Draft Prohibition of Driving Order (2025) on Kings Road, Newbury (Ref:81664/1)

Background

A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is a legal document that must be made by the Local Authority under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to regulate or restrict the use of the public highway either permanently, experimentally or temporarily. The most common restrictions are:

• closing the road
• speed restrictions
• weight/width/height restrictions
• prohibiting certain movements
• restricting parking in some way

What we are proposing

This Order is necessary to enable the Kings Road Improvement Scheme to be delivered. The effect of this Order will be to remove the one-way traffic restriction from Kings Road and close off the road to through traffic (except cyclists and pedestrians) between points approximately 8 metres and 24 metres east of the eastern kerbline of Windsor Court. This will ensure that the new B3421 route through the Sterling Gardens development is followed for through traffic in future.

To revoke all reference to Kings Road in Schedule 3 of the West Berkshire District Council Various Road (in the Towns of Newbury, Thatcham and Hungerford) and (in the Parishes of East Ilsley, Holybrook and Shaw-Cum-Donnington) (Prohibition of Motor Vehicles, Bus Lane) and (One Way Traffic) Order 2016.

This Order is necessary to avoid danger to persons and will provide a safer traffic free environment for pedestrians using the road and other non-vehicular road users. The new B3421 Kings Road Link Road, now known as 'Hectors Way', opened to traffic in August 2024. This road was constructed in order to provide a safer, more suitable and higher quality route for traffic than the former route of the B3421 Kings Road and Mill Lane. The effect of this Order is to physically prevent the passage of through-traffic on Kings Road (except cyclists and pedestrians) and ensure that westbound through-traffic uses the new Link Road. To maintain access for residents of Kings Road, the existing one-way restriction will be withdrawn. The removal of through-traffic from Kings Road will reduce traffic noise and improve air quality in a residential street and reduce the potential for accidents by removing potential points of conflict between different road users. 

The documents that support this proposal can be viewed/downloaded from the links below:

• draft Traffic Regulation Order, statement of reasons and explanatory statement [169KB]
• map of the affected area [3MB]
• detailed map of the closure area [4MB]

Why we want your views

We'd like to know whether you'd like to express your support, record a neutral position or lodge an objection to the proposal to remove the one-way traffic restriction from Kings Road and close off the road to through traffic (except cyclists and pedestrians) between points approximately 8 metres and 24 metres east of the eastern kerbline of Windsor Court.

How to take part

Copies of the draft Order, partially revoked order, explanatory statement, and map can be inspected during the hours of 9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday at main reception on the ground floor of West Berkshire Council Offices, Market Street, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5LD.

If you'd like to comment on the proposal, please complete and return our survey by midnight on Thursday, 6 February 2025.

Download, complete and return our survey [674KB]

You may also comment either by email to the Projects (Highways) Team or in writing to Projects (Highways) Team, Environment, West Berkshire District Council, Council Offices, Market Street, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5LD.

Please quote Ref:81664/1 on any correspondence. All representations must be with us by Thursday, 6 February 2025.

Any personal information you choose to provide will be kept confidential and used in accordance with our Privacy Notice.

If you have any questions about this TRO please email the Projects (Highways) Team.

What happens next

All comments received will be reviewed by the Projects (Highways) Team. If we receive any objections, the Executive Member for Highways will decide how to proceed at an Individual Executive Member Decision meeting, which is provisionally scheduled for Friday, 28 February 2025. However, whilst the intention is to meet this date, there may be unforeseen circumstances that delay the final decision. If no objections are received the Order will be sealed and come into effect in early 2025.

We aim to publish on this page a summary of the responses we received and the decision taken, within three months of the consultation closing.