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 The General Election is now just over one week away and many of you have applied to vote by post. Once you’ve got your postal vote, don’t delay, make sure you complete it and send it back straight away to make it count!
When voting by post, you should:
- mark your vote on your ballot paper in secret
- fill in the postal voting statement
- put the ballot and statement in the envelope provided
- seal the envelope yourself
Post your ballot back as quickly as possible to make sure it’s counted. If you’re too late to post your ballot paper you can take it to your local polling station by 10pm on election day, or to our Council offices in Market Street, Newbury before it closes.
You need to give your ballot paper to a member of staff at the polling station or at the Council offices and complete a form for your vote to count. Your vote will be rejected if you don't do this.
You can hand in your own postal vote and postal votes for up to five other voters. If you are a political campaigner, the five other voters must be family members or people you provide regular care for.
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Carriageway resurfacing on A4 Bath Road, Hungerford |
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 Our contractor Volker Highways Ltd, will be undertaking essential carriageway surfacing works on the A4 Bath Road in Hungerford between the B4192 junction with A4 Charnham Street and Oak Hill.
The work is scheduled to take place from 1 July to 9 July between 7:00pm to 5:00am. Works on 4 July, whilst Polling Stations are open for the General Election, will start after 10pm.
Works will be undertaken with a road closure and a signed alternative diversion route. Emergency vehicles will be allowed through the works under site supervision. The contractor will endeavour to provide access to properties, but short delays can be expected as works pass vehicle entrances.
Letters have been delivered to properties directly affect by the road closure and signage has been placed along the roads to inform drivers of the road closure with a diversion in place.
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 As part of Armed Forces Day, which takes place this Saturday (29 June), we’re flying the Armed Forces flag in celebration and unity with those who are currently serving or are military veterans.
By flying the flag, we’re acknowledging the role the armed forces play in maintaining security and peace, promoting a sense of solidarity and appreciation among residents and service members alike. West Berkshire has the highest number of ex-regular or ex-reservists living in the area compared to the rest of Berkshire, with over 4,000 people living in the district.
Armed Forces Day is not just a celebration but a reminder of the dedication and bravery of the UK's military personnel. Whether through attending events or simply raising awareness, everyone can play a part in honouring those who serve.
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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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The first Berkshire Prosperity Board meeting took place last week at Wokingham Borough Council offices. The new joint committee made up of the six Berkshire unitary authorities aims to help drive forward and deliver future economic success across the county.
The six councils have committed to working together to drive and deliver economic prosperity across the county, with the aim of securing more funding, creating more jobs and enabling more affordable housing for residents.
The first meeting provided a background to the creation of the Board, set out the six workstreams (health and inequalities, skills and education, affordable housing, sector development, strategic infrastructure and net zero.
Alison Webster, Chief Executive Officer, at the Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, also provided an update on the development of the Berkshire Economic Development Strategy.
The agenda is available here. The next meeting of the Board will be held at 12 noon on 16 September 2024.
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 Click the image to hear from Mel, one of our Shared Lives Carers
Could you share your heart and home with someone who needs care and wants to be part of a family?
Our Shared Lives team will be at Thatcham Family Fun Day this Sunday (30 June), why not head down and have a chat with them.
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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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 The Climate Ambassadors Scheme, supported by Department for Education, is recruiting volunteers!
The scheme mobilises and supports educational settings in England to act on climate change with the help of skilled volunteers. Climate Ambassadors from across the private, public and charity sectors provide settings with free, tailored guidance to progress their Climate Action Plans, wherever they are on their sustainability journey.
The scheme is recruiting volunteers to put their sustainability expertise to work. Haven’t worked in an education setting (nursery, school or college) before? Not to worry, all volunteers will receive training on Climate Action Plans and advice on applying their knowledge and skills in an education setting.
Discover more and learn how you can get involved here or by emailing climateambassadors_se@reading.ac.uk
 Thank you to everyone who is recycling their food waste through our weekly kerbside collection service. Food waste is taken for processing to our in-vessel composting facility at Padworth Recycling Centre.
Food waste isn’t just plate scrapings, gone off bread, potatoes or meat. It's tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells, apple cores, onion/potato peel, white meat bones and any other part of a food item that you don’t eat. If you don’t compost these at home, make sure you recycle them in our weekly food waste collection service.
We are recycling around 80 tonnes of food waste from West Berkshire households each week. However, on average 20% of the black bin is still made up of food waste.
There are lots of great ideas and practices we can adopt to help reduce food waste. Click here to watch the first of three entertaining 'Rubbish Rumours' videos we are launching to help dispel the rumours of food recycling.
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Enjoy the beauty of summer at Shaw House Summer Fair. Browse over 60 local stalls on the Great Lawn and enjoy refreshments from our café, bar and caterers. For our younger visitors there will be creative crafts, a magic show from Mr Muddle, meet and greet the Shetland ponies and a bouncy castle.
Don’t forget to bring along your four legged friends as the National Animal Welfare Trust will be hosting a dog show with categories including ‘perfect puppy’, ‘golden oldie’ and ‘radiant rescue’.
The House and Exhibition Rooms will also be open on the day.
Shaw House | Sunday 21 July | 11am – 4pm | Adults £2, Children £1 (Free for children aged 3 years and under) | Pay on the door
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And finally...
- Did you know you need to bring photo ID with you to a polling station in order to vote in the General Election on 4 July? Find out more here.
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