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 Councillor Stuart Gourley, Executive Portfolio Holder for Climate Action, Recycling and Biodiversity, and Jon Winstanley, Service Director Environment, with members of the Environment Agency
Our highways teams are working hard with our partners to clear up as quickly as possible after the floods.
It's been a busy time and our teams are working hard playing their part in the flood response and clean-up, and supporting communities to recover too. We're continuing to work as hard as we can but please bear with us while we catch up. Please report any road related issues such as debris, potholes, blocked gullies or obscured road markings via our website.
If you're starting to clear up after the floods we have a downloadable leaflet filled with advice for keeping safe and well. You can also view the advice online here.
We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has played a part in helping to respond to, and recover from the flooding. From residents helping neighbours in need, to the local flood wardens who have worked hard in the community, to our partner agencies - and of course our own staff and councillors on the ground - we recognise the community effort and spirit shown over the past two weeks.
As we all know, this is only the start of winter and more flooding is possible with flood warnings in place on the River Lambourn and groundwater alerts on the Lambourn and Pang Valley areas. Now is the time to make sure you are prepared for any future flooding to help keep you and your family safe.
Find out if you live in a flood risk area and sign up to flood warnings from the Environment Agency. If you get a flood alert, a flood warning, or a severe flood warning, make sure you know what to do. Finally, make sure you have a plan in place to protect your property. This may include having property level protection such as flood doors and gates, air brick covers or pumps. More information on these products can be found here.
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Visit the Pang Valley Flood Protection Exhibition! |
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 The Pang Valley Flood Forum, in collaboration with West Berkshire Council, Project Groundwater, and local Parish Councils, invites you to the Pang Valley Flood Protection Exhibition this Saturday 20 January, from 1:00pm to 6:00pm at the Hampstead Norreys Village Hall, RG18 0TR.
The exhibition will bring together an impressive collection of organisations dedicated to tackling flood-related concerns in the Pang Valley area and beyond. It's absolutely FREE to attend, and no booking is required.
If you know anyone who has been affected by flooding, or you are in a flood risk area, please do come along to this informative exhibition which will be useful to meet the experts and witness a simulation of flooding in the floodmobile.
More information can be found online.
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Much colder temperatures are expected this week so please be mindful of icy conditions, especially with excess surface water around due to flooding.
Cold weather can increase health risks so it's important to look after yourself and those who are more vulnerable. Our Stay Well in Winter page is full of cold weather advice for yourself and those around you.
The following are also good sources of information and advice during cold weather:
Make sure you also have contact details for your utilities providers handy.
 During cold weather we work hard to support rough sleepers by providing a warm place to stay.
Our Winter Plan and Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, or SWEP, is a proactive plan to minimise the impact of cold weather on rough sleepers this winter across West Berkshire. Beds are set aside to ensure anyone who is verified as sleeping rough can have access to accommodation to be safe and warm
It helps the small number of people who are not normally eligible for services, choose to sleep rough or have previously refused support from housing services and feeds into a broader programme of activity to tackle homelessness in the district.
More information about the support available for rough sleepers can be found here.
 As living costs soar and the winter sets in, we have introduced a robust support package to assist the local community until spring 2024.
Collaborating with local voluntary sector partners, including Greenham Trust, we have been allocated over £1.3 million from national Government and we have allocated funds to address various needs. Key measures include:
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£30,000 for food and energy support: channelled through local charities to alleviate food and energy expenses.
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£19,580 for appliances and furniture: providing essential items for residents in need.
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£10,000 emergency accommodation support: ensuring access is available to hot meals for those in emergency accommodation.
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£30,000 for carpets and curtains: supporting those moving into accommodation without these essentials.
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£80,000 for struggling pensioners: boosting assistance for pensioners towards hot meals, energy costs, and essential repairs.
If you, or someone you know, needs additional help, please don’t struggle in silence. Read more and apply for the Household Support Fund online. Further advice and support can be found on our website.
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Keep up to date on road closures in your area by using the map of roadworks, including those of utility companies, on our website to plan your journeys. Click the link below for more information.
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 We have responded to an intervention from the Secretary of State which blocked withdrawal of the Local Plan Review.
Last month we announced plans to withdraw the Local Plan Review – a document setting out the vision and framework for future development in West Berkshire. The move was to allow for concerns about development on green spaces to be addressed but the withdrawal was blocked by the Government who instructed that the plan should continue to public examination.
Council Leader Lee Dillon has now formally responded to express the Council's disappointment at the Government's intervention and to detail the extraordinary circumstances that led to the proposal to withdraw the plan. You can read the letter and find out more about this issue online.
In accordance with the directions given in the letter, councillors and officers from the planning department will continue with preparations for the public examination later this year.
 West Berkshire Council has secured the first seven homes under a new scheme to support people displaced from Ukraine and Afghanistan - with the first family moving in this week.
The £9m housing project will deliver a total of 27 new homes for families who arrived under resettlement schemes, but have been unable to find suitable accommodation. The homes purchased so far - a mix of houses and flats - will provide accommodation across the district in Calcot, Thatcham, Newbury and Hungerford.
Work continues to deliver the remaining accommodation - both by buying properties and creating West Point House in Newbury, previously a Council office and now surplus to the Council's needs, into apartments. The remaining homes are due to be secured by early Spring this year.
The housing project is being part-funded by central Government (£3.6m) through its Local Authority Housing Fund. You can read more about the scheme on our website.
We checked the Italian Poplar trees on Stroud Green and found six old ones that are not doing well. We will need to cut them down very soon because they are decaying and are over matured.
These trees were planted in the late 1960s and usually live for 50 to 60 years. As they get older, the trunk and stems become weaker, making them unsafe. Four of the trees have fallen in the last three years during strong winds and storms, so we need to act to keep everyone safe.
We know these trees are important to those in the area, and we're sad to see them go. But don't worry, as we'll be planting new ones to keep the area looking green and appealing.
Over the next 12 months we'll also check the other trees that are the same age. Some of them might need to be cut down too, but we'll keep you updated.
We also want to hear what you think. If you have any suggestions on what trees you think we should plant there, please email us on: Trees@westberks.gov.uk.
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Anyone can watch our Council and Committee meetings in person at our Market Street offices in Newbury and live on our YouTube channel to view the important decisions made by councillors on issues such as planning, waste services and schools.
Upcoming public meetings include:
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 Measles is an infection that spreads very easily and can cause serious problems for some people. The infection usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth.
Having the MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent it and two doses can give lifelong protection against measles, mumps, and rubella. Ask at your GP surgery if you're not sure if you or your child have had the vaccine.
If you think you or your child may have measles, don't go to the emergency room, urgent care, or doctor's office without calling first. Call your doctor immediately and let them know about your symptoms so that they can tell you what to do next.
You can find out more about measles here.
 In just over two weeks’ time, many of our secondary schools will take part in an interactive theatre in education performance called ‘Risking it All’. The performance helps support the statutory Relationships, Sex & Health Education curriculum, discussing and raising awareness about issues such as drug and alcohol use, online safety and inappropriate relationships.
As part of the West Berkshire tour, there’s a specific performance at the Arlington Arts Centre on 6 February at 7:30pm aimed at parents. This is a rare opportunity to see a unique performance and engage with your teenager on issues that could affect them. Book your free tickets here.
 Do you know what a shabti is? Find out by dropping in to West Berkshire Museum on Saturday 3 February, 10am-3pm, to meet members of the Thames Valley Ancient Egypt Society at our free Ancient Egypt Family Fun Day!
Visit the special exhibition, From the Nile to Newbury: Exploring Life and Death in Ancient Egypt, have a go at some crafts, play an ancient board game, complete a trail, dress up and handle some real ancient Egyptian objects!
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Opera: The Tales of Hoffmann |
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Kennet Opera present "The Tales of Hoffmann" by Jacques Offenbach in the Great Hall of Shaw House on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 February at 7pm and Sunday 4 February at 2.30pm.
After a string of comedy triumphs, Offenbach's last work was this strange opera fantastique, based on the writings of E T A Hoffmann, the Romantic German poet, telling the story of his three romantic failures. The opera is sung in English with piano accompaniment.
The performance length is two hours with one interval. The café will be open selling light refreshments and drinks. Tickets cost £15 for adults and £10 for children. Book here.
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And finally...
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We know that personal circumstances sometimes make it difficult to visit a library, especially during the winter months. If you or someone you know is unable to get to one of our libraries, perhaps because of age, disability or for some other reason, we may be able to come to you.
Our friendly At Home service delivers books in person on a three-weekly basis, free of charge, to library members who cannot visit us. To find out more, please ring the At Home service on 01635 519827 or email library@westberks.gov.uk.
- Do you know a British citizen living abroad? They can now vote in UK Parliament elections, even after 15 years away. Find out more here.
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