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 Residents are continuing to share with us their concerns about exposure to sewage and litter in our rivers, in our communities and in private properties.
We understand these concerns and the detrimental impact this situation is having on people.
This week, our Environmental Health and Highways teams will be visiting affected sites to conduct full assessments. This will to ascertain whether any statutory nuisance exists that we can address using powers open to us.
We remain committed to resolving these ongoing issues through dialogue with Thames Water. However, we're also exploring all options available to us.
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Voting for your next Police and Crime Commissioner |
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 The Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) election is happening this Thursday, 2 May and you will need to bring voter ID with you in order to vote. Find out more about what ID is accepted here.
This election is your opportunity to influence how your police service works. The PCC’s job is to make sure that crime in our area is tackled effectively and according to our local priorities. The person you elect will be your voice in holding the police force to account.
You can find out more about the candidates here.
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 This week we started our pavement resurfacing programme.
This work will weatherproof and strengthen the pavements so they last longer. This process removes the need to dig out and replace the existing footway, which is structurally sound and significantly reduces cost and carbon emissions.
The weatherproofing material we’re using won’t leave a completely smooth finish initially, but over time will become smoother with wear.
 Work to deliver a special new facility for children with social, emotional and mental health needs at Kennet Valley Primary School, Calcot, is taking shape.
Almost £3 million has been invested in the purpose-built space which will eventually provide places for twelve children, starting with the first six this coming September.
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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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As part of our Transformation Programme, we're looking at ways to make best use of our buildings to save money and improve services for our residents. One of the ways we’re doing this is by converting part of the former Walnut Close care home in Thatcham into a new Family Contact Centre.
Last week, officers from across the council got stuck into painting and gardening on-site to make the space welcoming for children and their parents.
This project has been a real community effort, with lots of local groups and businesses contributing, including:
- Dulux Decorator Centre in Newbury, which donated £250 worth of brushes, rollers and other equipment
- DNA Home Improvements, our contractor, who did a fantastic job of the building works and also donated paint and free time to support us
- West Berkshire Mencap, who donated a Thomas the Tank Engine planter and flowers
- The Newbury Men’s Shed Workshop, who made us a custom-built mud kitchen
- The Community Furniture Project, who helped to source furniture and toys
- Castelli Decorators Ltd, who helped to prepare the walls for painting by our volunteers
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Dulux Community Repaint, which enabled us to purchase paint at a discounted rate
- Our partners at Veolia donated conditioning soil and play bark, as well as paint from the recycling centre Community RePaint.
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Thank you so much to all those who have donated their time and items to make Walnut Close a special place for the children we support. It will made a huge difference!
We are still in need of sofas and garden furniture to help us finish the project. If you have any items that you wish to donate, or would like to get involved in a project like this to support your community, please email our Project Manager, Stacey Bradshaw.
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 Click to expand in One Network
The final phase of a carriageway resurfacing project in Theale will begin soon.
From 13 to 17 May, work will be undertaken to carry out the final phase of carriageway improvements along the A4 Bath Road from the A340 roundabout (where A4 Bath Road meets Basingstoke Road and Pips Way) all the way to Theale roundabout (where A4 Bath Road meets with A340 and The Green). The team will be applying asphalt preservation treatment, which is a sustainable solution to improve roads, by sealing the surface layer, extending the resilience and performance of a road surface.
We'll need to close the road completely for five nights from 7pm to 5am to complete the work. However, if the wet weather continues, we might have to change the dates and times.
Advance information signs will be in place showing dates and times. A signed alternative diversion will be in operation for the duration of the works.
Due to the nature of the works, there might be times when access to homes and businesses nearby could be restricted or delayed as we work through the area. We understand it might cause a bit of inconvenience, but we'll do our best to minimise any disruptions.
Access for emergency vehicles with their blue lights on will always be available.
Thanks for your patience and understanding. Please see One Network for updates relating to the works.
 We want your views on our proposal to reduce the speed limit on roads in Theale.
This consultation originated from three separate requests for speed limit changes in Theale (Meadow Way, Crown Lane & The Green) which were approved at the Speed Limit Review in July 2021. Since then, Theale has been identified as an ideal candidate to assess the speed limit through a whole village/area rather than just individual roads.
The process undertaken in Theale will be treated as a pilot scheme to potentially be implemented in other suitable villages/areas across West Berkshire over the coming years.
Let us know what you think by filling out the comment form by Thursday 6 June. If you have any questions about the consultation, please contact our Transport and Road Traffic team.
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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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Thames21 and Goring Gap Environmental Group will be running a water quality monitoring project on the River Thames this summer, and need citizen scientists to help.
They’ll be monitoring for E.coli & Intestinal Enterococci between May and September at locations between Pangbourne and South Stoke and are holding a special training event on 9 May to teach people how to take water quality samples, learn more about the project and take part.
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Speen Parish Council is looking for Parish Councillors to join their friendly team!
They need ordinary people who are ready to do an extraordinary job. People who want to make a difference, give something back to their community and help shape the future of the parish.
Parish Councillors are an integral part of local government, from deciding how public funds will be spent to consulting on planning applications, helping at community events or being involved in Community Speed Watch initiatives, the role is varied and rewarding.
If this could be you, contact the Clerk on: 07584 435656 or by emailing clerk@speenpc.org.uk for more details.
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Bank Holiday pharmacy opening times |
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Some pharmacies may be closed or have different opening hours for the May Bank Holiday (Monday, 6 May). We've been advised that the following pharmacies will be open:
- Boots, Newbury Retail Park – 10am to 4pm
- Tesco Extra, Newbury – 10am to 4pm
- Thatcham Pharmacy - 10am to 1pm
- Asda, Chalfont Way, Reading – 10am to 4pm
- Asda, Honey End Lane, Reading – 10am to 4pm
- Tesco, Portman Road, Reading – 10am to 4pm
Details of local pharmacies can be found by visiting the NHS website.
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And finally...
- Our new community wellbeing service offers free NHS Health Checks across the district including Hungerford, Calcot, Newbury, Thatcham and Lambourn. Find out how to get yours here.
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