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Museum acquires Greenham Peace Women sculptures

West Berkshire Museum have acquired two contemporary art sculptures for their collection.

The sculptures represent Greenham Peace Women and were created as part of the project 'Peace Camp' in 2021, led by artist Jemima Brown to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Greenham Common Peace Camps (1981-2000), established to protest against nuclear arms.

The sculptures were purchased through a crowdfunding project supported by The Good Exchange, donations gratefully received from individuals, the Peter Baker Foundation and with match-funding from the Greenham Trust. The project also had a generous donation from a West Berkshire Councillor Bid, demonstrating strong local support for heritage and the arts.

Find out more about the Peace Camp project and Jemima's work by visiting her website.

West Berkshire Museum is open Wednesday – Sunday 10am to 4pm, entry is free but donations are welcomed.

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner election

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 2 May for you to cast your vote for the next Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner. The official notice setting out the day and hours for the poll is now available to view on our website. 

If you’re on the electoral register, you can apply for an emergency proxy for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections. You can do this only if the emergency happened after the close of ordinary proxies, after 5pm on Wednesday 24 April. Contact your council’s elections team for details. 

Make sure you have your voter ID ready to bring with you to vote on 2 May. For more on voting visit, you can visit the Electoral Commission website.

You can find out more about the candidates for the Thames Valley police area on the Choose My PCC website. For a printed copy call 0300 1311323.

Be a better biker courses come to Theale

Be a Better Biker is a workshop that allows fully licensed motorcyclists to take their skills to a level that helps improve safety and enjoyment.

Alongside other local councils, fire and rescue services and Thames Valley Police, we are supporting Thames Vale Advanced Motorcyclists (TVAM), BARDs - Bucks Advanced Riders and Milton Keynes Advanced Motorists to deliver two of these workshops in Theale on 25 May, 10:00am-2:00pm and 22 June, 10:00am-2:00pm.

Nigel Lynn, CEO of West Berkshire Council said: "I’ve been a biker since 16 years old and ride about 250 miles a week. However, I am still learning as every issue I come across on the road is unique. Other drivers just don’t see us, and the power of modern motorcycles continues to increase year on year, making riding a bike a dangerous way to travel. Courses such as this should be a staple diet to all Bikers. Whether longstanding, a ‘newbie’ or returning to the fold, ride safe."

You can sign up to the courses in May and June online.

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:

• Rehabilitation Officer for Vision Impairment
• Senior/Payroll Assistant
• Safer Streets Guardian

Space for start-up businesses in the Kennet Centre

The Kennet Centre, Newbury is offering independent businesses affordable places to kick start their venture.

Kennet Shopping and Quintons are offering very cost-effective rent/service charge on various sized units with guaranteed occupation until January 2025.

Quite a few town centre businesses have already used the Kennet Centre as a platform to start or grow a business and have since moved into more permanent locations, making the Kennet Centre a great place to start.

Over the last 12 months, there have been many new independent business owners move into the centre, knowing of the planned development, whilst still being able to afford their start-ups.

As part of our Newbury Masterplan, which looks to create a centre that welcomes innovation, our Town Centre team continues to work closely with stakeholders to promote these opportunities for start-up businesses.

For viewings and costs, please visit: quintons.co.uk or call Shane Prater (Director of Quintons) on: 01635 551441 or Richard Farley (Centre Manager of Kennet Shopping) on: 07730 532229.

M4 Burghfield Road bridge works

Work will soon be taking place at the M4 Burghfield Road bridge between Junction 11 and Junction 12 at the Reading Services. It will involve repainting the steelwork and refurbishing the bridge bearings to prevent corrosion of the beams. These works will be taking place on both the M4 Eastbound and Westbound carriageways.

The works are planned to start on Friday (26 April) and will require eight planned full weekend closures (four each direction) along with around 70 full overnight closures. The project is due to be completed at the end of July.

You can see where these closures are currently programmed for here.

The M4 Reading Services will be closed during the overnight full closures and weekend full closures.

Westbound diversion:

During these closures, signed diversions will be in place via M4 J11, onto A33, A4 and back on the M4 via J12 as per map below. 

Eastbound diversion:

During these closures, signed diversions will be in place via M4 J12, onto A4, A33 and back on the M4 via J11 as per map below. 

West Berkshire Health and Wellbeing Board Annual Conference

The event included a variety of stalls ready for people to share information, advice and guidance, alongside talks surrounding the themes of primary care and community outreach.

Our partner Solutions4Health were also there offering free NHS Health Checks to attendees including Paul Coe, our Executive Director for Adult Social Care, pictured above. This is in connection with our Community Wellness Outreach programme, which launched in Northbrook Street last Saturday.

This conference is always a well received and attended event that is great for networking and sharing insights.

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

• Draft Domestic Abuse Strategy 2023-2027
• Proposed nominations for the Local List of Heritage Assets (March 2024)
• Digital Infrastructure for Business Survey 2024

Will writing at Newbury Library

Join us at Newbury Library on Thursday 9 May when Alex Poole from law firm Gardner Leader will be available to offer information and advice about making a will.

Take time during the morning for an informal chat with Alex about what to include and how to set about writing a will.

This is a drop-in event, no need to book. For more information visit our website. 

Study online to suit you

If you prefer the flexibility of learning from your own home, workplace or even on the go, Newbury College offer a range of *free online courses that could be perfect for you.

These flexible courses lead to recognised qualifications and are available throughout the year, so you can choose when you wish to study and work at your own pace. You’ll be supported by a tutor on a one-to-one basis throughout your course.

Study Online courses and learning materials are accessible through our interactive learning platform, where you can also communicate with your tutor and submit assignments online for faster feedback.

For more information, please call 01635 845212, email studyonline@newbury-college.ac.uk or explore the range of subjects online.

*Free subject to qualifying criteria.

Could you be a school governor?

We are looking for governors to join our school governing boards!

It’s a rewarding role and an opportunity to support our schools and the children and young people in our community.

Governors have three core functions:

• Planning the strategic direction of the school
• Overseeing financial performance of the school
• Holding the headteacher or school leadership to account

A royal visit from the tower princess

Let your hair down and enjoy a royal visit from the tower princess and her roguish prince! There will be a fun sing-a-long, themed games and story time as well as plenty of time at the end to take photographs. This event is suitable for three - eight year olds but younger and older children are welcome. Under two year olds are free with a paying group. Each child ticket includes one free adult. Sunday 5 May |Shaw House| 1pm and 3pm | Child £7, one accompanying adult free. Book your tickets online here.

And finally...

• As part of its gradual reopening, family swims are returning to Northcroft Lido from 2pm-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays! Come along and enjoy the pool, the interactive splash pad and the spiral and racer flumes. Visitor numbers are limited, and booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult. Book your place here.