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Thank you to everyone who joined us for our sixth soil conditioner giveaway at the weekend. We had a total of 786 cars visit Padworth over the weekend taking away 88 tonnes of soil conditioner - that's a new record! We hope you all enjoyed the event and best of luck with your gardening projects this Spring.
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Introducing Ridgeway Council |
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An initial proposal has been submitted on behalf of West Berkshire Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council for the creation of a new unitary council that would see the three areas combined. At their Executive and Cabinet meetings last week, members from all three councils agreed to support the submission of the interim proposal. The proposal is being developed under the title 'Ridgeway Council' - named after the famous 5,000-year-old trail that travels through the heart of the three council areas.
The move is in response to a government invitation following its announcement in December 2024 to end two-tier authorities like those in Oxfordshire. As part of the shake-up of local councils, the government has also indicated all unitary authorities will need to serve around 500,000 residents or more, which will require West Berkshire Council - which covers around 170,000 people - to merge with neighbouring councils.
The government has set a deadline for final submissions for unitary council proposals no later than 28 November 2025. In the meantime, the councils will continue to develop the proposals along with a programme of communication and engagement to ensure local voices and community needs are reflected in the proposal.
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 The Thatcham by-election will be taking place on Thursday 24 April in the Thatcham North East ward, for both the District and Thatcham Town Councils in the seat vacated by Lee Dillon. A statement of candidates standing for election will be published on our website on Thursday 27 March and poll cards will soon arrive for those entitled to vote.
If you live in the north east ward of Thatcham, the deadline to register to vote is Friday 4 April. This will apply if you have recently moved and don’t receive a poll card. You can register to vote online here. The deadline for postal voting applications is 5pm on Monday 7 April. You can apply for a postal vote here.
If you have any questions about voting in the by-election, please call 01635 519464 for advice.
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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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This year’s campaign, which takes place from 21 March to 6 April, calls on families, neighbours, friends, and colleagues to join forces to show they love where they live by taking part in the mass action litter pick and pledging to pick a bag of litter from local areas to protect our communities and precious wildlife habitats.
Due to high demand, our litter-picking equipment is now fully booked, and unfortunately, we are unable to provide further supplies at this time. However, we encourage residents to look out for future opportunities to get involved.
If you're taking part, we'd love to see your efforts—please tag us in your photos on social media of your clean-up events so we can celebrate your hard work and share them with the community.
For more information on our community clean-up initiatives and future support, please click the button below.
If you are under 18, it is illegal for anyone to inject you with botulinum toxin (botox), or fillers for cosmetic purposes, or make plans/book an appointment for you to do so. It does not matter if you or your parents or guardians give their permission for the procedures to take place.
Registered doctors, nurses, dentists and pharmacists can still provide treatments to under 18s, but only in cases where the treatment has been approved by a doctor. These treatments are only available following a face to face assessment by a doctor and performed by a regulated healthcare professional.
The controls which are set out in The Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act are designed to safeguard children from the potential health risks of the treatments.
If you are aged 18 or over and you want a botulinum toxin or filler treatment for a cosmetic purpose, you can expect to be asked to provide proof of age by the practitioner or business before an appointment is made and again before the procedure is done.
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We value your views on the decisions we take. There are several areas we are currently holding consultations on, including:
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 Could a simple conversation lead to something life changing? If you have ever thought about fostering, or even if you are just curious, we would love to chat with you.
Over the coming months, West Berkshire Council’s Fostering Team will be visiting libraries across the area, offering a relaxed and informal way to learn more about fostering. Whether you're wondering if fostering is right for you or just want to understand how it works, this is your chance to ask questions and explore the possibilities.
Find the team at your local library:
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Family Activity days and Messy Museum |
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Join us at Shaw House and West Berkshire Museum in April for our Family Activity and Messy Museum days!
No need to book, just drop-in | £2.50 per child | 10am-3pm
Family Activity days: 9 and 16 April | Shaw House
Messy Museum days: 11 and 17 | West Berkshire Museum
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And finally...
- We can all struggle. Any time. Any place. That's why it's important to pay attention to those around us. If you notice someone acting differently or seeming out of place, take the time to engage in a little small talk. We all worry about saying the wrong thing, but a little small talk can be all that’s needed to interrupt someone's suicidal thoughts and get them to a place of safety. Find out more on the Samaritans website.
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