Reader Views on Newbury Development, Kennet Centre, and Winter Services

Market Place felt lively before. Cars could park there for thirty minutes, and a taxi rank sat by the Corn Exchange. Shops filled the space, not just restaurants. Now, someone walked through it, seeing only a couple of people and emptiness.

A person supports the new Kennet Centre plan, noting that it fixes issues from the rejected plan. The new design fits Newbury better, with buildings having good heights and styles. They blend with Newbury’s market town feel, and adding a level to the car park eases parking worries. The council made a wise choice to refuse the old plan, and the writer hopes this design reflects Newbury well.

Someone wants shops and food in the Kennet Centre, hoping for its revitalization. They wonder, since Primark isn’t coming, what about Asda? Or even Iceland? The council should reject the development again; that’s what the person believes.

A person liked the January 30th front page. The developer had a backup plan ready, prompting the writer to suggest floor limits for new buildings. This might help avoid problems later on, an idea that planning officers may have missed. The Newbury Society could support it. The Kennet Centre looks old now to the writer, and they feel bad for shops trying to survive there.

Someone writes about the icy bridge to Calcot, explaining that the council only treats bridges on a list including Monkey Bridge and Northcroft River. The writer crossed those bridges while icy and says those bridges were not gritted during the freeze, causing people to struggle. The writer wants to know about the Winter Service Plan, suggesting the council could have been liable for falls.