Thatcham braces itself for Crookham Hill closure today (Mon)

A section of Crookham Hill, south of the level crossing between the entrance to the south side car park and Chamberhouse Mill Lane, will shut from Monday for two weeks.
The closure will allow utilities to be connected before a development of 13 houses is built at Rainsford Farm.
The diversion means that people coming from the south of the town will have to use Burys Bank Road and the A339 through Newbury, or Crookham Hill, Crookham Common Road, Brimpton Road and the A4.
Resident Ian Cummings said he thought the closure would be “a huge problem for a lot of people”.
Thatcham Town Council has written to West Berkshire Council, which sanctioned the closure, demanding that an alternative to the two-week closure was found.
Town and district councillor Richard Crumly (Con, Thatcham Central) said: “It’s unacceptable, even if its just for two weeks,” adding that often these type of works over-ran.
Town councillor Gary Johnson (Lib Dem, Thatcham West) said: “Are there going to be penalties if they go over the two weeks?
“Motorists are going to complain, frustration is going to occur, delays are going to happen and cost are going to occur.
“We should show concern for the townspeople. We should push West Berkshire highways to come up with another idea.”
However, senior traffic technician for the highways and transport department at the district council, Ejikeme Ibe, said: “In appreciation of the potential impact this full closure will have on traffic and businesses in the community of Thatcham, we have taken necessary steps to minimise the impact through adequate advance information, signing and other measures.
“Access will be maintained during the closure from the north to the railway station car park south of the level crossing and there is ongoing arrangement to provide a shuttle bus service for schools.”
The shadow member for highways, district councillor Keith Woodhams (Lib Dem, Thatcham West) said that he had been told that the works could not be completed at night as neighbours would be disturbed.
He added that he hoped the contractor could find a way to complete the work in less than two weeks.
He said: “I'm disappointed because the level crossing already backs up at peaktime, and this is going to be further inconvenience for companies and the people passing through it.”