"Bollard delays cause chaos" - Hunneman

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 22nd Feb 2007

Roger Hunneman is demanding the Tories clean up their act when it comes to town centre traffic management

Councillor Roger Hunneman is this week calling for the Tory council to put an end to their chaotic approach to town centre management and have the rising bollards fixed as a matter of urgency.

"The fact that the bollards have remained broken for such a long time has meant that vehicles are passing the wrong way from Northbrook Street to Bartholomew Street over the Mansion House junction. Many people have commented that this is an accident waiting to happen and despite assurances that the bollards would be working some time ago, this is yet to happen."

Assurances have been given by West Berkshire Council's Conservative administration that the bollards would be working at several points over the past months in response to Liberal Democrat lobbying to make it a priority. Councillor Hunneman feels that their promises have amounted to very little in practice:

"The Conservatives are dealing with this problem with the same delay they attach to everything that needs doing in Newbury. They appear to have a complete disregard for the wellbeing of pedestrians and for properly organising the town centre's traffic. This needs to be stopped - and soon, before someone gets hurt."