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Traffic disruption at showground events
I am writing to express my profound dissatisfaction with the severe lack of organisation and foresight demonstrated during the events held at Newbury Showground on April 13, 2024.
The simultaneous scheduling of the All About Dogs and Newbury Garden Show events resulted in extreme traffic congestion, which profoundly impacted hundreds of motorists, myself included.
On the aforementioned date, I encountered a nearly standstill traffic situation on the A34 northbound leading to the M4.
This congestion significantly delayed my travel, turning what should have been a brief passage of one to two miles into an exasperating journey lasting over two hours.
Such an extensive delay is unacceptable and indicates a glaring oversight in event management and communication.
The lack of visible signage or prior warning about the events and the potential for heavy traffic was a major oversight.
The absence of such basic considerations for local and passing traffic not only caused considerable inconvenience but also reflects poorly on Newbury Showground.
Furthermore, there was no evident involvement from local authorities or police to manage the traffic or provide assistance, which could have mitigated the impact on thousands of affected road users.
This oversight meant that drivers were left to navigate the chaos without guidance, exacerbating the congestion and the frustration felt by all.
The repercussions of this mismanagement extended beyond mere inconvenience; it resulted in lost time and fuel, which has economic implications for all affected.
The lack of foresight in handling such a predictable issue as traffic influx for a double-event day is concerning and requires immediate address and reassessment of event management protocols.
Therefore, I urge Newbury Showground to:
Provide a detailed explanation as to why there was an apparent lack of traffic management and communication regarding the events of April 13.
Outline the steps Newbury Showground will take to ensure that future events do not disrupt local and passing traffic to this extent.
Consider implementing a system of advance traffic alerts and appropriate signage for all future events.
The success of an event should not come at the cost of the public’s convenience and schedules.
I hope to see significant improvements in event management strategies that consider the broader impact on the community and its daily activities.
David Gale
Newbury
Become a listener with the Samaritans
I’d like to invite people to apply to join the Newbury branch of the Samaritans as listening volunteers.
We are currently looking for people to join the autumn cohort with training starting in September.
We have around 100 volunteers who are on the phones taking calls from people who really need emotional support.
Not all our calls are from people who are feeling suicidal.
We take calls from people all over the UK and Ireland who are finding it difficult to cope.
In the last year we have extended our scope to partner both the West Berks Foodbank and the Newbury Soup Kitchen where our outreach volunteers meet with clients of both these charities face to face.
This has turned out to be some of the most rewarding work that we do.
Every week we meet with vulnerable people face to face.
It can come as a surprise to some that Newbury needs to provide these essential services, but it does. Believe me!
How to apply: You can send an email to Katie, our recruitment director: newbury.branchrecruitment@samaritans.org – or you can post to, or pop a note through our door at 58 West Street, Newbury RG14 1BD, with your contact details for the attention of Katie, recruitment.
What happens: We will contact you and invite you to come in and meet with us – in the coming weeks.
Our next information day will be on June 4.
What do we need from you: Training is for three hours a week for six weeks followed by a period of mentoring when you will be accompanied by an existing Samaritan taking calls.
Thereafter we ask that you commit to one duty a week with a night duty every five weeks.
Who can apply: Anyone over 18.
You should be able to commit to the three hours a week and be able to travel to and from our branch.
We run the training ourselves, and it will equip you to deal with some of the most intense and difficult contacts with people who really do need support.
We very much look forward to welcoming new volunteers to our branch.
Andrew Melsom
Director, Newbury Samaritans
We don’t need more clutter in Victoria Park
My heart sank when I heard about more outdoor gym clutter going into such a small park as Victoria Park.
I like parks to be green and open spaces for ease of movement and play.
That’s my opinion.
Maria White
Newbury
Farm lambing day was a wonderful event
I wanted to voice what a very underrated and superb event the Foxglove Farm Lambing Day is.
This was extremely well attended on April 6 and 7 and really did show the best how farming works when it comes to lambing.
There were chickens, pigs and goats.
Farming comes for heavy criticism from many quarters for many who don’t understand and this does show how a small rural farm operates. Most of these farms are on the brink.
The interest sparked by the public was clear for all to see.
Katie Flanagan
What else will new heat sensors be used for?
It seems that West Berkshire’s plans for heat sensors are part of the Smart City Cluster Project (Newbury Weekly News, April 11).
I think we all need some clarification about how far it is intended to extend this technology, what other uses are being considered, as it is, at best, difficult to believe it will just be about road gritting and weather conditions.
Robert Jolley
Bucklebury
The postal service here is terrible too, Lynette
Lynette Edwell asks if Priory Road is the only road receiving poor service from Royal Mail (Newbury Weekly News, April 11).
No Lynette you are not alone!
Racecourse Road receives on average one mail service per week, usually a Wednesday, when up to 17 items of mail arrive in one big heap.
This appalling service seems to have been going for over 18 months.
Enquiries to said service provider claim they deliver at least every other day – not in my experience they don’t.
Recently a letter postmarked in Newcastle with a first class stamp on March 18 arrived at my home on March 26.
And I read in the media that Royal Mail ‘want’ to deliver first class mail six days a week.
My advice, don’t buy first class stamps and anything sent with a second-class stamp may arrive at its destination some time in the future, but who knows when?
Paul Brindley
Racecourse Road, Newbury
Perhaps we could have two-ballot elections?
I have to say that I am not clear about the implications of what I am suggesting but things need to change before they deteriorate further.
I am attracted to a system whereby there are two ballots.
In the first ballot anyone who wants to put themselves forward can do so (with some sort of limitation to make sure the system is not overloaded).
About a fortnight later or so, the two candidates who have attracted the most votes have a run-off ballot with the one gaining the most votes being deemed the winner.
Surely it cannot be that easy?
Rodney Bray
Dart Close, Thatcham
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