Agenda item

Purpose: the Newbury Town Centre Masterplan was created collaboratively with local residents and stakeholders, resulting in broad support for the pedestrianisation of the Town Centre. In order to facilitate this objective, an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) was implemented to extend the pedestrianised timings between 10am and 11pm. The report presents the outcomes of the public consultation conducted during the first six months following the introduction of the ETRO, summarising the feedback received and recommends a way forward.

Resolved that: Executive approves

·         Removal of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order and reverting the pedestrianised timings to 10am – 5pm from September 2026.

·         That future proposals for pedestrianisation be taken forward through a review of the Newbury Town Centre Masterplan ensuring that pedestrianisation is considered in the context of a more holistic vision for the town centre.

·         That the Council Motion submitted by Cllr Adrian Abbs on 16^th October 2025 which can be seen in Appendix C be considered in the context of the Newbury Town Council Masterplan and through any future engagement with residents and stakeholders.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 1 June 2026, then it will be implemented.

Councillor Stuart Gourley introduced and proposed a report (Agenda Item 7), which presented the outcomes of the public consultation conducted during the first six months following the introduction of the experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO), summarised the feedback received and recommended a way forward. Councillor Gourley reported that a large amount of data had been gathered on traffic, economic impacts, footfall, dwell time and consultation responses, and that the recommendation was to end the current trial on 14 September 2026 and deal with any future pedestrianisation through a refreshed Newbury Town Centre Masterplan.

Councillor Adrian Abbs commented that he had supported the principle of pedestrianisation but had been disappointed that alternative options such as one-way access, short-stay bays, and pick-up and drop-off points had not been trialled. He suggested that an ETRO by law should have allowed the Council to change the scheme whilst it was running. Councillor Gourley responded that, on the advice received, the particular order could not be altered or ended immediately and that a formal revocation or modification process was required.

Councillor Abbs queried why, when opposition was so strong, the scheme would remain in place for several more months.  Councillor Gourley responded that the Council had always promised a decision in spring 2026, and argued that whilst many respondents objected to the current version of pedestrianisation, comments suggested some still supported pedestrianisation in principle if implemented differently.

Councillor Ross Mackinnon queried why the full Beauclair report had not been published with the Executive papers and questioned when input from Thames Valley Police had been sought in relation to safety concerns voiced by residents. It was confirmed that the Beauclair material had been added to the consultation page on the Council’s website, and Councillor Justin Pemberton commented that Thames Valley Police had been contacted in the summer of 2025 and had reported no noticeable increase in crime or antisocial behaviour.

Councillor David Marsh criticised the launch of the trial, the choice of 11pm as the cut-off, the lack of visible public campaigning in favour of the scheme, that there had been no serious attempt to talk to local businesses, and the limited accommodation for disabled or mobility-restricted users. In reply, Councillor Pemberton commented that he had spent a substantial amount of time discussing the scheme with businesses.

Councillor Gourley noted that Newbury BID had also run a number of late night shopping events during the trial and suggested that it had been run to test assumptions, gather feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, and support events and late-night activity in the town centre whilst the Council learned what worked and what did not.

Councillor Gourley clarified that the current trial would end in September 2026, and any future version would be considered through a refreshed masterplan and further consultation.

Councillor Pemberton seconded the recommendations within the report.

RESOLVED that: Executive approves

·       Removal of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order and reverting the pedestrianised timings to 10am – 5pm from September 2026.

·       That future proposals for pedestrianisation be taken forward through a review of the Newbury Town Centre Masterplan ensuring that pedestrianisation is considered in the context of a more holistic vision for the town centre.

·       That the Council Motion submitted by Cllr Adrian Abbs on 16^th October 2025 which can be seen in Appendix C be considered in the context of the Newbury Town Council Masterplan and through any future engagement with residents and stakeholders.