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 If you currently pay for garden waste by Direct Debit only, please check your email that you used to sign up with as renewal emails have been sent out to you. Don’t forget to check your junk mail too.
Those we couldn’t contact via email will be receiving a letter in the post.
If everything looks good and no changes are needed to your Garden Waste subscription by Direct Debit, there’s nothing more you need to do. The subscription will automatically renew to cover you for the 2024/25 period. If you want to make changes, all the details of how to do this will be in the email or letter. Make sure you read the Terms and Conditions - they're brief and important.
New customers, and those who pay by debit/credit card, will be able to sign up in late July.
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Enjoy water safely this Drowning Prevention Week |
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 This Drowning Prevention Week, make it your mission to educate your family and start the water safety conversation.
Top tips to stay safe in water include:
- never swim alone in case you need help
- avoid light blue, grey, or green swimsuits as they can blend with the water and pool surroundings, making it difficult to spot a child. Wear bright and contrasting colours instead
- if you find yourself unexpectedly in the water, don’t panic, extend your arms and legs out and float on your back by creating a star shape with your body until the effects of cold water shock pass
- never enter the water to try and rescue someone, call 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service if inland and the Coastguard if you are at the coast
Accidental drownings increase in the summer and through education we can make a change. To find out more visit Royal Life Saving Society UK.
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 Time has run out to apply for a postal vote for the General Election on 4 July, but if you’re on the register you can still apply for a proxy vote. This is where you allow someone you trust to vote on your behalf.
To apply to vote by proxy, complete an application form and make sure it reaches us by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.
The person you choose to vote on your behalf will need to go to your polling station to vote and will need to show their own photo ID to be able to cast your vote. They will not need to show your ID when voting on your behalf, just their own.
The deadline for applying for a Voter Authority Certificate is also 5pm on Wednesday 26 June. This is a free ID available to anyone who doesn't have one of the acceptable forms of ID, or would rather not use ID that includes a gender marker. Applications can be made online here or by completing a paper form and sending it to our Electoral Services team.
If you need any help with applying for the free ID or want to request an application form, contact our Electoral Services team by calling: 01635 519464 or emailing: vote@westberks.gov.uk.
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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:
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 Our new community wellbeing service offers free NHS Health Checks across the district including Hungerford, Calcot, Newbury, Thatcham and Lambourn.
The NHS Health Check is a free check-up of your overall health. It can tell you whether you are at higher risk of getting certain health conditions, such as:
- heart disease
- diabetes
- kidney disease
- stroke
There are mobile clinics across the district where you can drop in for a check-up. Find out more here.
The second round of the Solar Together scheme is now open!
Over 2,200 solar panels were installed in West Berkshire in the first round of the scheme, helping residents lower their energy bills and CO2 emissions.
Do you want to install solar panels or battery storage but don’t know where to start?
Our trusted solar scheme ensures consumer protection and competitive pricing. It also offers a pathway for every household and small and medium business wanting to install solar panels, to slash their energy bills and offset their carbon footprint.
 Last month, we cleaned 1,330 gullies and resurfaced 2.06km of our road network, as well as undertaking other maintenance.
Some of the roads which had resurfacing include Fromont Drive, Ilkley Way and The Close in Thatcham and Brunel Road in Theale.
We want to deliver services to be proud of - and you can help. If you spot a pothole, or see something else which needs fixing, you can tell us online here.
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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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 Click the image above to read the Your West Berkshire magazine
 On Thursday 20 June the whole of England are called to make a stand to help improve our air quality on Clean Air Day.
Clean Air Day brings together communities, businesses, education, and the health sector, to improve public understanding of air pollution, build awareness of how air pollution affects our health and explain some of the easy things we can all do to tackle air pollution, helping to protect our health and the environment too.
This year we are encouraging everyone to take part and do simple things such as using public transport, walking, or cycling to get to places rather than taking the car. Our Public Protection Partnership (PPP) have sent information to all the schools in the area about idling and how you can help reduce pollution by just turning off your engine whilst in a queue or waiting to pick someone up.
We have also sent information to local primary schools to help them run an assembly relating to Air Quality too.
 From 1 July, children aged 4-11 years can visit West Berkshire Libraries to sign up for the free Summer Reading Challenge. The theme of this year’s challenge is Marvellous Makers, which is all about creativity. It aims to fire up children’s imaginations, unleash storytelling and inspire their own creativity through the power of reading.
Primary age children will be asked to read up to six library books and to collect free incentives from their local library for their achievements as they read – with medals and certificates for everyone who completes the challenge.
The challenge is a great way for children to keep up their reading skills and confidence over the summer holidays and prevent the common holiday ‘reading dip’.
There will also be a mini-challenge for pre-school children and one for the grown-ups too!
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The Cromwell Singers present A Handful of Songs |
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Join The Cromwell Singers at Shaw House on Sunday 7 July, 3pm for an afternoon of favourite songs including; Beauty and the Beast, Diamonds are Forever, Whistle Down the Wind and Mamma Mia!
The café will be open for light refreshments and drinks. There will also be a retiring collection and raffle. The concert will be approximately 2 hours including a 30 minute interval.
Tickets £10 adults, free for under 18s but all spaces must be pre-booked, it cannot be guaranteed that tickets will be available on the door as it is an event with limited availability
To book please contact the choir members or email thecromwellsingers@gmail.com
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And finally...
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Whooping cough (Pertussis) cases are currently high, and the disease can be life-threatening for newborn babies. If you're pregnant, it's important to take up the Pertussis vaccine when offered. It helps protect your baby in their first weeks of life. Find out more here.
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