Extension of pedestrianisation hours for Newbury Town Centre from 10am-5pm to 10am-11pm (Ref: 009194HH)

Survey opens on Monday, 19 May 2025.

Background

An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) is a legal document that must be made by the local authority under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to regulate or restrict the use of the public highway either permanently, experimentally or temporarily. The most common restrictions are:

• closing the road
• speed restrictions
• weight/width/height restrictions
• prohibiting certain movements
• restricting parking in some way

What is the effect of the ETRO?

To make an Experimental order under Sections 9 and 10 and Part IV of Schedule 9 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

The effect of the Order will be to extend the hours of the Pedestrian and Cycle Zone in Newbury town centre from 10am-5pm to 10am-11pm.

The extension to the hours of the Pedestrian and Cycle Zone will reduce conflict between motorised and non-motorised traffic between the hours of 5pm and 11pm. This will provide a safer traffic-free environment for users of the town centre in the late afternoon and evening periods and will encourage sustainable travel, particularly active travel. It will provide safer and more pleasant outdoor space for customers of local hospitality businesses and allow outdoor community events to take place more easily, which in turn will create a more attractive visitor experience for the town centre and help support the local economy.

The roads affected are:

Bartholomew Street - excluding that length of the carriageway leading from the junction with Market Street to the entrance to the Multi- Storey Car Park). Between its junction with Market Street and its junction with Mansion House Street, a distance of approximately 245 metres.

Bridge Street - between its junction with Bartholomew Street and its junction with Northbrook Street, a distance of approximately 38 metres.

Mansion House Street - between its junction with Bartholomew Street and its junction with Market Place, a distance of approximately 48 metres.

Market Place - between its junction with Wharf Street and its junction with Mansion House Street, a distance of approximately 32 metres. Between its junction with Mansion House Street and its junction with Cheap Street, a distance of approximately 100 metres.

Northbrook Street - between its junction with Bridge Street and its junction with West Street, a distance of approximately 270 metres.

Wharf Street - between its junction with Market Place and a point approximately 69 metres east of that junction.

You can view/download the relevant documents from the links below:

• Experimental Traffic Regulation Order [180KB]
• Notice of Making, including Statement of Reasons [555KB]
• map of the affected area [320KB]

You can find answers to the most frequently asked questions about the scheme here. For any questions that you feel have not been answered, please email the Economic Development Team. Please quote Ref: 009194HH on any correspondence.

How to tell us your views

The statutory consultation period will be open from Monday, 19 May until Wednesday, 19 November 2025.

During this period, you'll be able to let us know about how the scheme has affected you, and your responses will help us decide if the changes should be permanent or not. You'll be able to do this in several ways, e.g., answering a survey, sending an email, attending an in-person or virtual event.

Details on how to take part will be available on Monday, 19 May 2025.

Once the consultation has closed, we will review all the comments we've received and a formal decision will be made in 2026 as to whether to make the Order permanent or not.