News

Closure of Dorking Way

Published: 31 Aug 23

Dorking Way will be closed on the 11th September to 4th December 2023, the closure is expected to be from its junction with Bath Road to the junction of Honey Bee Street at the Fairfields development. The alternative route for all vehicles affected is via Charrington Rd, Bath Rd, and vice versa. The purpose of this closure is for SGN to upgrade and install new gas infrastructure. Residential access will be maintained throughout, and the diversion will be signposted. Please Note: Blue light access will be via the diversion route. All enquiries should be directed to: I & G Contractors on 01227 711 002 or SGN on 08009 121 700 A plan of the closure can be found at: https://one.network/?tm=GB135440740 Read More...

Community Litter Pick Event: Saturday, 9th September 2023

Community Litter Pick Event: Saturday, 9th September 2023

Published: 31 Aug 23

Please join us for a Community Litter Pick on Saturday 9th September, meeting at the Beansheaf Centre at 10am. All equipment will be provided, as well as refreshments for all participants from midday. Do your bit to help keep Holybrook looking beautiful and litter free. Please note that, due to unforeseen circumstances, this litter pick, originally advertised in the Parish newsletter as taking place at Fords Farm, will now take place at the Beansheaf Centre. Read More...

Community groups invited to apply for grant funding from £200,000 fund to help prevent crime

Published: 22 Aug 23

Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), has today opened the second of this year’s application rounds to the Community Fund The Community Fund, jointly managed by the PCC and the Chief Constable, helps to prevent crime and keep communities safe. Money for the scheme is created from the proceeds from the sale of items seized from criminals that cannot be returned to their rightful owners. On today’s announcement, Matthew said: “I’m pleased to announce the second round of this year’s Community Fund is now open for applications. This round is an exceptional £200,000 and we are delighted to be able to offer community and voluntary groups the chance to apply with the aim of reducing crime in our communities." Read More...

Scam Awareness Event - 16th August 2023

Published: 15 Aug 23

Thames Valley Police's local Neighbourhood Policing Team are holding a Scam Awareness Event on 16th August from 1pm - 2pm at Kennet Valley Free Church, Fords Farm, Calcot. They will be highlighting and raising awareness of scams and frauds along with Trading Standards. Everyone is welcome to attend. Read More...

Beansheaf pre school 30th birthday picnic

Published: 15 Aug 23

Beansheaf pre school would like to invite you to their picnic in the park 30th birthday celebration on Sunday 3rd September from 3pm until 6pm. There will be a free bouncy castle and slide, a face painter (small charge), robot reg entertainment, family games, ice cream van and hopefully the sunshine. ☀️ Please bring your own food and drink and celebrate with us! Read More...

Dorking Way Road Closure 14-19th August

Published: 10 Aug 23

Dorking Way will be closed on the 14th to 19th August 2023, the closure is expected to be in two phases. Phase one - from the Bath Road to the turning into Fairfields (Honey Bee Street), Phase two - from Fairfields (Honey Bee Street) to Embrook Way. Whilst phase one is underway, turning right or left into Dorking Way from the Bath Road will be prohibited. The diversion route is expected to be via - Charrington Rd, Bath Rd, and vice versa. This will be adjusted for those who live in Honey Bee Street as work progresses so as to ensure access at all times. The purpose of this closure is for resurfacing works to take place along this section of highway. Residential access will be maintained throughout, and a diversion will be in place. Please Note: Blue light access permitted throughout these works. All enquiries should be directed to: Buxted Construction Ltd on 07872 012 650 A plan of the closure can be found at: https://one.network/?tm=GB135122264 Read More...

West Berkshire Council announces more appointments at Household Waste Recycling Centres

Published: 10 Aug 23

We are pleased to announce that the availability of appointments at West Berkshire Council's Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) across the district will increase in order to improve the service for all. This collaboration with West Berkshire Council's waste contractor, Veolia, will provide more flexibility and capacity during the most popular time slots for residents and comes just in time for the summer season and the upcoming bank holiday. Additionally, to better serve the community, the Newtown Road HWRC has extended its operating hours on Thursdays, closing at 8:00pm until September. With a total of 628 daily appointments now available at Newtown Road and 488 at Padworth Lane, the aim is to accommodate more residents and make recycling more convenient than ever before. To access the Household Waste Recycling Centres, residents are required to register for a permit beforehand. Non-residents can visit the centres by paying £7.77 per visit upon arrival. All visitors must book an appointment to ensure a smooth and efficient recycling experience. For more information and to book your appointment, please visit: www.westberks.gov.uk/hwrcinfo. Read More...

Community Litter Pick Event: Saturday, 9th September 2023

Community Litter Pick Event: Saturday, 9th September 2023

Published: 8 Aug 23

Please join us for a Community Litter Pick on Saturday 9th September, meeting at the Beansheaf Centre at 10am. All equipment will be provided, as well as refreshments for all participants from midday. Do your bit to help keep Holybrook looking beautiful and litter free. Read More...

Thames Valley Police Open Day

Published: 8 Aug 23

This summer Thames Valley Police (TVP) will open its doors to the public for the force Open Day. The event will take place between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 2 September and will be hosted at TVP's training centre in Sulhamstead, near Reading. The Open Day provides a fantastic opportunity for you to get a behind the scenes look at what it takes to police one of the biggest non-metropolitan policing areas in the country. TVP's Roads Policing Unit, Forensic Investigations Unit, Contact Management team and Major Crime Unit are just a handful of over 40 exhibitors who will be there to showcase their work. Read More...

Crime Prevention Advice - Empty Your Van Before A Thief Does

Published: 25 Jul 23

Follow these simple steps to help protect your tools: Mark Your Tools - Take a photo of the serial numbers or engrave your initials. Remember to mark your batteries too. Register Your Tools - Record serial numbers on a national property recording database such as immobilise https://orlo.uk/0HG1Y Secure Your Vehicle - Make sure your vehicle is locked with the windows shut when its left unattended. Install an Alarm - Alarms are good deterrents if one is not already fitted. Park Against a Wall - Where possible, park your van overnight in a well lit area backed against or alongside a wall to make it difficult to gain access. Use Extra Locks or Cages - Consider purchasing dead locks or slam locks to further secure your vehicle. Security cages can also be installed inside your van so that even if someone gains access, they still can get to your tools. Empty Your Van - Where possible, remove tools overnight - don't give criminals the opportunity to empty your van for you. Read More...

Take part in West Berkshire Council's Bus Survey

Published: 18 Jul 23

Buses are a vital part of public transport in the UK – allowing young people to go to college or school, enabling pensioners to see their family and friends, and connecting people to work opportunities they would not otherwise consider. Buses sustain town centres, strengthen communities and help towards protecting the environment. In 2021 the Government launched the National Bus Strategy setting out its vision of improved bus services and provided authorities with additional funding to ‘build back better’ bus services via the Bus Service Improvement Plans. Its main aim is to get more people travelling by bus but this can only be achieved if buses are made more practical and attractive as an alternative to the car. Over the last few years we have been working with our local residents to gather thoughts and intelligence on the local bus service. In summer 2021 we asked for opinions to help form the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) which outlined how we at the Council, alongside bus operators in the district, would improve bus services in order to receive extra finding, which we were successful to be awarded £2.6 million. Last summer we asked about the changes and improvements made so far, to find out how satisfied residents were with local public bus services. Now, we want to gather views on ticketing improvements in the last year, the £2 National Single Fare Cap Scheme, your experiences of the service in recent months, suggestions for improvements, changes to existing bus services, and views on new bus services we are expecting to introduce in the coming months. To take part, please complete the online survey by midnight on Sunday 10 September 2023: https://westberks.gov.uk/wbbussurvey2023 Paper copies of the survey are also available. Please call: 01635 519394 or email: transport@westberks.gov.uk to request. Read More...

Avoid Becoming a Victim of Vehicle Crime

Published: 18 Jul 23

Most car criminals are opportunists. By following the tips below you can outsmart car thieves and limit their opportunity to steal your valuables or vehicle. • Install an alarm to deter thieves from not only stealing your car, but also from taking items from it. • Arrange to have a vehicle tracking system fitted. • Use locking wheel nuts. They are cheap and easy to fit and stop thieves from taking your wheels. • Keep your keys safe. Never leave the ignition key in your vehicle while it is unattended for example, at a petrol station. • Remove all valuables from your car when you park, including Sat Navs. • If you have a garage, use it. If not, always try to park in a well lit, open location. Read More...

West Berkshire Council's Expansion of existing EV charging network will make more public charge points available across the district

Published: 6 Jul 23

West Berkshire Council today announced that it has appointed ubitricity, one of the UK's leading charge point operators, to supply, install and manage up to 250 electric vehicle (EV) charge points expanding its existing charging infrastructure network. ubitricity will be deploying up to 250 charge points across West Berkshire using their bollard solutions. These bollard charge points are designed to draw power from existing streetlamps and are ideal for rapid residential rollouts, provide a low power, low cost and near-home charging option for councils and local authorities. The scheme aims to improve the availability of local EV charging infrastructure for residents without private off-street parking. The ubitricity charge points charge at a speed of up to 5kW and can be installed in as little as 3 hours. The rollout in West Berkshire is planned to be installed in key residential and commercial locations, allowing residents to easily charge hybrid and electric vehicles on the street where they live. Read More...

Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness

Published: 4 Jul 23

You may feel like you have nowhere to turn for help. You may have reported the anti-social behaviour but no-one seems to be doing anything and no-one is listening but the anti-social behaviour is continuing. The ASB Case Review has been designed for you. If you (or others with your consent) have reported 3 incidents (or more) within a 6 month period you can activate the ASB Case Review (also known as ASB Case Review) through your Local Authority. This has been designed to give you, the victim, the right to demand that agencies deal with persistent anti-social behaviour. There will be a multi-agency case review which involves various agencies (eg. local Police, Local Authority, Housing Association, NHS). It should be considered that the administering agency use an independent chair to conduct the panel hearing. This is different from a single-agency complaints process which looks at faults in the way an agency responded. The ASB Case Review process is more of an attempt to ultimately fix the problem and devise an action plan to resolve the anti-social behaviour. Read More...

Solar power, the bright alternative for West Berkshire residents

Published: 3 Jul 23

West Berkshire Council and Solar Together Berkshire are working in partnership to help local homeowners turn sunlight into electricity by investing into renewables through a group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage. This innovative scheme builds on six years of highly successful Solar Together programmes run across the UK. To date, Solar Together has delivered over 17,000 installations and over 350,000 tonnes of avoided lifetime carbon emissions. West Berkshire residents can join this group-buying scheme which offers not just solar panels, but optional battery storage and EV charge points too. There’s also retrofit battery storage for residents who have already invested in solar panels and are just looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate whilst increasing their independence from the grid. It is free to register and there is no obligation to go ahead with an installation. How does it work? • Householders can register online to become part of the group for free and without obligation. • Pre-approved UK solar PV suppliers participate in a reverse auction. They are able to offer competitive pricing as the volume and geographic concentration makes it possible for them to realise greater efficiencies, which they pass on with lower prices for installations. • After the auction, registered households will be emailed a personal recommendation specific to the details they submitted in their registration. • If they choose to accept their recommendation, the specifics of their installation will be confirmed with a technical survey after which a date can be set for the installation of their solar PV system. • Helpdesks are on-hand throughout the whole process which, together with information sessions, will allow households to make an informed decision in a safe and hassle-free environment. • The installation contract is between the householder and the relevant service provider. The promotion of this scheme is cost neutral to the Council. Read More...

Kennet Valley Primary School Summer Fair

Kennet Valley Primary School Summer Fair

Published: 28 Jun 23

If you are looking for something to do on Saturday 8th July 2023 why not pop along to the Kennet Valley Primary School Summer Fair. Read More...

West Berkshire partners seek views on your safety

Published: 19 Jun 23

As part of the West Berkshire Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) partnership working group, Thames Valley Police are sharing details of a street safe survey to seek feedback from the community to identify vulnerable locations in public spaces in West Berkshire. The data will help the partnership to reduce identified vulnerabilities, making the locations a safer space for the public. It's important to understand which public spaces in West Berkshire people feel are unsafe and why e.g. what, if anything, makes you change your route or avoid going to specific places. We'd like to hear your ideas and suggestions for how public spaces could be changed, e.g. clear sightlines, well maintained spaces, good lighting, natural surveillance, etc. to make these areas feel safer for those that use them. You can access the survey via https://www.westberks.gov.uk/streetsafe Thames Valley Police are encouraging everyone to take part in the survey. It is open until midnight on Sunday 30 July 2023 and should take about 10 minutes to complete. Read More...

Big Community Switch is back! Helping residents to see if they can save on energy bills

Published: 8 Jun 23

The Big Community Switch is back, offering an opportunity for households to save on their energy bills by securing competitive tariffs with trusted energy suppliers. We understand that many households are frustrated with the high energy costs and have struggled over the last 18 months. That's why we're committed to seeking better deals through Big Community Switch. What is the Big Community Switch? It’s a collective effort where community members come together to leverage their collective power to negotiate better energy deals with suppliers. The auction will be facilitated by iChoosr: an independent expert in group-buying. In addition to financial benefits, the Big Community Switch also aligns with our shared commitment to the environment. By joining the auction, you contribute to the demand for clean energy and help drive transition to a more sustainable future. Taking part in the West Berkshire Energy Switch is free, and there is no obligation to switch to the winning supplier once you receive your personal offer. Read more and find out how to register here: https://www.westberks.gov.uk/communityswitch Read More...

West Berkshire survey for victims and survivors of domestic abuse

Published: 8 Jun 23

If you live in West Berkshire, are over the age of 16 and have experienced any form of domestic abuse, we want to hear from you. Domestic abuse includes a wide range of experiences from feeling controlled, manipulated, or emotionally abused, through to physical, financial, or sexual abuse. It can affect anyone regardless of race, age, sex, gender, or sexuality. This anonymous survey has been developed by an independent consultant to help improve the response in the area. The Council and other agencies want to create a strategy to improve the way everyone in the area responds to domestic abuse, including what services are available. We know that those with lived experience are the experts in what a good response looks like, so this survey will help us to hear your views. The survey can be accessed via https://freeonlinesurveys.com/s/LYYr1rZ5/i/0 The survey will stay open until 12 June 2023 and is open to anyone aged over 16, living in West Berkshire who has experienced any type of domestic abuse. Read More...

Credit Card Found During Litter Pick

Published: 5 Jun 23

A credit card was found during Saturday's community litter pick event. If this belongs to you, please call in to the Parish office in the Beansheaf Centre on Charrington Road, or call the office on 0118 945 4339. Read More...

E-Audiobooks FREE to Borrow

Published: 5 Jun 23

West Berkshire libraries have thousands of e-audiobooks free to borrow with a library card. Read More...

Slow down this summer: Thames Valley Police urges people to take care after nine fatal traffic collisions in May

Published: 1 Jun 23

Thames Valley Police is investigating nine fatal road traffic collisions this month. In just 19 days between the 9 and 28 May, Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit officers from the Thames Valley have attended and dealt with nine fatal road traffic collisions across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. The majority of them are suspected to have involved one or more of excessive speed, not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone and drink/drug driving. Read More...

Litter Pick

Litter Pick

Published: 22 May 23

Please join us for a Community Litter Pick on Saturday 3rd June, meeting at the Beansheaf Centre at 10am. All equipment will be provided, as well as refreshments for all participants from midday. Do your bit to help keep Holybrook looking beautiful and litter free. Read More...

Neighbourhood Alert: Keyless Car Thefts

Published: 27 Apr 23

There has been an increase in reports of ‘Theft of Vehicles’ across the West Berkshire area, with recent thefts taking place in the Holybrook Parish. We would like to remind members of the public that if you see a crime in progress to please call 999. Also, if you have a Ring doorbell or CCTV and have footage of recent suspicious activity relating to car theft please call 101 or report on-line www.thamesvalley.police.uk/report-a-crime Can we please remind you to – • Always lock your vehicle • Remove any valuables • Use a steering wheel lock • Store your key in a Signal Blocking Pouch • Install a Vehicle Tracker • Fit a foldable bollard to your driveway • Have an immobiliser installed • Install CCTV and a motion sensor light at your property. Read More...

West Berkshire Library Services

West Berkshire Library Services

Published: 24 Apr 23

Exam season is upon us again and West Berkshire Libraries want to get the message out to students across West Berkshire about all the ways that the library service can help, whether it is by providing study space or by providing free access to a wide range of free online resources. 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...