|
 Sunday 22 September is World Car Free Day, and we've teamed up with local bus operators Reading Buses, Thames Travel, and Stagecoach, to offer you free bus travel on eligible services across the district for the day!
Enjoy a day out without your car and explore Newbury, Basingstoke or Reading. Plus, a special one-off service will run on the X34 between Newbury and Didcot, making it easier than ever to connect with friends and family.
The following routes will be operating their usual Sunday timetables and will offer return travel back to West Berkshire – remember to ask the driver for a free return ticket:
|
Route
|
Operator
|
Destination
|
|
Jet Black 1
|
Reading Buses
|
Newbury to Reading
|
|
Lime 2/2a
|
Reading Buses
|
Mortimer/Burghfield to Reading
|
|
Sky Blue 15
|
Reading Buses
|
Theale/Calcot to Reading
|
|
Sky Blue 16
|
Reading Buses
|
Purley on Thames to Reading
|
|
Yellow 26
|
Reading Buses
|
Calcot to Reading
|
|
32
|
Stagecoach South
|
Newbury to Basingstoke
|
|
Royal Blue 33
|
Reading Buses
|
Turnham’s Farm to Reading
|
In addition to the usual Sunday timetables, the X34 between Newbury and Didcot will be running a special one off timetable which will be completely free (Newbury Show buses are not included in this event):
|
Stops
|
|
|
|
|
|
Didcot Parkway Station
|
0807
|
0907
|
At same time each hour until
|
1607
|
|
Newbury, Vodafone roundabout
|
0849
|
0949
|
At same time each hour until
|
1649
|
|
Donnington, Donnington Square
|
0853
|
0953
|
At same time each hour until
|
1653
|
|
Newbury, Wharf Bus Station
|
0857
|
0957
|
At same time each hour until
|
1657
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Newbury, Wharf Bus Station
|
0928
|
1028
|
At same time each hour until
|
1728
|
|
Donnington, Donnington Square
|
0933
|
1033
|
At same time each hour until
|
1733
|
|
Newbury, Vodafone Roundabout
|
0938
|
1038
|
At same time each hour until
|
1738
|
|
Didcot, Haydon Road
|
1026
|
1126
|
At same time each hour until
|
1826
|
Only the above services will be eligible for free bus travel and only applies for the those who board in West Berkshire and are returning to/travelling in West Berkshire.
Let’s make a positive impact together - leave the car at home on 22 September, hop on a bus, and enjoy a greener way to travel!
|
|
Garden waste subscription information |
|
 The 2024/25 garden waste subscription period started on 26 August and our in-cab technology is working well identifying which properties are subscribed to the service. Not issuing subscription stickers has already resulted in over 32,000 fewer pieces of paper and plastic being issued to subscribers.
Over the last few weeks, we have identified some residents have put their green bins out for collection without a subscription. In such instances the bin will not be emptied and a bin hanger left explaining the reason why. We then contact the residents in writing to provide further information about the service and how to subscribe. If the bin is presented again for collection without a valid subscription, we will remove the green bin completely and take it back to the depot.
For more information about garden waste collections and to subscribe, please visit our website.
|
|
Creating an emergency plan is essential to ensure you and your family are prepared for various scenarios.
Being prepared is important – get ready, make a plan, and stay informed.
In an emergency, you may need to Go In, Stay In, Tune In. Here’s some information to help you prepare:
|
Protecting your family, including children and pets, during emergencies involves proactive planning and acquiring essential skills.
Get your children involved too! Use helpful resources like the Pillowcase Project (for ages 7-11) and Staywise, which offer fun tools and games to teach emergency preparedness.
Stay safe with these must-have apps:
|
|
|
|
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:
|
|
 Our annual Learner Achievement Awards celebrate the success of adult learning in West Berkshire and we’re always inspired by those adult learners you nominate for their achievements, often under really tough circumstances.
We recognise all kinds of adult learning, and each winner receives a cash prize and an invite to our awards ceremony on Friday, 8 November.
Last year’s Outstanding Achievement Award winner, Kyra Black, was diagnosed with ASD and dyspraxia when young and has high frequency hearing loss in both ears. Kyra always dreamt of going to university and studied alongside working at Falkland Primary School to turn her dream to reality. She started her degree in Medieval History last year.
Every year, we meet people who’ve exceeded all expectations. You know these people and their stories. Please tell us about them so we can recognise and celebrate their successes.
Planning your own learning journey?
In the 2023-24 academic year, almost 1300 adults enrolled on a West Berkshire funded course. Around 200 courses were delivered in community venues across the district via twenty providers, so there really is something for everyone! Find your course here.
|
|
|
We value your views on the decisions we take. There are several areas we are currently holding consultations on, including:
|
|
 Click image to enlarge
With your help we've made great strides in boosting recycling across West Berkshire, increasing our recycling rate from 49% to 54% in the last year.
In 2021, we introduced collection points for plastic pots, tubs, and trays at our Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) and selected Mini Recycling Centres (MRCs). The following year we increased the number of MRCs for small electrical items and cartons. 2022 also saw the introduction of the paint re-use scheme at our HWRCs, as well as our separate weekly food waste collection service which has already saved over 7,600 tonnes from landfill.
Food waste collected creates soil conditioner right here in West Berkshire which is used by local landowners, landscapers and available for residents to collect during our biannual Soil Conditioner giveaways. Learn more by watching our binfluencer video.
More recently, 2024 has seen the introduction of new services such as: battery collection at your doorstep, and coffee pod and vape recycling at our HWRCs.
We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who does their bit to reduce, reuse and recycle! Let’s continue making West Berkshire greener and more sustainable.
 There's now just over a week left to visit the Altered States open-air sculpture exhibition at Shaw House! Discover artworks by acclaimed sculptors on the Orangery Lawn where all works on display are available for purchase. This free exhibition is open until Sunday 29 September, 11am – 4pm.
For more information about the exhibiting artists please click here.
|
|
Author chat with Eve Smith |
|
Join us on Friday 18 October from 1-2pm at Newbury Library as we interview Eve Smith, author of three speculative, dystopian thrillers. Tickets £5.
Eve will discuss the ideas behind her dystopian novels and the research that inspired them. This will be followed by an audience Q & A and the opportunity to buy signed copies of her books. Book your space here.
|
And finally...
-
Statues of the nation’s favourite marmalade-loving bear will be taking a seat in locations across the UK and Ireland in early October, including Newbury! Over 20 Paddington statues will be installed on benches in early October in anticipation of the forthcoming release of Paddington in Peru, arriving in UK cinemas on November 8th, 2024. Find out more here.
|
|
|
|
|
