I'm not sure what you are trying to prove here.

Most times the ring road has much more traffic on it than in the 1972 photo.

I don't think there anything being 'proved' other than the changes in the images. -

I don't think Admin is trying to 'prove' anything. The view today looks rather better than it did back in the 70s when, as I recall from visits at the time, Newbury was a bit of a dump.  

Quoted from Jerry_Cornelius

The view today looks rather better than it did back in the 70s when, as I recall from visits at the time, Newbury was a bit of a dump.  

The double level Sainsbury's car park is a shame though. I went there for the first time on saturday since they put it up, and I couldn't beleive what an oppresive looking structure it is.

Each to their own, Massif.  If i were to stand anywhere near Sainsbury's looking for a nice view, the main obstacle to my viewing pleasure would be this http://www.flickr.com/photos/nige4president/2223777530/ monstrosity.

Quoted from Brewmaster

I'm not sure what you are trying to prove here.

Most times the ring road has much more traffic on it than in the 1972 photo.

It was just a continuation of our series of old photographs, this time, I decided to incorporate a 2009 photograph to indicate just how much things have changed in just under 40 years.

Lets start you off with a few of the changes that you may not have noticed.
Winchcombe Road (Right hand side of picture) - The houses have been demolished and the site along with the road itself have been swallowed up in the Sainsbury's Supermarket completed in 1994. (Presumably Council Tax payers were compensated for the loss of the Road with a handsome 106 contribution)
Another wing has been built on the Telephone Exchange.
Traffic lights have been added to the roundabout (paid for by Sainsbury's in 1994)
The Borough Arms has been demolished and replaced by Thomas Eggar.
The Police Station has had another floor added.
The Library has been built in the Wharf.
The trees have grown a bit over the years.

Quoted from Administrator

I decided to incorporate a 2009 photograph to indicate just how much things have changed in just under 40 years.

Standard of service has dropped from West Berkshire Council. It doesn't look as if those white lines have been repainted since 1972.

This reminds me of one of my points in the earlier discussions on why the Vision is rubbish.

All railings could be painted in Newbury blue and would look much better. It's only because of maintenance costs that they're not.

Quoted from Jerry_Cornelius

Each to their own, Massif.  If i were to stand anywhere near Sainsbury's looking for a nice view, the main obstacle to my viewing pleasure would be this http://www.flickr.com/photos/nige4president/2223777530/ monstrosity.

Agreed, but the BT exchange is already in place, so there's not much we can do about that easily, whereas planners have an option of whether to allow further ugly structures to be allowed to be built or not. When there is a planning outcry over illuminated shop signs, but seemingly not regarding huge car park extensions, I'm not sure how they can come to the decision to allow it. I'm not suggesting any foul play as such, but just because an area isn't particularly pretty in the first place, doesn't mean that people should be allowed to keep building crap looking buildings there.

Quoted from Reynard

Standard of service has dropped from West Berkshire Council. It doesn't look as if those white lines have been repainted since 1972.

Apart from the fact that the lines in the '72 picture are longer. Maybe they've worn at the ends to the length they are now.  

Quoted from massifheed

Agreed, but the BT exchange is already in place, so there's not much we can do about that easily, whereas planners have an option of whether to allow further ugly structures to be allowed to be built or not. When there is a planning outcry over illuminated shop signs, but seemingly not regarding huge car park extensions, I'm not sure how they can come to the decision to allow it. I'm not suggesting any foul play as such, but just because an area isn't particularly pretty in the first place, doesn't mean that people should be allowed to keep building crap looking buildings there.

Wait until you see the 7 storey hotel go up next to the A339. In Park Way, the block of flats is as tall as BT Tower. And as for BT Tower itself, Cartergrad's state architect has plans to replace it with......a tower block of flats. The Sainsburys car park will fit in very well in time.

Quoted from Muddler

All railings could be painted in Newbury blue and would look much better.

Like painting the kerbstones in certain parts of Northern Ireland to indicate whether you're in a unionist or republican area you mean? Instead of red, white & blue or Irish tricolour, we'll have our street furniture painted in Tory Blue (with a few hundred litres of 'long-life' orange kept in the paint store in case the LibDems get back in..... no need to bother stocking up on Labour Red paint round these parts mind  )

Would be a bit of a Forth Rail Bridge job for some poor sod with a paint brush though wouldn't it?....  

Quoted from Administrator

Lets start you off with a few of the changes that you may not have noticed.

The most obvious change (apart from the loss of what was left of Winchcombe Road) is the development on Chivers' yard (the triangle between Carnegie Rd, Cheap St and the A339).

Quoted from Reynard

Standard of service has dropped from West Berkshire Council. It doesn't look as if those white lines have been repainted since 1972.

We now await the correction from User23

Standards have not dropped at WBC as WBC were not in existence in 1972! Besides WBC don't have standards!