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WEEKEND
Dogs looking for a home this Christmas
lights up with lantern procession
TV GUIDE
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ROADWORKS PAIN ‘WILL BE WORTH IT’ Santas on the run in Thatcham
THATCHAM kept the festive spirit going on Sunday as hundreds of Father Christmases ran through the town to raise money for charity.
The Great Thatcham Santa Fun Run saw competitors dress up in festive costumes to complete a 5km journey around the town.
See page 5 for full story. • Santas prepare for the run (picture by Thatcham Photographic Club)
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Council backs work to improve the A339 RESIDENTS and motorists are being asked to have patience on the roads of Newbury, with a number of roadworks projects due to start in the coming months. West Berkshire Council is one year into a three-year £10.7million programme of improvement work to the A339, partly funded by a £5.6m grant that has been provided by the Department for Transport. At a media briefi ng last Thursday, it was confi rmed that work on creating a new junction from the A339 into the London Road Industrial Estate will begin in February, and is expected to last for nine months. This is on top of plans to widen the Robin Hood roundabout outside the fi re station, resurfacing from the Vodafone roundabout to St John’s roundabout, and work on the Bear Lane roundabout, all scheduled to begin before the end of 2017. And it comes at the same time that the Boundary Road bridge will be shut for a year from next month while Network Rail carries out its electrification programme. James Fredrickson, the council’s executive member for com-
By Adam Flinn adam@observergroup.co.uk
munications, said: “When we think about the challenges councils are facing, we’re fortunate to get a ÂŁ5.6m grant from DfT and there’s a three-year plan to use that wisely. “All the things we’re seeing is something we’re willing to do now and take the pain because of the great benefits it will deliver in the future.â€? Garth Simpson, executive member for highways, added: “This is a busy but an exciting period for Newbury as there is a lot of time, effort and money going into improving roads in the town. “We will be left with an improved road network which will leave the town in a strong position for future investment and improve journeys for our road users.â€? He continued: “Of course, we know that in the short term there will be an impact on roads in the town, but longer-term the future is looking much more positive for road users.â€? • Continues on page 3
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