| Newbury.net has learnt that West Berkshire Council is expected to do a u-turn on the Wharf Street closure. This may just be a temporary measure, to alleviate the current problems until northbound buses are able to be rerouted back into Northbrook Street.
The reopening of Northbrook Street is dependent on the renovation work on the cobbles destroyed during the gas company excavations in February. This work is expected to take at least three weeks. Council officials are confident that single lane traffic can operate through the Market Place while contractors Hope & Clay concentrate their efforts on Mansion House Street.
The last seven days have seen total chaos in the town as motorists have struggled to cope with the road closures and diversions. It is thought that the police and Newbury Buses have issued ultimatums to West Berkshire Council that they are not prepared to tolerate another week of disruptions.
Editorial comment.
Even after spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on consultations, it is clear that the highways department at West Berkshire Council still does not understand how traffic moves around Newbury. It is blatantly obvious that with Wharf Street closed, the mini roundabout outside the telephone exchange is unable to cope with the volume of traffic using Park Way Bridge. | 
