Section of Kings Road in Newbury permanently closes to vehicles
The decision prompted dozens of people to comment when it was announced on social media. Some described it as "barmy" and "flawed", while others said it would reduce noise for residents living on the stretch of road.
'Improvements'
West Berkshire Council said: "We understand that changes like this take time to get used to. "We'll be monitoring the area throughout the summer to see how traffic adjusts and to make sure everything is working as it should. "Thank you for your patience and support as we make these improvements."The council said new road signs and markings would be installed along both ends of Kings Road and the surrounding area, to direct traffic towards Hectors Way via the roundabout at Hambridge Lane.There were some road closures on Wednesday evening to allow the road markings to be added.
You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Why Diane Abbott told Jeremy Corbyn not to set up new party
Diane Abbott advised Jeremy Corbyn against establishing a new political party, citing the difficulties new parties face under Britain's first-past-the-post electoral system. Despite her advice, Ms Abbott believes Mr Corbyn's unnamed new party, launched last month with Zarah Sultana, will exceed expectations due to widespread public dissatisfaction with current politics. Ms Abbott, a Labour MP for over 40 years, indicated she would not be joining Mr Corbyn's new venture, despite expressing disappointment with the current Labour government 's policies. She criticised the government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action, labelling it a "complete disgrace" and an attempt to suppress protest. Ms Abbott expressed anger at not being called by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to speak after racist comments by Conservative donor Frank Hester, suggesting political motives from both the Conservatives and Labour.
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Fresh wave of asylum hotel protests expected after Epping ruling
A wave of protests outside hotels used as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers is expected in the coming days. It comes as the latest figures showed there were more than 32,000 asylum seekers in hotels, marking a rise of 8% during Labour's first year in office. Stand Up To Racism is preparing to hold counter-protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers on Friday, including in Bournemouth, Cardiff and Leeds, with further demonstrations expected on Saturday. Meanwhile, councils across the country controlled by Labour, the Conservatives and Reform UK are investigating whether they could pursue legal challenges against asylum hotels. This follows a judge granting Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction on Tuesday that blocked asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel in Essex. The council had argued the injunction was needed amid 'unprecedented levels of protest and disruption' in connection with asylum seeker accommodation. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the people of Epping who protested and its council have 'led the way', writing in The Telegraph that 'our country's patience has snapped'. His Conservative colleague Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said on Thursday that people have 'every right' to protest over asylum hotels in their areas. Labour has pledged to end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers by the end of this parliament in 2029. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper insisted Labour had taken 'crucial steps' in the past year towards this by cutting the asylum backlog and money spent on the asylum system, increasing returns of failed asylum seekers and overhauling appeals. While the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels has risen, Government spending on asylum in the UK is down 12%, data published on Thursday showed. The number waiting on an initial decision on an asylum application in the UK at the end of June dropped below 100,000 for the first time in four years. Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation, known as contingency accommodation, if they are awaiting assessment of their claim or have had a claim approved and there is not enough longer-term accommodation available. When there is not enough housing, the Home Office – which has a legal obligation to provide accommodation to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute – can move people to alternatives such as hotels and large sites, like former military bases. Amid hotel protests, campaigners including Rape Crisis and Refuge have warned conversations about violence against women and girls are being 'hijacked by an anti-migrant agenda' which they argued fuels divisions and harms survivors.
Telegraph
18 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The longstanding neglect of working-class pupils puts Britain to shame
SIR – Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, writes (Commentary, August 21) that the state has 'failed white working-class pupils', as in 2024 only 19 per cent of them achieved a strong pass in maths and English GCSE. This is hardly surprising, particularly in the case of boys. I taught at six high schools in a 40-year career, and never came across any initiatives that were specifically directed at such children. When I began teaching in 1977, there were no special plans for anyone. Then, the focus became improving the results of girls, especially in IT, science and technical subjects. When pupil performance data began to be used, focus shifted to different ethnic minority groups. Some of the lowest performing schools are to be found in towns such as Morecambe, Blackpool and Clacton – schools where the vast majority of children are white working-class. Another shift in focus is needed. David S Ainsworth Manchester SIR – The real problem is not that the state has failed pupils, but that parents have. Teachers attempt to educate their pupils to achieve the highest possible results they can – but without consistent support from parents, too many children will underachieve. Eric Mansfield Clitheroe, Lancashire SIR – I was a white working-class child – but I was not let down by the state: I studied at a grammar school. I have spent my life feeling so grateful for having been given that chance. Margaret O'Connell Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire SIR – Some 30 years ago I started teaching in a social priority school – one where a child with exceptional social circumstances is considered higher priority for a place. Most of the students had psycholinguistic problems, and there was a long wait for speech and language services. So I started a communication opportunity group scheme (Cogs). This involved integrating communication teaching into the curriculum. Cogs has been shown to get results – but has been taken up abroad much more than in the UK. When will we learn? Rosemary Sage West Haddon, Northamptonshire SIR – I have a school book completed by the brother of my grandmother, when he was a 14-year-old pupil in Derbyshire in 1860. The book includes all the mathematics necessary for somebody wishing to enter the building trade. Typical titles include 'Equation of Payments' and 'Measuring by the Yard Square as Pavers, Painters, Plasterers and Joiners'. The book is also beautifully illustrated. I don't know whether he became a builder, but his schooling provided the necessary education. It's shameful that we no longer seem able to do the same.
