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Bank Holiday Collections

Don't forget we'll still be collecting rubbish and recycling this Bank Holiday Monday. You can find your next bin day online.

With the sun shining this weekend you may fancy a bit of a spring clean. Our summer opening hours at Newtown Road Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) have started. It will be open until 8pm every Thursday from April to September each year. On other days, the site will be open as normal from 9am-6pm.

Annual Council tomorrow

The Annual Council meeting will take place tomorrow evening (Thursday).

Council meetings, attended by all 43 elected councillors, are held five times a year. The Annual Council meeting will see a new Leader elected, and appointments made to the Executive and other committees. A new Chairman and Vice Chairman will also be elected.

It will be the first meeting held since the elections earlier this month which saw the Liberal Democrat party take the most seats and for the new administration.

You can read the agenda for the meeting online. The meeting starts at 7pm and will be available to watch live on our YouTube channel.

Faraday Road Football

Work has begun to get the Faraday Road pitch in Newbury ready for organised football.

Currently open as a recreational space, there’s some pitch preparation work we need to do first to improve the playing surface before games and coaching sessions can take place.

Today we’ve been out to start the preparation by mowing the grass and then we’ll be back to carry out a full renovation programme including re-seeding and top dressing soon.

The incoming Leader of West Berkshire Council, Lee Dillon, and Executive Members Councillors Janine Lewis and Martin Colston were there to see work get underway.

It should have a suitable playing surface later in the year – watch this space!

Newbury Library awarded Sanctuary status

West Berkshire’s central library in Newbury has been awarded ‘Library Of Sanctuary’ status by a national organisation in recognition of its work to welcome refugees and others seeking sanctuary.

Sue Kavanagh, Newbury Library Manager, said “We are thrilled to receive this prestigious award. Library staff and volunteers are always happy to provide practical help and support to refugees moving to this area, and we have a range of free activities for all ages which are open to everyone in our local community. Libraries are safe spaces, where you can use our computers for free (with assistance if you need it), borrow books for free to help with language learning, find information of all sorts or simply meet with friends. Wherever you have come from, you are very welcome here.”

The library hosts a lively Educafe on Wednesdays, 11am to 2pm. If you haven’t been to this before, do drop in and enjoy a chance to make new friends and learn new things – with delicious cakes and other refreshments provided free of charge.

There will be a special celebration in Newbury Library on Wednesday 21 June at 1pm to mark this award. Everyone is invited and we hope you will come along.

With over 1,500 members of staff corporately, plus additional members of staff working across our local schools and education settings, we're one of the largest employers in the area. There are lots of reasons to consider a career with us - from the wide range of services we provide to the training and benefits we offer.

Current vacancies include:

• Waste Services Assistant

• Homelessness Prevention & Relief Officer

Be Scam Aware - Don’t let scammers steal your money!

Citizens Advice West Berkshire (CAWB), and West Berkshire Council’s Public Protection Partnership have launched their annual Scams Awareness campaign to encourage people to report scams, share their experiences and look out for others. You can find out more about staying safe from scams on the Citizens Advice website.   If you’ve been scammed: Talk to your bank or card company immediately if you’ve handed over any financial and sensitive information or made a payment. Contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or email visit their website. West Berkshire residents can call Citizens Advice West Berkshire on 01635 516605 and leave a message. Report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online. They’ll also issue a crime reference number.

New funding to enable active travel schemes

West Berkshire Council has been allocated £275,000 of funding to deliver a new School Streets Scheme and develop improvements to walking and cycling routes.

It is part of the councils ongoing commitment to boost active travel options for residents whilst also helping to drive down carbon emissions.

Following the successful bid to Active Travel England, a new agency set up by the Government to boost cycling and walking, the funding for West Berkshire will go towards:

• The introduction of an additional School Street scheme at Francis Baily School in Thatcham
• Development of proposals to improve the pedestrian and cycle connection between Theale and Calcot
• Assessment of scope to improve active travel routes adjoining Robin Hood Roundabout
• Evolution of a scheme to connect the planned Stockcross active travel path into the Newbury area network at Speen

We value your views on the decisions we take. There are several areas we are currently holding consultations on, including:

• Healthy Weight Needs Assessment Survey

• Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment Survey

Carers Week Events: Fun, Information and Advice

Carers’ Week takes place between 5 - 11 June this year and a number of events are being held across the district to celebrate the work Carers do in our communities and to provide advice and information about available support.

A special ‘Spain comes to Newbury’ event is taking place at the Fair Close Centre, Newbury, on Tuesday 6 June, with Spanish themed food and entertainment planned, including flamenco, tapas and alcohol-free Sangria. Booking is required.  

You can also find advice and information at drop-in events organised by the Carers’ Partnership during the week:

• Thatcham Medical Centre, Thatcham (Monday 5)
• Sainsbury’s Hector’s Way, Newbury (Wednesday 7)
• Kennet Shopping Centre, Newbury (Thursday 8)
• Burdwood Surgery, Thatcham (Friday 9)

Our Adult Social Care team and other local charities will also have stands at the Kennet Centre Event on Thursday.

Details of timings and address details are available online. For more information and to book for the Spanish themed event, please email Age UK or call 0118 959 4242.

65+ Active Travel Survey

If you’re aged 65 and over, we’d love to hear about how you get around the district and any challenges you face when travelling locally. Survey is open until 16 June. 

Find the survey on our website. 

And finally...

• If you’re age 75+, you can get your Covid Spring Booster! The Health on the Move Van will be at Hungerford Hub & Library on 12 June, 10am and 4pm.

  Call 01183 341844 to book your appointment.