Policy Statement

Policy Statement New 08 January 1999
	POLICY STATEMENT NEEDS UPDATING OUR policy statement was last revised in 1991. If you would like to be involved in its updating please contact Bob Willis. The text of the 1991 document is reproduced below.

	THE NEWBURY SOCIETY AND ITS POLICY Spring 1991 NEWBURY should remain a pleasant town for all who live here or come here. For this reason, a major continuing object of The Newbury Society is to build pride in our town, so that all will share the wish to retain and improve what is good in and around it: the market-town atmosphere, with a thriving town centre interspersed with architectural gems; the rich history expressed in so many of its buildings; the waterways heritage and the unique canal and River Kennet landscape; the green spaces near the town centre.
	We recognise that there are differing needs and conflicting pressures and we seek a balanced response to these problems. In particular, we work towards the improvement of amenities for all; harmony between the old and the new; and the promotion of high standards of planning and architecture. Thus we hope to enhance our inheritance and to provide a worthy heritage for our successors. These objects themselves are unlikely to change. However, a town is a living and developing entity; the problems and the attitudes of its people alter with time. The views and the emphasis of our organisation have to develop to match current needs and opinions. Indeed, the developments which have occurred during the two years since the previous edition of this folder have been such as to call for a good deal of revision. The purpose of these pages is to provide a broad definition of the Society's present position - but the reader should recognise that we shall not stand still.
	THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT THE Society attaches high importance to retaining green areas, especially those near the town centre; to encouraging enjoyment of them; and to protecting the interesting and attractive views provided by some of the approaches to the town. We believe that the following areas are of special amenity value: Northbrook Street - a fine Georgian street of character; The Wharf, north of the line of the Granary; West Mills; The waterways - Kennet & Avon Canal; Kennet and Lambourn Rivers; Goldwell Park and Northcroft; Victoria Park; Stroud Green; Argyle Road and "The City"; Wash Common battle area and woods; Speen and Shaw-cum-Donnington - the old village areas and nearby open land. We are concerned that the Newbury Wharf area should not be given over to offices nor dominated by multi-storey car parks. The very name "Wharf" identifies a land and waterway interchange, and the waterway element must be given its proper prominence in any plan for redevelopment. Whilst we see virtue in some redevelopment of Park Way and adjoining areas, we are anxious that this should be consistent with the character and scale of the neighbouring buildings; should improve physical facilities for the servicing of Northbrook Street shops; and should contribute to better traffic flows in the town centre rather than aggravate congestion. New shop provision should not be such as to render existing town centre shop premises uneconomic nor should it be allowed to hazard the market town character of Newbury. Although we believe it desirable that Northbrook Street should be pedestrianised, it cannot be attempted unless traffic circulation can be improved; this will require another bridge over the river. Meanwhile, we welcome proposals which will improve access for pedestrians, and especially the infirm, handicapped and disabled; but it is essential that opportunities for use of town centre facilities in the evenings and at week-ends should be increased rather than curtailed. A most unfortunate feature of the town, pedestrian congestion on the Mansion House Street corner and Lloyds Bank pavement areas, needs urgent attention. The Corn Exchange should be restored to regular use as a focus of local entertainment, exhibitions and other public functions. We are in broad agreement with the provisions in the Newbury District Plan, but constant vigilance will be needed to ensure that the safeguards it should provide are not eroded.
	TREES WE are concerned at the loss of mature trees and would like to see more active new planting programmes, for example, in the Linden alley in Northcroft and in Victoria Park and Goldwell Park. We favour natural landscaping rather than the formal park style, and the use of broad leaf species wherever suitable. We would like to see trees or shrubs used for screening eyesores.
	BUILDINGS WE seek to retain listed buildings and would wish all buildings of architectural merit to be listed. We look for better enforcement of the maintenance obligations resting upon the owners of listed buildings. Old buildings which enhance the scene - or at the very least their facades - should be retained rather than demolished. Attractive architectural detail should not be ignorantly laid waste. The current sky line should generally be retained; new buildings should be in scale with those adjoining and nearby. The use of traditional materials should be encouraged. Architects and developers of aesthetically pleasing new buildings should be suitably recognised.
	HOUSING WE accept the need for some additional housing, as specified in the county structure plan, but this acceptance is conditional upon improvement to the local infra-structure, particularly as to roads; the provision of local community services for such things as health and hospitals; and the encouragement of a wide range of dwelling types, including housing for single people. We would not wish to see the separate identities of Newbury and Thatcham merged but, in the light of the current need for extra housing, we no longer feel it is imperative to retain all of the unbuilt gap between the two. We strongly support the concept of a new Hospital site between the two towns. Other development should however be very selective and Henwick Field should be retained as a public open space. Elsewhere, too, we are concerned to minimise intrusion into green areas; and we consider that certain boundaries of development (for example, those identified in the District Plan) should be inviolate. We hope that, as far as can be, existing residential property in or near the town centre will remain residential. We should also like to see more new housing in central areas and the return to residential use of accommodation over shops.
	SHOPPING WE regard it as vital that a thriving broad base of shopping facilities should remain in the central area. Out-of-town stores must not be so numerous as to endanger this. A traditional market should remain in the market place. Car parking policies (see below) must not discourage shoppers. We would like to see adequate provision for off-street loading at all new shop premises and proper co-ordination elsewhere to prevent these processes causing traffic obstruction. Shop fronts should blend with their neighbours and follow the lines of the buildings to which they belong. Apart from pictorial pub signs, we oppose most projecting signs, especially illuminated ones.
	INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE NEWBURY needs adequate local employment; it must not become just a dormitory for commuters. However, inappropriate commercial encroachment into purely residential areas needs to be avoided.
	ROADS AND TRAFFIC We favour the approved Western route for the A34 Newbury by-pass, and would strongly oppose any central alternative. We expect environmental damage to be minimised; infilling between town and by-pass must be firmly resisted. We support the proposal for the Newbury-Thatcham T4 route, subject to adequate safeguards against development alongside. We also support the concept of an inner western link road between the Craven Road area and West Street to reduce pressure on Bartholomew and Northbrook Streets. We wish to see greater recognition of the needs of pedestrians and cyclists; it is this view which underlies our attitude, already recorded, towards a scheme for pedestrianisation in the central shopping area. We support the provision of adequate pavements for pedestrians and of well surfaced and properly lit footpaths and cycle ways, both for recreation and on routes used by school children.
	CAR PARKING THE vitality of the town depends on sound policies for car parking. A good balance between differing needs is essential; there must be enough parking spaces, acceptably priced, close to shops and accessible to work people from out of town; but it is important to ensure that long stay parking does not inhibit short stay shoppers or business visitors. Unauthorised parking creates congestion and blights some residential streets. We would like to see anti-social parking offences (whether or not accompanied by the cynical use of hazard lights) eliminated by enforcement of existing legislation. On the other hand, some restrictions essential during business hours could, with advantage, be relaxed in the evenings and at weekends.
	PUBLIC TRANSPORT WE encourage the development of public transport services well adapted to local needs and easing traffic congestion and parking problems. We believe that travellers should be provided with a full range of long distance and local passenger services, supported by good facilities for bus/train/taxi interchange and co-ordinated information, buffet and toilet resources. Frequent local services linking local residential areas with the centre are important and we welcome minibus services which have recently been instituted. We would like to see "Park and Ride" bus services from key peripheral points to reduce road congestion and pressure upon central car parks.
	CANAL ENVIRONMENT THE Kennet and Avon Canal passing through the town centre provides Newbury with an amenity of great value and a feature of much more than local importance. Now that the canal has been reopened to boat traffic throughout its length, new leisure opportunities are available both to local residents and to tourists from elsewhere. We hope to see the prospects afforded by Newbury's focal position in the canal network realised as fully as is possible whilst maintaining a proper stewardship of the unique and particular part that Newbury provides in the English inland waterways heritage. The wetland ecology along the canal must be safeguarded. Along the canal banks, unsightly developments should be avoided and buildings too close to the water banned. Buildings with a canal frontage should face it rather than turn their backs. We strongly favour the creation of a basin in the Wharf area as a leisure amenity and to provide casual moorings and boat servicing facilities for which a growing demand is to be expected.
© The Newbury Society, 1991