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 The Community Champion Awards are an opportunity to say thank you to people who have done something special for their local community and to honour those individuals and community groups who have gone above and beyond to support residents throughout West Berkshire over the last year.
Winners and highly commended nominees joined us last night (18 March) at Shaw House to receive their awards and celebrate their achievements.
We're delighted to announce that our 2024 Community Champions are:
- Kerry Bird - Volunteer of the Year
- Lambourn Junction Community Interest Company - Community Group of the Year
- Paul Cooke - Lifetime Achievement Award
The judges were very impressed with the quality of the nominations. Congratulations to all the nominees and thank you to everyone who nominated them.
The nominations for the next Community Champion Awards will open later this year.
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Soil conditioner giveaway this weekend |
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 Don't forget to head over to Padworth Integrated Waste Management Facility (RG7 4JF) this weekend (Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 March, 10am - 4pm) for our soil conditioner giveaway!
No need to book - just turn up! Simply bring proof of address (such as an ID card or a recent utility bill) to show you're a West Berkshire resident, and don't forget to bring your own bags, boxes, or containers.
This is a free event, and we expect it to be popular. There may be queues during busy times, so we appreciate your patience. We'll be restocking throughout the day, so there's no need to rush - there will be plenty to go around. To ensure as many residents as possible can benefit, please take a reasonable amount and be mindful of others to allow everyone a chance to enjoy this fantastic offer.
If you wish to visit the nearby household waste recycling centre you must still book an appointment.
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The proposal for a new ‘Ridgeway Council’ is being discussed by the Executive today (Wednesday 19 March).
The meeting begins at 4.30pm and is available to stream on our YouTube channel – and to watch back later too. Similar meetings are also being held today by South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council. If the initial proposal is supported by all three councils it will be submitted to the Government by the end of Friday.
It's important that local voices and community needs are reflected in the final proposal, which must be submitted by November. We’ll tell you more about how you can have your say in a future edition.
Throughout the year we're out and about improving our roads.
From fixing potholes, resurfacing roads, and making sure our drains flow well, the work we do helps keep you on the move. Last month we fixed 359 potholes, cleaned 1,056 gullies and repaired 57 streetlights, as well as undertaking other maintenance.
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.
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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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 Newly released figures shows West Berkshire is in the top 25% of councils for having young people in education, employment or training.
The figures, published by the Department for Education (DfE), show that West Berkshire is performing better than both the Southeast and England average, with the numbers of 16 and 17 year olds participating in education and training higher than the previous year.
Covering 2023/24, West Berkshire is shown performing well when measuring the number of young people Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETs) and young people whose activity status is not known. Importantly, the Council also performs strongly having fewer young people in vulnerable groups recorded as NEET or Not Known.
We will continue to work with young people, local employers and the education sector to support those young people who are currently not in education, employment or training.
Families across West Berkshire will soon benefit from enhanced and expanded Family Hubs, ensuring more children, parents, and carers can access vital support when they need it.
Our four Family Hubs in Thatcham, Calcot, Newbury, and Hungerford already provide a lifeline for many families, and from April, key changes will create a more joined-up support system. Family Hubs will work even closer with Early Help teams, extending support not just to families with young children, but also to those with older children and young people.
Stay tuned for opportunities to get involved and help shape this vital service.
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 Thames Valley Police recently asked us to consider introducing a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Pangbourne Meadows, and we are now asking local residents, businesses, agencies, and visitors to the area for their views.
PSPOs allow us to restrict certain behaviours in an area, to ensure that everyone can feel safer and enjoy public spaces.
The consultation will be live until 30 April – click the button below for details.
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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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 A School Streets Scheme will be introduced to create a safer, healthier environment for children and families at Springfield Primary School in Tilehurst from 2 June. Vehicles will be restricted during school drop-off and pick-up times as this initiative aims to reduce congestion, improve air quality, and make roads safer for everyone.
Local roads, including Barton Road, Woodbridge Road, Highbury Road, and Jenner Walk, will have restricted vehicle access term time only, Monday to Friday during these times:
- Morning: 8:15am – 9:15am
- Afternoon: 2:30pm – 3:30pm
This School Streets Scheme, which has been successful at two other schools in West Berkshire, encourages walking, cycling, and scooting to school, benefiting both children and the community for a cleaner, greener, and safer school journey.
Join us on Saturday, 5 April, 10:30am - 3:00pm, at St Bartholomew’s School, Newbury, for GreenFest - a free community family event celebrating action and hope for the planet!
West Berkshire Council will be there, with teams from Waste Management, Transport, and Highways ready to chat and answer your questions.
This inspiring day will:
- Empower you to take action for climate and nature.
- Showcase local organisations and services making a difference.
- Connect you with environmental groups and changemakers.
- Feature live music, crafts, cooking, and nature activities.
Mark your calendar, invite your friends, and join us for a day of creativity, community, and action. Together, we can celebrate, learn, and build lasting connections with others passionate about a greener future.
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 We're encouraging communities to have their say on proposals to protect biodiversity, reduce the impact of climate change and boost the benefits of nature as part of a consultation on the Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
This follows previous early engagement with communities, which helped shape the strategy – and now feedback from landowners and communities aims to support councils across Berkshire finalise the strategy to assist nature recovery across the county.
Residents will be able to leave their comments on the strategy and add pins to a Local Habitat Map for suggested nature recovery sites until Monday 24 March.
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Start a new career in child and family social work |
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There is just under a week left to apply for the Step Up To Social Work programme - an intensive but highly rewarding 14-month, full time training programme for aspiring child and family social workers.
The programme is designed for people who want to become a social worker, but do not have a degree in social work. Successful applicants train through a combination of academic study and hands on social work experience in a local authority.
Applicants eligible for the programme, which includes financial support alongside training, will be individuals with experience of working with vulnerable children, young people, families or adults, and who can demonstrate emotional resilience and potential for success. Find out more and apply by 25 March here.
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And finally...
- Council tax bills have started dropping onto doormats this week. Got a question? You can find answers to questions we’re often asked here.
- Don't forget to check National Highways information for upcoming road closures, in particular closures for M4 junctions 14 and 15.
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