By removing so much traffic at a stroke, West Berkshire Council was able to pedestrianise the main shopping area. To better coordinate the various activities, the town and district councils teamed up with private business interests, shopkeepers, and the local bus company to form the Town Centre Management Steering Group.

A town centre manager was appointed to manage day-to-day events, direct new business enquiries, and monitor visitor numbers, among other tasks.

Various pressures to increase retail space, enhance the street scene and improve amenities for younger residents soon coalesced into the Vision for Newbury 2025, which was launched by West Berkshire Council in 2003.

Since then, the town centre partnership has achieved many successes:

• The pedestrianised area has been extended to the Market Place
• Northbrook Street and Bartholomew Street have had a makeover.
• Plans for a new shops and flats development in Park Way are advanced.
• Work has started to build a new eight-screen cinema.
• A developer has been chosen to redevelop the area from the railway station to the town centre.
• The town’s main green space, Victoria Park, is about to get lottery funding for a multimillion pound revamp.