Conservatives 'short sighted' with Newbury Vision - Roger Hunneman

12.51.48am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 12th Jul 2006

West Berkshire Councillor Roger Hunneman, shadow cabinet member for the Newbury Vision, today highlighted the disruption caused to Newbury town centre as a cause for concern.

"We are disappointed by the way the Conservative administration has implemented the Northbrook Street and Market Place elements of the Vision.

Having not learnt any lessons from their mistakes in carrying out the Northbrook Street work, they have failed to inform businesses about the programme of work to be carried out. Many of the same errors now seem to be rearing their heads in the Market Place".

Traffic management issues at Parkway Bridge have not been effectively addressed, causing great inconvenience to bus passengers and motorists. Failing to consult with local tradespeople and the public shows complete incompetence in managing public works.

Councillor Hunneman continued:

"Much of the problem is clearly due to a lack of officer support for these ambitious schemes. The Conservatives' penny-pinching policies have caused significant and unnecessary difficulties for Newburians.

With over a year in power in which to plan the closure of Wharf Street and the Market Place, it is now time for the Conservatives to deliver. They said, before they came to power in a press release dated 21st April 2005, that they would not go ahead with the Market Place scheme until the traffic problems had been resolved*. They knew full well when they made that promise that the layout of Parkway Bridge could not be changed without a major reconstruction. They decided to go ahead with the Market Place scheme based on the current construction of Park Way Bridge. They are now running the Council and have been for 14 months. They made the final decision on the timing of the Market Place scheme - not the Liberal Democrats."

• Here is the quotation from Keith Chopping (the Conservative cabinet member) dated 21st April 2005:

"I am very concerned about the pressure pedestrianisation will put on the traffic passing through the Bear Lane junction, plus the extra traffic that a cinema would cause when it is finally built. The junction really should be upgraded before we can contemplate closing Wharf Street to traffic."