After 3 years, I was beginning to wonder if the minor issue of traffic fumes at the Burger King Roundabout had been forgotten about. Well, there's 1500 houses at the racecourse, a new timberclad shopping complex in Park Way, 2000 houses at Sandleford on the way, and lots more traffic being pushed out of the town centre onto the A339.
But it now seems WBC is considering a range of options, including putting in traffic lights on the BK (or Gowrings if you prefer) roundabout; park and ride and other expensive options. As you would expect with a complex issue with life-threatening impact, they got some consultants in.
Here's a link to a rather crap report, which reveals that 3 years on they still have no idea, so they're just ticking boxes while our air pollution gets much worse.
So come on forumistas - they need our help. ||If you can't be bothered to read it....75% of the pollution is from moving traffic, and most of that traffic is lorries. Many of these are car transporters ferrying minis from Cowley to Southampton Docks. Others like to use the generous free overnight parking provided by WBC at Faraday Road.
Why on earth are car transporters going from Cowley to Southampton going via the Burger King (Adam & Eve) roundabout? Are their sat navs too old to have the bypass on them?
Why on earth are car transporters going from Cowley to Southampton going via the Burger King (Adam & Eve) roundabout? Are their sat navs too old to have the bypass on them?
I think he might have made a mistake.
Certainly it's not my perception that "Many of these (vehicles on the A339) are car transporters".
After 3 years, I was beginning to wonder if the minor issue of traffic fumes at the Burger King Roundabout had been forgotten about. Well, there's 1500 houses at the racecourse, a new timberclad shopping complex in Park Way, 2000 houses at Sandleford on the way, and lots more traffic being pushed out of the town centre onto the A339.
I don't know about the traffic fumes at the 'Burger King roundabout' being such a problem, it's the rank smell of burgers being cremated that's a far stronger invasion of my nostrils whenever I happen to walk past there.....
But if you do think that smog is going to permanently envelop Newbury because of all the HGVs belching out soot as their lost drivers crawl through the town, don't panic...... By the time the 2,000 homes are built in Sandleford, fuel prices will be around £1.80 per litre (£8.18 per gallon) and traffic volume will start to fall as a consequence. A measurable fall in pollution level will then shortly follow.......... Everyone apart from the super-rich will be forced to use bikes....
And if you want to pick up a bike or get a puncture repair kit you'll perhaps end up the 'Burger King roundabout' and STILL have that smell of cremated burgers to look forward to....
And what's the bit about car transporters homing in on Newbury? Is there car storage depot at Greenham Park?
I would guess that most of the HGV traffic is using the A339 shortcut to the M3. There's little/nothing that can be done to stop this, I imagine.
That's a bit defeatist. Perhaps we can do it quite cheaply.
1. WBC could negotiate with the sat nav providers to re-route to the bypass. 2. Remove the lorry ban on Crookham Hill so the Thatcham depot lorries can get to the M3 without coming through Newbury. This would also be useful for the couriers in Hambridge. 3. Introduce a £100 toll for 40t and over, but keep it free on the bypass.
If you are travelling southbound on the A34 you will find that on the signs, you are directed onto the Newbury Bypass for Basingstoke. This then takes you down to Bullington Cross and then onto the A303 for Basingstoke. Shame the satnavs could not also be programmed for this route.
Just checked with Google maps, that adds 16 miles to the journey.
I hear that the residents of Mill Lane are banging the drum again to get all HGVs banned from using that road to access the industrial estate. If they get their way (and they seem to have their friendly local Councillor on board so they are quite hopeful) HGVs wanting to access any of the businesses on Bone Lane, Hambridge Road etc from the south or west approach will be directed up to the Robin Hood roundabout, along the A4 up to the Hambridge Road lights, then down into the estate from the other end.... Adding 'only' about 3 additional miles to their journey and adding to the pollution along the A4 and further pollution on the A339 at the 'KFC roundabout'.
I'm sure the haulage firms or businesses in the area will oppose this but whose opinion holds sway? It's hardly 'Cleaner Greener' to force additional miles onto HGV road journeys. They need to start cracking on and get that road open through the Stirling estate....
I hear that the residents of Mill Lane are banging the drum again to get all HGVs banned from using that road to access the industrial estate. If they get their way (and they seem to have their friendly local Councillor on board so they are quite hopeful) HGVs wanting to access any of the businesses on Bone Lane, Hambridge Road etc from the south or west approach will be directed up to the Robin Hood roundabout, along the A4 up to the Hambridge Road lights, then down into the estate from the other end.... Adding 'only' about 3 additional miles to their journey and adding to the pollution along the A4 and further pollution on the A339 at the 'KFC roundabout'.
I'm sure the haulage firms or businesses in the area will oppose this but whose opinion holds sway? It's hardly 'Cleaner Greener' to force additional miles onto HGV road journeys. They need to start cracking on and get that road open through the Stirling estate....
The opportunity for the Sterling Estate Road was lost because of the objections to the site owner's planning application. There was an appeal but that has now been withdrawn according to the local paper. That will have put back that solution by a year I would suspect.
Back on the Burger King Roundabaout, the problem there is the two roundabouts, that one and the Sainsbury one. I have read through all the nonsense at what sounded like a very expensive workshop when there was discussion on cycle lanes and park and ride without tackling the real problem. The first problem, Southbound, is the fact that all vehicles have to slow down to negotiate the roundabout and then to continue southbound have to drop to low gear and then accelerate hard off the roundabout to get the impetus going to get up the hill. The second, northbound, traffic is held by vehicles running round the roundabout into St Johns Road and by the continual back up from the Sainsbury roundabout.
So, what to do. The roundabout has to go and the southbound traffic must have a straight unimpeded run up the hill with no right turn to St Johns Road. Traffic to Pyle Hill and St Johns is filtered off to the left further back and this would leave two lanes to continue up the hill. The upward slope needs to be started further back as then, like at the Robin Hood, traffic for St Johns can turn right and pass underneath. Starting the run up further back has an added bonus as the slope is flattened less throttle is needed by the big lorries which in the report are now HDV's. In my day they were HGV's why the consultants needed this new initialisation one can only guess. Traffic from St Johns to go across towards Queens Rd can be dealt with by traffic lights on the eastern side of the new underpass.
For goodness sake sort out the traffic flow across the Sainsbury roundabout. I know that is not where the pollution problem is but it doesn't help when cars and lorries are queing down the A339 northbound because the bias is for pedestrians crossing the A339 when there is a perfectly good underpass. Make that underpass safe, bright and welcoming and people might use it more as a route from Kings Road and that area to the town.
I am not a highways engineer and suspect that there would be some loss of the car park in front of Halfords but if half of Northbrook street can be requisitioned for a private developer, that car park should present few problems.
Anyway, a pipe dream so just paint some green stripes on the road for the cyclists, that'll do the trick.
The opportunity for the Sterling Estate Road was lost because of the objections to the site owner's planning application. There was an appeal but that has now been withdrawn according to the local paper. That will have put back that solution by a year I would suspect.
Back on the Burger King Roundabaout, the problem there is the two roundabouts, that one and the Sainsbury one. I have read through all the nonsense at what sounded like a very expensive workshop when there was discussion on cycle lanes and park and ride without tackling the real problem. The first problem, Southbound, is the fact that all vehicles have to slow down to negotiate the roundabout and then to continue southbound have to drop to low gear and then accelerate hard off the roundabout to get the impetus going to get up the hill. The second, northbound, traffic is held by vehicles running round the roundabout into St Johns Road and by the continual back up from the Sainsbury roundabout.
So, what to do. The roundabout has to go and the southbound traffic must have a straight unimpeded run up the hill with no right turn to St Johns Road. Traffic to Pyle Hill and St Johns is filtered off to the left further back and this would leave two lanes to continue up the hill. The upward slope needs to be started further back as then, like at the Robin Hood, traffic for St Johns can turn right and pass underneath. Starting the run up further back has an added bonus as the slope is flattened less throttle is needed by the big lorries which in the report are now HDV's. In my day they were HGV's why the consultants needed this new initialisation one can only guess. Traffic from St Johns to go across towards Queens Rd can be dealt with by traffic lights on the eastern side of the new underpass.
For goodness sake sort out the traffic flow across the Sainsbury roundabout. I know that is not where the pollution problem is but it doesn't help when cars and lorries are queing down the A339 northbound because the bias is for pedestrians crossing the A339 when there is a perfectly good underpass. Make that underpass safe, bright and welcoming and people might use it more as a route from Kings Road and that area to the town.
I am not a highways engineer and suspect that there would be some loss of the car park in front of Halfords but if half of Northbrook street can be requisitioned for a private developer, that car park should present few problems.
Anyway, a pipe dream so just paint some green stripes on the road for the cyclists, that'll do the trick.
Making pedestrians use the subway would not alleviate the problem. The lights would need to change the same as they do now to let traffic out of Kings Road and Wharf Street. Could you give your proposals for making any underpass safe? All three, (Burger King, Sainsbury and Robin Hood) are reasonably lit, graffiti is removed on a regular basis and they are cleaned and painted. Despite this there have been several muggings this year in all the underpasses.
Making pedestrians use the subway would not alleviate the problem. The lights would need to change the same as they do now to let traffic out of Kings Road and Wharf Street. ....
No because you would do away with the lights and make it an erm.. roundabout.
What's all this about needing a 'run' at the hill, incidentally?
By a run at the hill, I am suggesting that the HGVs might have to drop a gear but they would not be starting up the hill in first gear because they had to stop at the Burger King roundabout. Less fuel dumped into the engine to overcome the inertia of starting from standstill, no need to use the engine as a brake going round the roundabout and then loads of fuel through the injectors to pick up speed. Diesels are very efficient once they are running at their designed speed but have problems when accelerating under load. To prove this, watch the exhaust and you will see smoke when the load is put on, gradually reducing once the engine is running at operating speed.
I didn't suggest that we do away with any parking other than perhaps some of the spaces on the Halford'd car park.
But, as I said, it will never happen so all the delegates who are suggesting making cycling more attractive, putting in park and ride so that we have buses instead of comparitively clean cars and such other silly suggestions tells me that the council have got together a load of amateurs, all controlled by expensive consultants telling the delegates where to stick their post it notes, were just a blind to get WBC off the hook. They, the council, can then refer to all the silly low impact solutions and say "Well, we tried by getting the team to provide answers. " Obligation over, no further action required.
I'll just make one further unpopular suggestion, get VOSA to pull over vehicles for roadside emissions check. It will cause a lot of tailbacks but it would make the lorry drivers think twice about cutting through the A339 when they could have gone down the bypass. It would also help to determine which transport companies are using the route and perhaps a word in their ear about emissions delays etc might help.
In real terms though, there was a lot about what noxious fumes were around in the area but unless I missed it, no positive proof as to where it was coming from. Maybe all the problems are because Mrs Whatsits boiler isn't working properly.
I'll just make one further unpopular suggestion, get VOSA to pull over vehicles for roadside emissions check. It will cause a lot of tailbacks but it would make the lorry drivers think twice about cutting through the A339 when they could have gone down the bypass. It would also help to determine which transport companies are using the route and perhaps a word in their ear about emissions delays etc might help.
In real terms though, there was a lot about what noxious fumes were around in the area but unless I missed it, no positive proof as to where it was coming from. Maybe all the problems are because Mrs Whatsits boiler isn't working properly.
How about a simple weight limit with hefty fines for those not complying, & a couple of strategically placed WORKING cameras with exemptions for local deliveries. Or is that to simple !!
How about a simple weight limit with hefty fines for those not complying, & a couple of strategically placed WORKING cameras with exemptions for local deliveries. Or is that to simple !!
I don't think that is possible as it an A road and weight restrictions are not usually possible.
How about a simple weight limit with hefty fines for those not complying, & a couple of strategically placed WORKING cameras with exemptions for local deliveries. Or is that to simple !!
Impossible to enforce with lorries making deliveries to town centre stores. They have the same problem o nthe B4000. A man got run over in Stockcross by a lorry there that had come off the M4 at J14, and the depot was in Thatcham.
Impossible to enforce with lorries making deliveries to town centre stores. They have the same problem o nthe B4000. A man got run over in Stockcross by a lorry there that had come off the M4 at J14, and the depot was in Thatcham.
My memory is hazy, but wasn't there a successful ban on Hgvs through Beedon? I'm not saying it would be possible in Newbury, but surely it would work for Stockcross.
Impossible to enforce with lorries making deliveries to town centre stores. They have the same problem o nthe B4000. A man got run over in Stockcross by a lorry there that had come off the M4 at J14, and the depot was in Thatcham.
Perhaps he had been advised that there were queues on the M4 at Junction 13 and was doing his best to get back to the depot on time. Who knows, but I can't really believe that the back roads are an M4 shortcut as he still has to negotiate the Robin Hood.
How about a simple weight limit with hefty fines for those not complying, & a couple of strategically placed WORKING cameras with exemptions for local deliveries. Or is that to simple !!
FAR too simplistic. In the real world there isn't a magic wand to wave around.... Who'd manage and administer it? (In a time when they're getting rid of WBC staff) Where would the initial outlay for the infrastructure (cameras/linked software to the office/VNPR technology) come from? (I doubt the Road Haulage Association would stump up cash to support the cause). A roads are distributor routes and are designed to take HGV traffic. Can you imagine how many HGVs would legitimately be able to argue that they need to use the route and so would be exempt from prosecution (arguing the toss with haulage companies as to why their vehicles were on the 'banned road' would be endless) So many local houses and businesses to deliver to and pick up from.
And you'd find that HGV drivers can be quite inventive when looking for ways to avoid bans, so might use back roads which are worse than allowing them to stay on the A road.
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My memory is hazy, but wasn't there a successful ban on Hgvs through Beedon? I'm not saying it would be possible in Newbury, but surely it would work for Stockcross.
There's already a 7.5t ban on the B4000 through Stockcross. Not entirely successful as (for the reasons above) although there is a 7.5t ban, there are normally 'except for access' exemptions. Any HGV driver worth his salt knows that the definition of the term 'access' can be wooly. "Well, officer.. I might not be delivering anything in the area but I needed to 'access' the B4000 because I'm looking for a Post Office to buy some stamps/shop for some fags/a safe area to park up as my tacho is full..." http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?.....bp=12,310.77,,1,4.85
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