Aldworth Road in the Parish of Basildon will be closed on 13^th December 2023, between the hours of 09:30 – 15:30, from the junction of Maple Lane to the Junction of Darby Lane. This closure is to enable Volker Highways to carry out permanent carriageway repairs on behalf of West Berkshire Council.

Diversion will be signed on-site.

All enquiries please contact Highways Maintenance at West Berkshire Council on 01635 519080

A plan of the closure can be found at: (click on link): https://one.network/?tm=GB136694374

Wantage Road in Streatley. The second of two closures will be on the 6^th October 2023 and will take place during the hours of 09.00 to 16.00.

The closure will be between its junction with Rectory Road and its junction with Wallingford Road.

The diversion route (suitable for all vehicles) is expected to be via - Wallingford Rd (A329), A4130, A417, and vice versa.

The purpose of this closure is for a crane to lift various components in and out of an inaccessible area.

Residential access will be maintained throughout, and the diversion will be signed on site.

Please Note: Blue light access (within the hours described above) should seek an alternative route.

All enquiries should be directed to: UK Drainage Claims Ltd on 07554 017 427or Southern Cranes on 01430 790 874

A plan of the closure can be found at: (click on link) https://one.network/?tm=GB135702786

Did you know you can sign up to receive alerts for roadworks in your area? Visit one.network for moreinformation.

B4009 in the Parishes of Streatley, Aldworth, and Hampstead Norreys will be closed on the 2^nd October 2023, from the hours of 09:30 – 15:30, from its’ junctions with Bothampstead Road to junction of Reading Road. This closure is to enable Volker Highways carryout routine gully cleansing on behalf of West Berkshire Council.

The works will be completed in the following sections:

Section 1 – Bothampstead Road – Unnamed Road from Ilsley Road to Newbury Hill

Section 2 – Hampstead Norreys Bridleway 10 – Dog Lane

Section 3 – Dog Lane – Reading Road

Diversion will be signed on-site.

All enquiries please contact our Drainage Team on 01635 519080

A plan of the closure can be found at: https://one.network/?tm=GB135782713

Did you know you can sign up to receive alerts for roadworks in your area? Visit one.network for more information.

Unnamed Road from Haw Lane to Noakes Hill in the Parish of Aldworth will be closed from 09:30 and 15:30 hours each day between 25^th and 29^th September 2023, the closure will be between its junction with Haw Lane and its junction with Noakes Hill.

An alternative route is via Aldworth Road, Palmers Hill, Holly Lane, Dog Lane, Haw Lane and vice versa.

The purpose of this closure is to enable Openreach to carry out duct and cabling works.

Residential access will be maintained throughout, and the diversion will be signed on site.

Please note blue light access will be permitted.

All enquiries should be directed to Sunbelt Rentals on03700 500792.

A plan of the closure can be found at https://one.network/?tm=GB135040643.

Did you know you can sign up to receive alerts for roadworks in your area? Visitone.networkfor more information.

Wantage Road in Streatley will be closed on two separate dates, the first will take place on the 25^th September 2023, the second will be on the 6^th October 2023 each closure will take place during the hours of 09.00 to 16.00.

The closure will be between its junction with Rectory Road and its junction with Wallingford Road.

The diversion route (suitable for all vehicles) is expected to be via - Wallingford Rd (A329), A4130, A417, and vice versa.

The purpose of this closure is for a crane to lift various components in and out of an inaccessible area.

Residential access will be maintained throughout, and the diversion will be signed on site.

Please Note: Blue light access (within the hours described above) should seek an alternative route.

All enquiries should be directed to: UK Drainage Claims Ltd on 07554 017 427or Southern Cranes on 01430 790 874

A plan of the closure can be found at: (click on link) https://one.network/?tm=GB135639986

Did you know you can sign up to receive alerts for roadworks in your area? Visit one.network for moreinformation.

Aldworth Road in the Parish of Basildon will be closed from the 20^th to 22^nd September 2023, the closure will be between its junction with Unnamed Road from Aldworth Road to Southridge Farm and its junction with Hook End Lane.

The diversion route is expected to be via - Reading Rd, B40009 (to Streatley), A329 (to Pangbourne), Pangbourne Hill, Pangbourne Rd, and vice versa.

The purpose of this closure is for Thames Water to carry out repairs and maintenance work.

Residential access will be maintained throughout, and the diversion will be signed on site.

Please Note: Blue light access will be via an alternative route.

All enquiries should be directed to: Thames Water on0800 316 9800

A plan of the closure can be found at: (click on link) - https://one.network/?tm=GB135531631

Did you know you can sign up to receive alerts for roadworks in your area? Visit one.network for moreinformation

Dear all,

Streatley Hill, Streatley will be closed from the 24^th July to 18^th August 2023, the closure is expected to be between its junction with A329 (Wallingford Road) and its junction with Lewendon Hill.

The diversion route is expected to be via – A329 (Wallingford Rd), A417, A34, A339 (toward Newbury) to Robin Hoods Roundabout, B4009 toward Streatley, and vice versa.

Residential access will be maintained throughout and the diversion will be signed on site.

The purpose of this closure is for SGN to replace its supply infrastructure along this route.

Please Note: Blue light access will be available via the diversion route only or other alternative route

All enquiries should be directed to: SGN on 0800 912 1700

A plan of the closure can be found at: (click on link)https://one.network/?tm=GB134810014

Did you know you can sign up to receive alerts for roadworks in your area? Visit one.network for moreinformation

Regards

Andrew Gatland

Environment Department, West Berkshire Council Market Street Newbury RG14 5LD

01635 519106 Ext 2106andrew.gatland1@westberks.gov.uk

www.westberks.gov.uk

What is being proposed

This Draft Parking Review Amendment Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is proposed to improve road safety at identified problem locations, will address obstruction concerns related to inconsiderate parking, and will resolve issues related to resident parking on High Street, Streatley.

• Proposed Permit Holders only 8am to 6pm: bays will be introduced for resident Permit Holders to accommodate approximately 14 vehicles. Space between bays will create informal 'passing places' for opposing traffic at busy periods. The remainder of High Street will remain unrestricted and available for any road user.
• Proposed No Waiting at Any Time: To prevent vehicles just parking on the south side of High Street and avoiding the parking bays

Why we want your views

We'd like to know whether you would support or object to the introduction of parking restrictions on the High Street, Streatley.

How to take part

If you'd like to comment on or object to the proposal, please complete our response form and return it to the Traffic and Road Safety Team by Thursday, 23 March 2023 stating the reasons for your objections or support.

Response Form here.

Any personal information you choose to provide will be kept confidential and used in accordance with our privacy notice.

If you have any questions about this TRO, please contact the Traffic and Road Safety Team.

For general enquiries about traffic management and road safety, please visit our webpage.

On Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 March 2023 there will be a 'Soil Conditioner' give-away event at the Padworth Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF), Padworth Lane, RG7 4JF, between 10am and 4pm where residents will be able to pick up Veolia's locally produced soil conditioner for free!

The soil conditioner is produced at Padworth from food and garden waste collected across West Berkshire and is being provided free of charge to West Berkshire Council residents through its partnership with Veolia.

Residents must bring along their own bags/boxes to load the soil conditioner into their vehicles and will be responsible for collecting and loading the soil conditioner from the site to their vehicle.  No booking is necessary, however they will be asking that attendees bring along ID or a bill with them to prove they are a resident of West Berkshire. Demand for our last give away was huge, so there could be some queuing during busy parts of the event days.   We have increased the number of collection points this time, to hopefully decrease waiting times and we will be re-stocking throughout the day so there is no need to get here early. Please be patient, this is a free event. We also ask that you only collect a reasonable amount to ensure everyone has an opportunity to make use of this offer.

Please note there will be vehicle restrictions in place. Vehicles listed as prohibited in the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) user guide will not be allowed. No commercial vehicles will be admitted; this is for householders only. Residents have to take necessary precautions for carrying the soil conditioner safely to their vehicle. The event organisers accept no liability for any injuries that may be sustained by residents loading their vehicles with the materials.  See the poster attached for more information.

More information including FAQ’s can be found on www.westberks.gov.uk/compost

From Laura Farris MP:

As we head into Spring with longer days and, hopefully, some better weather, many of you might be starting to plan day trips. Did you know that you can have a fascinating and free tour around the Palace of Westminster?

The tour takes in a number of historical areas including the Chambers of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the State Rooms, Central Lobby and the historic Westminster Hall.

Tours are conducted by Parliament’s expert guides and take around 75 minutes. The guides highlight some of Parliament’s dramatic history, explain the work of Parliament and set out ways to get involved and engaged with the democratic process. Whenever possible, I like to meet constituents at the beginning or end of their tour so that I can answer any questions.

I have a programme of tours arranged over the next few months as follows:

Monday 20 February at 11:00

Monday 6 March at 11:00

Monday 20 March at 11:00

Monday 17 April at 11:00

Monday 24 April at 11:00

Friday 12 May at 15:00

Monday 5 June at 11:00

Monday 19 June at 11:00

The list is constantly updated on my website and if any of the dates aren’t suitable, alternative dates can also be booked directly with my office.

It is an absolute privilege to work here and I always enjoy welcoming constituents for visits, including school groups and local organisations. I would love to see constituents from your parish and bookings can be made as follows:

Website https://www.laurafarris.org.uk/events

Phone 01635-551070

Email laura.farris.mp@parliament.uk

Mail Laura Farris MP, Park Street Offices, Park Street, Newbury, RG14 1EA

Aldworth Road in the parish of Aldworth, will be closed during the hours of 9.30 to 15.30 each day from the 9th to 12th January 2023, the closure will be between its junction with unnamed road from Aldworth Road to Uplands, to its junction with Coombe Road.

An alternative route is via Haw Lane, Wyld Court Hill, Church Street, Water Street, Newbury Road, Unnamed road from Ilsley Road to Newbury Hill, Ilsley Road, High Street, and vice versa.

The purpose of this closure is for urgent works to remove a tree that is in a dangerous condition.

Residential access will be maintained throughout and the diversion will be signed on site.

Please Note: Blue light access permitted throughout these works.

All enquiries should be directed to: Connick Tree Care on 01737 859 750

Link: https://one.network/?tm=GB132254667

The latest issue of Upstream Magazine is available for download below.

There is a 99% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/heavy snow between 0900 on Wednesday 14 Dec and 1200 on Sunday 18 Dec in the Southeast, including West Berkshire. This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable residents and disrupt the delivery of services.

Some documents are attached to help you stay warm and well this Winter.

With cost of living pressures affecting people across West Berkshire – and, in particular older members of the community – Laura Farris MP has launched a campaign to increase awareness of Pension Credit, an under-used mechanism that can provide vital support to those that most need it.

For any pensioner who is eligible, Pension Credit provides an average of £3,300 extra per year and is very easy to apply for. However, over a quarter of pensioners who are eligible for this support are completely unaware of it and do not receive it.

Laura has spoken to West Berkshire Citizens Advice Bureau (among others) and it has also become clear that uptake is a real problem locally.

Pensioners are one of the groups who suffer most from rising inflation and Laura is determined that they should get as much support as possible. With the help of community groups, shops and businesses across West Berkshire, I hope I can achieve this.

New Separate Weekly Food Waste Collection Service

The new separate weekly food waste collection service is rolling out to all households across the district. For households with individual bins (kerbside collection), collections will start the week commencing 31 October 2022. For residents who have shared bins collected from a bin store the service starts week commencing 28 November 2022.

The collection will be weekly on the same day as recycling and rubbish collections making it the most frequently collected bin.

We have already begun delivering the containers to residents, comprising of an inside (grey) and outside (green) food waste caddy along with a roll of compostable liners and an instruction leaflet. Deliveries for properties who receive a kerbside collection are continuing until 28 October 2022, while properties who have shared bins will receive their containers by the 25 November 2022. Please note properties who share bins will not receive an outside (green) caddy, but will receive a purple bin to share with neighbours.

Please feel free to view our YouTube video on how to use the new service, we also attach the instruction leaflet which residents will receive with their caddies.

We would encourage all residents to use this service as recent analysis has shown that black bins for general waste are on average made up of 25%+ of food waste.

For more information and frequently asked questions about the service please visit: www.westberks.gov.uk/foodwaste

Unnamed Road from Haw Lane to Noakes Hill/Aldworth Road in the Parish of Aldowrth / Ashampstead will be closed from 5th – 6th October 2022, between the hours of 07:00 – 17:00.The Closure is from its junctions with B4009 Haw Lane and Palmers Hill. This closure is to enable Volker Highways to carry out carriageway repairs on behalf of West Berkshire Council.

Residential access will be maintained throughout

A plan of the closure can be found at: (click on link) https://one.network/?tm=GB131049349

Did you know that the Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service provides free, at home 'Safe and Well' Visits to residents in Berkshire?

A safe and well visit provides vulnerable residents with tailored fire safety advice, smoke detection, hearing impaired alarms (if needed) and well-being advice with signposting to additional agencies.

More information can be found on their website: https://www.rbfrs.co.uk/your-safety/safety-at-home/book-a-safe-and-well-visit/

A poster is attached along with a QR Code you can scan for more information.

A Heatwave level 3 warning has been issued from 1200 on Tuesday 09 Aug and 1800 on Saturday 13 Aug. This means that temperatures are very likely to rise to levels that increase the risk of ill health among vulnerable people.

The Met Office, in conjunction with UKHSA, is issuing the following heatwave warning for our area:

“Stay out of the sun. Keep your home as cool as possible – shading windows and shutting them during the day may help. Open them when it is cooler at night. Keep drinking fluids. If there’s anybody you know, for example an older person living on their own, who might be at special risk, make sure they know what to do.”

Air pollution: this can become worse during periods of hot weather and affect those with heart and/or lung problems. Information on the latest pollution levels, the air quality forecast and health advice can be found on the UK-AIR website or call 0800 55 66 77

A329 Reading Road, Streatley. ESSENTIAL CARRIAGEWAY SURFACING

West Berkshire Council’s contractor Volker Highways Ltd., will be undertaking the cutting of traffic signal detector loops thus completing the essential carriageway surfacing on A329 Reading Road, Streatley (from the traffic signals to Streatley Footpath 1), as shown on the enclosed plan. Work is programmed to go ahead between the hours of 09:30am and 03:30pm on 27 & 28 July 2022.

Works will be undertaken with a full road closure and a signed diversion route during working hours.

Emergency vehicles will be allowed through the works under site supervision. The contractor will endeavour to provide access in to properties but there could be a small delay at times as works pass vehicle entrances. Information boards will be erected on site and whilst these works are weather dependent, every effort will be made to complete them as per the programme. Should it be necessary to revise the programme, the information boards on site will be updated accordingly. Alternatively, you can view the current status of the scheme by visiting https://one.network/?129330341

It would be very helpful if you could also arrange for any deliveries to be made before or after the stated working times.

Please do NOT leave any vehicle parked on the public highway within coned off works areas and No Parking cones. Failure to do so may result in damage to your vehicle or injury to the workforce.  Waste and recycling collections will go ahead on the usual days; however, it is important that your bins and recycling boxes are put out by 6.00 am as collection times may change to suit the works.  

Should you have any queries regarding the work, please do not hesitate to contact West Berkshire Council’s Customer Services Team on 01635 519 080.

Please see the letter attached for more information and a map of the area.

The High Street, School Road, and Aldworth Road in Compton, will be closed during the hours of 08.00 to 20.00 each weekday only, between the 25^th July and the 2^nd September 2022, the closure will be between its junction with Wilson Close and its junction with Unnamed Road from Aldworth Road to Uplands.

It is envisaged that the closure will be carried out in 3 x phases, High Street, School road, and then Aldworth Road, each phase will be advertised locally throughout the duration.

An alternative route is via (clockwise) Road known as Aldworth Road, Road known as Haw Lane (B4009), Road known as Wyld Court Hill, Church St, Water Street, Unnamed Road from Ilsley Road to Newbury Hill, Newbury Road, Ilsley Road, and vice versa.

The purpose of this closure is for maintenance and repairs to manhole covers.

Residential access will be maintained throughout and the diversion will be signed on site.

Please Note: Blue light access will not be permitted.

All enquiries should be directed to: Thames Water on 08003 169 800

A plan of the closure can be found at: (click on link) https://one.network/?tm=GB129589117

Home Start West Berkshire are a charity that help parents of young children in West Berkshire.  They are seeking to recruit volunteers for various positions from people who do home visits, to fundraisers to Baby Bank managing and even admin roles.

If you think you can help a young family in our area, and want to know more, there are special open days being held throughout the summer and training courses later on in the year.  Have a look at the information attached.

West Berkshire Council’s contractor Volker Highways Ltd., will be undertaking essential carriageway surfacing on A329 Reading Road, Streatley (from the traffic signals to Streatley Footpath 1), as shown on the enclosed plan. Work is programmed to go ahead between the hours of 09:30am and 15:30pm from 15 to 17 June 2022.

Emergency vehicles will be allowed through the works under site supervision. The contractor will endeavour to provide access in to properties and businesses but there could be a small delay at times as works pass vehicle entrances.

Information boards will be erected on site and whilst these works are weather dependent, every effort will be made to complete them as per the programme.

Whilst these works are weather dependent, every effort will be made to complete them as per the programme.

Should it be necessary to revise the programme, the information boards on site will be updated accordingly. Alternatively, you can view the current status of the scheme by visiting https://one.network/?129077721

Road known as Aldworth Road, in the parish of Ashampstead, is currently closed, the closure is from the junction of Road known a Noakes Hill to the junction of Road known as Palmers Hill.

The closure is expected to remain in place until the 19^th May 2022

This is an emergency closure so that repairs can be made to a visible leak.

Residential access will be maintained throughout and the diversion will be signed on site.

Please Note: Blue light access through the works is not known at this time.

All enquiries should be directed to:KCD/Thames Water on 0800 316 9800

A plan of the closure can be found at: (click on link) https://one.network/?tm=GB128895090

Did you know you can sign up to receive alerts for roadworks in your area? Visitone.network for more information

West Berkshire Council needs your opinion about the upcoming separate food waste collections service.  

They have launched a survey ahead of the roll out of our separate weekly food waste collection service and would like to encourage everyone who lives in West Berkshire to take part in the survey. 

The survey is now open and will close at midnight on 3 May 2022 and takes around 5 minutes to complete.

The survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/wbcfoodwaste

Further information on the survey can be found here: https://info.westberks.gov.uk/WBCfoodwaste

As part of the new service, starting in autumn 2022, food waste will be collected weekly, but on the same day as your usual recycling and rubbish collection. We currently collect food waste every fortnight in your green bin, with your garden waste if you are subscribed to that service. As with all our recycling and rubbish collections, the service will be operated by our waste contractor, Veolia UK, who will collect the food waste using eight new purpose-built vehicles.  We are asking for residents views to help us better understand your recycling habits, whether you think it's important to recycle food waste, and if you'd use the new service when it starts during autumn 2022. We'd also like to hear from people who don't currently recycle their food waste to find out what, if anything, is stopping you from doing so.

Residents can request hard copies by contacting us at recycle@westberks.gov.uk or by calling 01635 519080. Please bear in mind that our phone lines are very busy at this time of year so please only call if absolutely necessary.

The Spring edition of Upstream has been published - you can download it below.

Message from the Public Health Team at West Berkshire Council:

We are now in a period of winter preparedness known as Alert Level 1. This phase is to encourage us and our service users to be alert, and prepare for cold weather, i.e. to have seasonal vaccinations (flu & COVID-19 boosters), ensure houses are properly insulated, boilers are serviced, to stock up on LGP, heating oil or solid fuel if relevant, think ahead about the needs of neighbours who may be vulnerable, register on the Priority Services register where appropriate, order medications ahead of bank holidays, keep homes at the right temperature, etc.

Action now for level 1:

This year we continue to have the added challenges of COVID-19. COVID-19 is likely to amplify the risks of cold weather. We know that people who are vulnerable to dying from the impact of cold temperatures overlap with those who are susceptible to illness from COVID-19. These shared risk factors mean the cold weather period is of even greater importance this year if we are to protect the health of our communities.

We know that cold weather increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, lung illnesses, flu, falls and injuries, particularly in older people and those with long-term health conditions. It is therefore important that swift action is taken when a cold weather Level 2 alert comes to you (Level 2 alert = 60% likelihood that the mean temperature is expected to be at or below 2°C for a period of 48 hours, and/or heavy snow/ widespread ice, in the coming days). Alerts are operational between now and 31st March 2022.

Key Resources For Your Service Area This Winter:

• ‘Keep Warm Keep Well’ leaflet for the public and professionals, which has been updated in view of COVID-19, giving advice on staying well in cold weather, covering issues such as financial help, healthy lifestyles, the flu vaccine and heating advice
• A slide deck with all the key messages and actions for cold weather preparedness during COVID-19.
• ‘Stay Well This Winter’ NHS leaflet
• AGE UK ‘Top Tips For Keeping Warm This Winter’ leaflet

This winter it is important to identify those who are at risk of living in fuel poverty and cold homes. The affordable warmth charity, National Energy Action (NEA), advocates asking 3 key questions at contact assessment stages to help identify those at risk

1. Is your whole house warm in winter? (This question helps to identify how people are heating their home and whether they are limiting heating to certain rooms)
2. Can you afford to heat your home to a comfortable level? (This question helps to identify whether occupants are meeting ‘minimum’ recommended temperatures all the time)
3. Can you afford to pay your fuel bills? (This question will flag whether someone has sufficient income to spend on the fuel they need for warmth and comfort).

Winter Vaccination Information

This year there are two essential vaccines (the flu jab and the COVID-19 booster) that eligible groups may need this winter in order to protect themselves and their loved ones from dangerous viruses.

Eligible groups for the FREE flu jab can be found here and eligible groups for the COVID-19 booster can be found here.

If you have any questions/queries please feel free to contact: publichealthandwellbeing@Westberks.gov.uk

Dementia Friendly West Berkshire is a group of individuals and organisations who are committed to working together to make West Berkshire more dementia friendly. The breadth of what we do can be found on our website: https://dementiafriendlywestberkshire.co.uk. The group is supported by West Berkshire Council and AgeUK Berkshire.

There are a number of events, get togethers and sessions that are Dementia Friendly and these can be found by clicking on the additional documents below.

Please share this with people who might benefit from them.

Please be aware a property in Aldworth will be advertised through the West Berkshire Choice Based Lettings Scheme, Homechoice, at midday, Thursday 22nd July 2021. This is a social rent property being advertised in accordance with a section 106 agreement.

The details are as follows: The Glebe, Aldworth, the property has 1 bedroom and is suitable for households of 1 – 2 people.

Only households who are registered on the Common Housing Register will be eligible to bid on this property.

If you are not already on the Common Housing Register and you are interested in the above property, you will need to register with us by close of bidding on midday, Wednesday 28th July. To register before this date, please call the Housing Department on 01635 519530 and quote Aldworth. We will then assess your eligibility and application, and allocate a band according to your housing circumstances.

In allocating this particular property, West Berkshire Council have to adhere to a strict criteria. This criteria gives households currently resident in Aldworth, highest priority.

Please feel free to contact the Housing Department on 01635 519530, if you require further information on any of the above.

Further information on Home Choice West Berks can be found at www.homechoicewestberks.org.uk.

Streatley Hill in Streatley, will be closed on the 2^nd to 13^th August 2021, the closure will be between its junction with A349 and its junction with The Coombe, though, in reality this will most likely be only 40 metres back from A329 junction..

An alternative route is via A329, Pangbourne Hill, Pangbourne Road, Aldworth Road, Road known as Reading Road, and vice versa.

The purpose of this closure is for building repairs to be carried out on The Bull PH, scaffolding will need to be erected, therefore the closure will remain in place 24 hours each day.

Residential access will be maintained throughout (from Aldworth direction) and the diversion will be signed on site.

Please Note: Blue light access through these works will not be possible

All enquiries should be directed to: Sunbelt Rentals on 0370 050 0792

A plan of the closure can be found at: (click on link) https://one.network/?tm=GB122887755

The West Berkshire Countryside Society’s purpose is to promote the understanding, appreciation and conservation of the West Berkshire countryside… furthering these objectives through practical conservation work and guided walks and talks from local experts.

Upstream is our quarterly publication designed to highlight conservation matters in West Berkshire and to publicise the activities of the Society. It is produced at our own expense and distributed free of charge.

Upstream contains articles from knowledgeable members & regularly from non-member experts from organisations such as BBOWT & the Environment Agency.

You can download the Summer Issue by clicking below.

West Berkshire Council been working hard to bring as much summer fun to West Berkshire as they can while keeping socially distanced and safe. There are so many activities and great ways to keep children, young people and families happy and active through the summer holidays and you can view them all in the Summer Fun brochure  which you can download below.

Online gaming has seen a massive increase in popularity with children over the COVID-19 pandemic, as result of more time spent at home and restrictions on physical social contact.

It is Carers Week, all this week running from 7th June to 13th June.

To celebrate there are a number of events happening hat you can be a part of.  Check out the calendar of events here.

The Heatwave and Summer preparedness programme, overseen by Public Health England (PHE), is now operational until 15^th September.

We continue to have the added challenge COVID-19. Many of us are spending more time at home and potentially be exposed to high indoor temperatures. We know that people who are vulnerable to dying from high indoor temperatures overlap with those who are vulnerable to illness from COVID-19.

We know that death rates rise soon after temperature increases, with many deaths occurring in the first one to two days, so swift action is needed when a Level 2 alert comes to you (Level 2 alert = 60% risk of heatwave in the next 2–3 days). The triggering threshold temperatures for South East England are 31⁰C by day and 16⁰C by night.

In total, an estimated 2,556 heat-related deaths occurred in summer 2020 across all ages in England. This is the highest estimate of heat-related deaths since the introduction of the Heatwave Plan for England in 2004. This equates to an estimated 72 heat-related deaths in 2020 that could have been prevented in Berkshire. We also know the impact of heat on mortality is not reflected in admissions, supporting the idea that many heat-related deaths occur before people come to medical attention.

We will keep you informed of when the levels are increased, but for now, please have a look at the Beat the Heat Poster which is attached below.

The Royal Household has announced that the funeral of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh is to take place in Windsor on Saturday 17 April.

The latest issue (Spring 2021) from Upstream is available to download and read here or click on the document below.

The West Berkshire Countryside Society’s purpose is to promote the understanding, appreciation and conservation of the West Berkshire countryside… furthering these objectives through practical conservation work and guided walks and talks from local experts.

Upstream is a quarterly publication designed to highlight conservation matters in West Berkshire and to publicise the activities of the Society. It is produced at our own expense and distributed free of charge.

Upstream contains articles from knowledgeable members & regularly from non-member experts from organisations such as BBOWT & the Environment Agency.  Enjoy!

To All West Berkshire Libraries Customers

We are pleased to bring you the latest news from West Berkshire Libraries, including details about the services we are currently able to provide in line with government rules on managing the risk of COVID-19.

We are delighted that the government’s roadmap for lifting the current restrictions offers public libraries the opportunity to re-open on 12 April. (This date is subject to the Government's satisfaction that transmission rates continue to fall nationwide this month.)

We hope it will once again be possible for visitors to come into library buildings from 12 April to choose their own books and to use our PCs, printing and copying facilities. We are now working hard to finalise arrangements for this and will have more information for you in our April newsletter. As always, please continue to check our social media for the most up to date news.

There’s still time to book for our free talk on Wednesday 10 March, when West Berkshire Council’s Assistant Archaeologist Beth Asbury and Berkshire Finds Liaison Officer Philip Smither will be talking on Zoom about the archaeology of our district and the heritage resources available to anyone interested in local research.

We have another Zoom talk coming up on Thursday 24 March, 7pm. Local historian David Peacock presents an illustrated introduction to the Anglo-Saxon period in West Berkshire. Tickets are £5 per household, available from the West Berkshire Heritage website. Bookings close on 23 March.

British Science Week runs from 5-14 March this year and we’ll be celebrating on Instagram, highlighting some of the best books about science, technology, maths and engineering which we are sure you will enjoy.

You might also like to borrow a book – or a play - for Shakespeare Week, which follows on 15-21 March. Find plenty of online activities for all the family for both of these special weeks on their event websites.

If you missed our recent Rhymetime, you’ll find it available to view now on YouTube. We’re pleased to say that Berkshire Maestros are preparing another Rhymetime session for us, which will be available from Wednesday 31 March. Check our social media on the day for the link.

Don’t forget that you can find out about all our online Storytimes, children’s crafts and other activities and news by following @WBerksLibraries on Facebook,Instagram and Twitter.

Libby is one of our suppliers for e-books and e-audiobooks, which are FREE to borrow for all members of West Berkshire Libraries.

The easiest way to access these resources is to download the Libby app from your app store (Google Play for Android users or the Apple app store for iOS users). You can then search for West Berkshire Libraries and log in with your library card number and PIN. We’ve put together a short online guide on using Libby to help you get started.

From 10 March we will be moving our digital magazines from RBdigital to the Libby app, too. In connection with this, anyone who has borrowed an e-magazine from us over the past six months will shortly be contacted by RBdigital. After this move you will still be able to browse, borrow and enjoy all the same great magazines that you loved in the RBdigital app, but with even more choice – another good reason to download the Libby app now!

Don’t forget that we have e-books and e-audiobooks for you from our supplier BorrowBox as well, plus a fantastic range of e-newspapers available for free through PressReader.

Everything in our e-library is available 24/7, with no overdue charges for late returns. Find more information about this, along with details of our e-resources for study and leisure interest, on our website

Do you know anyone who is unable to collect books from the library because of age, disability or other special circumstance? Please tell them about our At Home service, which is a vital link for customer who have difficulties getting to their local library.

Once someone is registered as an At Home library member, one of our friendly and professional team will contact them to discuss their requirements and find out what sort of books they enjoy, including whether they prefer hardbacks or paperbacks, large print books or perhaps audiobooks. We then deliver these to the door step at a safe distance. Deliveries are usually made every three weeks.

Please help to spread the word to anyone who may benefit from this service. Thank you.

Neighbourhood Watch announce their February OUR NEWS newsletter. This monthly newsletter, created by Neighbourhood Watch Network (the umbrella organisation for Neighbourhood Watch across England and Wales), is for all supporters of Neighbourhood Watch, from households to volunteers, such as scheme Coordinators or Association Leads.

A 2 bedroom property to rent in The Glebe in Aldworth has become available and will be advertised through the West Berkshire HomeChoice Lettings Scheme from Thursday 4th February 2021 at 12pm.  This is an S106 property so only people registered on the Commons Housing Register can apply and priority will be given to residents of Aldworth parish.

The full advert is attached below.  Please make sure you are registered by visiting www.homechoicewestberks.org.uk or call the Housing Allocation Team on 01635 519530.

West Berkshire Council have produced a leaflet that guides you on ways to keep safe, keep warm and keep well this winter, particularly with more of us staying indoors during lockdown and the colder temperatures.  Open the document below to read more.

Criminals Continue To Take Advantage of Coronavirus Vaccine Roll-Out As Phishing Email Reports Soar

Action Fraud is raising awareness of another coronavirus vaccine scam, after it received a high volume of reports relating to a phishing email on Monday 25 January.
The email, which attempts to trick people into handing over their bank details, was reported more than 1,000 times in 24 hours. It appears to come from the NHS and asks the recipient to click on a link to accept or decline an invitation to receive the coronavirus vaccine. If they click accept, they are asked to input personal information and their bank card details.
The national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime has previously warned about coronavirus vaccine scams, with many people reporting receiving fake text messages purporting to be from the NHS.
Head of Action Fraud, Pauline Smith, is warning the public to remain vigilant as fraudsters continue to act:
“It’s despicable that fraudsters will take advantage of such an important tool in the fight against this evil and deadly disease. Not only are the people being targeted with this email at risk of losing money, or having their identity stolen, but they are also at risk of not receiving the real vaccine.
“The public have been fantastic at reporting these scams to us and raising awareness in their local community as well. But unfortunately, as this latest phishing campaign shows, we still have to remain cautious and alert. Remember: anything purporting to be from the NHS asking you to pay for the vaccine, or provide your bank account or card details, is a scam.”
How to protect yourself
In the UK, coronavirus vaccines will only be available via the National Health Services of England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. You can be contacted by the NHS, your employer, a GP surgery or pharmacy local to you, to receive your vaccine. Remember, the vaccine is free of charge. At no point will you be asked to pay.
The NHS will never:

• ask you for your bank account or card details.
• ask you for your PIN or banking password.
• arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine.
• ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips.

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726 which is free of charge.
If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk

Sent on behalf of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner

Like many other Local Authorities across the country, we are facing a difficult January with significantly increased volumes of waste after Christmas and a number of collection crews self-isolating. This has unfortunately impacted parts of our waste collection services meaning we have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend garden and food waste collections to prioritise rubbish and recycling.

The garden and food waste collection service will be suspended from Monday 18 January until Friday 29 January 2021.

We are asking residents whose garden waste is due for collection during this time to not put their green bin out until the service can be resumed again.

Councillor Steve Ardagh-Walter, Executive Member for the Environment at West Berkshire Council, said:

“We have received tremendous support from West Berkshire residents over the past few weeks and I want to thank everyone for their understanding during this challenging time.

We have not taken this decision lightly to put garden and food waste collections on hold and understand that some residents may be disappointed by this service disruption.

Our aim is that all waste collection services will be able to continue as normal once the service is reinstated by the end of January. Our contractor’s collection crews have continued to work hard throughout, keeping our waste services running and we would like to thank them for doing a great job.”

If your rubbish (black bin) or recycling (boxes and bags) is not collected as expected, please continue to leave it out and we will collect it as soon as possible.

We are grateful to residents for their continued patience and we ask residents to kindly avoid calling our Customer Services colleagues, unless necessary, because they are very busy helping various residents with other urgent queries at this time.

You can find out more information on the temporary suspension of the garden and food waste service online and some helpful FAQs.

Our household waste recycling centres are still open for essential visits but you need to book an appointment.

Lots of scams are doing the rounds, particularly around the Covid-19 vaccination and HMRC.  The Public Protection Partnership have put together a useful document explaining all the scams they are aware of.  You can download it below.

We have been advised by the Waste Management department at West Berkshire Council that there are currently some issues with rubbish and recycling collections, due to the volume of waste after Christmas and a number of collection staff isolating.

If your rubbish or recycling is not collected on the day you were expecting, please leave it out and they will collect as soon as possible.

For more information please visit their Facebook page which has regular updates here: www.facebook.com/recyclewestberkshire

The level 2 cold weather alert has now been extended until 09:00 on Friday 8^th January. Please feel free to share the attached with your residents.

Outlook for the South East

There is a 70% probability of severe cold weather / icy conditions between 0900 on Monday 04 Jan and 0900 on Friday 08 Jan in South East. Cold, frosty nights expected along with showers, bringing a significant risk of icy conditions. Showers are likely to be wintry at times, though mainly over high ground. Becoming very cold later in the week.

Guidance is attached on how to Keep Warm and Keep Well this winter, why you should get a Flu jab and a document that gives information on where to find support over the winter months.

The December Newsletter from the Berkshire West Patient Participant Group can be viewed here.

Please see below links and information about the Waste Service over the Christmas period:

Rubbish and Recycling Christmas and New Year Collection Dates

Information on rubbish and recycling collection dates are available on our website.

Christmas Tree Recycling

We will be collecting real Christmas trees from Monday 4 January until Friday 29 January. Please remove all decorations, lights and any pots. Trees can be placed out with your recycling and you do not need to have a garden waste subscription to recycle your tree.

Reducing Waste This Christmas

Please follow us on our Facebook page for top tips and advice on reducing waste this Christmas. Our Facebook page also includes news or any changes to our waste service – a easy way to keep in touch with the waste team!

We also have a webpage with handy waste reduction tips this Christmas.

Wishing you all a green Christmas and waste free New Year!

West Berkshire Council has appointed Hemingway Design to lead a major new master planning study on the future uses of Newbury Town Centre. The design firm will be part of a multi-disciplinary team that also includes New Masterplanning, GL Hearn, and Urban Movement.

Please have your say and support this important project by filling out a 10 minute online survey (linked below). The goal of the survey is to begin to identify the town's needs. This exercise will form the first stage of a broad engagement strategy with the local community.

The study will be developed over the next 9 months to outline how the Town Centre can evolve into the future, resulting in a full masterplan. It will take into account the significant changes in the retail and hospitality industries and the impact of Covid-19 in accelerating the review of alternative uses for town centres and public spaces.

Take the 10 minute online survey

Message from West Berkshire Council:

Rubbish and Recycling Christmas and New Year Collection Dates

Information on rubbish and recycling collection dates are available on our website.

Christmas Tree Recycling

We will be collecting real Christmas trees from Monday 4 January until Friday 29 January. Please remove all decorations, lights and any pots. Trees can be placed out with your recycling and you do not need to have a garden waste subscription to recycle your tree.

Reducing Waste This Christmas

Please follow us on our Facebook page for top tips and advice on reducing waste this Christmas. Our Facebook page also includes news or any changes to our waste service – a easy way to keep in touch with the waste team!

We also have a webpage with handy waste reduction tips this Christmas.

As always, please feel free to join us!