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West Berkshire Council launches Council Tax e-billing

It's now possible to opt-in to receive your Council Tax bill online.

E-billing provides a more convenient service:

• You will receive an email when a new bill is ready to view
• You can view bills on your preferred device and at a time which suits you
• It gives you peace of mind knowing where your latest bill is - and where to see previous bills
• It helps reduces the amount of mail you receive through your letterbox

In addition to this, e-billing is more environmentally friendly and saves the Council money on printing and postage costs.

Christmas is a time for sharing and caring

Community Wellness Outreach Service

If you're aged between 30 and 74, your GP will contact you to let you know that Solutions4Health will be inviting you for a free health check.

You can find more information and booking here or you can contact Solutions4Health by phone 0800 772 0056 / 0118 449 2985 or by email WestBerkshire.CWOS@nhs.net.

Active travel and traffic signal improvements in Thatcham

We've designed and delivered upgrades to pedestrian and cycle facilities on the A4 Bath Road at Crown Mead, Thatcham with our highways term contractor Volker Highways. 

The pedestrian crossing between Crown Mead shops and Thatcham Library has been modified to a Toucan crossing that both pedestrians and cyclists can use considerately, and signalling  equipment has been updated. Removal of the central island has allowed cycle lanes to be provided on the carriageway, linking into existing cycle lanes to the east and west. 

In addition, footway improvements have been carried out on both sides of the A4 and in the High Street either side of Whybrow Court. Tactile paving has been introduced at several road junctions including at the junction of the A4 with Beverley Close, where the crossing distance for pedestrians has been reduced by widening the footway.  

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:

• Senior Engineer - Projects team
• Care Practitioner (Phoenix Resource Centre)
• Residential Team Leader (Castle Gate)

Trading Standards officers seize counterfeit vodka

In September, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued an alert on the production and distribution of counterfeit vodka labelled as Glen’s Vodka.  They worked closely with the brand and issued information to help distinguish between genuine and counterfeit products. Our Trading Standards Officers, on a routine food standards inspection of a store, seized vodka which they believed to be counterfeit based on the information issued by the FSA. The vodka was sent away for testing and confirmed as counterfeit. This is the first instance of this product being found in the South East.  The samples contained isopropyl alcohol which is an industrial solvent and is not intended for human consumption. It has a strange smell and tastes different to genuine vodka. The Food Standards Food Crime Team have been advised and our officers are working with them. Every genuine bottle of Glen’s Vodka has a laser etched lotcode applied to the bottle between the rear label and the base of the bottle. If you see any Glen’s Vodka without the lotcode, do not drink it. Please notify Trading Standards Officers on tsadvice@westberks.gov.uk or telephone 01635 519930 for further instruction and advice.

New studio for Hungerford Leisure Centre

Hungerford Leisure Centre's new multi-functional activity and fitness studio was craned into place last weekend and is on track to be completed in the new year.

Residents of all ages and abilities will be able to enjoy a variety of classes in the brand-new studio. We can’t wait for local people to start using and enjoying this new space!

Rural business grants in 2024

Over the last year, we've been running the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) business grant scheme to support small rural businesses in scaling up and diversifying to support the local economy and communities.

We can now announce that all of the £297,994 that was made available for the scheme has been allocated, and the total project value has reached £496,090.97 through match funding from successful applicants.

Through this scheme we've supported 12 small rural businesses, created 17 jobs, and provided eight apprenticeships. Five barns and workshops have been renovated, seven agricultural businesses have been supported, and five tourism assets have been established.

Nino's Italian Deli received grant funding and used it to launch a coffee and gelato pop-up at Pangbourne Meadows. They serve cold drinks, snacks, pastries and of course coffee / gelato to the local community, tourists, boaters, dog walkers, and families that regularly enjoy this beautiful part of our district.

Kennet Leisure Centre reopens after revamp

We were delighted to welcome customers new and old back to Kennet Leisure Centre this week to make use of the refurbished gym and exercise studios.

We value your views on the decisions we take. There are several areas we are currently holding consultations on, including:

• Consultation on budget proposals for 2025/26
• Consultation on the Proposed Main Modifications to the West Berkshire Local Plan Review 2022-2039
• Proposed Admission Arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools 2026/27

• Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025

Bank holiday pharmacy opening times

Check the opening times before you visit your local pharmacy, as they may not be open during their usual hours over Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

In West Berkshire, Boots the Chemists (Newbury Retail Park, Pinchington Lane, Newbury, RG14 7HU) will be open on Christmas Day 2pm–5pm, Boxing Day 10am-4pm and New Year's Day from 10am-4pm.

Please stock up on medical supplies and collect your prescriptions ahead of these days. There are other pharmacies open in neighbouring boroughs. Check the NHS website to search, or view on the interactive map.

Be prepared and ease demand on health services

Be prepared for winter weather, such as cold temperatures, high winds, snow and flooding, which could impact you. To stay well this winter it’s important to plan ahead for yourself and those around you.

Make sure to stock up on medicine for common minor illnesses. If you are concerned, it’s important to know the right place to go to for help:

• Pharmacists can give treatment advice for a range of minor illnesses and can tell you if you need to see a doctor.
• You may be able to speak to a GP online, by phone, or go in for an appointment if they think you need to.
• Visit NHS 111 or call 111 if you have an urgent medical problem and you are not sure what to do.
• Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if there is a life-threatening emergency, such as signs of hypothermia, a heart attack or a stroke.

It is important to stay up to date with the vaccinations that are available to you, as these help to reduce the impact of respiratory illnesses. There are actions that we can all take to help reduce the risk of catching and passing on infections.

Winter Holiday Activity and Food programme

Our Winter Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme gets up and running this week, and Elfis and Tinsel are ready to join in the fun!

The HAF programme delivers free holiday club places for children and young people who are eligible for free school meals. Activities include outdoor and indoor play, gaming, sports, music, and arts and crafts.

There are still spaces for activities both in December and January. To book your eligible child a HAF holiday club place, please visit the link below. For all HAF enquiries, please contact Hannah Lee, HAF Coordinator, at Hannah.lee1@westberks.gov.uk.

Reading over the festive period?

If you can’t finish your book before it is due for return or can't get to a library in time, it may be possible to extend the loan period.

You can renew library loans up to four times if nobody else is waiting to borrow the items you have. You can do this online by logging in to your library account or via the West Berkshire Libraries app or our children’s app, Planet Library.

Please note that if we have obtained something for you from outside West Berkshire we may not be able to renew it.

Private fostering awareness for professionals

Private fostering is when a child under the age of 16 (or 18 if disabled) is cared for by someone who is not their parent or a close relative for 28 days or more. Are you aware of private fostering in your professional role? Join our seminar at Shaw House, Chandos Room on Tuesday 11 February, 3:00pm to 5:00pm, to learn how to: Identify children in private fostering arrangements Report these cases to the local authority effectively. Light refreshments will be provided. If you are currently privately fostering or know of somebody who is, please call us on 01635 503155 or email: child@westberks.gov.uk . You can find out more here.

And finally...

• Don't forget there is free bus travel across the district again this Saturday (21 December). If you start your journey in West Berkshire, your return journey is also free! This extends the free travel beyond the district to our neighbouring areas; just make sure you request a return ticket from the driver when boarding. Find out more here.

• There will be changes to rail services between 27-29 December (following the usual Christmas closedown on 25 and 26 December) due to HS2 work on the new station at Old Oak Common just outside Paddington. Full details can be found here. Works are also taking place at Westbury station from 27 December until 23 January. More information is available via Great Western Railway and Network Rail.

• Essential bridge repairs to junction 12 of the M4, otherwise known as the Theale Interchange, begins on Monday 6 January. Phase one of this work has already been completed. The east side of the junction will be reduced to two lanes from Monday 6 January through to the middle of March. There will also be overnight (9pm to 6am) closures on the east side of the junction (including the on-slip road to the M4 eastbound) which start on Monday 6 January and run until early February.