News

Holybrook's Annual Assembly Meeting - Monday 27th March

Published: 9 Mar 23

Holybrook's Annual Assembly meeting will take place in the Beansheaf Community Centre on Monday, 27th March from 6pm, with formal reports starting at 7.30pm. It's a chance for residents to have their say on all things of concern and interest to them in the parish, so please attend to meet your Councillors, fellow residents and local community groups and find out what your Parish Council has done during 2022/23. Read More...

Veolia and West Berkshire Council soil conditioner give-away event

Published: 9 Mar 23

Back by popular demand, West Berkshire Council are working in partnership with its waste contractor Veolia to give away soil conditioner to local residents, for free! On Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 March 2023, between 10:00am until 4:00pm, local residents will be able to pick up Veolia’s locally produced soil conditioner from our Padworth Waste Management Facility, at Padworth Lane, RG7 4JF. The soil conditioner is produced at Padworth and is made from the food and garden waste that we collect from households within the district. West Berkshire Council ask that residents bring along their own bags/boxes and you must be responsible for collecting and loading the soil conditioner from the site to your own vehicle. No appointment booking is necessary. However please bring along an ID card or a recent utility bill with you to prove you are a resident of West Berkshire. Please be patient, this is a free event and demand for the last give-away event was huge, so please expect some queues during parts of the event days. Read More...

Cracking down on littering and fly tipping in West Berkshire

Published: 9 Mar 23

West Berkshire Council (WBC) has been implementing a number of measures aimed at protecting the beauty of the natural environment within the district, and minimising incidents of littering and fly-tipping. In West Berkshire in 2022, 400 tonnes of litter were collected through litter picking activities and from public litter bins. Littering and fly-tipping remain frequently reported problems and this results in increased use of the Council's time and resources in clearing up incidents. Fly tipping, which can range from a small single bag to an entire truck load of rubbish, is a blight on the countryside and costs tax payers’ money to clear this up. In 2022, there were 966 incidents of fly tipping reported to the Council, which amounted to 136 tonnes of waste. WBC are rolling out an anti-littering and fly tipping campaign which will enable them to share messages with local residents and businesses about how we can work together to minimise littering and fly-tipping. WBC's Enforcement Officers will be out on regular patrols across the district to deter and investigate offences. Read More...

Food Waste Recycling Update

Published: 9 Mar 23

Since the rollout of West Berkshire Council's (WBC) weekly food waste collection service in October 2022, over 1,000 tonnes of food waste have been collected. On average around 80 tonnes of food waste are collected each week. WBC would like to thank all the residents who are using the new service by keeping food waste out of the black wheelie bin. If you haven't received a kerbside food waste caddy, or yours has become damaged, you can request replacements online. Read More...

Resident Questionnaire - CIL Monies

Resident Questionnaire - CIL Monies

Published: 27 Feb 23

Have your say on the future of your Parish. Please take a moment to complete our residents' questionnaire. Read More...

Sustainability Webinar for the Hospitality Sector

Published: 23 Feb 23

West Berkshire Council are inviting all businesses in the hospitality sector to join their Sustainable Hospitality Webinar on Wednesday 1st March from 5:15 - 6:30pm. As the energy costs amongst businesses continue to rise, West Berkshire Council want to share the best practice for businesses to be more sustainable and help save on their essential costs. This webinar will bring together experiences from other businesses already on their journey to becoming more sustainable, so that you can learn directly from them and pick up some hints and tips. To book your place on the webinar, please register on the attached link. This will take place as a live session on West Berkshire Council's YouTube Channel. Read More...

Used Office Chairs Available for Free!

Published: 13 Feb 23

Do you need any office chairs for meetings? We've 37 used, and no longer wanted, office chairs up for grabs to whoever wants to collect them from our Parish Council office in the Beansheaf Community Centre. Some of them are in need of some TLC and minor renovation. First come, first served, please call us on 0118 945 4339 if you're interested. Read More...

West Berkshire Council Business Start-Up Course

Published: 9 Feb 23

West Berkshire Council's Economic Development Team is sponsoring a business start-up course with the other Berkshire authorities to help residents who are looking to start their own business. The course is run by the Berkshire Growth Hub and is in a hybrid format of online and offline sessions. This would be a great chance for anyone looking to start a business full time or turn a hobby into an income stream! The closing date for registration is the 14th February with the course staring on the 28th February. If you have any further questions please contact: Chloe Guo, Business Engagement Officer, Market Street, Newbury, RG14 5LD Email: chloe.guo1@westberks.gov.uk Tel: 01635 50 3872 or Mobile: 07887626990 Read More...

Have your say on West Berkshire Council's draft Local Transport Plan

Published: 9 Feb 23

West Berkshire Council are inviting residents and businesses across West Berkshire to take part in their draft Local Transport Plan survey by providing views on their draft priorities and objectives to improve transport facilities and travel options. The survey closes at midnight on Wednesday 22 March 2023. Read More...

Reminder of Temporary Closure of Calcot Mill Railway Crossing

Published: 6 Feb 23

Please be aware that for safety, Calcot Mill pedestrian crossing will be closed between Sunday 19 February and Wednesday 5 April 2023, to enable Network Rail to replace the railway track between Theale and Calcot. During this time the crossing’s surface will be removed to enable a specialist track renewal train to access the area, which unfortunately means Network Rail can’t provide a safe route across until the work is completed. Network Rail are working hard to bring safer, more reliable rail services, and will re-open the crossing again as soon as safely possible. Read More...

BBC Radio Berkshire Make a Difference Awards 2023

Published: 6 Feb 23

The BBC Radio Berkshire Make a Difference Awards are back for 2023. For a second year, BBC Radio Berkshire wants to celebrate and say thank you to people living in our villages and towns who make where we live a better place. Every day we hear stories of people doing incredible things for each other and their communities. Now it’s time to recognise them for all their hard work. Whether it’s caring for someone in need, being a brilliant neighbour, or inspiring children in the classroom, if you know someone who is really making a difference to your life or where you live, then you can nominate them for an Award. There are 8 categories; • Volunteer • Community Group • Fundraiser • Carer • Great Neighbour • Bravery • The Green Award • The Together award Nominations are now open and will close on the Sunday 5 March 2023 at 11:00pm. The winners will be announced at our Make a Difference awards ceremony in September. Read More...

Berkshire DIG Digital Inclusion Survey

Published: 6 Feb 23

As more and more services move online Berkshire Digital Infrastructure Group (DIG) need to understand why some residents aren't accessing them this way, whether that's because it's a struggle to afford internet access, data or a device, such as a laptop or phone, they aren't confident or they don't feel safe online. They also want to understand what people can do online, whether that's ordering food and gifts, online learning and job searching, or contacting friends and family or a healthcare professional. Sharing your views and experiences with them, or helping someone who may not usually go online to do so, will help them understand where and how they need to focus resources to improve services and provide solutions. They'd also like to know if your habits have changed since the pandemic e.g., has the amount of time you spend on the internet or streaming TV shows increased, or you have become more confident using online services such as banking or booking travel or holidays? If you'd like to share your experiences with them, please complete online their survey, which should only take about 5-10 minutes. Read More...

Sparkling Afternoon Tea in Support of the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre

Published: 2 Feb 23

Tickets for a Sparkling Afternoon Tea at Sindlesham Court on Saturday 20 May are on sale now. Everybody is welcome for this very special event so please invite your friends and family to come along and support the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre. There will be a sparkling drinks reception on arrival and later everyone can enjoy a delicious afternoon tea of sandwiches, cakes, scones with cream and jam, washed down with tea and coffee. There will be live music courtesy of 5T's Brass Quintet, a fantastic local band, and there will be a raffle. Tickets are £25 each. Read More...

Community Litter Pick Event: Saturday, 28th January 2023

Published: 30 Jan 23

A huge thank you from Holybrook Parish Council to everyone who took part in Saturday's community litter pick and to Kennet Valley Free Church for hosting the event. Over 30 residents took part and did a fantastic job collecting rubbish to help keep Fords Farm looking immaculate and litter free before enjoying some much needed light refreshments. Read More...

West Berkshire residents need photo ID to vote at elections in May

Published: 30 Jan 23

For the first time, residents in West Berkshire will need to show photographic ID to vote at this year’s local elections. Residents are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote in May by checking they have an accepted form of ID. Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK, EEA or Commonwealth drivers’ licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo. Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID will be able to apply for free ID online at voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk/ or by completing a paper form. Read More...

Get around for £2 for your bus journeys

Published: 30 Jan 23

West Berkshire Council have announced that bus journeys across West Berkshire will be capped at £2 for a single journey and £4 for a return journey until 31 March 2023. The intention of the fare cap is to provide affordable bus travel for passengers travelling any time of the day. The scheme forms part of the Government’s Help for Households campaign, as the new cap can deliver real savings for those most affected by the rising cost of living. So why not use the bus to get to work, go shopping, attend an appointment, go for a bite to eat in the local eateries, take in some of the outstanding scenery, or meet friends and family. Read More...

Temporary Closure Calcot Mill Railway Crossing

Published: 17 Jan 23

Please be aware that for safety, Calcot Mill pedestrian crossing will be closed between Sunday 19 February and Wednesday 5 April 2023, to enable Network Rail to replace the railway track between Theale and Calcot. During this time the crossing’s surface will be removed to enable a specialist track renewal train to access the area, which unfortunately means Network Rail can’t provide a safe route across until the work is completed. Network Rail are working hard to bring safer, more reliable rail services, and will re-open the crossing again as soon as safely possible. Read More...

West Berkshire Council: Health and care proposals need public feedback

Published: 12 Jan 23

Health and care partners across the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Partnership (“BOB ICP”) are asking for the public's views on a set of proposed priorities to support improved health and wellbeing. The survey is open until 29 January 2023. You can find it online at https://yourvoicebob-icb.uk.engagementhq.com/icp-strategy-engagement or you can request a printed copy by calling 0300 123 4465 or by emailing bobics.engagement@nhs.net Read More...

Local Plan Review Consultation Launches 6 Jan 2023

Published: 12 Jan 23

The Local Plan Review, a long-term strategic document used to set out the vision and framework for the area's future development, will become open for public consultation beginning 6 January 2023 for six weeks. Read More...

New mini recycling centre opens in Tilehurst

Published: 12 Jan 23

West Berkshire Council, in partnership with their waste contractor Veolia, have opened another new mini recycling centre in the district. The new site is located in Tilehurst at Cotswold Sports Centre, Downs Way, RG31 6SL. The mini recycling centre will have banks for: • plastic pots, tubs, trays and cans • small electricals • paper and cardboard • food and drink cartons (including paper tubes with metal ends) • textiles Read More...

West Berkshire Council Food Waste Collections Off to an Encouraging Start!

Published: 12 Jan 23

West Berkshire Council would like to thank residents for recycling their food waste using the new separate weekly food waste collection service. In the first six weeks of the service starting (31 October 2022), nearly 480 tonnes of food waste were collected from households; that’s the same weight as three adult blue whales. This food waste is processed at a composting facility in Padworth, where it is turned into a soil conditioner used by local landowners and landscapers. Read More...

Community warm spaces - new interactive map

Published: 12 Jan 23

As part of West Berkshire Council's continuing support for communities during the current high cost of living they have created an online map showing welcoming, warm spaces where people can come to stay warm and enjoy some company with a hot drink or other refreshments. Read More...

Free Bus Travel this festive season across West Berkshire

Published: 24 Nov 22

The festive season is upon us and this year you will have even more reason to leave your car at home as free bus travel will be offered again across West Berkshire! Following on from previous successful free travel initiatives over the last year, all bus journeys within West Berkshire will be free all day on the following days in November and December: • Thursday 17 November 2022 • Saturday 19 November 2022 (Newbury Christmas Lights switch-on) • Saturday 26 November 2022 • Saturday 3 December 2022 (Newbury Christmas Victorian Fayre) • Saturday 10 December 2022 • Saturday 17 December 2022 • Saturday 24 December 2022 Christmas Eve – services may finish earlier than usual. You can travel at any time on these days, so why not take the opportunity to go Christmas shopping, look at festive lights, attend the panto at the Corn Exchange, go for a bite to eat in the local eateries, take in some of the outstanding scenery, or do a round of pre-Christmas visits to family and friends? Want to travel further? Free travel is available to Reading, Basingstoke and Swindon. If you start your journey from anywhere in West Berkshire, your return journey will be free too – just ask the driver for a return ticket when you board. Read More...

Stay Safe & Warm this Winter

Published: 22 Nov 22

Top tips from Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue to stay safe and warm this winter: • Be careful when using open fires to keep warm – make sure you always use a fireguard to protect against flying sparks; • Make sure hot embers are under control and properly extinguished before going to bed or leaving the property; • Always unplug electric heaters when going to bed or leaving the property; • Keep heaters away from curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes; • Only use gas or paraffin heaters in well-ventilated areas and always have in place a carbon monoxide detector; • Never use hot water bottles in the same bed as an electric blanket, even if switched off; • Always unplug electric blankets before going to bed, unless it has a thermostat control for safe all-night use; • Keep chimneys and flues clean and well maintained. This should be done by a registered and competent person Read More...

Winners for food waste vehicle naming competition announced by West Berkshire Council!

Published: 21 Nov 22

West Berkshire Council have released the winning names of their new food waste vehicles ahead of the launch of their new separate weekly food waste collection service on 31 October 2022. Over 100 entries were received from local primary school children through a competition held in September. The judging panel had the hard task of whittling down the creative entries and are pleased to announce the winning names for the 8 vehicles are (in no particular order): 1. The Hungry Recycler 2. Composter Clemmie 3. Sir Andy Curry 4. Betty Banana 5. Food Feaster 2.0 6. Garbage Gobbler 7. Pikachew 8. Eva Egg Shell Congratulations to the 8 lucky winners who will be receiving their prizes very soon. This includes book tokens, family swim passes and book tokens for the winning schools. The competition was part of a campaign to help launch the new separate weekly food waste service which is started on 31 October for kerbside collections and on 28 November for residents who have shared bins kept in a communal bin store area. Read More...

Covid-19 and Flu Boosters

Covid-19 and Flu Boosters

Published: 27 Oct 22

This year's winter vaccination programme is well underway. NHS England recently announced that people aged 50 and over are now eligible for both their flu and Covid-19 vaccines, joining some of the most vulnerable members of our community who were vaccinated early in the season. Getting vaccinated is free, quick, and could make a big difference to your health, and the health of those close to you. Covid-19 and flu are key factors in causing winter pressures on our health services, so if you’re eligible for either the Covid-19 vaccine, the flu vaccine or both, take up the offer when invited. Read More...

Boosting Young People’s Mental & Emotional Health Through Sport

Published: 27 Oct 22

Sport in Mind are offering weekly after-school sessions for young people in Reading and West Berkshire. Young people are invited, or can be referred, to join these after school sessions to get active, and have fun with others in a relaxed, supportive, friendly environment. During the sessions young people will play multi-skills games and enjoy a range of confidence-building activities based on Sport in Mind’s central themes of heartrate, communication, breathing and focus. While improving their sporting ability, young people will also learn lots of ways to take care of themselves physically and mentally, and will be building emotional resilience. Read More...

First Aid Webinar for Rural Communities in West Berkshire, Tuesday 1st November at 11.30am

Published: 25 Oct 22

Are you interested in learning essential, life-saving first aid skills to help in an emergency? Do you live in a more rural community where emergency services may take a little longer to reach? If yes, this digital classroom might be for you! This interactive workshop will be led by an experienced member of the British Red Cross Team. Learners will go away with knowledge and more confidence to help someone in a first aid emergency, using everyday objects that you have around you. Read More...

Age UK Berkshire Funding for West Berkshire Residents over Winter

Published: 25 Oct 22

Age UK Berkshire have some funding to be given to West Berkshire residents over the winter period. It is specifically for those aged 65+, resident in West Berkshire and to support those most in need. The criteria, as set out from the local authority is: - Can support with essentials including energy, water and food. - Can be used for the provision of essentials linked to energy and water (such as soaps/ toiletries, warm clothing, blankets, boiler service/ repair and purchases of equipment including fridges, freezers, ovens etc. - Can also be used for support with wider essentials such as other bills including broadband or phone bills, clothing and essential transport related costs e.g. repairing a car, buying a bicycle or paying for fuel. To discuss this further, please contact Victoria Rowland via e mail (Victoria.Rowland@AgeUKBerkshire.org.uk) or telephone (07760 995475). Read More...

Have Your Say by Joining West Berkshire Council's Community Panel

Published: 24 Oct 22

It is vital for the Council to receive information from a wide range of residents from every part of West Berkshire and by joining the panel residents can state if they have any particular area of concern/interest they would like to ensure they “have their say” on eg Environment or Cost of Living issues. Read More...

West Berkshire Cost of Living Hub launches on 24th October

Published: 24 Oct 22

The new West Berkshire Cost of Living Hub, which is being created to support those facing financial hardship this winter, will be open to residents from Monday, 24th October. Local people can find advice and support around cost of living issues with a wealth of information available on the hub website. Staff will also be able to provide advice and match residents’ needs with the support available both nationally and locally, including from local charities and voluntary organisations. The hub will be open from Monday-Thursday 8.30-5.00pm and Friday 8.30am-4.30pm. Read More...

Household Support Fund extended to help residents this winter

Published: 10 Oct 22

To support vulnerable residents over the winter period, a further £694,000 will be made available until March 2023 via West Berkshire Council's Household Support Fund (HSF). To date, the HSF, has successfully helped support more than 2,400 households to pay for energy bills, food, clothing and wider essentials. The funding has also supported more than 4,000 children across our district by providing Free School Meal vouchers, recognising the additional financial pressure during this time. Read More...

Pump Track Proposal for Linear Park

Published: 6 Oct 22

West Berkshire Council has secured funding to build a pump track in Linear Park in 2023. A pump track is fashioned from a sequence of rollers and swoopy, banked turns (berms) set out in a continuous circuit. It is for wheeled sports equipment, especially bikes, although other equipment such as scooters, skateboards and roller skates can also use be used. To propel yourself you do not need to pedal or push but instead use a “pumping” action. Because of the tarmac surface, it is a quiet amenity. There is no age restriction on a pump track and so can be used by children and adults of all abilities. Read More...

A Free Short Course that makes managing your money simple is starting soon at the Beansheaf Centre in Calcot.

Published: 4 Oct 22

Book now for a free, short course that makes managing your money simple. Run by the Kennet Valley Free Church, the course takes place from 7.00-9.00pm on Thursday, 6th, 13th and 20th October at the Beansheaf Community Centre. Read More...

Cost of living support for pensioners through Household Support Fund

Published: 3 Oct 22

West Berkshire Council is allocating £200,000 to four local charities to help pensioners with the significantly rising costs of living. Available via the Household Support Fund, which is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), this funding forms part of a bigger grant of £694,000 West Berkshire Council received during the pandemic to support vulnerable households most in need of help with rising living costs and free school meal vouchers. Read More...

New Cost of Living Support Hub to support residents this winter

Published: 3 Oct 22

A new Cost of Living Support Hub is being created to support residents facing financial hardship this winter. The hub will provide a single point of contact for residents struggling with the rising cost of living. It will provide advice as well as matching residents’ needs with support provided by local charities and voluntary organisations. It’s expected to open in the coming weeks, with more details about how to access it announced soon. The new hub is being created by West Berkshire Council in partnership with Greenham Trust and the Volunteer Centre West Berkshire – and will see it work closely with the local community and voluntary sector. Read More...

New Separate Weekly Food Waste Collection Service

Published: 29 Sep 22

A new separate weekly food waste collection service is rolling out to all households across the district. For households with individual bins (kerbside collection), collections will start the week commencing 31 October 2022. For residents who have shared bins collected from a bin store the service starts week commencing 28 November 2022. The collection will be weekly on the same day as recycling and rubbish collections making it the most frequently collected bin. Containers are already being delivered to residents, comprising of an inside (grey) and outside (green) food waste caddy along with a roll of compostable liners and an instruction leaflet. Deliveries for properties who receive a kerbside collection are continuing until 28 October 2022, while properties who have shared bins will receive their containers by the 25 November 2022. Please note properties who share bins will not receive an outside (green) caddy, but will receive a purple bin to share with neighbours. Residents are encouraged to use this service as recent analysis has shown that black bins for general waste are on average made up of 25%+ of food waste. For more information and frequently asked questions about the service please visit: www.westberks.gov.uk/foodwaste Read More...

Age UK Berkshire Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation in Calcot

Published: 29 Sep 22

Age UK Berkshire Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation will be starting a new group in The Calcot Centre from 19th October 2022. The group will run weekly on Wednesdays from 10:30–11:30. Participants will be able to take part in a range of activities designed to help maintain memory. Read More...

Public Consultation Regarding Kennet Valley Primary School

Published: 26 Sep 22

A public consultation is being held regarding Kennet Valley Primary School. West Berkshire Council are consulting on a proposal to open a new educational provision for twelve children with SEMH needs on the site of the school. Read More...

Fire Service Safe and Well Visits

Published: 26 Sep 22

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service provides a 'Safe and Well Visit' to all Berkshire residents. This free service provides vulnerable residents with tailored fire safety advice, smoke detection, hearing impaired alarms (if needed) and well-being advice with signposting to additional agencies. Read More...

Emergency Cost of Living Crisis Fund Launched

Published: 26 Sep 22

Greenham Trust and West Berkshire Council have launched a £100,000 Emergency Cost of Living Crisis Fund to help charities support those affected by unaffordable hikes in energy prices and double-digit inflation. Read More...

Calcot Singing for the Brain

Published: 1 Sep 22

Singing for the Brain is a social activity for people with dementia and their carers taking place on the first Tuesday of the month at Kennet Valley Free Church. Read More...

Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme

Published: 30 Aug 22

Did you know that patients and carers on low incomes can reclaim their travel costs for attending hospital appointments? If you’re a patient or carer who receives benefits or is on a low income, you may be eligible to claim back the cost of travelling to specialist healthcare appointments by public transport or car. Read More...

£100,000 available to community groups to help prevent crime across Thames Valley

Published: 23 Aug 22

The Community Fund provides a bi-annual grant funding opportunity to both voluntary and community groups across the Thames Valley. Read More...

Community Litter Pick Event: Saturday, 24th September 2022

Published: 22 Aug 22

Holybrook Parish Council are taking part in The Great Big Green Week this September by organising a Community Litter Pick on Saturday, 24th September. Read More...

Moving Traffic Offences Enforcement Powers Consultation - Feedback Required by 20/09/2022

Published: 22 Aug 22

West Berkshire Council would like to know your views on the new powers they will be applying for to improve road safety and tackle congestion. Read More...

West Berkshire Local Plan

Published: 5 Jul 22

Dear Residents Please see the update about the West Berkshire Local Plan. Read More...

PLEASE REGISTER YOUR BIKES

Published: 24 Jan 20

Thames Valley Police no longer accept bikes that have been found by a member of the public or take reports of lost bikes. Please read for more information. Read More...