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Wednesday, July 1 - Tuesday, July 7, 2015
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FREE INSIDE THIS ISSUE Flood scheme
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celebrates offical opening Page 7
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DECISION IS DUE ON NEW A339 JUNCTION Thank you for armed forces RESIDENTS gathered in Market Place on Sunday morning to say thanks to members of the armed forces past and present for their efforts in defending the country. The armed forces parade saw members of the Royal British Legion, ex-servicemen and their families and cadets from the Navy march through the town. • See page 3 for full story
West Berkshire set to decide on CPOs PLANS to build a new junction on the A339 in the centre of Newbury could move a step forward this week as West Berkshire Council considers enforcing a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on two bits of land. Councillors are being recommended to approve buying part of Victoria Park and land next to the A339 at tomorrow’s full council meeting. This is so a junction connecting the A339 with Fleming Road can be built as part of the redevelopment of the London Road Industrial Estate. West Berkshire Council has been attempting to acquire a long leasehold for the land between Fleming Road and the A339 from Faraday Development Limited (FDL), who operate the business units currently situated there. A slither of land from the eastern edge of Victoria Park – which is run by Newbury Town Council – is also required. But as West Berkshire Council so far hasn’t been able to agree a deal with either, it is now considering a compulsory purchase order to obtain both. The council has to begin work
By Adam Flinn adam@observergroup.co.uk
on the junction within the next 12 months to ensure it can use the £1.9million of funding from the Local Enterprise Partnership Local Growth Fund allocated for the project. In the pre-meeting report, projects manager at West Berkshire Council Jon Winstanley wrote: “The scheme is required to facilitate redevelopment within the London Road Industrial Estate. “Given the lack of agreement with FDL and Newbury Town Council, officers recommend that the council approve the use of compulsory purchase powers to safeguard against losing the funding and ensuring this critical infrastructure scheme proceeds.” The overall plans for the London Road Industrial Estate redevelopment would see more employment space created and 300 houses built. And David Goff, leader of Newbury Town Council, said that he had no concerns over the effect on Victoria Park. • Continues on page 3
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