It is, according to a local businessman, who says too many people living in Newbury "hate" what is currently happening in the town centre.
Brian Burgess, who also sits as the Chair of the Retailers Association here, says he is so fed up with how Newbury is changing and growing, he's going to run as an independent candidate for MP to put a stop to it: "In the old days, people used to come in and enjoy Newbury for the pleasant market town that it was.
"But it is no longer a pleasant market town.
"It really is a task to get into Newbury, get parked. We've got a dreadful reputation for traffic jams. The ongoing roadworks which seem to go on forever and ever.
"Projects like the Pavilion in the park which no one seems to want. The whole thing has been getting totally out of hand".
Let us know what you think, do you agree with Mr Burgess? You can listen to the interview in full by clicking on the play icon to the right and leave your comments below.
Click below to hear more..
Comments
Leigh Cooke of Newbury says:
12:14 on Tuesday 13th April 2010
"Newbury has tons going for it and a lot of the change that happening feels positive and beneficial. Its fine for him to feel the way he does, but its a shame Brian gets so much coverage for his negative views of everything; he's not representative of the majority. "
Lee G of Thatcham says:
15:52 on Tuesday 23rd March 2010
"I was born in Newbury and have lived in the area all my life. The telephone exchange was the worst thing I've seen built and since then most of the redevelopment of the town has been quite sympathetic. I guess that all ended with the new Vue cinema which will probably die a death in time like the ABC... and I don't know what on earth they are building in Park Way, but at a glance I think it's Basingstoke. Let's tidy up Newbury, but don't lose its character - low rise buildings made of brick please and keep the developers off the public open space!"
Graham of Newbury of Newbury says:
15:38 on Saturday 20th March 2010
"Newbury must change or die. Nobody likes change, but it is inevitable so the town evolves. To just stick your head in the sand and wish for the past is just unacceptable.
For a chairman of the retail association to be this negative is just not acceptable. If I was a shop owner and this guy represented me I would be looking for his resignation!
Get positive, accept the changes and reap the benefit of new business coming into the town. Without change we will not attract new people or businesses. Look beyond the current disruption and think of the future for the town. Nothing is making anybody stay here so sell up and move to Cornwall if you can’t cope.
I do agree that parking charges are far too high, so a bit of vision is required to get this right to attract more pedestrians and boost trade – why not have a parking fee rebate as they do in Hungerford for the retailers – free parking for buying locally and other initiatives to draw foot fall. Also sack at least half the traffic wardens and save some money, they are a complete nightmare.
I have lived in the Newbury area for 50 years and have seen fantastic changes and am looking forward to a bright and prosperous future for the town."
Usah of Newbury says:
11:42 on Saturday 20th March 2010
"I like the changes in Newbury, including it's radio station. Anyone wishing to turn the clock back should stop and think that this website and the station Brian appeared on wouldn't exist if Newbury was still just a small quaint market town.
That's just the tip iceberg as far as the benefits of change people take for granted go too. Hands up who want to return to the pre-bypass days or would rather Vodafone wasn't started and based in Newbury?
Take a minute and think before you wish all the improvements over the past 20 years or so to the town. Perhaps the A34 should be diverted for a few hours through Northbrook Street like the "good old days" just to remind people how it actually used to be! "
Paula of Newbury says:
10:48 on Saturday 20th March 2010
"I have a shop in Newbury and whilst I agree with many of Brian's comments, I do wish the "Chairman of the retailers association" would stop whinging and say something POSITIVE - he hardly inspires shoppers to come in their droves !! His time would be better spent helping to promote some of the lovely shops we have in town."
John of Shaw says:
17:40 on Friday 19th March 2010
"I agree with Brian. Too many newcomers want to change our Newbury. Well we don't want to be like Reading or Swindon thank you. If that's what they want they can go and live there. We don't need 'Visions' or 'Pavilions' and when will the penny drop that Newbury needs more bridges across the river ?"
Nicki of Newbury says:
12:11 on Friday 19th March 2010
"Yes we do have to Develop, but not try and be something we are not. Newbury charge to high a rate for rent, the traffic infrastructure is not in place to cope at the moment, let alone when the Parkway development is built. They are closing the bridge over parkway to traffic, which leaves the A339 as the only route from one side of Newbury to the other and we know how bust that is on race day at the moment! Parking is incredible expensive and frankly the whole place looks a mess at the moment. People don't bother to go into town on their lunch breaks anymore - you can't get parked and that's if you can get past the endless roadworks and lorries."
Jason of Thatcham says:
21:56 on Thursday 18th March 2010
"i think if brian is concerned about the development in newbury and how things are changing he should become a local councillor not an mp. perhaps benyon can give him a lesson on what an mp does. in fact id rather have david rendel as an mp than Brian. beds and all."
Gary Baldy of Newbury says:
21:27 on Thursday 18th March 2010
"Changing beyond ALL BELIEF?? Eh?? It's changing, but does Brian think we should all still be living in quaint little thatched cottages as well? And perhaps driving a pony and trap rather than a car while we're at it?
It's called progress.. Not always to EVERYONE's liking but we can't stand still and stagnate. We have to move with the times and DEVELOP! "
Stan Fowler of Newbury says:
21:13 on Thursday 18th March 2010
"Burgess is talking out of his hoop again."
Jill Goodall of Newbury says:
16:40 on Thursday 18th March 2010
"When I moved to Newbury in 1972 it was a delightful market town with lovely little shops. It is now totally ruined, all the quaint shops have gone, mainly because of the excessive rents charged and the uncertain future. Why do we have to copy the large towns like Reading and Basingstoke, we do not have the population here. Why couldn't we copy Marlborough instead, they have kept their originality and it is a joy to visit there. Don't get me started on the number of flats, or apartments as they are now called, being built, to me they are the slums of the future!"
Gerald of Burghclere says:
13:50 on Thursday 18th March 2010
"Brian is absolutely right. The heart and soul has been removed from Newbury, leaving us a town full of empty shops, rutted road surfaces (Including large areas of the recently laid cobbles) and drunken yobbos indulging in anti social behaviour.
The Market Place is now an empty void, whereas it used to be a handy place to park to do our banking. The new parking wardens prowl the town like vultures. Their hostile action alone must be deterring hundreds of people from coming into town.
The pedestrianisation is a joke. Buses, fire engines, police cars and cyclists are a big deterrent for anyone shopping in Northbrook Street.
How do they expect to fill all of the new shops in Park Way? The new cinema, whilst a welcome addition to the town was built in the wrong place, and what an eyesore?
I can’t give Brian my vote because I live in Burghclere, but I wish him well.
"
David Black of Newbury says:
12:58 on Thursday 18th March 2010
"I agree wholeheartedly with Brian. The market town of Newbury is being destroyed and development plans are continuing at pace. I went to an exhibition yesterday showing plans for the regeneration of Sterling Cables just along from Sainsburys. They seem to think that 185 apartments in 2 x 12 storey tower blocks will improve the vista of this area. I beg to differ.
I believe that the majority of local people like living in Newbury because it is (or was!) a pleasant market town. Unfortunately, planning and housing targets originate in the unelected regional quangoes of the South East Regional Development Agency, leaving councils with little room for manoeuvre. Until real planning control is restored to democratically elected local councils, people will be powerless to stop this development. Only UKIP of all the political parties will rectify this by abolishing regional government and introducing binding local referenda for large scale development such as those we are seeing in Newbury.
"
Ken Lock of Thatcham says:
10:33 on Thursday 18th March 2010
"Brian is spot on,Newbury's character has been completely distroyed."
Ben of Newbury says:
10:30 on Thursday 18th March 2010
"I have a number of concerns about the future of Newbury, I feel there is far to much investment going into developing the new shopping areas before the transport situation is sorted out. The location of the new Park Way development has never been easily accessible, in fact the whole of Newbury has never been easily accessible in the 10 years I've lived here. I fail to see why people will choose to come to Newbury from outside of the town when the trafic and parking is so difficult, not to mention expensive! I can travel to Basingstoke and gain easy access to Festival Place (even at Christmas!) where there are a wide variety of shops, restuarants, and entertainment all in the same complex. I remain dry and warm througout my visit and the parking is priced reasonably. Why would I want to travel to Newbury, to sit in endless trafic jams, be overcharged for parking, and then only half the shops in one mall, the other half and a cinema 5 minutes walk away in the open air, and then; what's left of the shops in the high street. Even Reading offers more and the trafic is acceptable given the size of the town. Until the transportation is resolved I believe Newbury will fail. I am concerned that retailers such as Debenhams are keen to close their Kennet Centre branch long before the opening of the Parkway, I can only assume they are currently not profitting well in Newbury and feel they would rather wait until things get better. It is also concerning that the Woolworths store has yet to be occupied; it seems to me that retailers are keen to steer clear of Newbury at the moment. I really hope it's not the case; but I believe the current investments into the town could be a catastrophic failure, leaving the town pennyless and unable to recover. Only time will tell!"
