 We’re hoping to secure £4.5 million for a series of local projects following bids made last week. If we succeed in securing a share of the Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund, we’d use £1 million of that money for projects our residents have asked us to deliver, such as re-designing Newbury Wharf, creating new sports facilities in Purley on Thames, supporting local culture and heritage activities in rural communities and help to make our local businesses thrive.
We've also submitted a bid of £3.5 million for the Newbury Lido refurbishment. We’re committed to delivering the Lido project and improvement work has already begun. If we do secure the extra £3.5 million, it would free up money to spend on other projects which would also benefit local residents.
 We’ve opened two new mini recycling centres in partnership with our waste contractor Veolia. The new sites are in East Garston (in the overflow car park for the Queens Arms, RG17 7ER), and at the end of Theale High Street (RG7 5AR).
The mini recycling centres have banks for plastic pots, tubs, trays, cans, small electricals, cardboard and paper. *Banks for food and drink cartons (including paper tubes with metal ends) and textiles are coming soon*
The new Theale facility will offer more recycling options and will replace the existing smaller Theale site. Please remember to place only the correct items in the banks for recycling and not to leave bags of recycling/rubbish next to the banks.
 We're pleased to report that good progress is being made towards starting separate weekly food waste collections from all households from 31 October 2022.
We're encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive support that residents gave to the proposals in our resident survey earlier this year. Ahead of the service starting, residents will receive more information about the service including bin hangers which will go out to households this month. Food waste caddies and information leaflets will also be distributed to all households between August and October 2022.
Please store the new caddies safely and don't use them for collection until the new service starts at the end of October.
 Shaw House Community Garden is open for drop in sessions on 11, 16, 25 and 30 August from 10am until 2pm.
Everyone is welcome. If you’re looking for fun, free activities to enjoy on your own or with family this summer, join Amy at the Shaw House Community Garden to help create something beautiful and healthy for you and your community to enjoy. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about gardening, explore the benefits of being outdoors and make new friends.
Pre-booking is required. Contact Amy on: 07553 810133 or email: amy.bosley1@westberks.gov.uk to book your places.
This year's canvass will take place between August and November 2022, in readiness for publication of the revised electoral register on 1 December 2022.
If asked to do so, it’s very important to confirm your details as soon as possible so that you appear correctly on the published register.
Some of you will soon receive an email from us (it’s not a scam so please look out for it!), whilst some households will receive a paper form.
During the canvass period, you can respond online using the details on the form on the household response website. Please note, this site won't go live until 30 August. You will need to use the security codes given on the form or email to do this. You’ll also need to remember to add any 16 and 17 year olds in your household.
You can also contact us directly on 01635 519464, we’re here to help. Any new electors can register to vote on the GOV.UK website.
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 Buses continue to provide a cost-effective travel solution and we’ve made some great improvements for family and group travel.
So, if you fancy getting out and about over the summer, why not use the bus to get there?
From 1 August, we introduced a new Connect Group Day Ticket for up to 4 people to travel together on the bus.
This can be any combination of adults and/or children. As with most Connect tickets, there are two types available:
- £10.00 for an Urban ticket
- £16.50 for a Rural ticket
For even better value, until 4 September the Rural ticket will only cost £15.00.
 A Level 3 heat health alert has been issued from Tuesday 9 August – Sunday 14 August. Prolonged exposure to heat can be dangerous for everyone not just those who are more vulnerable. Beat the heat this week by following the top tips above. For information and advice visit our hot weather page here.
In 2019, West Berkshire Museum started a series of exhibitions focusing on parishes in the area. In September, they’ll be featuring Thatcham, the town until recently credited as being the longest continually inhabited settlement in Britain.
Finds which represent the area range from Stone Age tools to brushes made in the 1900s, and will be displayed over two galleries.
The Museum are keen to include items representing the more recent history of the parish. If you have anything which tells the story of Thatcham’s history that you think might enhance the Focus on Thatcham exhibition and which you’re happy to lend to the exhibition for a year (17 September 2022-17 September 2023) please contact the Museum before the end of August by emailing collections@westberks.gov.uk or calling the Museum during opening hours (Wednesday-Sunday 10am-4pm) on 01635 519562.
Pictured: The fountain in Thatcham with the Kings Head Hotel and Motor & Cycle Works in the background, 1920s. Photographer unknown. The photograph is from the West Berkshire Museum Collection NEBYM:2019.25.2.
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Last week, we issued seven ‘Warning Letters’ to households and businesses whose property is in an unacceptable condition and negatively impacting their neighbours and the community. Section 215 (S.215) of the Town and Country Planning Act gives the Council powers to take action against landowners whose land or buildings are deemed harmful to the local area. Abandoned vehicles, deteriorating buildings, and piles of rubbish could all be examples of breaches.
Those who are suspected of violating S.215 are first contacted by an Enforcement Officer and given the opportunity to correct the situation. If conditions don’t improve Officers will issue a warning notice giving the recipient 21 days to improve the situation. If still no improvement is made, we’ll issue a formal Notice. Failure to comply with this Notice may result in prosecution at the Magistrates' Court and a fine of up to £1,000.
Since February, we’ve served 14 Warning Letters, three Enforcement Notices, and one Stop Notice. We’ll continue to issue Warning Letters and Enforcement Notices to those in breach of their S.215 obligations.
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 Berkshire Youth has teamed up with Tilehurst Parish Council and MNR Coaching to offer brilliant, free sports sessions for children age 8 years and above in parks in Tilehurst and Newbury this summer
The sessions offer children the chance to try out new and different sports, meet new people and have lots of fun. They’re already proving popular so come along and join in - no need to book, just find your local sessions and turn up!
 Berkshire Maestros have released an original song called ‘Come Alive’, created by young people across the county, to raise funds for Berkshire Youth and vital local youth work.
For the first time, students from every corner of Berkshire brought together musicians from Berkshire Youth Choir, Berkshire Youth Symphony Orchestra, Reading Soundstage and more to write, perform and record a track which celebrates the very best of youth music making in Berkshire.
Proceeds from the release will also support accessible and creative music activities at ‘The Music Lounge’ a new contemporary music centre based at the Waterside Centre in Newbury.
Lambourn Parish Council is preparing a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) for the Parish up to 2036. As part of this process and following feedback from public consultations, the Parish would like to invite local landowners, developers and their agents to submit potential housing sites.
If your proposed site has been considered by the Council under their HEELA process, please confirm the information is still valid and include any proposed changes or modifications.
The NDP is seeking appropriate sites for 25 new dwellings over the plan period. Sites for up to 65 houses have previously been allocated by West Berkshire Council.
Please complete the Site Submission Form, email Lambourn.ndp@gmail.comor write to the Paris Council Clerk. A map of the Parish is also available.
The closing date for site submissions is midday on Wednesday 31 August 2022.
We've granted an application for a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Thatcham town centre.
PSPOs allow council's to place restrictions on certain behaviours in an area to make sure that everyone can feel safer and enjoy public spaces.
Thames Valley Police asked us to consider introducing the Order for the centre of Thatcham. We then undertook a public consultation with people who live, visit or work in the area answering questions on anti-social behaviour. 84.67% of respondents supported the proposed anti-social behaviour restriction
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