 It's already been a year since we launched our Environment Strategy!
Over the last 12 months we have been making progress working towards some of the targets detailed in our Environment Strategy Delivery Plan. Some of the highlights include:
- Established an Environment Delivery Team
- Solar PV pilot leading to development of wider solar programme across Council's estate (e.g. council offices, care homes and schools)
- Installation of first phases of electric vehicle charge points
- LED replacement of street lighting and traffic lights
- Successful wildflower verges pilot leading to full project being established
- Set up a West Berkshire Parish Climate Forum
The Environment Delivery Plan - which will be updated regularly - highlights the collective effort that we, our partners and local communities have to play in responding to the significant challenge before us. Let’s all continue working together to ensure that West Berkshire evolves to be a green district we are proud of.
There is lots more still to come as we work towards becoming a carbon neutral district. You can find out more about our work delivering the Environment Strategy online.
We are pleased to announce that we have taken the decision to reduce the subscription rate for each garden waste bin by £4 on a one-off basis for the upcoming 2021/22 season, which commences on 30 August 2021.
The reduced 2021/22 subscription rate will be available to all garden waste customers including those who will be renewing their Direct Debit from last year and any new subscribers this year.
Last week we took the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our garden and food waste collection service for two weeks. This was due to temporary staff shortages as a result of a number of collection staff self-isolating and the impacts of the current nationwide HGV driver shortage.
Fortunately, we are on track to resume the normal garden and food waste collection service from Tuesday 3 August 2021. We would like to apologise again to affected residents for the inconvenience caused and thank them for their cooperation and understanding during this challenging time.
As an additional step to assist existing garden waste subscribers, we will also collect reasonable amounts of additional garden waste presented with green bins during their first collection after the service resumes. Please read our FAQs for further information including details on how to present any additional garden waste.
For more information and to subscribe go to our website here.
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You may have spotted a few of these posters across the district recently. We have launched a new campaign to encourage drivers to switch off their vehicle engines when stationary, so we can improve air quality around West Berkshire.
West Berkshire Council, as part of The Public Protection Partnership (PPP),is benefitting from a grant awarded by the Defra Air Quality grant programme. This fund is to support our anti-idling campaign to help reduce air pollution and encourage behaviour change.
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By the end of October 2021, we are expected to submit our Bus Services Improvement Plan (BSIP) to the Department for Transport. The BSIP will outline how we at the Council, alongside bus operators, can achieve the overarching goal of the National Bus Strategy, which is to increase bus patronage, both to restore it to its pre-pandemic level and thereafter boost it to raise the buses share of the market. In order to achieve this, we have decided to put together a survey for residents asking for your views on the current local bus services in West Berkshire, and if you have any suggestions for possible improvements.
To take part, please read the consultation document first and then complete the online survey by midnight on Friday 30 August 2021. The more response we have to the survey, the better our Bus Services Improvement Plan will be for local residents, businesses and the economy.
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For many of us 'tis' the season of Summer with BBQs and small gatherings. Remember you can recycle your:
- plastic tubs and trays (please rinse any food residue away) at our recycling centres in Newbury and Padworth, also at our mini recycling centres in Hungerford and Thatcham.
- plastic sauce bottles at the kerbside, just rinse any food residue and pop it in your plastic bottle recycling bag
- glass bottles, cans, jars and sauce bottles at the kerbside, just rinse any food residue, put the lid back on and pop it in with your recycling.
Check out our recycling centre and mini recycling centre information pages. You can also visit the Recycle Now website to see what else you can recycle near you!
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It’s lovely to see our wildflower verges across the district starting to bloom! They’ll produce flowering plants from late spring to mid-autumn, helping to feed and shelter bees, butterflies, and all manner of other wildlife as well as brightening up everyone’s day. Photos courtesy of Phil Canning.
Get out and about this summer
 Last year many of our fun activities were put on hold but this summer promises to be brilliant!
We've been working hard to bring as much summer fun to West Berkshire as we can while keeping socially distanced and safe. There’s so many activities and great ways to have fun and stay happy and healthy and you will see that many of our suggestions involve getting closer to nature for all ages from ‘Nature Tots’ through to enjoying our parks and open spaces and heritage walks for all. You can get pedalling with some bike groups, make the most of the Nature Discovery Centre and engage with our Wild World Heroes summer reading challenge (in partnership with WWF) in celebration of nature and action for the environment. Download our Summer Fun brochure to see more details about what's on or check out our webpage.
In celebration of the annual Festival of Archaeology theme of ‘exploring local places’ this summer, the Archaeology team has developed a new heritage trail of the Shaw House and St Mary’s Church Conservation Area, near Newbury.
You can access it here or download the PocketSights app on the App Store or Google Play.
During June and July, we carried out works to improve footways and a section of carriageway close to Theale Station, to make walking easier and safer. The works included replacing kerbs, resurfacing footways and clearing vegetation.
These highway works will improve access for pedestrians walking between Theale village, Theale Station and adjoining business premises. The established width restriction aims to deter oversized vehicles from cutting through.
The highway works precede a major upgrade of passenger facilities at Theale Station using funding secured through bidding by the Council and the rail companies. The Theale Station works will be carried out by Great Western Railway and Network Rail, including construction of a footbridge with lifts giving access to all platforms and opening of the new ticket office and toilets designed to meet modern accessibility standards.
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Avanti Freewheelers Community Club West Berkshire is for juniors (aged 10-14) who want to learn to ride, improve their cycling skills or just to join a fun group and get out on their bike.
Under the guidance of our qualified coaches, instructors and guides, they can meet new friends, explore new areas and have fantastic cycling adventures. There are also great bike events for 7-11 year olds and for families too.
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Low Carbon Workspaces offers small and medium-sized businesses in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 to cover up to a third of the cost of making energy improvements.
Reducing your carbon footprint and energy consumption is becoming more and more important for small businesses across West Berkshire who care about the impact they have on the environment. By applying for a Low Carbon Workspaces grant, your business could also reduce the payback time for any potential investment.
As long as you fit their eligibility criteria, you can help promote sustainable business across West Berkshire whilst cutting carbon emissions.
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