This week’s news

• Compton Post Office has now been fully refurbished after new Postmaster, Ram Reddy, took over in July. The old-style, full-screened, Post Office counter has been replaced by an open-plan counter alongside the retail counter of the village shop and there are now new opening hours for the Post Office of Monday to Saturday: 9am – 6pm; Sunday: 11am – 1pm. This provides 56 hours of Post Office service a week with later closing and it is now open at lunchtime on Sunday.

• Quick reminder from Citizen’s Advice on how to shop savvy and stay safe online this Black Friday (25 November) and Cyber Monday (28 November). Remember, if an offer is too good to be true, it’s probably not true…

• Anybody who will be alone and wants a bit of company at this special time of year is invited to join a community Christmas Lunch on Sunday 25 December from 9am to 12pm at Wilkins Centre, Burrell Road, Compton. Santa will be visiting and joining us in our after-lunch games.There is no charge and transport can be arranged. To book a place contact: Patricia 07786 85 64 40 or Joan 07818 292 322.

• Compton Pre-school is running a World Cup sweepstake to raise charity funding. Get your ticket before they sell out. Tickets can also be purchased at compton-playgroup.sumupstore.com/ Please pick the Parents of Compton Pre-School World Cup Sweepstake 2022 . Scan the QR code or pay cash at Pre-school. Only £3.50 a team to be in for a chance of winning £50.

• Do you know anyone who goes that extra mile? Please nominate them for the West Berks Community Champion Awards. The categories are Community Group of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, The Pat Eastop Junior Citizen of the Year Award and Volunteer of the Year. The deadline is Monday 2 January 2022.

• The new cost of living support hub on West Berkshire Council website explains the different types of support available if you are struggling with rising living costs and are concerned about paying your household bills.

• Compton CE Primary School is hosting a Come and Play session Monday 28 November from 2pm to 3pm to spend time with your child in the Reception classroom. Call 01635 578240 to book.

• Compton Pre-School Christmas Disco is on Friday 2 December at 4pm. All Pre-School and reception aged children welcome (siblings welcome with a ticket). Food, music, tombola, sensory play and more.Ticket includes hot dog, crisps and a drink. Free tea and coffee for adults. (Hot dogs available to purchase on the night). £3 ticket if purchased in advance. £3.50 on the night. Tickets available to purchase through the Pre-School at compton-playgroup.sumupstore.com. Any questions please contact comptonpreschoolfundraising@gmail.com

• The West Berkshire Toy Appeal 2022, organised by the Swift Group requests donations of new unwrapped gifts for local underprivileged children. Click here to see a full list of drop-off points and click here for more details about how you can get involved.

• Compton Pre-school is urgently seeking a Committee Chair. This would suit a proactive, business-minded, family-focused individual with some spare time. The ideal candidate would be a retiree – who doesn’t want to be retired.You do not need to have children in the setting. Unfortunately if a candidate can’t be found the Pre-school will close. Meeting details here.

• Quick reminder about support available to get you through the Cost of Living crisis, including tips on how to reduce your home energy bills. And please watch out for any scams that ask you to click to apply for energy rebates – they all happen automatically.

• West Berks Council Environment News includes lots to get involved with in September.

• For the latest West Ilsley newsletter please see here.

• For the latest Chaddleworth newsletter please see here.

Christmas

• Friends of Brightwalton school (PTA) are organising Wintery Christmas Fair on Saturday November 25 from 3.15 to 6pm and are looking for stall holders to join our homemade/artisan afternoon.  No matter how big or small, come sell your goods whilst fundraising for the village School.  Get in touch if you’d like a stall or would like more information. The email address is friendsofbrightwalton@outlook.com.

• The York Nativity Play will be being performed in Aldermaston on Thursday 1 to Sunday 4 December. More details here.

• Have your kids grown out of their toys and you are looking for Christmas presents, then come and swap them on Saturday 12 November at Faircross Community Centre. Drop off toys between 9 and 112 am and then enjoy the Swap Shop from 11.30am to 2pm. Any toys remaining after the event will be donated to charity.

Community notices

• See Compton Parish Council’s website for a list of current scams going around in the area that you should be aware of.

• Recovery in Mind and The Downland Practice host a free one hour introduction session for local adults wishing to further their knowledge on wellbeing and mental health. Please contact pm.downland@nhs.net to book your place.

• Downe House School in Cold Ash is offering term time Swimming Lessons on Mondays & Thursdays from 4pm and on Saturday from 9am. Non-swimmers and improvers from 3 1/2 years are invited to enjoy the 25 metre pool to hone this valuable life skill. Call 07788 427227 asap. There will only be 6 children per class so places are limited .

• Compton Karate based at Aldworth Village Hall is a small and friendly dojo that welcomes new members.

• Aldworth Parish Council would still like to hear from any residents who may have ideas or wishes for what the parish can do to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. An online survey can be answered.

• More local hosts are needed for people escaping the war in Ukraine. If you could consider hosting a Ukrainian refugee or family, please get in contact with the local support group or visit westberks.gov.uk/homesforukraine.

• For how to avoid scams and what to do if you unluckily get caught, please see important advice here from Citizen’s Advice.

Local events and activities

For more information on events and activities across the Penny Post area, see the website calendar.

• Dates for the diary

• see Christmas section above

• Regular events and groups

• Stay, Play and Learn at Compton Village Hall on Thursday mornings during term for children 0-4 years to socialise with others, exploring a variety of play activities and crafts. Book online with West Berkshire Council here.

• Quiz night at The Crown and Horns in East Ilsley every Thursday from 7pm with prizes to be won. You can reserve a table by calling 01635281545 and see more information here.

• Brickleton Babes Baby and Toddler Group in Brightwalton Village Hall. Join their facebook group for details.

• Chuckles Playgroup is back at the Hampstead Norreys Village Hall 10am to 11.30am on Friday 14 October and Friday 28 October. No pre-booking required and a fee of £2 will be charged. See here.

• Autumn Group regular meetings include the Hobbies Club at the Wilkins Centre, Compton. Visit their facebook page for details. Anyone from surrounding villages very welcome.

• Aldworth Art/Painting Group at the Aldworth Village Hall on first and third Tuesday of every month from 9.30am to noon. Details on the East Ilsley Communicator (issue 105, p 21) here.

• Aldworth Craft Group meet at Aldworth Village Hall on the second and fourth Monday of every month (within the school term time) from 10am to noon. More details in the East Ilsley Communicator (issue 105, p 16), which you can download here.

• Hampstead Norreys Village Hall club and event information is on Hampstead Norreys Community website.

• Ilsley Under Fives meet every Wednesday between 10am to 11.30am at various locations throughout the Ilsley villages. Please join their Facebook group  or a see details here.

News from your local council

Note: “the most recent meeting” refers to the most recent one for which minutes (in some cases draft) or some other summary is available. Other meetings may have taken place since. Some councils publish minutes more promptly than do others.

Many councils do not hold meetings in August and many postponed their September meeting following the Queen’s death. 

• The most recent meeting of Brightwalton Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 14 November and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: public bins; committee reports; first-and training; broadband; the phone box; tree planting; repairs and maintenance work; planning matters; financial matters; and the SSE power outage in September.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. 

• The most recent meeting of East Ilsley Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 8 November and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: vegetation and speed sign on Abingdon Road; a report from ward member Carolyne Culver; planning matters; financial matters; play equipment; repairs and maintenance; waste management; the pond; the future of the parish magazine.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.

• The most recent meetings of Ashampstead Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 7 November and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: the defibrillator training course; planning matters; open spaces; CIL funds; and financial matters.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Chaddleworth Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 1 November and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: a report from ward member Clive Hooker; financial matters; frequency of future meetings; the village website; the playground; repairs and maintenance works; the Memorial Garden; the Village Hall; and highways issues.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.

• The most recent meeting of West Ilsley Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 10 October and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: grant funding for the play area; a report from ward member Carolyne Culver; planning matters; financial matters; web hosting; the Village Hall; speeding; and dog bins.
To see the dates and agendas for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. To see minutes from past meetings please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Compton Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 3 October and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: the digital working party; planning matters; the grassed area near Gordon Crescent; financial matters; grants awarded to 1st Compton Guides (£285); 1st Compton Scout Group (£285); Compton Parochial Church Council (£285); and  Compton Pre-School (£285); a jubilee tree and bench; councillor training; and a dog show.
There was also a shorter meeting on 26 October, the minutes for which you can read here, which was almost entirely concerned with the S106 agreements relating to the development at the former Animal Research Centre.
To see the dates of future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. To see the agendas, please click here. To see the minutes click here. Please click here for the latest on Compton’s neighbourhood development plan (which has now been ratified).

• The most recent meeting of Hampstead Norreys Council for which minutes are available took place on 29 September and you can read the minutes here.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Beedon Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 1 September and you can read the minutes here.
To see the dates and agendas for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. To see minutes from past meetings please click here. Please click here for details of the planning applications currently active in the parish.

• The most recent meeting of Aldworth Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 14 July and you can read the minutes here.
To see the dates, agendas and mintues for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Peasemore Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 19 January and you can read the minutes here.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. 

• Compton & Downlands area council contacts

Parishes: Hampstead Norreys Parish Council, Compton Parish Council, Ashampstead Parish Council, Beedon Parish Council, Chaddleworth Parish Council, Brightwalton Parish Council, Peasemore Parish Council, Aldworth Parish Council, West Ilsley Parish Council and East Ilsley Parish Council.

West Berkshire Council: click here to visit the website.

News from other areas

Penny Post area – please see the following separate sections: Hungerford area; Lambourn Valley; Newbury area; Thatcham area; Burghfield area; Wantage area; Marlborough area.

News and views from across the area and beyond: please see the most recent Weekly News with Brian column.

Archives