Spring A4 closure will ‘turn Newbury into one big glorious traffic jam’

RESIDENTS are aghast at plans to close part of the A4 between Newbury and Hungerford – for six weeks.

One critic of the project predicted there would be accidents and warned: “Newbury will be one big glorious traffic jam.”

The closure will be between Station Road to the A34T and the A4 East Roundabout in Speen, with a convoluted diversion route, round the clock between Monday, April 28, and Sunday, June 8.

The closure is to allow infrastructure works for a new David Wilson Homes development in Speen.

Motorists will apparently be unable to access The Hare and Hounds pub restaurant from the Hungerford direction.

Meanwhile the closure will not affect only Newbury and Hungerford residents.

Judy Chidlow from Thatcham said: “I use the A4 often to travel to Hungerford.

“Do they really need six whole weeks to do this?

“There are two bank holidays in that period.”

She said she felt the interests of developers were being placed above those of resident motorists and added: “I fear there will be accidents.

“Newbury will be one big glorious traffic jam.”

Speen parish councillor and ward district councillor Antony Amirtharaj (Lib Dem, Newbury Speen) said he had always warned the “traffic bottleneck” on that stretch of road would be made worse by the homes development.

However, he added, “I will continue to work with the officers and the executive to minimise the impact now this development is already in full motion.

“The timeline on this is driven by the requirements of the developer.”

Mr Amirtharaj said concerning the diversion: “Unfortunately experience shows that drivers will choose to make the decision they see is best; they often ignore signage and follow the satnav.”

A spokeswoman for West Berkshire Council said: “There is a significant amount of apparatus to install … to provide services to the new development.

“This includes a new gas main which needs to be installed at a minimum depth of 1m, meaning it will not be possible to reinstate the road each night and safely allow traffic to drive over the excavation thus requiring works to take place during the day.”

Residents have yet to be formally told of the arrangements.

Meanwhile the district council provided the Newbury Weekly News with the following statement: “For anyone wishing to travel west along the A4 Bath Road, the diversion route will be via the A339 northbound, Chieveley Interchange Roundabout, A34 southbound.

“For anyone wishing to travel east along the A4 Bath Road, the diversion route will be via the A34 northbound, Chieveley Interchange Roundabout, A339 southbound.

“Over the dates of May 16 to May 19 the diversion routes will be: for anyone wishing to travel West along the A4 Bath Road, A339 southbound, A343, A34 northbound.

“For anyone wishing to travel East along the A4 Bath Road, A34 southbound, A343, A339 northbound.

“Access and egress to the A34 from the west will remain unaffected at all times.

“Access and egress to the A34 from the east will be obstructed by the road closure and traffic will need to follow the diversion route(s).

“Access to Hungerford from Newbury via the A4 will not be possible and traffic will need to follow the diversion route(s).

“Traffic joining the A4 to the west of the closure will be unaffected.”