Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 - Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of Final version, 27.08.2020 - Newbury Town Council
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Shopper Survey 18.07.2020
Final version, 27.08.2020
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.20201
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Contents
1. Background & Methodology 2
2. Sample characteristic 3
3. Frequency of Visits to the Town centre, with Reasons 4
4. Desired changes / improvements to the town centre 6
5. Impact of the current temporary 24 hour vehicle restrictions 15
6. What should happen after 31st August? 19
7. Questionnaire 25
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.20202
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Background & Methodology
• Newbury Town Council’s strategy calls for the permanent pedestrianisation of the Market Place
• The banning of vehicles from Cheap Street between the Corn Exchange and Mansion House Street, with traffic from
Northbrook Street continuing from Mansion House Street along Wharf Street to Bear Lane.
• The Covid-19 crisis has resulted in a temporary 24 hour vehicle ban from the town centre
• John Lewis, Café Rouge and ASK Italian have all confirmed they will not re-open their Newbury premises
• Newbury Town Council has just set up a new Town Centre Working Group to develop ideas and plans for the
future of the town centre
• In this context NTC resolved to survey shoppers to see:
• what changes they would like to see in the town centre to make it more attractive
• what impact they see from the temporary 24 hour vehicle ban
• what they would like to happen after the temporary vehicle ban period has finished
• A team of 9 Councillors interviewed a random selection of shoppers on Northbrook Street on Saturday 18th July
2020 between 9.30am and 3pm
• The questionnaire was agreed in advance by the P&H committee on 13th July. Questionnaire is shown in appendix 1.
• 147 interviews were completed
• Same survey posted online by Newbury BID
• The survey was conducted in a spirit of partnership with the Newbury BID who posted the survey online from 18th – 21st July
• 321 people completed the online survey
• Analysis was carried out in Excel
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.20203
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Sample Characteristics
• Overall 72% live within 3 miles of the • Overall 47% work in Newbury • Overall 46% walked or cycled to the town
town centre • 36% of the NTC in-person sample centre
• 61% of the NTC in-person sample • 52% on the BID online sample • 43% of the NTC in-person sample
• 78% on the BID online sample • 48% of the BID online sample
• Big opportunity for more active travel
and public transport:
• 72% live within 3 miles and yet only 46%
came on foot or by bike, and only2% used
public transport.
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.20204
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Frequency of Visits to the Town centre, with Reasons
• The NTC in-person sample visit the town centre much more frequently than the BID online sample
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.20205
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Frequency of Visits to the Town centre compared to before Covid-19
• Unsurprisingly, almost 2/3 of respondents said
they have been visiting the town centre less often
than before Covid-19
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.20206
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
What changes to the town centre would encourage you to
visit more often to shop?
• Most popular choice was more independent
shops, with 28% of the responses
• Second most popular was cheaper parking with
22% of the responses
• And third was improvements to the market
with 16% of the responses
• Details of the responses and the comments,
and the 8% ‘Other’ are in the following pages
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.20207
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
For the 28% respondents who wanted more independents:
What kind of independent outlet would you like to see?
28% of respondents would like more
independent outlets:
• Most popular choice by far was more
independent shops, with 50% of the
responses
• 23% wanted more independent restaurants
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.20208
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
For the 22% respondents who wanted cheaper parking:
What changes to parking would you like to see?
22% of respondents would like changes to the
parking charges:
• Most popular choice was free parking for
the first 2 hours – with 40% of respondents
• 31% wanted the first hour to be free
• 29% wanted free evening / Sunday parking
• All comments on parking are shown on
page 10
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.20209
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
For the 16% of respondents who wanted changes to the market:
What changes to the market would you like to see?
16% of respondents would like to see changes
to the market:
• Most popular choice – by 50% of
respondents - was for a wider selection of
stalls on Thursdays and Saturdays
• 29% wanted more farmers and artisan
markets
• 20% wanted a covered market area
• Of the 16 people who made detailed
comments, 9 suggested the market should
move to Northbrook Street
• All comments on the market are shown on
page 10
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202010
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Detailed comments on Markets and Parking
– NTC in-person sample
Suggestions from the in-person respondents:
Market comments Parking comments
1 Northbrook St 1 Cheaper parking
2 Northbrook St 2 Cheaper parking
3 Northbrook St 3 Cheaper - Henley £3.20 for whole day
4 Northbrook St 4 Parking too expensive
5 On Northbrook St 5 Make car parking free
6 On Northbrook St 6 Free after 4.30pm like Andover
7 Good in Northbrook St 7 Free parking at night
8 On Northbrook St. More food and ethnic 8 Free roadside parking
9 Market non-existent. Better in Northbrook St 9 Free roadside parking
10 I like the market 10 Voucher scheme for shops
11 Market is not bad 11 Machines that give change
12 More cooked food stalls like in artisan markets 12 Make them pay
13 Workshops in street. Help mental health 13 Cost of parking. Heavy shopping
14 Market Square for stalls 14 Different rules between private at WBC car parks
15 Please re-active / re-juvinate 15 Might eat too (as well as shop if parking free / cheaper)
16 Local products 16 Street parking
17 Pay when you leave
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202011
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
For the 13% of respondents who wanted more big name outlets:
What kind of big name outlet would you like to see?
13% of respondents would like more big name
outlets:
• Most popular choice was more big name
shops, with 70% of the responses
• 8 people suggested Primark
• 5 suggest Iceland
• 19% wanted more big names restaurants
• 11% wanted more big name pubs
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202012
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
For the 6% respondents who wanted more eVehicle infrastructure:
What kind of eVehicle charging infrastructure would you like to see?
6% of respondents would like to see more
charging infrastructure:
• Most popular choice was more charging points
for electric cars, with 60% of the responses
• 21% wanted more charge points for e-Bikes
• 19% wanted more charge points for e-Scooters
In addition, 7% of total respondents wanted more
secure bike storage facilities
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202013
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Detailed comments for ‘Other’ improvements to the town centre
– 17% of the NTC in-person sample
Other suggestions for improvements
1 I like Newbury town 24 eScooters are dangerous 43 More ladies shops
2 I enjoy coming to Newbury 25 Ban electric scooters 44 More restaurants for kids
3 Very happy (with the town) 26 Don't want eScooters 45 Bigger M&S, maybe to replace John Lewis
4 Happy with the town 27 Push bikes from McDonalds to bridge - no cycling on 46 Indepenedent eco shops: refillables etc.
5 Happy (with the town) 28 (I) fear the cyclists 47 More mens clothes shops
6 Happy with town. Kennet Centre run down 29 Bikes should not be in town - Northbrook Street. More info 48 More skate(board) and tech shops
7 Pretty happy (with the town) 30 No cycling on the pavement 49 Wider range of shops eg glluten free needs: go to Reading for
8 No (change needed) - like it! 31 I'm a cyclist but I think cycling should be banned in Northbrook St this. Need more publicity / communication on what's available
(in Newbury)
9 Primark 32 Fewer coffee shops, fewer restaurants 50 More shops under-cover
10 Primark 33 Too many shops, nail bars, hairdressers. Need outdoor activities, 51 Newbury does things half-heartedly
11 Primark more trees and flowers. Bring in music on Saturday. More 52 Banks open more
12 Could do with Primark benches. Keep town clean & painted. Public hand sanitiser. 53 Fast charging for cars. Allow empty shops to be used by small
13 Primark and Iceland - good value Churchcoffee
34 Fewer needs shops
to open up. Retail competition to look aesthetic. 54 Better public transport links
14 Primark and Iceland - cost 35 Over supply of shops. Want safe cycle routes 55 The Race meetings help
15 Fill vacant shops. Sort Kennet Centre. Iceland & Primark. Have 36 Not just coffee shops and hairdressers. Taxi rank should be in 56 Make use of canal area - like to be near water
16 Primark & Iceland. A graden centre 57 Respondent was 90 years old and she is allocated a member of
37 More independent fruit & veg and butchers staff to help her in Tescos. She would not get that help (she says)
17 Leisure activities: bowling, pool/snooker 38 Speciality food shops: deli, baker, organic 58 in an independent
Charging shop
points helps stores
18 Buskers 59 John Lewis!
19 Most of my shopping online now so no need to come into 39 Big shops closing - needs cheaper rents 60 Workshops, shared spaces in John Lewis building
Newbury. Newbury needs something to attract people in: music, 40 More housing = more footfall. No more shops or cafes. More 61 Free parking helps weekend trade. Needs lots of outside stall
innovative
20 Happy withmarket stalls activities like Ugly Duckling. Newsagent
town. More 41 John Lewis loss - was prestigious draw. Same with Paul. Rates traders. (I'm a café owner - evening trade and footfall worse
21 Market Place outdoor seating and live music 42 Reduce rates (to encourage independents). Scooter / bikes are 62 since 24
More hour)
money!
22 Pedestrianise Marlet Place - make a piazza.Fewer hairdressers. 63 Need cameras - bikes nicked
Condense the shopping area: Clocktower to far end of 64 Not just cafes and take-aways
Batholomew
23 Al St is too far
fresco dining 65 Open bridge by Camps furniture store to traffic
66 Stopped coming to farmers market because lack of choice
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202014
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Detailed comments for ‘Other’ improvements to the town centre
– 4% of the BID online sample
Other suggestions for Improvements
1 I would love to see some small independent retailers with focus on food and drink. As well as 14 More entertainment venues for different age groups, for example, Soft Play, Clip & Climb adventure
restaurants, cafes and pubs would be great to have deli's and other retailers such as coffee roasters course, Bowling, Trampoline Park etc. Would be good to make Kennet Centre entertainment
and breweries. Newbury is very nice to look at in the centre and a full ban on vehicles would enable all destination with restaurants & cafes to, and make Parkway & Northbrook street Shopping destination
these features to come out even more and offer not just locals but those further afield a great 15 John Lewis and more activities like the table tennis place
opportunity to have a unique experience. At the moment, let's be honest, it could be any town in the 16 Live music, arts, entertainment. I don't regard shopping as leisure.
uk with all the same chains and experiences. I think the town needs to be brave, reduce the size of the 17 A regular programme of outdoor performances and events, as these always bring a buzz to the town.
centre and make it a more concentrated area which offers regular events particularly with a focus on
live music. So much potential here and once Covid moves on I feel this type of experience will secure 18 Making the marketplace a pedestrian area, so that restaurants and pubs can fully use the space.
many variety
2 More new jobs
ofinshops
time.and restaurants. Independents ideally. Not crippled by high rent and other 19 Pedestrianised permanently
running costs. And more blue badge spots close to town centre so I can take my Mum out.
3 Fresh fruit and veg local produce shop 20 Safer cycling
4 A greengrocer! 21 Cycle lanes
5 It's time to focus on smaller, independent businesses of all kinds. Make Newbury a more unique place
to visit. Whenever you go anywhere these days it's the same big names everywhere, might as well stay 22 Cheaper busses
home. Newbury can be different and attract people to visit from elsewhere. Also make it eco friendly 23 I go to a town to shop, there was enough restaurant and bars, but now most have closed due to COVID
with plenty of charging zones and discounted parking for electric vehicles. 24 Fight to keep John Lewis, We need s decent electrical, lighting store.
6 More enticing shops within the Kennet Center area to draw shoppers throughout the entire town 25 Social distancing being enforced in the street and in shops.
26 I have increasingly done my weekly food shop online with a top up in store during the week. During
7 Bring back free half hour parking in Northbrook st , we used to pop in the shops all the time then Covid I stopped doing a mid week top up and started using online shopping for other items I needed.
8 If free parking for an hour or two can't be offered then the charges need to be lowered, you don't mind The cost of parking has never been an issue. I dont believe offering 2 hours of free parking with
paying more if we had more shops and facilities stimulate
27 Stop fillingpeople going
the town into with
centre townresidential
more. units!
9 Free parking for any period of time permanently. The charges are extortionate. 28 Ride share rental scooters
10 Scrap parking fees. That's your only hope. 29 More car parks & wider bays
11 Cheaper parking overall, WBC killing the high street by overcharging
12 I come into Newbury for the market, I bring the car as my bags are too heavy to walk home. So free
parking for an hour would be amazing. Otherwise we walk into town.
13 Cheaper parking & nicer shops
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202015
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Has the current temporary 24/7 vehicle ban from the town centre made any difference
to your experience of getting here and of shopping / eating / drinking?
When compared to the original 10am to 5pm
vehicle ban:
• 43% of respondents said the 24 hour vehicle
ban had made no difference
• 31% said it was better
• 26% said it was worse
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202016
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Has the current temporary 24/7 vehicle ban from the town centre made any
difference to your experience of getting here and of shopping / eating / drinking?
- NTC in-person sample
Comments for those who think 24 hour evhicle ban is better Comments for those who think 24 hour evhicle ban is worse
1 "Nicer" 1 Concern about traffic on A339
2 Relaxed, more café culture 2 Too difficult for traffic
3 More relaxing without watching out for cars 3 Needing to use A339. Helps trade
4 Safer for childern - don't have to keep a look-out for them 4 Traffic flow. Taxi fares higher
5 Easier to walk 5 Only one way round Newbury
6 No worries (while walking), but longer car trips 6 Because can't use Northbrook St can't access gym so easily. (Kings Rd very busy now)
7 No worries - no need to watch out for cars 7 Detour to get to class
8 No worries - safer 8 Inconvenient
9 Safer 9 Only 1 (river) crossing point gets too busy, means more driving pollution
10 Safer, especially with kids 10 Dangerous - deliveries still happening
11 Nice having no cars 11 No need for 24 hours
12 More space. Not afraid to walk in road. Massive difference 12 Evening no people. Traffic flow very difficult with road shut
13 No issue with (worrying about) cars before 10 13 Bit disheartened. It's not a bike racetrack
14 No worrying - safer
15 No dodging the cars
16 Makes it safer
17 No traffic
18 Easy and safe for people
19 No confusion
20 Less worry. As we're deaf we can't hear cars, bikes or scooters
21 No worries (about traffic)
22 More relaxed atmosphere - more outdoor seating
23 Evenings
24 Bikes as dangerous as cars
25 But cyclists a nuisance
26 Get rid of bikes
27 Better for me. But for charity shops?
28 More bike parking security
29 But longer journeys
30 Cycle
31 Lunchtime better. But not evening - worse
32 Allow residents across bridge by Parkway using a tag
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202017
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Has the current temporary 24/7 vehicle ban from the town centre made any
difference to your experience of getting here and of shopping / eating / drinking?
- BID online sample
Comments for those who think 24 hour vehicle ban is better
1 Safety 14 More relaxed atmosphere to Northbrook Street & Market Place1
2 Safer as less fast cars driving, more space for cyclist and pedestrians 15 more space for people, calmer environment and so much better for the atmosphere
3 Don't have to worry about being run over. 16 No need for cars in the town centre and makes more pleasant environment for drinking/eating/shopping
4 Shop safely avoiding other people and cars 17 Easier to walk around at night
5 Not having to be so aware 18 It's just more pleasant to walk around a town centre without traffic.
6 safer as a pedestrian 19 It is a more pleasant experience to shop in a pedestrianised area.
7 Not having cars has made walking through Newbury feel like a cleaner & safer place and adds to the 20 Better cause you can walk more
appeal of the market/highstreet during the evening. HOWEVER - the policing of cars has been god awful - 21 I walk everywhere so it’s great not having the traffic at busy times
cars still come through and even drive up the wrong way. There needs to be tracking and penalty for this. 22 Makes Newbury more of an destination to spend more outdoor time in
8 Better for the environment, and much safer. Really liking the ban, as a driver it hasn't affected anything 23 You can take a relaxed stroll around the whole town and take time to enjoy it.
9 Safer when the shops are open. Always felt dangerous when people when crossing to shops with traffic.
Don't care about 24/7. 24 It's slightly better from town experience point of view but would be great if could securely cordon off the
10 Easier to cross road, however some people have still been driving theoighy whole area and bring full markets and dining experiences outdoors.
11 Safer, quieter and a nicer feel to the area 25 I’ve walked around the town in the evenings and it has been a much nice experience. If pubs/restaurants
12 Hearing impaired, so feels safer had pleasant outside seating areas then I’d more likely choose to go there. Unfortunately only The
13 It feels safer walking through town and sitting outside pubs in the evenings with no cars around. Hatchet Inn and The Elephant seem to be using this extra space at the moment. I hope others will and it
can generate a pleasant evening al fresco experience.
26 Safety and room for outside eating and drinking
27 Expands traffic-free walking options and makes outdoor seating a more pleasant experience.
28 Like the fact cafes and restaurants can have outdoor seating
29 It should also include bicycles. They are dangerous for pedestrians.
30 Would be better if we went shopping, will not until it is safe to do so.
31 I'm a cyclist and I like the total lack of traffic
32 Social distancing easier. It's better in the evenings too as makes everything more accessible
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202018
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Has the current temporary 24/7 vehicle ban from the town centre made any difference
to your experience of getting here and of shopping / eating / drinking?
- BID online sample
Comments for those who think 24 hour vehicle ban is worse 25 Has restricted access for shop deliveries and stopped early customers to the shops.
1 More traffic on the ringroad 26 It’s worse as cannot drop off or pick up the elderly or infirm.
2 My journey time to work is longer 27 Also any disabled driver who finds walking difficult not being able to park nearer the shops
3 More difficult travelling around town area 28 The town is baron early in the morning and traders are losing early sales
4 It made it easier to get across town if wanting to access the supermarkets on the north side of town 29 Not being able to access Northbrook street by car has meant I no longer use it.
after a shopping trip in the evening. When working it used to make it easy to pop to town after work 30 We can’t just pop down and get close like we used to after 5pm
then onto a supermarket. 31 I cannot drop items off at charity shops
5 More restricted movement around the town and having to drive all around the houses to get through 32 Ability to conveniently park near shops pre 10am is useful. Evening access difficult if only via single
6 Having to go around past Victoria park adds 10 mins on to my journey. If the town centre is closed 24/7 route. Needs option to reopen if traffic issues elsewhere
can theto
Having wharf
drivebridge
roundbetheopened?
Robin Hood roundabout and down the bypass which is invariably gridlocked to 33 Working in retail we've had many customers who like to visit early or towards the end of day that no find
7 get to the other end of town using more fuel, creating more pollution and usually taking twice as long to it difficult, the town is dieing this doesn't help it
get there. 34 Cannot get in ..should have left as before
8 Access 35 Can’t just pop into Griffins quickly in the morning
9 I have family the other end of town, and normally use the high street in the mornings and evenings to 36 Less potential to pull up and shop
avoid non Newbury traffic 37 Difficult
Not beingtoable
get in
totown
get to the corn exchange where im usually dropped off. Its a needless ban. Out of
10 Getting from one end of town to another takes so much longer 38 main shopping hours traffic is no problem. The bigger issue by far is cycles tearing through the pedestrian
11 I live ar the top of town and work at the bottom I used to rely on cutting through town. Saved time now areas
my journey
Takes to go
ages to andaround
from work is doubled.
the town centre.I Would
am unable
be sotomuch
walk better
due to to
disability.
allow traffic through the town as
12 before. If you wanna protect people's lives then make it a 20mph zone. No need to divert traffic miles 39 Worse parking is way too expensive
around. 40 I don’t enjoy having to go down the a339 on a moped in the evening to get to the other end of town
13 I now drive to waitrose using a34 rather than through town. 41 I walk, and the number of cars/vans that ignore the ban and drive fast down a supposedly pedestrian
14 Only one road to get to other side of town area is dangerous
15 There is only one route now out of hours to get across railway line and canal... stupid bottle neck all the 42 Unconventional
16 It was fine before and once we are back to ‘normal’ traffic come schools return in sept etc. My work 43 It put me off to go there
journey will be extended by probably nearly 20-30mins 44 Can’t just pop in briefly on my way to somewhere else so have to plan a special journey. In which case I
17 Having to travel right round town to get from one end of the high street is frustrating when keeping might not bother.
appointments am. 45 More convenient to drop off people to go in the shops instead of getting caught and adding to rush hour
18 Can't
It forces
drive
cars
through
to use the stupid new route down past the station and back up to the cinema to get to traffic on the A339
19 Bartholomew street. Anyone who lives north Newbury it’s made getting to town he’ll. it’s bad enough 46 False sense of security: No traffic so you make use of the extra space until a cyclist nearly runs you over.
dealing with the robin hood, now we have to go back on ourselves to get to any parking on our side of A traffic ban should also include cyclists.
town. 47 Not made any direct impact to me other than traffic more on outskirts of town. Although I am aware
20 More traffic on ring road. Restricting my access to get to north side of Newbury what an impact it has had on some business’s.
21 Difficult to get from one end of town to other off peak 48 Some shops are experiencing difficulties with this
22 Traffic will only get worse in rush hour when people return to offices 49 It was already pedestrianised at the times needed, now it is more difficult for cars and taxes to get across
23 Need a big dirversion if at the top end of town town in the evening. However - if more restaurants and bars are allowed outdoor space later, then I
24 Takes longer to get to Waitrose agree it is a good step.
50 There are times when it just isn’t practical to walk to town and I don’t want to walk into town at night
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202019
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
When the current temporary 24/7 vehicle ban ends at end August / early September,
what would you like to happen?
• 45% said they would like to revert to the
original 10am to 5pm vehicle ban
• 34% of NTC in-person respondents, who use the
town centre more often
• 52% of BID online sample
• 38% of respondents said they would like the
24 hour vehicle ban to continue after 31st
August
• 49% of NTC in-person respondents
• 30% of BID online sample
• 13% said they would like vehicles to be
allowed for some of the day, but a reduced
number of hours compared to the original
5pm to 10am
• 2% said they would like vehicles to be allowed
for some of the day, but an increased number
of hours compared to the original 5pm to
10am
• 3% had no preference
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202020
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
When the current temporary 24/7 vehicle ban ends at end August / early September,
what would you like to happen?
- NTC in-person sample
Why keep 24 hour vehicle restrictions Why revert to 10am to 5pm vehicle restrictions
1 More relaxing without watching out for cars 1 Eases traffic elsewhere
2 Freedom of movement 2 Did work. Helps A339
3 Easier to walk around
3 Much better to drive through
4 Because more relaxing
4 Inconvenient for the cars
5 No worries - safer
5 Need more than 1 (river) crossing. Traffic through Wharf St so keep rest of Market Place (traffic) free
6 Freedom of movement, safer for kids
7 Nice having no traffic on Northbrook St 6 Flow of traffic. Another bridge would help!
8 Nicer - safer 7 Worked OK
9 Don't have to watch out for cars 8 A nice shortcut for cars. Can park for free in evening on Northbrook St
10 Safer 9 Because can't use Northbrook St can't access gym so easily. (Kings Rd very busy now
11 Relaxed feel 10 Best option - helps all
12 Relaxed, more café culture
13 Vibrant town centre. Market Place too - piazza with outdoor eating 11 Helps deleivery drivers drop stuff off at stores in morning
14 Nicer on High St and can use outdoor space for seating 12 Help business - Griffins
15 More space, get cafes outside
16 Love it with no cars
13 No opinion on morning but need at 5pm
17 Could (then) use space better
18 Use the space so somewhere nice to sit outside - vibe 14 Maybe longer closure in summer and for markets
19 Allows freedom for people 15 But add 24 hours in Market Place. Make clear distinction between raod and pavement
20 We can have more stalls and cafes can spread out onto pavement 16 Go down Wharf St so Market Place can be traffic free
21 Makes town centre more pleasant 17 Disabled and deliveries before 10am
22 Much nicer 18 Hardly anyone around before 10
23 Opportunity to use outside space 19 Would (otherwise) struggle to park the car for work
24 Do need to consider delivery vehicles and disabled
Why have extended vehicle restrictions but not 24 hour
25 Pleasant. Need to be open for loading / unloading deliveries
1 10am-8pm - allow for rush hour
26 But allow taxis to drop off elderly and disabled
27 See how busy A339 gets
2 To 9am - commute has finished
28 So much nicer to have space. But need it to work for cars too 3 Close in the evenings
4 If you're out later people speed
29 Evening economy 5 9am to 8pm
30 A great opportunity to implement change 6 Give it a year
31 My (disability) scooter
32 Doesn't impact me Why have reduced vehicle restrictions vs original 10-5
33 To encourage active transport and also better public transport
1 One way over Parkway to avoid A339
34 Easier to get around town
2 Not reduce
35 Cycling safer, get more seating outdoors
36 Horrible walking in pm & traffic
37 To avoid a pinch point on the bridge by Lloyds Bank re 2m distamnce
38 If still need social distancing
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202021
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
When the current temporary 24/7 vehicle ban ends at end August / early September,
what would you like to happen?
- BID online sample
Comments from those who think 24 hour vehicle ban is better
1 Market square as an eating destination would be much better
2 Keep the existing 24/7 ban in place and allow restaurants to setup on the road.
3 Would like to see more of the market Square for eating/ drinking
4 Allow restaurant and pubs more seating
5 I think encouraging the night time economy and al fresco dining could be of great benefit to Newbury.
6 Keep 24/7 ban - it would be nice to see more independent bars/cafes being able to utilise the space for
outdoor seating - the market square currently has a lovely continental feel and it would be nice if this remained
unmarred by Corsa's blaring music zooming through the market in the evening.
7 More space to walk and hopefully more cafes, pubs extending outside area
8 Start earlier in the morning i.e. 9.30, make the market place pedestrian all weekend
9 More pleasant
10 It's better for shoppers
11 The air will be cleaner and the streets safer.
12 More room to move about
13 Town centre should be for pedestrians and cyclists (aside from emergency vehicles)
14 Again it's just more pleasant without cars.
15 Feels safer, more community focussed
16 Better for families and the elderly, less stressful
17 Safer
18 Safer and easier to walk in the high street
19 Also include bicycles
20 Allows more space may encourage more cyclist if there was a designated cycle lane.
21 Ideally I’d love it to be 24/7. I’d be slightly concerned about what would happen on the A339 at rush hour.
Therefore I’d be okay with traffic through say 5-7pm only. But if 24/7 pedestrianisation can be done without
gridlock on the A339 I’d be all for it.
22 It makes no difference to me really.
23 Only emergency services access is really needed through the town
24 Maybe no vehicles 1000 - 2200
25 We'll still be living with Covid in September.
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202022
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
When the current temporary 24/7 vehicle ban ends at end August / early September,
what would you like to happen?
- BID online sample
Comments from those who think 24 hour vehicle ban is worse
1 There are few routes across the canal in Newbury and taking one away will cause traffic problems elsewhere. 14 Cars carry customers. Otherwise the cars will carry the customers to retail parks
15 It worked well and struck the right balance for if you wanted to nip to several places. Also helpful if you wanted
2 I think the previous system worked ok, it helped the flow of rush hour traffic and made it safer for two to be picked up or dropped off in an evening for a meal or show
wheelers, if the current system has to stay in place then please allow mopeds/motorcycles across parkway 16 It worked. If I needed to pop to the bank or do a quick job rather than spend a few hours in town I was able to
bridge drive through quickly and be in and out of gown before it got busy. Also on my way home from work or seeing
3 It saves a lot of time, miles and petrol to drive through town instead of going all the way around and get stuck friends and family at 6pm+ I was able to go straight home rather than be forced into a bottle neck of traffic and
in traffic add more distance to my journey which also encourages me to order take out to collect less because I can’t get
4 I need to be able to get west regularly, so have to keep going all the way round via the A339. It’s bonkers, and - through town to collect it.
ironically given your laudable aims - creates more, slower traffic just up the road... 17 Maybe 9.30-6 pm, will allow drop off & pick up from restaurants/ theatre
5 As I said, ideal for local traffic, especially if A34/M4 is having issues 18 It would give a balanced solution for pedestrians and business’s. Allow people to access shops particularly
6 To help with rush hour traffic disabled and elderly first thing. Taxi’s will be able to drop off and pick up in evening.
7 When Northbrook St has previously been closed on a week night due to events in Market Place, the traffic 19 Some pedestrian only hours are good for public safety but some access within designated times should be
trying to get from one side of Newbury to the other is horrendous with all approach roads at a standstill. What allowable for pick ups and drop offs.
should be a 5-10 minute journey can end up tahing over an hour. Not good for stress or pollution levels. 20 Would allow all parties the facilities they need. Corn Exchange access through the Market Place needs to be
considered as well, their restricted mobility users need to be dropped at the front door.
8 Eases traffic problems
9 Especially more people going back to work and school traffic is going to be a nightmare 21 It’s pointless after the shops have shut
10 Live on south side,,, work on North... travel is much easier and avoids huge bottleneck on 339 route. 22 Safety during main shopping hours
11 Still useful to be able to drive and taxi across town sometimes, but I like the restaurants and bars utilising 23 Keep the ban, but police it better to stop vans speeding down a closed road
outdoor spacd 24 Newbury, as a pedestrianised town does not work.
12 My Daughter lives to the north of the town and being able to drive through the town centre early morning and 25 It was much better before
after work meant I didn’t need to get stuck in the inevitable traffic on the ring road 26 I want to be able to drop off or collect deliveries in the town centre
13 No one is in the town after 6 and it is important to have access in the car .. to get from one side of Northbrook 27 The retail side of the town is struggling, we managed in Newbury years ago when traffic came through all day
street to the other.. long
28 Extend hours of no cars in the evening so people can social distance
29 Allows easy access to the town whilst footfall is quiet
30 Go back to how it used to be. Keep the road small and the paving wide. If you want people to shop, stop letting
charities ask people for money in the streets. If they want to help, they will find you.
31 As above, vehicles drive far more safely in the town than pushbikes. They are a nuisance.
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202023
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
When the current temporary 24/7 vehicle ban ends at end August / early September,
what would you like to happen?
- BID online sample
Comments from those who think 24 hour vehicle ban made no difference 15 I think it would make life very difficult for existing shops to receive their deliveries if there is to be no traffic at
1 Having commuted to reading for many years, Northbrook St being open helped avoid queues elsewhere or go all. Plus it is a lot easier to get to the other side of town and to NorthCroft from south side in the evening if I
drop off people with limited availability in town. You need more north/south roads before closing Northbrook can drive through town in the evening. 10-5 is fine
St. 16 Go back to pedestrianised between 10 and 5 so the poor ship owners can easily have deliveries and the link
2 As nice as it would be for the pedestrianisation to be permanent, the traffic in Newbury is so bad, the road Road is not crammed with everyone forced onto one road to get through Newbury.
really does need to be open to help ease congestion. 17 It gives options for delivery of goods to the shops
3 As we get back to normality the early and later parts of the day will ease congestion in the town
4 It helps with rush hour traffic 18 Have found cars in town when leaving the Corn Exchange, which seems unnecessary.
5 if you live North of Newbury, it takes longer to access the car parks by the wharf/Kennet Centre, as you have to 19 Newbury needs to entice people into town with better parking, more independent stores ( it’s too small for
get accross the Robin Hood and Police Station roundabouts first and during busy times this can take over half sufficient high street stores - people go to Reading and Basingstoke for those) more independent
an hour. This is also the only route for accessing West Mills and West Fields with 24 hour pedestrianisation. shops/restaurants etc makes it an interesting town people will come to from outside
Previously in the evenings and later it was much quicker to go through town, and there are hardly any 20 It worked perfectly well why change it
pedestrians in town then anyway 21 Encourage more activity in town centre
6 Once normal traffic levels return the old system helped to alleviate some of the congestion 22 Makes it safe and pleasant to walk, socially distance and queue
7 When I used to live in Newbury I relied on the opening of the town centre to get home on time. It is not that 23 10am is a silly start time - might as well make it 9 when the shops open and 6pm once they’re all closed
busy after the evening commute home. 24 Banning cars when they are an integral part of daily life achieves nothing except alienating those that drive a
8 There needs to be more than one route over the river. Closing town means more trouble for A339 car
9 driving through town in the evening is very convenient for my house which is at at johns roundabout - 25 Extended pedestrian time and gradually fade into fully pedestrian area with stalls in the high street on a regular
otherwise it means going all the way out from town and round robin hood roundabout and down the dial basis .
carrigeways 26 Don’t think it is necessary to be pedestrian, takes away business from town , and there is perfectly good
10 The towns traffic will be forced onto the A339 at peak times. Currently traffic has been reduced so it's not so pavements
bad, but as people start returning to schools and work it makes no sense to reduce the ability to move from 27 No cars 9:30-5:30 would be better
North to South etc. 28 safety of pedestrians
29 I think it is the right balance
11 Keep it closed but have more cafes, bars and restaurants so they expand into the marketplace 30 Before 8:00 am it makes not difference and after 7:00 pm. It’s just annoying to drive an extra 5 minutes.
12 It would be good if you could block cars during evening from market square. Check out Crediton, they've 31 Extended hours could allow restaurants, bars and cafes to have extended on street service in the evenings
created a fantastic market square being safely well used by many. It's brilliant. 32 It was fine as it was
13 It means that the market square can be used for al fresco dining etc 33 Newbury traffic will be hideous without the town open which will then discourage people from visiting
14 Keep it pedestrianised in the market square. Make it a social complex as many European destinations do in 34 Have pedestrian hours 9-6 rather than 10-5
partnership with the Corn Exchange. 35 No need for social distancing after 5 as most shops close so footfall is lower.
36 Extend hours - thought would see more of outside space being used by cafes and restaurants and not happened
as licences not granted. Extend pedestrian hours at weekends.
37 It worked well and gives businesses time for deliveries etc
38 It's a good idea however many cars and delivery drivers just drive in so a specific time ban better
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202024
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Appendix
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202025
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Appendix 1
Questionnaire – Part 1
Newbury Shopper Survey carried out by Newbury Town Councillors
1 How far away do you live from Newbury? < 3 miles 3-5 miles 5-10 miles > 10 miles
2 Do you work in Newbury? Yes No
3 How did you get here today?
Walk
Cycle / scooter
Type What would encourage you to walk / cycle / scoot?
Public transport
What would encourage you to use public transport, or walk / cycle / scoot?
Car / Moped / motorbike
Where did you park?
4 How many times a month do you come to Newbury How does this compare with pre-Covid?
< 1 / month 1-3 / month Weekly More often Less often About same More often
To shop
To eat
To drink
For leisure: gym, cinema, etc
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202026
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Appendix 1
Questionnaire – Part 2
5 What changes to the town centre would encourage you visit more often to shop?
Tick all that 3 most
apply important
Shops
Restaurants
More independents:
Cafes
Pubs
Shops
More big names Restaurants
Pubs
A wider selection of market stalls on Thursdays and Saturdays
Changes to the markets More regular Farmers' / artisan markets on Sundays
A covered market area to protect from the weather
Free first hour
Cheaper parking Free first 2 hours
Freeevening / Sunday parking
Secure racking for bikes / scooters
electric cars
More charge points for eBikes
eScooters
Other - please explain
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.202027
Making Newbury a town we can all be proud of
Appendix 1
Questionnaire – Part 3
6 Has the current temporary 24/7 vehicle ban from the town centre made any difference to your experience of getting here
and of shopping / eating / drinking?
Tick
No
It's better How?
It's worse How?
7 When the current temporary 24/7 vehicle ban ends at end August / early September, what would you like to happen?
Tick Why?
Keep with the 24/7 vehicle ban in the town centre
that we have right now
Go back to previous situation: closed to vehicles
from 10am to 5pm
Extended hours of no vehicles and reduced car
access to town centre vs pre-Covid
Reduced hours of no vehicles and more car access to
town centre vs pre-Covid
Newbury Town Council Shopper Survey 18.07.2020 in partnership with Newbury BID – combined results, vPublished 27.08.2020You can also read
