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Birch Copse hosts out of this world tech camp

Kids at Birch Copse School entered a new world of virtual reality and did crazy coding on robots as part of our brilliant Holiday Activities & Food (HAF) Programme. The Tech Camps are an exciting new addition to HAF and offer a great range of activities for children of all skill levels. The playful projects and puzzles explore Engineering, Circuitry, Gamified Learning, Coding and much more!

The next exciting Tech Camp starts on 14 August at St Nicolas C.E. Junior School in Newbury which you can book here.

Market Street closure

Market Street in Newbury will be closed from Monday 7 August until Sunday 13 August between Mayors Lane and the Council Offices access road due to road resurfacing.

Access to the Station Car Park, the Kennet Centre Car Park and the Council Offices will be via Bartholomew Street.

There may be occasions when access to the Council Offices is affected for short periods while machinery associated with the resurfacing is manoeuvred at the mini roundabout. The pedestrian route across Market Street via the island in front of the Kennet Centre Car Park will also be affected.

The work is being done as part of the highway improvements associated with the Market Street development, so enquiries should be directed to: Marron Civil Engineering Ltd on 07881 551 990

Apologies for the inconvenience caused. A plan of the closure can be found here.

Garden waste subscriptions

You can now subscribe to our 2023/24 garden waste collection service!

For new subscribers and those renewing by card payment:

• Simply click here to get started. Don't forget to sign up by Sunday 6 August 2023 to ensure your subscription is processed in time for the start of the 2023/24 subscription period (28 August 2023).
• Important: Take a moment to read through the updated terms and conditions.

For current Direct Debit subscribers:

• We've already reached out to you via email or letter with instructions on what to do next. There is no need to re-subscribe as this will happen automatically if all your details are the same. If you haven’t seen our email yet, please double-check your inbox, including the junk mail folder, for emails sent during week commencing 19 June 2023 to make sure your details are up to date.

Collections start from 28 August 2023 through to 25 August 2024.

To find out more about garden waste collections please visit our frequently asked questions page.

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:

• Paralegal
• Assistant Team Manager (Family Safeguarding West)
• Social Worker (Children with Disabilities Team)

World Breastfeeding Week celebration

As part of World Breastfeeding Week, our East Family Hub is holding a celebration this Thursday, 3 August, from 10am to 1pm at Woolhampton Village Hall (RG7 5RG).

On the day there will be:

• a baby play area
• soft play
• a craft and relaxation space
• tea and cake
• hand massages
• a photographer

The village hall is accessible by public transport with it being five minutes from Midgham train station, or can be reached using the number 1 bus.

The event can accommodate children up to age 5.

For more information please contact: 01189456157.

The Wharf welcomes pop-up outdoor cinema

On Sunday 20 August, there will be an outdoor cinema event held at the Wharf in Newbury as part of the summer’s Festival of the Moon.

Screenings of Despicable Me 2 at 13:30, and First Man at 16:00 will be continuing the Moon theme, run by local outdoor cinema and audio-visual experts, AV Events.

It is recommended to bring your own camping chairs or blankets to sit on as there will be very limited beanbags available on a first come basis. Sound will be provided by silent disco headsets, allowing everyone to set the volume individually.

Buy your cinema tickets online and enjoy a film in the sun (hopefully) with family and friends while trialling out what the potential use of the Wharf outdoor space could look and feel like!

Solar power, the bright alternative for West Berkshire residents

We are working in partnership with Solar Together Berkshire to help local homeowners turn sunlight into electricity by investing in renewables through a group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage.

You can join this scheme which offers not just solar panels, but optional battery storage and EV charge points too. There’s also retrofit battery storage available if you have already invested in solar panels and are just looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate, whilst increasing your independence from the grid.

Registrations close soon so don’t miss out on this opportunity! It is free to register and there is no obligation to go ahead with an installation.

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

• Memorial Fields, Thatcham Flood Alleviation Scheme
• West Berkshire Bus Survey 2023

• Draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2023-2028

Faraday Road Pesticide Spraying

We were back down at Faraday Road last week to watch the pesticide spraying process. The rain may be dampening summer spirits, but it means the broadleaf weeds on the Faraday Road football pitch are actively growing, which is what we need for the pesticide to be effective.

In our latest video update Paul Hendry, Countryside Manager, and Jason Shepherd, Contract Manager, talked us through the pesticide process and explained what measures are being taken to protect the nearby wildlife.

You can also read our latest blog update here

Community Forums are back!

We're thrilled to announce the launch of our brand new Community Forums! 

The first forum will be on 17 August at 6pm and will focus on the sports provision at Faraday Road. We can't wait to hear your thoughts and ideas! Our forums will run quarterly, providing regular opportunities to connect, discuss, and shape our community together.

You can attend in person at our Market Street Offices or online from the comfort of your own home, you will need to register beforehand if you wish to attend, whether that’s in person or online. You can do so by visiting this link. The Community Forums will also be recorded and put on YouTube for residents to view after the event.

Whether you're a sports enthusiast, a parent of a young athlete, or simply love staying active, this forum is for you!

You can find more information on our website. 

Engaging with our young residents

BBC Bitesize recently ran an article with the headline, 'Young people believe influencers more than politicians when it comes to news'.  With this in mind we wanted to reach out to the young people in our district on the channels they use most, TikTok and Instagram. We filmed a video with our Councillors where they answered some fun interview questions from Year 7 and Year 8 pupils at Kennet School. We then uploaded this to our TikTok and Instagram channels, as well as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube Shorts. We did this because we wanted to show that our Councillors are approachable and happy to answer any questions, and show that they are in fact a reliable source of news for our young people.

And finally...

• Our Family Placement Team are running a fostering information stand outside Wilko on Northbrook Street between 10am and 3pm on Thursday 10 August, Thursday 17 August, Friday 15 September and Friday 22 September. This will be an opportunity for residents who are interested in fostering children to meet experienced staff and some of our foster carers. Come along to have a chat!