A new wave of parking and waiting restrictions is coming to West Berkshire: 35 measures changing who can park where and when.
One of the most contested is Andover Road in Newbury. The plan drew 11 objections, 23 messages of support and five neutral responses. Opponents say removing roadside parking will cause serious access problems for families with young children, elderly relatives and people with mobility needs because the alternative layby is too far and hard to use. Several residents also say the changes seem politically or personally motivated and that the council’s process lacked transparency and evidence.
Critics add the proposals disproportionately benefit cyclists, despite low cycling numbers in the area. The council, which has a policy to encourage cycling and bus use, defended the plans.
“There is significant level of support for safety to be improved on this cycle facility, which has been in place since at least 2009,” said the council’s highways team.
“It is accepted that some residents with limited off-street parking may be negatively impacted by the proposals, but our priority is to support active travel measures and address road safety concerns along those routes where possible and provision has been made within the proposals to reserve daytime parking space in the layby area for those residents wishing to opt into a permit parking scheme should they choose to do so.
“Providing parking permits free of charge would not however be allowed.”
The council says commuter parking will be removed from the layby to free space for residents and visitors, though it accepts this may be inconvenient for some. It also notes most properties have some off‑street parking, even if limited.
The package of changes, called Parking Review Amendment 37, targets road safety, congestion and obstruction at 35 locations across the district. It also proposes improved loading facilities in Hungerford High Street and changes around the Andover Road northbound cycle lane.
After the statutory consultation, 188 people had responded overall. Some proposals have been scaled back after objections.
Chieveley East Lane drew 14 objections and five supports; stakeholders including Downland Pharmacy and The Downland Practice said restrictions would harm access to local healthcare. The No Waiting At Any Time restriction outside the pharmacy will be omitted, and a related restriction at the Hazeldeane junction has also been dropped.
Thatcham Lower Way — which had seven objections and 10 supports — will not make its temporary No Waiting At Any Time restriction permanent; the yellow lines there are to be removed. Objectors argued the 2020 justification (it forms part of National Cycle Route 4) is superseded by pavement and signal improvements that already help cyclists and pedestrians.
Other proposed restrictions at Aldermaston, Beenham, Greenham, Hungerford, Newbury, Padworth, Purley-on-Thames, Stratfield Mortimer, Thatcham, Theale and Tilehurst will proceed as advertised.
The changes sit within the West Berkshire Clear Streets Strategy. Current on‑street traffic restrictions first came into force in April 2009, and the council says it now prioritises and investigates locations where inconsiderate, dangerous or obstructive parking is reported.
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
