractors fulfilled the agreed criteria, so of course we agreed.  It's the Police
Police - Its pretty low on our priority list for a busy Saturday, try the centre managers
Parkway - We've got no authority to do anything outside our building, try town council
Town Council - Dont have wardens now anyway WBC are responsible, see if a traffic warden will help
Parking Wardens - sorry, not permitted to direct traffic - HSE, don't ask me tell your Councillor
Councillor - 2 hours isn't long, why, I waited 3 at IKEA, you should have walked or biked...
Me - thanks, really useful suggestion, can all this stuff on line and have rest of day free.

Newbury; the town time forgot and no one is too keen to remember.....


Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Number 6 on January 21, 2019, 10:46:07 am
Clearly one major employer agrees Old Goat and is exiting stage left with alacrity. Maybe they know something we don't ?

https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/home/26417/sovereign-to-close-its-newbury-head-office.html
Title: Re: Is Newbury open for business or busy shutting itself down ?
Post by: Old Goat on January 21, 2019, 08:07:25 pm
That they were founded in Newbury and born out of West Berks Council one could be forgiven for thinking that they do know something.  These credentials and the nature of the business mean that in my book this is a shocking indictment of the Council and its capability of actually delivering it's published vision.