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 Residents, businesses, visitors and road users are invited to share their views on a proposed trial to extend pedestrianised hours in Newbury Town Centre.
Currently, Newbury’s town centre streets - Northbrook Street, Bridge Street, Bartholomew Street (North), Mansion House Street, Wharf Street, and Market Place - are pedestrianised with no vehicle access from 10:00am to 5:00pm. The proposed trial, which is part of the Council Strategy 2023-2027, would extend this period of no vehicle access from 10:00am to 11:00pm.
This pre-trial consultation is a simple yes/no exercise to gauge public opinion before any decisions are made. If support is shown, an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order could be introduced to trial the changes in spring 2025.
Please tell us what you think by completing our survey by midnight on Tuesday 5 November. It’s short and should take just five minutes of your time.
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Chairman officially opens Kennet Valley Resource Base |
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 Our Chairman Billy Drummond was very pleased to cut the ribbon and officially open the new Social, Emotional and Mental Health facility at Kennet Valley Primary School yesterday.
Councillor Heather Codling, Executive Member for Children, Education and Young People's Services was also there talking to BBC South about the importance of investing in Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) provisions, to make sure that more of our children get the special educational support they need.
Kennet Valley Headteacher, Deirdre Devine expressed her delight at the new facility saying: "We have loved welcoming our first children to the Kennet Valley Resource Base. We can see how the design, the thought, the consideration, the construction, the money, the heart and soul that has gone in to its creation will benefit the children.
"It’s just right. It’s perfect. I hope that parents and carers are reassured that their children will not only be safe and happy here, they will thrive.
"This is a brilliant innovation and reflects West Berkshire Council's SEND team’s passion to provide high quality opportunities for our most vulnerable learners."
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 Residents are invited to have their say on our draft Waste Management Strategy, which outlines a vision for a greener future, including:
- Increasing recycling rates to at least 60% by 2030.
- Cutting residual waste to 120kg per person per year by 2042.
- Helping West Berkshire achieve Net Zero by 2030.
- Keeping West Berkshire a great place to live and work.
- Leading by example for residents and businesses.
To have your say, please complete our survey by midnight on 6 November 2024.
Paper copies of the survey are available on request. Please ring: 01635 519 080 or email: recycle@westberks.gov.uk to request a copy.
Copies are also available at the Council Office Reception, Market Street Newbury, RG14 5LD during our opening times Mondays - Thursdays 8:30am – 5:00pm and Fridays 8:30am - 4:30pm.
In addition, we are offering drop-in sessions at local libraries where you can talk to a member of the team on the draft Waste Strategy – times and locations can be found 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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Getting reliable information during an emergency is crucial for making informed decisions and staying safe.
With flooding and adverse weather likely this winter, take the time now to now what to do in an emergency.
Volunteers play a vital role in keeping communities safe and prepared. Knowing your neighbours and understanding what help is needed in an emergency can make a big difference.
Get involved before an emergency strikes. You could provide local knowledge, help create a community emergency plan, or join a local group.
Find local resilience activities and become a Community Emergency Volunteer or Flood Warden. Explore opportunities with charities like the Red Cross, Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue, or REACT.
Visit Prepare Campaign to learn more and volunteer. In West Berkshire you can also contact: Volunteer Centre West Berkshire who match local people to local needs or Community Furniture Project who provide furniture or household goods to people in need.
For more information, visit our preparing for emergencies page.
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 Our Electoral Canvass is still running and next week we will be sending forms to residents we don’t hold email addresses for, and those who didn’t respond to emails at the beginning of September.
If your details have changed, you can let us know by responding online, by post, or by phone on 01635 519464. An example of a change would be where a resident has turned 76 and is therefore no longer eligible for jury service. Perhaps you have a 16 or 17 year old to include, who will be able to vote once they are 18.
We're writing to individual EU electors too, because their ability to vote and stand for election has changed since Brexit. More information is available on our website.
All you need to do is follow the instructions on the letter, and you'll be ready to have your say in upcoming elections.
 If you have children embarking on their next chapter, heading to university or starting their careers, you may find yourself with an empty room and a quieter home. Have you ever thought about opening your doors to a child who needs a safe and nurturing environment?
Your life experience, combined with the training and support you will receive as a foster carer, can help a child or teenager feel safe, secure, and valued. You’ve already built a home filled with love, stability, and opportunity. Now, you can offer that to a young person in need.
If you have a spare room and the desire to make a difference, consider fostering. Get in touch today to learn more!
Join our Fostering Team at Wellington Country Park on Saturday (28 September) from 9:30am- 5:00pm to learn about your suitability to foster and the benefits that you could receive.
Fostering South East are offering all prospective carers four free tickets, worth £73.80, giving you access to the park’s attractions and facilities. The first 100 visitors on site will also receive a goody bag on arrival.
Please book your tickets in advance as numbers are limited. Call 0300 131 2797 to confirm your attendance.
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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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 There's just a few days left to share your views in our bus survey. We want to know how satisfied you are with:
- Local public bus services
- Ticketing improvements
- The £2 National Single Fare Cap
- Changes and improvements to public bus services
We'd also like to hear:
- Your suggestions for improvements to passenger waiting areas
- Your views on long-distance coach services
To take part, complete the online survey by midnight on Sunday, 29 September.
Paper copies of the survey are available on request by contacting 01635 519394 or emailing transport@westberks.gov.uk
Cosier Homes is a free, impartial energy advice service for people in Berkshire, run by national charity the Centre for Sustainable Energy.
Their team of expert advisors can help you with:
- Concerns about energy bills and payments.
- Dealing with energy suppliers
- Managing energy or water debt
- Using your heating system efficiently and keeping your home warm for less
- Accessing funding for insulation, heating upgrades and other financial support
- Tackling damp and mould
You can contact Cosier Homes for free on 0800 038 6345 or visit their website.
Book groups are a great way to meet with friends and share thoughts about something you've read in a friendly atmosphere (often along with food and drink!). If you belong to a book group, why not borrow sets of books for your group from us? We supply sets of 10 copies of your chosen title and we have over two hundred sets for you to choose from. Please email library@westberks.gov.uk for details.
If you want to set up a book group but you're not sure how to go about it, we can help with that too. Alternatively, if you want to join an existing group in our area you'll find that some of our libraries run their own book groups, which you are welcome to join. Please ask in your local library to find out what's available near you.
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With over 40 wedding suppliers under one roof - the Shaw House Wedding Fair, organised by Berkshire Wedding Fairs, is the perfect way to plan for your big day and will suit couples marrying at any location in and around the Berkshire area.
Head down to Shaw House on Sunday 13 October 2024, 11am – 3pm. Entry is free, but we kindly ask that you pre-register here.
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And finally...
- With heavy rain and flood alerts across the UK, find out more about being prepared for flooding on our website.
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