Please note that this section is presented as an archive of past columns and is not updated. Some web links may no longer be active (usually indicated by a score-through), for instance when a consultation has closed. For reasons of space, the Events, Community Notices and News from Your Local Councils sections have been deleted from the archive posts.
To see the current Hungerford Area Weekly News section, please click here.
Other archives
- 2024 (July to December)
- 2024 (January to June)
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- 2023 (January to June)
- 2022 (July to December)
- 2022 (January to June)
Thursday 21 December 2023
Our usual round-up of local news includes: angels, bad jokes, toys, their finest hour, hugs, chipping and a discount – plus a look back at some of the main things we’ve covered in this column in 2023. See also below for community notices and news from your local council.
Upcoming Hungerford events include: book signing, Mayor’s Carol Concert and rock’n’roll. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.
This week’s news
• Hungerford’s Christmas angels are getting ready to fly! Look out for angels around the town between now and Christmas Day. All the angels have been bagged before they set off to protect them from the weather – the bags are biodegradable, compostable cellophane . If you find a knitted angel in Hungerford in December, please make it welcome – feel free to take it home to be part of your Christmas decorations, as a free gift from Hungerford’s churches.
• Quick reminder about free bus travel on Saturday 23 December. If you start your journey in West Berkshire, the free travel even extends to our neighbouring areas such as Reading, Basingstoke, and Swindon. Your return journey is also free. To learn more click here.
• Students at John O’Gaunt School recently interviewed local residents about their memories and memorabilia of the second world war as part of West Berkshire Museum’s Their Finest Hour project. On Wednesday 17 January from 10am to 2pm, the museum will be holding a Digital Collection Day, in which items will be recorded and added to the free-to-use digital online achieve theirfinesthour.org. To learn more contact with Gemma Taylor at gemma.taylor@westberks.gov.uk.
• While Christmas can be a time of enormous joy for many, heightened emotions can also magnify loneliness and grief. If you find Christmas stressful or depressing, you are not alone. See here for advice and help that is available.
• At this time of year when all normal routines take a buffeting and emotions can be stretched, a little levity and lightheartedness doesn’t go amiss. With this in mind, we folks at Penny Post are challenging each other to come up with the best Christmas cracker joke – or should we saw the worst because there is a good psychological reason why cracker jokes are so bad. Perhaps you and yours could do the same? Here is one to get you started: What do frogs wear on their feet ? Open-toad sandals…
• This year’s West Berkshire Toy/Gift Appeal in memory of Louise Purton includes an Amazon wishlist and local drop-off points across Hungerford, Thatcham and Newbury. Please see their website here for all the details or follow Swift’s facebook page.
• Santa’s Grotto at the Community Furniture Project/Resource Centre is giving out the gifts donated above to children in need from Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm until Saturday 23 December.
• Hungerford Methodist Church is raising funds for the Life Skills Course run by CAP – Christians Against Poverty UK to bring hope and practical support to those struggling with the pressures of life in a poverty crisis in Hungerford. You can donate to their Good Exchange grant appeal here and you can join their sponsored Wise Walk around all Hungerford’s church plus St Cassian’s in Kintbury on Saturday 6 January.
• Hungerford Food Community invite everyone to their Winter Community Cook-In, on Saturday 13 January in The Croft Hall. You can join the cooking from 10.30am where is everything is provided and you don’t need any prior experience. Or book to join the lunch at 1pm. It’s a great community event where delicious recipes are shared and food is enjoyed that would otherwise be wasted by the supermarket system.
• Hungerford residents are invited to participate in an exciting research project, approved by the research ethics committee in psychology at Oxford Brookes University, exploring the impact of green spaces on community interaction and mental well-being in the rural area of Hungerford. To participate, please complete this short survey here.
• Have you got a car, some spare time and would like to make a difference in your local community Volunteer Driver Service Berkshire need your help. You’ll receive 45p per mile starting from your door, organised around your availability and preferences. Please email:info@volunteerdriverservice.org.uk to find out more.
• December news from Hungerford High Street includes discount stamp prices (second class 57p, first class 85p) for your Christmas cards from the Hungerford Coin & Stamp Centre, special offer on massage treatments at Hungerford Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Healthcare and lots of Christmas wishes from our independent businesses who are very grateful for all the support we give them during the year.
• The cost of living crisis isn’t going away any time soon and West Berkshire Foodbank is very grateful for financial donations via their website westberks.foodbank.org.uk and for donations of electrical items such as slow cookers, air fryers, heated blankets or room heaters which can be dropped off at the Community Furniture Project on Bone Lane, in Newbury.
• HUGS Ukraine Support Group still need additional dry storage and would be extremely grateful if anyone could offer HUGS additional space in the Hungerford area to accommodate mounting donations prior to collection by their partners. Please contact 07999 693399 or via helptoukraine.co.uk.
• Will you be alone on Christmas Day? If you would like to join the Hungerford Methodist Church‘s Christmas lunch as a helper or guest, contact them for more information by calling Catherine on 07717 13021 or email steward.hungerfordmethodist@gmail.com. Please let them know if you would need transport to attend or if you could help with transport. Booking is essential as places are limited.
• Local seniors can now get a £2 discount on delicious two-course lunches at Redwood House thanks to a new initiative between The Fair Close Centre, which provides the lunches, and West Berkshire Council. See here for more details and how to apply.
• Quick reminder that the historic Tutti Pole tea room, a veritable Hungerford institution down near the canal, is offering Saturday supper evenings from now untilChristmas. They are fully licensed so wine is available with your two or three course festive meal at a reasonable price. Book your table with fiona@thetuttipole.co.uk or 01488 682515.
• Latest travel tips from Veronica at Fare Wise Travel spans visits to Santa’s Lapland to The Rose of Hungerford which they are currently taking books for their popular Santa Cruises.
• The next maintenance session at the Lockdown Wood next to the marsh will be on Thursday 4 January from 9am to 12pm. All help gratefully received removing undergrowth from around the growing saplings. For more details please email heat_hungerford@yahoo.com.
• Click here (and also here for Christmas and new year 2023-24 opening hours) from the Hungerford Bookshop.
• A look back at 2023
Each week in 2023, with a couple of exceptions, we’ve provided an overview of what’s been going on in the area. The more important ones have merited their own sections. Some of these have been referred to time and time again as there are very few issues of any significance that can get resolved within seven days.
All the previous versions of this column are archived: follow the links at the foot of this post and then thereafter to locate them. You can use search (command + F on a Mac, control + F on a PC) to find a particular subject. Many of these appear very frequently. Here I’ve picked out a few stories in this area we’ve covered this year.
• Probably the most important single event was the local election in May which ended 16 years of Conservative rule in West Berkshire. This also led to two of the three ward members for Hungerford and Kintbury changing. Of course, new councils rarely produce immediate results (and no council can change as much as it would like to) so the full effects of the election on this area will take some time to be felt. One matter which has already become clear is that WBC needs to make some serious savings. This has led to a number of consultations which close on 11 January preparatory to the final budget being set in February.
• Perhaps Hungerford’s most high-profile 2023 issue actually took place in late 2022: this is the car accident at the top of the High Street which has led to a contraflow costing WBC about £2,200 a week being in place for the last thirteen months and with no immediate end in sight. Worse still, it was admitted last month that, due a blunder by a Police officer (not one of the local team), no prosecutions will result.
• An equally frustrating delay has been grinding on at Chestnut Walk. A joint venture between WBC and Sovereign Housing has so far proved unequal to the seemingly simple task of getting eight badly needed social-rent homes built on the site of the former care home. Work is now expected to start in September 2024, about seven years after the site first became vacant.
• Another delay, though this is (so far) less serious than either of the above concerns the Leisure Centre where an extension was due to start in early December. If this is, as I suspect, connected with WBC’s well-publicised financial issues, then there should be some more news on this before the 2024-25 budget is set on 29 February.
• After a pause resulting from the elections and the change of administration, the district’s three town-centre strategies got back under way in the autumn. These cover Hungerford, Thatcham and Newbury and are designed to identify and provide evidence for the need for projects which will benefit the town and then seek to raise money to provide them. The steering groups are all chaired by local, rather than WBC, representatives.
• The train service between Bedwyn and Newbury has for several years been woefully short of what it once was and should be. Fortunately, there is a highly effective lobbying organisation, the Bedwyn Train Passenger Group, and we’ve been pleased to provide regular updates from them.
• Other matters that we’ve covered included the problems with Hungerford’s postal deliveries; the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Boots pharmacy; the appeal to save Kintbury pre-school; planning applications and the disputes that sometimes attend these; the Town and Manor’s wetlands project; the progress on Hungerford’s neighbourhood development plan; and the continuing government-caused funding problems that threatens Hungerford Nursery School.
• Hungerford Town Council has been active in most of the above matters. It also has a number of projects of its own. The two main ones in 2023 were the renovation of the Croft Field Centre and a new skate park. This is in addition to its normal work of repairs, maintenance, planning discussions and acting as a conduit and signpost between local residents and other organisations including the Police and WBC. Penny Post covers HTC’s work very closely and produces reports the day after its monthly meeting. This will continue in 2024.
• Also continuing will be our monthly Penny Post Hungerford newsletter which we’ve published every month since January 2017. If there’s anything you want to have included in the January 2024 edition, email penny@pennypost.org.uk by Friday 5 January.
Thursday 14 December 2023
Our usual round-up of local news includes: angels, a cancellation, Santa, mental health, Ade’s book and news from the High Street – plus a look back at another successful extravaganza and further non-news about Chestnut Walk. See also below for community notices and news from your local council.
Upcoming Hungerford events include: book signing, Mayor’s Carol Concert and rock’n’roll. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.
This week’s news
• Hungerford’s Christmas angels are getting ready to fly! Look out for angels around the town between now and Christmas Day. All the angels have been bagged before they set off to protect them from the weather – the bags are biodegradable, compostable cellophane . If you find a knitted angel in Hungerford in December, please make it welcome – feel free to take it home to be part of your Christmas decorations, as a free gift from Hungerford’s churches.
• Quick reminder about free bus travel on Saturdays 16 and 23 December. If you start your journey in West Berkshire, the free travel even extends to our neighbouring areas such as Reading, Basingstoke, and Swindon. Your return journey is also free. To learn more click here.
• Berkshire Trout based in Hungerford is thrilled to be featured on James Martin’s Saturday Morning this Saturday 16 December alongside Sir Cliff Richard, Richard Bertinet, Sat Bains, Lisa Goodwin Allen and Judi Love. Tune in at 9.30am on ITV to see James cook some Christmas delights with their delicious smoked trout.
• Sue Burgess is very disappointed to have to cancel the Church @ Costa Christmas Carol Service on Sunday 17 December as both she and Gareth have Covid.
• Roger Beard, a much-loved member of the community was laid to rest this week, and our thoughts are with his family at this sad time. Roger was known by many as an integral part of Hungerford Cricket Club – so much so that even the pavilion there is named after him. He was also an active and admired Trustee with the Town and Manor for many years.
• Santa’s Sleigh will be busy visiting all the streets of Hungerford until Wednesday 20 December. He will also take time to visit Kintbury on Monday 18 December. Luckily he has scheduled his routes with Hungerford Rotary who have kindly shared them with us here.
• This year’s West Berkshire Toy/Gift Appeal in memory of Louise Purton includes an Amazon wishlist and local drop-off points across Hungerford, Thatcham and Newbury. Please see their website here for all the details or follow Swift’s facebook page.
• Santa’s Grotto at the Community Furniture Project/Resource Centre is giving out the gifts donated above to children in need from Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm until Saturday 23 December.
• Hungerford residents are invited to participate in an exciting research project, approved by the research ethics committee in psychology at Oxford Brookes University, exploring the impact of green spaces on community interaction and mental well-being in the rural area of Hungerford. To participate, please complete this short survey here.
• Hungerford Memory Singers provide a fun and lively atmosphere for people living with Dementia. The singalongs are held every third Monday of the month at Hungerford British Legion. The Next Singalongs for 2024 will commence on Monday 15 January 10.30am -12pm. Cost £2.50 includes light refreshments. To book a space please contact Olivia Simmonds on 07989 388827 or dementia.choir@gmail.com
• Have you got a car, some spare time and would like to make a difference in your local community Volunteer Driver Service Berkshire need your help. You’ll receive 45p per mile starting from your door, organised around your availability and preferences. Please email:info@volunteerdriverservice.org.uk to find out more.
• December news from Hungerford High Street includes discount stamp prices (second class 57p, first class 85p) for your Christmas cards from the Hungerford Coin & Stamp Centre, special offer on massage treatments at Hungerford Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Healthcare and lots of Christmas wishes from our independent businesses who are very grateful for all the support we give them during the year.
• The cost of living crisis isn’t going away any time soon and West Berkshire Foodbank is very grateful for financial donations via their website westberks.foodbank.org.uk and for donations of electrical items such as slow cookers, air fryers, heated blankets or room heaters which can be dropped off at the Community Furniture Project on Bone Lane, in Newbury.
• Ade Edmundson, the busy actor, comedian and writer has had some time freed-up in his schedule and will be visiting Hungerford Bookshop to sign copies of his new bestselling biography Berserker! from 1pm-2pm on Saturday 16 December. For full details click here.
• HUGS Ukraine Support Group still need additional dry storage and would be extremely grateful if anyone could offer HUGS additional space in the Hungerford area to accommodate mounting donations prior to collection by their partners. Please contact 07999 693399 or via helptoukraine.co.uk.
• Hungerford Ladies Group is asking for help to ensure that everyone assisted by Berkshire Women’s Aid receives a thoughtful Christmas gift. Please donate gifts such as toiletries, hair care products, snacks, socks or stationery, which will be made up into care packages and gift bags. Please drop off at Hungerford Print Company, Newbury Building Society or Snippit’s Barbers. The final drop off date is Friday 15 December. See more details here.
• Will you be alone on Christmas Day? If you would like to join the Hungerford Methodist Church‘s Christmas lunch as a helper or guest, contact them for more information by calling Catherine on 07717 13021 or email steward.hungerfordmethodist@gmail.com. Please let them know if you would need transport to attend or if you could help with transport. Booking is essential as places are limited.
• Quick reminder about free bus travel this Saturday 16 and 23 December. The free travel even extends to our neighbouring areas such as Reading, Basingstoke, and Swindon. If you start your journey in West Berkshire, your return journey is also free. To learn more click here.
• Local seniors can now get a £2 discount on delicious two-course lunches at Redwood House thanks to a new initiative between The Fair Close Centre, which provides the lunches, and West Berkshire Council. See here for more details and how to apply.
• Latest travel tips from Veronica at Fare Wise Travel spans visits to Santa’s Lapland to The Rose of Hungerford which they are currently taking books for their popular Santa Cruises.
• The next maintenance session at the Lockdown Wood next to the marsh will be on Thursday 4 January from 9am to 12pm. All help gratefully received removing undergrowth from around the growing saplings. For more details please email heat_hungerford@yahoo.com.
• Extravaganza Success
Congratulations to Hungerford Chamber of Commerce for another wonderful Extravaganza with all the favourite attractions plus a new live stable animal nativity this year. You can see a gallery of photos by Forbes Stevenson on the facebook page here.
“It was a wonderful evening and the weather was perfect,” says Chamber chair Karen Salmon. “It brought lots of people from surrounding areas into the town, which is the idea. It’s a showcse for what Hungerford has to offer and the feedback this year was very good.”
All the community gets involved, and Mr Lambert from Hungerford Primary School says “We are very grateful to Hungerford Chamber of Commerce for supplying us with the materials to make lanterns again for the Extravaganza parade. This year we decided to go for impact with Year 3 making a very colourful three metre long fish, inspired by Hungerford’s trout, and Year 4 really enjoyed collaborating on their four metre Viking ship. The children loved the experience of carrying them in the parade and we are already looking forward to next year.”
Hungerford Brownies and Guides also made lanterns with the help of Sarah Chatters and Penny Locke and enjoyed carrying them in the parade.
• Chestnut Walk
Well, here we are again. I mentioned this last week (and on many occasions before then) and noted that the portfolio holder and Hungerford ward member Denise Gaines had a meeting with Sovereign and WBC officers to discuss this. It now seems that yet another meeting is needed in the new year. Thus another month passes and work on these eight much-needed homes are no closer to being started. If this project were moving any more slowly it would be going backwards.
I’ll be back on the case of this one in January and will let you know any updates then.
Thursday 7 December 2023
Our usual round-up of local news includes: an extravaganza, Ade at the Bookshop, stamps, volunteers and Santa – plus a look at some of the issues covered in the recent Penny Post Hungerford, the NDP team announces the housing-site allocations and WBC’s Leaders are in town for a chat about the budget proposals. See also below for community notices and news from your local council.
Upcoming Hungerford events include: book signing, film screening and kids festive clubs. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.
This week’s news
• If you missed December’s Hungerford Penny Post please click here for latest news from Hungerford Town Council, the latest on Chestnut Walk and lots of Christmas cheer in the town.
• December news from Hungerford High Street includes discount stamp prices (second class 57p, first class 85p) for your Christmas cards from the Hungerford Coin & Stamp Centre, special offer on massage treatments at Hungerford Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Healthcare and lots of Christmas wishes from our independent businesses who are very grateful for all the support we give them during the year.
• The wait is nearly over for the Hungerford Victorian Extravaganza this Friday 8 December from 5pm. If you would like the experience of carrying a lantern in the parade please contact Penny on 07768 981658 or bring your own lanterns to the Great Grooms carpark (opposite the Bear Hotel) at 7pm. And don’t forget to come in your Victorian costume either as there will be prizes for best-dressed Victorians, whether they be chimney sweeps or gentry, on the Town Hall steps at 6pm on the night. See more details here.
• Hungerford Town Band‘s popular Christmas Concert is this Saturday 9 December in the Town Hall. All ages are welcome to come and enjoy the usual Christmas songs in different arrangements along with music from Home Alone and Aladdin. Wear your Christmas jumpers, bring your festive singing voices and join in with the Christmas spirit. Tickets are £8 on the door.
• Santa’s Sleigh will be busy visiting all the streets of Hungerford between Wednesday 13 and 20 December. He will also take time to visit Kintbury. Luckily he has scheduled his routes with Hungerford Rotary who have kindly shared them with us here.
• There are currently problems with the boiler at the swimming pool at Hungerford Leisure Centre. You are advised to call 01488 call 683 303 to check that your swim session is taking place. Other facilities and activities such as the gym and exercise classes are unaffected.
• The cost of living crisis isn’t going away any time soon and West Berkshire Foodbank is very grateful for financial donations via their website westberks.foodbank.org.uk and for donations of electrical items such as slow cookers, air fryers, heated blankets or room heaters which can be dropped off at the Community Furniture Project on Bone Lane, in Newbury.
• Ade Edmundson, the busy actor, comedian and writer has had some time freed-up in his schedule and will be visiting Hungerford Bookshop to sign copies of his new bestselling biography Berserker! from 1pm-2pm on Saturday 16 December. For full details click here.
• The countdown is on till The Downgate Pub‘s festive dog walk on Christmas Eve. There’ll be prizes for best dressed dogs and humans, complimentary mince pies and all proceeds raised will be going towards helping the homeless rescue animals at NAWT Berkshire. Pop along and be ready to walk from 11am.
• There is still time to nominate local residents or volunteers who have gone above and beyond to help the community for West Berkshire’s Community Champion Awards. Fill in the online nomination form by Monday 11 December.
• HUGS Ukraine Support Group is very grateful for recent donations which have all now been distributed. They still need additional dry storage and would be extremely grateful if anyone could offer HUGS additional space in the Hungerford area to accommodate mounting donations prior to collection by their partners. Please contact 07999 693399 or via helptoukraine.co.uk.
• Hungerford Ladies Group is asking for help to ensure that everyone assisted by Berkshire Women’s Aid receives a thoughtful Christmas gift. Please donate gifts such as toiletries, hair care products, snacks, socks or stationery, which will be made up into care packages and gift bags. Please drop off at Hungerford Print Company, Newbury Building Society or Snippit’s Barbers. The final drop off date is Friday 15 December. See more details here.
• Will you be alone on Christmas Day? If you would like to join the Hungerford Methodist Church‘s Christmas lunch as a helper or guest, contact them for more information by calling Catherine on 07717 13021 or email steward.hungerfordmethodist@gmail.com. Please let them know if you would need transport to attend or if you could help with transport. Booking is essential as places are limited.
• Do you know any local residents or volunteers who have gone above and beyond to help the community? Quick reminder that there is still time to nominate them for West Berkshire’s Community Champion Awards. Fill in the online nomination form by 11 December.
• Winding Wood Vineyard between Kintbury and Wickham is hosting a couple of Vineyard Open Days with Christmas stalls on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 December. They were very popular last year so do pop along if you fancy a glass of fizz.
• Quick reminder that Hungerford Memory Singers dementia choir’s first public performance will be a short Christmas Concert at 3pm this Saturday 9 December at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Priory Road. The concert is to highlight the magic of music and singing for people with early onset dementia and other neurological illnesses. Entry is free but donations welcome on the door for Dementia UK. Booking is essential with Olivia on Dementia.choir@gmail.com or 07989 388827.
• Quick reminder about free bus travel on Saturdays 16 and 23 December. The free travel even extends to our neighbouring areas such as Reading, Basingstoke, and Swindon. If you start your journey in West Berkshire, your return journey is also free. To learn more click here.
• Local seniors can now get a £2 discount on delicious two-course lunches at Redwood House thanks to a new initiative between The Fair Close Centre, which provides the lunches, and West Berkshire Council. See here for more details and how to apply.
• Latest travel tips from Veronica at Fare Wise Travel spans visits to Santa’s Lapland to The Rose of Hungerford which they are currently taking books for their popular Santa Cruises.
• Hungerford’s newsletter
The December issue of Penny Post Hungerford was published earlier this week and you can click here to read it if you missed it. Two of the major stores we cover in this relate to issues that have been rumbling on for in one case almost a year and the other for over six years.
The one-year issue is the accident in the High Street a year ago next week. Die to a mess-up by someone higher up the Thames Valley Police food chain, no prosecutions will result. We had a look at the legal reasons behind this last week (see below). At Monday’s meeting of Hungerford Town Council, the Mayor provided a latter of apology she had received from the Chief Constable. You can read the full text of that in our monthly Hungerford town Council update here.
It’s worth stressing again that this oversight was not the responsibility of the local Police team that covers the town.
The six-year issue concerns the non-progress at the former care home at Chestnut Walk. Rather than work starting this autumn as previously promised by the WBC/Sovereign joint venture, it was recently announced that this would now be delayed until September 2024. It’s hoped that a meeting between the two parties in the next few days will come up with a better date as well as a better reason for the delay rather than the rather anodyne one that’s been suggested. You can read our survey of the whole sorry saga here.
Although the matter of the non-prosecution has probably gone as far as it can (though an in-person apology from the Chief Constable at a public meeting would be a handsome gesture), Chestnut Walk is very definitely work in progress. As soon as there’s any further news – good, bad or indifferent – we’ll let you know.
• Choosing the sites
As we covered at the time, Hungerford’s Neighbourhood Development Plan (HNP) team recently held a in-person and on-line consultations on the subject of which combination of the three possible development sites should be recommended for inclusion in the plan. The responses have now been evaluated and showed a clear preference (46%) for option A, the two sites in Smitham Bridge Road and at the rear of Cottrell Close. These will between them provide 56 homes, one more than Hungerford’s allocation during the local plan period requires.
The next stages are (dates are estimates):
- Complete the draft plan and send this to West Berkshire Council for comments.
- A formal six-week consultation (early 2024).
- Public examination (mid 2024).
- Public referendum on the Plan (autumn 2024).
For more information on the HNP generally, please see this article on Penny Post. For more information on the recent consultation, please this article on HTC’s website.
• Budget consultations in Hungerford on 12 December
West Berkshire Council would like to thanks those residents who have already responded to the consultations on our budget proposals. “To give you another opportunity to find out more about these and ask any questions you may have,” a WBC spokesperson said, “we are hosting four drop in sessions, three across the district and one virtual session for anyone who is unable to attend in person.”
The first session will be next Tuesday, 12 December at Hungerford Leisure Centre. Councillor Lee Dillon, Leader of West Berkshire Council ,and Councillor Iain Cottingham, Executive Member for Finance, will be there from 5.30pm to 7.30pm to answer any questions you may have about the proposals. They will have physical copies of the consultations available for those of you who may want to take one away. You can find the consultations online.
Thursday 30 November 2023
Our usual round-up of local news includes: an extravaganza, a concert, champions, discounts and memory singers – plus a look at how Hungerford has been affected by a statute of limitations, postal problems, a naughty boiler and the latest (very long) delay with Chestnut Walk. See also below for community notices and news from your local council.
Upcoming Hungerford events include: book signing, film screening and kids festive clubs. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.
This week’s news
• Not long to wait now for the Hungerford Victorian Extravaganza on Friday 8 December. If you would like the experience of carrying a lantern in the parade please contact Penny on 07768 981658. And don’t forget to come in your Victorian costume either as there will be prizes for best-dressed Victorians, whether they be chimney sweeps or gentry, on the Town Hall steps at 6pm on the night. See more details here.
• Will you be alone on Christmas Day? If you would like to join the Hungerford Methodist Church‘s Christmas lunch as a helper or guest, contact them for more information by calling Catherine on 07717 13021 or email steward.hungerfordmethodist@gmail.com. Please let them know if you would need transport to attend or if you could help with transport. Booking is essential as places are limited.
• Hungerford Town Band‘s popular Christmas Concert is on Saturday 9 December in the Town Hall. All ages are welcome to come and enjoy the usual Christmas songs in different arrangements along with music from Home Alone and Aladdin. Wear your Christmas jumpers, bring your festive singing voices and join in with the Christmas spirit. Tickets are £8 on the door.
• Do you know any local residents or volunteers who have gone above and beyond to help the community? Quick reminder that there is still time to nominate them for West Berkshire’s Community Champion Awards. Fill in the online nomination form by 11 December.
• Winding Wood Vineyard between Kintbury and Wickham is hosting a couple of Vineyard Open Days with Christmas stalls on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 December. They were very popular last year so do pop along if you fancy a glass of fizz.
• Festive markets this weekend include Boxford Christmas Market in Boxford Village Hall from 2pm to 6pm on Saturday 2 December with lovely stalls, mulled wine and a visit from you-know-who
• Hungerford Bookshop invites you to Christmas treats and a book signing with award-winning author Santa Montefiore next Tuesday 5 December at Roxton’s across the road. On Hungerford Extravaganza night on Friday 8 December why not escape the crowds and pop in for a browse and a mince pie? And Adrian Edmonson will be signing copies of his new book Beserker! on Saturday 16 December between 1pm and 2pm in the bookshop.
• Quick reminder that Hungerford Memory Singers dementia choir’s first public performance will be a short Christmas Concert at 3pm on Saturday 9 December at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Priory Road. The concert is to highlight the magic of music and singing for people with early onset dementia and other neurological illnesses. Entry is free but donations welcome on the door for Dementia UK. Booking is essential with Olivia on Dementia.choir@gmail.com or 07989 388827.
• Quick reminder about free bus travel on Saturdays 16 and 23 December. The free travel even extends to our neighbouring areas such as Reading, Basingstoke, and Swindon. If you start your journey in West Berkshire, your return journey is also free. To learn more click here.
• There is still time to support Hungerford’s Christmas gift collection for Berkshire Women’s Aid. Please see details here of the items being requested and where to drop off your donations on Hungerford High Street before Friday 15 December.
• Local seniors can now get a £2 discount on delicious two-course lunches at Redwood House thanks to a new initiative between The Fair Close Centre, which provides the lunches, and West Berkshire Council. See here for more details and how to apply.
• Latest travel tips from Veronica at Fare Wise Travel spans visits to Santa’s Lapland to The Rose of Hungerford which they are currently taking books for their popular Santa Cruises.
• Hungerford Bookshop is busy in the run-up to Christmas, attending festive fairs and hosting authors like Clare Balding and Santa Montefiore. See their latest news here.
• If you, or anyone you know, lives in Hungerford or Hungerford Newtown and has celebrated an eightieth birthday this year or will do so before the end of the year, and would like to receive a Newbury Weekly News Over 80s Christmas parcel please contact Hungerford co-ordinators Ted and Daphne Angell on 01488 682610, 07799 886597 or tedangell.ta@gmail.com. And, if you know of anyone over 80 who, for whatever reason, is no longer with us, again please contact Ted and Daphne. They really need to keep their list up to date so that nobody misses out.
• A statue of limitations
There’s still some confusion and anger in Hungerford about the failure of the police to mount a prosecution against the driver who caused the accident in Hungerford High Street, the first anniversary of which comes up on 13 December.
Summary offences, which are tried in a magistrates’ court, must be actioned within six months. Most of the matters with which the motorist could have been charged were of this kind. One of these is careless driving. There is no such limitation for the more serious charge of dangerous driving, a matter which can go to a crown court. Unfortunately, the law is quite vague on where the difference between these lies and it is left to courts and juries to decide. The location of the accident would be one factor that would be taken into account. This one took place on the approach to a roundabout on a fairly narrow high street with a 30mph limit.
One problem for the Crown Prosecution Service might have been the role played by the other car which pulled out in front of the speed merchant. When this driver started the manoeuvre, the car was some way away and it’s hard to judge speeds when someone’s coming straight at you. None the less, another vehicle was involved and I guess that a defence lawyer could have claimed that, were this not to have happened, no accident would have taken place. A dangerous driving charge might therefore be hard to prove.
None of this explains why the charge of careless driving wasn’t brought, it having been presented on a plate and complete with doorbell video footage. I’d imagine that such a conviction would have been a no-brainer. If driving at about 60mph in a 30mph high street doesn’t constitute carelessness then it’s hard to say what does. The decision not to proceed with this – and the other summary offences that might have applied – within the six-month window looks increasingly like a serious blunder by someone in the Thames Valley Police.
It’s worth stressing that the local Police team had no hand in this matter and are not responsible for this mistake.
It’s still theoretically possible that a dangerous driving charge could be brought but there is still the problem of the other motorist. There’s also the likelihood that the defence would claim that the greater charge was only being brought because the Police had made a procedural cock-up with the lesser ones. This would, as well as leading to what might be a humiliating acquittal, mean that the Police’s error would, perhaps equally humiliatingly, be referred to in open court. I can’t see the TVP wanting either of these outcomes.
Regrettably, it looks as if that is that and an opportunity for a pretty-much nailed-on conviction has been lost. I repeat my suggestion that someone from TVP with a decent number of stripes on their uniform come to Hungerford and explain what happened and reassure people that it won’t happen again.
• Chestnut Walk
I mentioned this last week (see below) and I now do so again. When is work on this long-delayed social-housing development in Hungerford going to start? This was originally planned to begin the the autumn of 2023 (ie by now).
Not having managed to get any answers from WBC, on 30 November I applied myself to Sovereign, the other partner in the joint venture that was set up some years ago to build these much-needed homes. The reply I received was very prompt, though that’s more than can be said for the new schedule.
“Getting development right takes time,” said Jo Smith, Senior Development Manager at SNG, “and we want to be sure we are building the best place and the best homes we can for Hungerford. We have been engaging with the council and the S106 has finally been agreed. We have signed this and we are waiting for the countersignature from West Berkshire Council so that the planning consent can be issued.
“We are now preparing to bring on board a construction partner that can deliver homes to the high standards we set ourselves under our Homes and Place standard.We are forecasting to start on site in September 2024.”
I have asked a number of questions arising from this surprising and disappointing message and will bring you the responses when I have them.
On a separate note, Chestnut Walk was, until it was closed about six years ago, one of four care homes that WBC owned. Three of these – Chestnut Walk, Willows Edge and Birchwood – are named after trees. The fourth, in Kintbury, is called Notrees. Was this a massive arboreal co-incidence or some private joke by someone at WBC, who perhaps from time to time still sniggers to him or herself about having pulled off this naming jape?
• A naughty boiler
Many of you will know that I’m a regular user of the wonderful 25m pool at Hungerford Leisure Centre. For forty minutes or so three of four times a week, all I think about is swimming, breathing and counting the lengths. When is the water, only these three things matter.
This week, my schedule has been a bit disrupted as the boiler has been misbehaving itself. Government guidelines provide minimum temperatures for leisure centres and these vary depending on if children are using the pool. As a result, some sessions have had to be cancelled. Engineers have been on-site but even when fixed these things need to be tested for a few days in battlefield conditions. The website may not reflect any cancelled sessions so my advice is to call on 01488 683303 to check that the session you want to go for is actually happening. All other facilities such as the gym are open as normal.
(1 December update: I just called up and the pool problems persist. As mentioned above, however, do call to check as the situation may change at short notice.)
Whilst on the subject, the Leisure Centre offers monthly payment by direct debit. If you use the pool more than about seven times a month you’ll find that this works out cheaper.
• Hungerford’s post
Over the last week or so we’ve been contacted by several residents on the subject of the postal service in Hungerford. In p[arts of the town this now seems to require a grading one lower than “awful” – perhaps “largely non-existent” would hit the spot as some people only get deliveries about every ten days and, when it arrives, some of the letters are not actually for them
I suggested that as well as contacting Royal Mail itself, residents with problems should contact our MP Laura Farris (who has got involved in this before) and the district councillors. I’m aware that the mail service isn’t the responsibility of the MP or the council but the more they know about the problem, the more they can raise it when the opportunity arises. Indeed, one of the Hungerford ward members, Tony Vickers, recently attended a meeting at which a former Royal Mail manager admitted that the only part of the business which is making money is that to do with parcels. Junk mail (which is more profitable than normal post) tends to get delivered first, often in bulk as this saves time and money. Rural deliveries make a thumping loss. Time-critical letters with first-class stamps can take a week or more to arrive. “So much,” Tony Vickers said, “for the ‘next-day’ service.”
So much too, perhaps for the Universal Service. This, Ofcom reminds us, “requires Royal Mail to deliver letters six days a week (Monday to Saturday) and parcels five days a week (Monday to Friday) to every address in the UK, at affordable prices that are uniform throughout the UK.” This is quoted in a document which states that Ofcom is currewntly “laying the groundwork for providing advice on how the universal postal service might need to evolve to better reflect the changing needs of postal users.”
The commercial realities of Royal Mail’s operation have certainly changed: what has not is that some people still depend on, and have a right to expect, letters to be delivered promptly and correctly. Not all of us rely completely on emails and texts and all of us from time to time rely on things like SIM or bank cards being delivered.
Laura Farris also pointed out that Royal Mail is a private company that’s regulated by OfCom. The regulator has a dedicated page for dealing with complaints about the postal service which you can visit here. For the reasons mentioned above, I still think it worth telling your elected representatives about problems that you experience.
• Christmas generosity requested for local families
At this time of year, there are plenty of stories of seasonal festivities. Unfortunately, there are also plenty about the problems that the winter season can bring. One of the organisations that finds itself particularly busy at this time of year is West Berkshire Foodbank. On 30 November we caught up the Foodbank’s Fran Chamings about its needs in the run up to Christmas.
“We had a successful Harvest Festival appeal so our supply of tinned food is good,” explains Fran. “But it’s cash donations that we need now to support families who can’t afford their electricity bills for heat and cooking, and food pouches for families placed in hotel accomodation with no access to kitchen facilities.
“We also have families with children with allergies who need foodbank support now because the price of ‘free from’ food (non-dairy, non-gluten etc) has sky-rocketed. We are even called by schools and charities to provide headlice lotion because it’s no longer on prescription and many parents can’t afford it. And these are working parents. One couple’s mortgage hike meant they couldn’t afford to order a birth certificate for their baby to qualify for child allowance.
“So now, more than ever before we need cash to support our clients. The cost of living crisis isn’t going away any time soon. If Penny Post readers can help at all, we would be so grateful for donations via our website westberks.foodbank.org.uk.”
Foodbank is also grateful for donations of electrical items such as slow cookers, air fryers, heated blankets or room heaters which can be dropped off at the Community Furniture Project on Bone Lane, in Newbury (which itself has needed a grant from the Berkshire Community Foundation to cover a whopping 169% increase in electricity bills).
Thursday 23 November 2023
Our usual round-up of local news includes: repair successes, lantern-making, gifts, donations and bus travel – plus a six-month anniversary missed by the Police, the latest attempt to try to find out when work will start at Chestnut Walk, the . See also below for community notices and news from your local council.
Upcoming Hungerford events include: murder mystery, comedy and Clare Balding book signing. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.
This week’s news
• Help Ukraine Group Support is extremely grateful for the donations received at Hungerford Football Club last Tuesday. They managed to fill five large vans with humanitarian aid. They are still looking for local temporary storage space. See here for more details.
• Why were a musical toilet roll holder and a headless doll to be found in Hungerford’s Croft Hall last Saturday? Well, of course, it was the latest session of the hugely popular Hungerford Repair Café. As well as the usual toasters that wouldn’t pop, garden tools that had gone blunt and clothes that needed stitching, the volunteers at the repair cafe also set about mending some more unusual treasures. Despite it being damp and grey, over hundred visitors attended, making it the busiest Repair Cafe since they started in the summer of 2021. The next Repair Cafe will be on Saturday 20 January from 10am until 1230 pm at the Croft Hall. If you want to volunteer, or to know more about what they do, click here to find dates and contact details.
• West Berkshire Council is pleased to announce that there will once again be free bus travel this festive season on Saturday 16 and Saturday 23 December. On these days, you can travel all day, any time, completely free (do check the timetables) within West Berkshire. The free travel even extends beyond West Berkshire to our neighbouring areas such as Reading, Basingstoke, and Swindon. If you start your journey in West Berkshire, your return journey is also free. To learn more click here.
• Quick reminder about Hungerford’s Christmas gift collection for Berkshire Women’s Aid. Please see details here of the items being requested and where to drop off your donations on Hungerford High Street before Friday 15 December.
• One of the many highlights of the Hungerford Victorian Extravaganza is the magical lanterns in the parade (the type of lanterns that are carried on the end of a pole not the ones that float in the sky and cause problems in the countryside). Everyone is welcome to make or bring their own lanterns to carry in the parade on Friday 8 December. Hungerford Chamber of Commerce, which organises the Extravaganza, invites everyone to a lantern workshop on Saturday 25 November 1 to 4pm at Croft Field Centre RG17 0HY (between Hungerford Nursery and St Lawrence’s Church). £3 donation requested for materials and please dress for mess. Any questions please call 07768 981 658.
• Local seniors can now get a £2 discount on delicious two-course lunches at Redwood House thanks to a new initiative between The Fair Close Centre, which provides the lunches, and West Berkshire Council. See here for more details and how to apply.
• Beejacks thanks everyone who supported his fundraising quiz in aid of the school the Beejacks TOMBO Foundation is building is Sierra Leone. It was a well supported night and plenty of good food, fun and company, raising £843 after expenses. They still need another £5,000 so if anyone else who would like to donate please do so through Barclays Newbury, sort code 20-59-14, account number 03786803.
• Congratulations to John O’Gaunt School‘s award-winning mathematicians Cameron, Alice, Harry and Arwen and 11 year old martial arts champion Ellie Keenan who was a medalist in America this summer.
• Latest travel tips from Veronica at Fare Wise Travel spans visits to Santa’s Lapland to The Rose of Hungerford which they are currently taking books for their popular Santa Cruises.
• Hungerford Bookshop is busy in the run-up to Christmas, attending festive fairs and hosting authors like Clare Balding and Santa Montefiore. See their latest news here.
• If you, or anyone you know, lives in Hungerford or Hungerford Newtown and has celebrated an eightieth birthday this year or will do so before the end of the year, and would like to receive a Newbury Weekly News Over 80s Christmas parcel please contact Hungerford co-ordinators Ted and Daphne Angell on 01488 682610, 07799 886597 or tedangell.ta@gmail.com. And, if you know of anyone over 80 who, for whatever reason, is no longer with us, again please contact Ted and Daphne. They really need to keep their list up to date so that nobody misses out.
• Crash bang in the High Street
Few people who use Hungerford High Street will be unaware that there’s been a contraflow in place near Atherton Drive for nearly a year. We reported a few weeks ago that this is costing WBC £9,000 a month. It’s hoped that this will be recouped from the insurance companies: but with insurance companies, you never know. Meanwhile, the disruption continues. This is likely to get worse before it gets better as, when work eventually starts on repairing the badly damaged building, the contraflow may need to be lengthened and widened and new temporary crossing points installed.
All of these inconveniences are, however, minor compared to the news, rumoured some weeks ago and recently confirmed, that no prosecutions will result. The one-year anniversary of the accident will be coming up in a few weeks but it appears that there was another anniversary – at six months – by which time the Police should have commenced legal action. That date having been missed, it appears that nothing can now be done.
I still can’t get my head round how this could have happened. The whole incident was captured on film by a doorbell camera. The driver was known to the Police and was videoed leaving the scene of the accident, without the car (which was a write-off). There seemed to be any one of about half a dozen charges which could have been brought as the incident racked up pretty much a royal straight flush of traffic offences. About the only thing missing was serious injury to anyone. This would have been very different were the crash to have happened fifteen seconds earlier when a woman and a child were walking past the building.
I’m no expert but I would have thought that prosecutions don’t come much easier than this. As it was, it seems nothing was done at all. I understand that letters have been written to the Police and Crime Commissioner amongst others and that there will be some answers provided. I think that the PCC and a senior officer should come to the town in person and explain what went wrong and why it won’t do so again.
Such a visit could also mark the start of what would seem to be a much-needed PR campaign to remind people that, this massive aberration aside, it’s important that all crimes and incidents be reported. At present, many will be asking themselves why they should bother.
• Chestnut Walk
Ah, this old chestnut again…
As a result of West Berkshire Council’s current financial predicament, it’s being proposed that Willows Edge Care Home in Newbury be closed, saving the council nearly £250,ooo a year (see the Newbury Area Weekly News section for more on this). We have been here before: for, in 2017, Chestnut Walk Care Home in Hungerford closed, one of the benefits of which was a saving of £95,000 a year.
Another benefit was that social-rent homes would.be built. WBC owned the land. A joint-venture was set up with Sovereign Housing, the district’s major social-housing provider. There was no question that the homes would be needed. What could possibly go wrong?
Although councils move pretty slowly, they are like cheetahs at full tilt compared to what happens when they partner up with others. I don’t know if the issue here was Sovereign, or WBC, or the chemistry between them but for ages it appeared that nothing at all happened (apart from an arson attack on the shell of the old care home). In 2021 a planning application was finally lodged but this was strongly criticised by two of the ward members and by Hungerford Town Council as being woefully lacking in ambition with regard to sustainability. Aside from anything else, WBC had recently declared a climate emergency and it seemed odd that it was exhorting us to do our bit when it was failing to do so itself. Not a good look, as they say.
There followed long discussions about the application between the various parties, during which the project almost seem to be going backwards. The opposite could be said of the construction costs: inflation was starting to kick in and building estimates were increasing faster than the spinning meter on a London taxi.
Finally, shortly before the May 2023 election, it was announced that the two parties had agreed most of the financial matters. The specifications of the buildings were a little vaguer than HTC would have liked but better than the original proposals. The issue also provided a useful reminder to planning authorities and social-housing providers that if town or parish councils thought there was something sub-standard about a project or an idea they’d create a fuss about it (Sovereign also had another bruising run-in with a parish at around this time, Stratfield Mortimer in this case, about the proposed closure of Windmill Court). The election came and went, bringing in a new administration bursting with good intentions. The start date of autumn 2023 was confirmed.
By any seasonal standard, autumn is now here but there seem to be no spades in the ground. If this carries on for too much longer WBC will be in the humiliating position of having allowed one of its own planning permissions to lapse. I’m sure it won’t come to that – or am I? I don’t think that anyone believed that it would take seven years to get nowhere, so I suppose anything’s possible.
Hungerford is fortunate in that one of its ward members, Denise Gaines is also the portfolio holder for Housing. On 23 November she assured me that she would very soon be having a meeting with a WBC officer and that there should be some news very soon. As as soon as I have it I’ll let you know.
• No closure in Kintbury (for now)
Kintbury High Street was to have been closed for about three weeks from this week until early December to allow Gigaclear to install cables. Two of the ward members, Dennis Benneyworth and Denise Gaines, and Kintbury Parish Councillors recently had a meeting with Gigaclear as a result of which I understand that this closure will not be happening until after Christmas. It seems that Gigaclear will be discussing the matter with residents and hopefully coming up with a less intrusive and disruptive schedule than a blanket closure.
I’m not quite sure why such discussions didn’t happen anyway, nor whether WBC as the Highways Authority has the power to insist that they do. I’ll try to find out a bit more about how this all works and report back. Clearly if cables are to be laid the road has to be dug up and Kintbury High Street is, unfortunately, not exactly wide. Hopefully some compromise will be agreed. The other moral of this story is that your ward members and your parish council can get things done. You can find details of all the ward members here: for parish and town council contacts, see the relevant section below.
• Hungerford’s post
On 24 November, I had another email from a Hungerford resident describing the abominable service that they and their neighbours (and therefore probably many other people) are getting from Royal Mail, with deliveries only sometimes happening every seven to tan days, and then not always to the correct address. I’m aware that this has been a problem here, and also in Thatcham, for some time.
I’ll be looking into this further and will have more on this next week. This is another case (see above) where contacting your ward members and the parish or town council is a good idea – they have no responsibility for this but if they know about it there’s a chance they can have a word in the appropriate ear. The more people who complain, the more they’ll know that this is a problem. I’ve also recommended that my correspondent again contact Laura Farris. She did get involved in this a couple of months ago and promised to take some action. More would seem to be needed.
Thursday 16 November 2023
Our usual round-up of local news includes: upcoming festivities, gifting ideas, repairs, lanterns, coins and woollens – plus a look at where matters have got to on Hungerford’s NDP and a request from the local Help Ukraine Support Group. See also below for community notices and news from your local council.
Upcoming Hungerford events include: Bingo, second-hand toys and a repair cafe. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.
This week’s news
• Thanks to Lee Sainsbury from Oxygen Photography for these photographs (you can scroll through the facebook gallery by clicking the arrows) of the Remembrance Day Parade and Service last Sunday 12 November. Congratulations to the organisers.
• The last Hungerford Repair Cafe of 2023 will be on Saturday 18 November in the Croft Hall from 10am to 12.30pm. So look out your stuff that needs fixing and take it along. See here for more details and the 2024 Repair Cafe dates.
• Lou Evans is organising another Christmas gift collection for Berkshire Women’s Aid. Please see details here of the items being requested and where to drop off your donations on Hungerford High Street before Friday 15 December.
• Quick reminder about the next collection of humanitarian aid for Ukraine on Tuesday 21 November, this time at Hungerford Football Club. Here is a heads up for their donation request list.
• One of the many highlights of the Hungerford Victorian Extravaganza is the magical lanterns in the parade (the type of lanterns that are carried on the end of a pole not the ones that float in the sky and cause problems in the countryside). Everyone is welcome to make or bring their own lanterns to carry in the parade on Friday 8 December. Hungerford Chamber of Commerce, which organises the Extravaganza, invites everyone to a lantern workshop on Saturday 25 November 1 to 4pm at Croft Field Centre RG17 0HY (between Hungerford Nursery and St Lawrence’s Church). £3 donation requested for materials and please dress for mess. Any questions please call 07768 981 658.
• Hungerford Summer Festival is doing a last appeal for anyone who would like to revive the event in 2024. In the absence of a 2023 festival, the committee was delighted to financially support Hungerford Nursery School with school lunches for a year, and Hungerford Primary School with iPads for their classes. Please see here how to contact committee chair Caroline Lumley to discuss the future of the festival which has brought entertainment to the town for over 30 years.
• Latest travel tips from Veronica at Fare Wise Travel spans visits to Santa’s Lapland to The Rose of Hungerford which they are currently taking books for their popular Santa Cruises.
• Hungerford Coin & Stamp Centre currently has a limited number of Royal Mint packs of the new definitive UK coins featuring the official coinage portrait of The King plus a special coronation privy mark and embody the transition to a new reign and new Carolean era. Featuring animals, some of which are endangered, and plants from all four nations of the United Kingdom, the reverse designs for these new definitive coins reflect The King’s passion for conservation. See here for more details.
• Hungerford Bookshop is busy in the run-up to Christmas, attending festive fairs and hosting authors like Clare Balding and Santa Montefiore. See their latest news here.
• It’s time to start getting excited about this year’s Hungerford Victorian Extravaganza on Friday 8 December. There will be prizes for best Victorian costumes and also a lantern making workshop on Saturday 25 November 1 to 4pm at the Croft Field Centre. See details here.
• If you, or anyone you know, lives in Hungerford or Hungerford Newtown and has celebrated an eightieth birthday this year or will do so before the end of the year, and would like to receive a Newbury Weekly News Over 80s Christmas parcel please contact Hungerford co-ordinators Ted and Daphne Angell on 01488 682610, 07799 886597 or tedangell.ta@gmail.com. And, if you know of anyone over 80 who, for whatever reason, is no longer with us, again please contact Ted and Daphne. They really need to keep their list up to date so that nobody misses out.
• Hand-knitted woollens from the Miyar valley, high in the Indian Himalayas, will be on display and a Fundraising Himalayan Woollens Sale in Combe on Sunday 19 November from 5pm to 6.30pm. Miyar valley women, living in villages at 11,000 feet, knit these scarves, throws and socks during their very cold winters. The Miyar social enterprise returns all the costs and the sales profit to the knitters. Please pop in The Barn at Lower Farm, Combe, RG17 9EH.to purchase their products and learn about the story of this Himalayan wool!
• Plans are very much underway for next year’s big 80th Anniversary D-Day celebrations in Hungerford on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 June. See here for more details and how to get involved as a business or community group.
• Hungerford’s NDP train
I’ve suggested before that neighbourhood development plans are like trains on a long journey. Periodically they vanish into tunnels and are forgotten by most of us. However, progress is made, albeit unseen, until at some point the train bursts back out into the daylight at the latest stage of its journey.
This is what happened to Hungerford’s in early November when there was a public consultation (involving three in-person sessions and an online questionnaire) about the proposed site allocations. The train now goes back underground for a few weeks while the information gleaned from this process is digested.
On 16 November, I spoke to the Chair of Hungerford’s NDP, Richard Hudson, about where matters are and what the next steps will be. “The consultation went well and we were pleased with the response,” he told me. “The public sessions are a really good way to engage with people – it’s very important than an NDP team does this regularly to make sure its work continues to match public feeling on the various matters. They’re also an opportunity to explain the various constraints under which the whole NDP process has to operate.” To revert to the railway analogy, this is like making sure the train is securely on the tracks and not careering off across the fields on some wild-goose chase instigated by the driver.
“The next stage,” he continued, “is a meeting of the NDP steering group on 17 November which will result in recommendations being made. These will be discussed at a Part Two (private) session of Hungerford Town Council on Monday 4 December. Assuming agreement is reached, the decision as to which of the five site options proposed will be announced very soon afterwards.”
Further public consultations will then take place during 2024, culminating in submission to WBC, an independent examination and, finally, a referendum conducted among all the residents. Once approved (or “made” as the phrase goes), the NDP will then become as much part of the district’s local plan as if WBC had written it itself. Details of these successive stages will be announced once they’re confirmed. It’s hoped that Hungerford’s NDP train will arrive at its terminus by the end of 2024 but, as with all trains, delays can happen. The steering group is planning the journey carefully – but one station at a time…
• Help Ukraine Group Support (HUGS) request
The small local HUGS team thanks everyone who has contributed so far to the Ukraine effort: it is proving a long haul and they ask that people please don’t give up now. Your support is hugely appreciated in Ukraine.
HUGS’ seventh Donation Day (and last for 2023) will be at Hungerford Town Football Club on Tuesday 21 November from 9am to 2pm – please make an extra effort to support them. A list of the most critical needs can be found on the HUGS website here. Please contact them if you are unable to get there on the day or have other items which may help to make life more endurable for those facing another winter in war-torn Ukraine.
Please also consider making a financial donation to its new Just Giving appeal to ensure they can send specialist items to Ukraine and their work at HUGS can continue effectively.
The group also urgently needs more storage space locally on a short- or medium-term basis. If you have or know of a suitable lockable dry space, ideally between Ramsbury, Hungerford and Newbury, please get in touch on 07999 693 399 or hungerfordukraineaid@gmail.com
Thursday 9 November 2023
Our usual round-up of local news includes: A Christmas appeal, a festival, an extravaganza, arts and crafts and a fundraiser – plus a look at an important consultation, a peek in the bookshop’s basement and a look back and a link to our November Penny Post Hungerford newsletter. See also below for community notices and news from your local council.
Upcoming Hungerford events include: Bingo, second-hand toys and a repair cafe. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.
This week’s news
• November’s Penny Post Hungerford was published last Tuesday 7 November. If you missed it, see here for latest news from Hungerford Town Council, Town and Manor,
• Latest news from Hungerford High Street and local businesses includes Amore Italian restaurant which is already getting booked up for Christmas and Inklings half price cracker sale until Tuesday 14 November.
• Derek Loft reports that the Remembrance Day Parade this Sunday 12 November will fall up at Town Hall at 10.15am. The road will be closed at 10.30am from The Bear to Church Street. The parade will leave the Town Hall at 10.35am for the service at War Memorial starting at 10.55am with two minutes silence at 11am. After which everyone is welcome to lay a wreath. The road will re-open at 11.45am. Prior to the Parade there will be a Remembrance Day Service at 9.30am at St Lawerence’s. There will also be a two minutes silence at the War Memorial at 11am on Saturday 11 November (Armistice Day).
• Quick reminder that the deadline to have your say on housing sites in Hungerford as part of the final stages of the town’s neighbourhood development plan is 4pm this Monday 13 November 2023. Please click here for details of all the housing sites and options for Hungerford. Three public events have recently taken place but an on-line consultation also available by completing the Housing Feedback Form.
• Deanne Ingram is looking to provide an arts and crafts afternoon for elderly people in Hungerford. If anyone has any spare wool, material, paints, canvases, or anything you think could be of any use, please email deanne.ingram@careoutlook.co.uk
• Pop into The Plume this Friday 10 and Saturday 11 November between 11am and 8pm to have a peek at the Luna Boutique’s new collection pop-up. Don’t miss the wonderful knits, dresses, coats and more, with new brands from France and Denmark…a great way to add some colour to your winter wardrobe.
• The last Hungerford Repair Cafe of 2023 will be on Saturday 18 November in the Croft Hall from 10am to 12.30pm. So look out your stuff that needs fixing and take it along. See here for more details and the 2024 Repair Cafe dates.
• Shalbourne Village Hall offers some great events this month. Their last Grand Book and Jigsaw Sale for 2023 is this Saturday 11 November from 10 am to 3pm. Shalbourne Connect which addresses loneliness and isolation in the countryside has organized at the hall a Christmas Gift Market and Wine Tasting on Friday 17 November, 6pm to 9pm and on Saturday 18 November Christmas Gift Market from 10am to 4pm. Local suppliers and makers, good variety of stalls. Free Entry. Nearby parking.
• It’s time to start getting excited about this year’s Hungerford Victorian Extravaganza on Friday 8 December. There will be prizes for best Victorian costumes and also a lantern making workshop on Saturday 25 November 1 to 4pm at the Croft Field Centre. See details here.
• Spirit of the Vale invites you to their famous Christmas Fair in aid of West Berks Mencap on Thursday 16 November in a gorgeous 16th century barn in Sparsholt. Have a lovely time browsing 30 carefully selected stalls between 10am and 7.30pm while Childrey Stores serves delicious refreshments all day and cocktails and canapes are served in the barn from 6pm. And take advantage of the new Wish List Service where you do your shopping and fill out your Spirit Wish List as you go, get your partner/mother/sister/friend to come and they will get your list so you get what you want on Christmas Day too. Free parking and free entry.
• If you, or anyone you know, lives in Hungerford or Hungerford Newtown and has celebrated an eightieth birthday this year or will do so before the end of the year, and would like to receive a Newbury Weekly News Over 80s Christmas parcel please contact Hungerford co-ordinators Ted and Daphne Angell on 01488 682610, 07799 886597 or tedangell.ta@gmail.com. And, if you know of anyone over 80 who, for whatever reason, is no longer with us, again please contact Ted and Daphne. They really need to keep their list up to date so that nobody misses out.
• Hand-knitted woollens from the Miyar valley, high in the Indian Himalayas, will be on display and a Fundraising Himalayan Woollens Sale in Combe on Sunday 19 November from 5pm to 6.30pm. Miyar valley women, living in villages at 11,000 feet, knit these scarves, throws and socks during their very cold winters. The Miyar social enterprise returns all the costs and the sales profit to the knitters. Please pop in The Barn at Lower Farm, Combe, RG17 9EH.to purchase their products and learn about the story of this Himalayan wool!
• Hungerford Summer Festival is doing a last appeal for anyone who would like to revive the event in 2024. In the absence of a 2023 festival, the committee was delighted to financially support Hungerford Nursery School with school lunches for a year, and Hungerford Primary School with iPads for their classes. Please see here how to contact committee chair Caroline Lumley to discuss the future of the festival which has brought entertainment to the town for over 30 years.
• Local fitness instructor and personal trainer Beejacks is raising £10,000 to complete a school in Sierra Leone, where he comes from. He is organising a charity quiz night on Friday 17 November at Hungerford British Legion. Tickets are £15 and include good food. Or you can donate here or directly to Beejacks Tombo Foundation’s Barclay’s account no. 03786803, sort code 20-59-14. If you can donate a prize for the raffle, please contact Beejacks on btf1968@hotmail.com 07795 154 808
• Quick reminder about the next collection of humanitarian aid for Ukraine on Tuesday 21 November, this time at Hungerford Football Club. Here is a heads up for their donation request list.
• Kintbury Players upcoming production Murder? Mystery? looks very intriguing… Book your tickets here for 23 to 25 November.
• Plans are very much underway for next year’s big 80th Anniversary D-Day celebrations in Hungerford on Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 June. See here for more details and how to get involved as a business or community group.
• Please see events section below for details of forthcoming open days at local schools.
• Hungerford’s consultation
Hungerford’s neighbourhood development plan (HNP) was started in May 2018 and has now reached an important stage where public engagement is required. This is to invite comment on the alternative housing sites and the NDP team looks forward to seeing you there. You can see the details of these by clicking here.
Three public events were held earlier this month at which a number of responses were received. There is also an online consultation taking place in which people are asked to complete the Housing Feedback Form. All comments must have been received by 4pm on Monday 13 November 2023.
• Penny Post Hungerford
The most recent edition of our regular monthly newsletter was published earlier this week and you can click here to read it if you didn’t get it. If there’s anything you want to see included for December’s issue, please email penny@pennypost.org.uk by the end of this month.
• Two shops in one
I love buying new books. A different satisfaction comes from discovering one either I’ve read, lost and wish to re-read, or one which I’ve never read but would like to and which may now be out of print.
Both such pleasures can be indulged in at the Hungerford Bookshop. Many may not know that the basement is full of second-hand books of every kind, my particular favourites being the history section and the paperback fiction table. Within these general segregations there is, certainly with the fiction, little attempt at neat arrangement by author such as you find upstairs. This randomness is a large part of the charm. Where else, except at some hypothetical dinner-party in the after-life, can you find Raymond Chandler and Edgar Wallace rubbing shoulders with Virginia Woolf and Barbara Cartland?
There are also other differences between the two parts of the shop. Upstairs, it’s light, bright, airy and – as none of the staff are either taciturn or morose – a good deal of laughter and bookish chat. To go downstairs, however, is to enter a different world. The lights are slightly dimmer, the atmosphere slightly musty and dusty – exactly what many expect and perhaps demand from a room full of old books. These two atmospheres, one naturally lit and the other subterranean, perfectly co-exist a mere flight of stairs apart.
On my last few visits I’ve scored several hits. There was a volume of Ruth Rendell short stories which, as well as the usual tightly constructed tales of crime and revenge, included a marvellous and unexpected novella, The Strawberry Tree. There was a book called The Big Blind by Louise Wener who used to be in the band Sleeper: I bought this out of curiosity, not knowing she was now a writer, and thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a copy of The Bell by Iris Murdoch, a book I love so much that I keep giving it to people so it’s good to have another copy. There were two golden-age whodunits with their green-and-white Penguin covers and brittle pages that had to be turned with care, perfect for bed-time reading. And all this for a tenner. Check it out for yourself.
If this doesn’t satisfy your need for used books, even more can be found in the Arcade a few doors up the road and in most of the town’s charity shops.
• Latest local newsletters
Thursday 2 November 2023
Our usual round-up of local news includes: Christmas parcels, pumpkins, personal training, a postponement and football – plus a look at the consultation session on Saturday regarding the neighbourhood development plan and a last call for submissions for the November Penny Post Hungerford newsletter . See also below for community notices and news from your local council.
Upcoming Hungerford events include: Low noise fireworks, a Christmas market and live music See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.
This week’s news
• Hungerford Town Council invites you to have your say on housing sites in Hungerford as part of the final stages of the town’s neighbourhood development plan. Please click here for details of all the housing sites and options for Hungerford. Three public events have recently taken place but an on-line consultation also available by completing the Housing Feedback Form. All comments must have been received by 4pm on Monday 13 November 2023. Please also see the separate section below.
• If you, or anyone you know, lives in Hungerford or Hungerford Newtown and has celebrated an eightieth birthday this year or will do so before the end of the year, and would like to receive a Newbury Weekly News Over 80s Christmas parcel please contact Hungerford co-ordinators Ted and Daphne Angell on 01488 682610, 07799 886597 or tedangell.ta@gmail.com. And, if you know of anyone over 80 who, for whatever reason, is no longer with us, again please contact Ted and Daphne. They really need to keep their list up to date so that nobody misses out.
• The Royal British Legion and Hungerford Town Band is sad to announce that the Poppy Concert on Saturday 4 November is postponed. Unfortunately with the ongoing building work St Lawrence’s, the church is not able to host the event. The plan is to reschedule the concert in 2024 when the building work is completed.
• Caroline Dallas from Luna Boutique is very excited to be coming back to Hungerford soon, bringing her new collection pop-up to The Plume from 11am to 8pm on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 November. Don’t miss the wonderful knits, dresses, coats and more, with new brands from France and Denmark…a great way to add some colour to your winter wardrobe.
• Hungerford Environmental Action Team thanks everone who helped maintain the saplings at Hungerford’s Lockdown Wood on the edge of Freemans March last Saturday. This project is run in partnership with Newbury Friends of the Earth with kind permission from Town & Manor of Hungerford. If you would like to help next year please contact heat_hungerford@yahoo.com.
• Local fitness instructor and personal trainer Beejacks is raising £10,000 to complete a school in Sierra Leone, where he comes from. He is organising a charity quiz night on Friday 17 November at Hungerford British Legion. Tickets are £15 and include good food. Or you can donate here or directly to Beejacks Tombo Foundation’s Barclay’s account no. 03786803, sort code 20-59-14. If you can donate a prize for the raffle, please contact Beejacks on btf1968@hotmail.com 07795 154 808
• Quick reminder about the next collection of humanitarian aid for Ukraine on Tuesday 21 November, this time at Hungerford Football Club. Here is a heads up for their donation request list.
• Kintbury Players upcoming production Murder? Mystery? looks very intriguing… Book your tickets here for 23 to 25 November.
• Plans are very much underway for next year’s big 80th Anniversary D-Day celebrations in Hungerford on Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 June. See here for more details and how to get involved as a business or community group.
• Hungerford British Legion is also always looking for volunteers to sell poppies, so if you could spare a couple of hours please call Di Loft on 07867 977783.
• Hungerford Town Council reminds those aged 65 and over who wish to receive their Autumn Covid booster, that appointments are available at the Hungerford Hub on Sunday 22 and 29 October.
• The Under 13s football team from Hungerford Town Juniors is currently looking for some extra players, but especially a goal keeper, from year 7 (playing up a year) or year 8. If you know of anyone looking for somewhere to play please contact Garry Cook 07469 192 069 or helen.doman@outlook.com
• Hungerford Town Football Club Juniors is seeking Under 14s Lionesses. Contact Michelle Tallack for more information on shellitallack@gmail.com.
• Please see events section below for details of forthcoming open days at local schools.
• Kintbury Pre-School is extremely grateful for the community’s support of its appeal to stay open. See the latest news on their facebook page. Donate to its gofundme page here or join its facebook raffle group to pick up fab prizes kindly donated by local businesses.
• For those wondering what to do with their pumpkins after Halloween, here are some creative suggestions. Just please don’t leave them on the ground in your garden or in woodland, as they are dangerous to hedgehogs and attract rats – see more in this request by the Woodland Trust.
• Online consultation available for the Neighbourhood plan
To repeat what was said last week, many parishes are currently engaged in neighbourhood development plans (NDPs) and Hungerford is amongst them. The town’s was started in May 2018 and is now approaching the final corner before the home straight. You can see more detail on NDPs generally, and Hungerford’s in particular, by clicking here.
All NDPs, and Hungerford’s is no exception, have periods when activity continues but in a way that’s unseen by most people. Periodically, the moment arrives when, like a train emerging from a long tunnel, the whole thing becomes visible again. This generally results in a period of public participation, consultation or engagement. This is a vital part of the process. NDPs must be community-led if they are to pass their external examination.
Such a stage has been reached with Hungerford’s and the project team organised some informal consultations to obtain residents’ views and comments. You can see the details of the proposed sites by clicking here. These events have now happened. However, you can respond online by completing the Housing Feedback Form. All comments must have been received by 4pm on Monday 13 November 2023.
• Penny Post Hungerford
The next edition will be published on Tuesday 7 November. If you have anything you’d like to contribute, please email penny@pennypost.org.uk as soon as possible.
• Latest local newsletters
Thursday 26 October 2023
Our usual round-up of local news includes: Halloween, saplings, a fair, poppies and lionesses – plus continuing, but slow, progress on the High Street contraflow, a new on-demand bus service linking Hungerford with Marlborough and two important public events relating to Hungerford’s Neighbourhood Plan. See also below for community notices and news from your local council.
Upcoming Hungerford events include: Halloween fun, a Christmas Fair and a choral evening. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.
This week’s news
• Quick reminder to put your clocks back this Saturday and enjoy an extra hour in bed…
• Good news that a rare and beautiful Blue Underwing moth was discovered by Town & Manor on Hungerford Common last week.
• The wait is over – the popular Hungerford Christmas Fair in Hungerford Town Hall is this Friday 27 and Saturday 28 October. This year all proceeds from the door and raffle will go to Newbury Samaritans and 10% of all sales will go to Amref Health Africa. See all details here.
• Can you spare an hour this Saturday 28 October morning from 1oam to 12pm to help maintain saplings at Hungerford’s ‘Lockdown Wood‘, planted in memory of the sacrifices made by our community during the pandemic? The wood is at Westbrook Down, adjacent to Hungerford Marsh on the south side of the Kennet and Avon canal. Previously the site of many majestic ash trees which had be felled due to ash die-back disease, this corner was kindly donated by the Town and Manor of Hungerford for community woodland. If you can help on Saturday please bring shears/secateurs and strong gloves to clear the weeds and brambles between the saplings. Bring drinks, snacks will be provided. Please contact heat_hungerford@yahoo.com for more details. The ‘what three words’ locations of the Lockdown Woods ///vessel.student.digs and parking at ///trips.sunshine.fittingly.
• There will be another collection of humanitarian aid for Ukraine on Tuesday 21 November, this time at Hungerford Football Club. Here is a heads up for their donation request list.
• The Hungerford Co-op is running a Halloween colouring competition for children 3 to 11 years old. Pop into the store for a colouring sheet and return by Tuesday 31 October. Each winner will receive a prize and have their entry displayed in store.
• Hungerford British Legion is also always looking for volunteers to sell poppies, so if you could spare a couple of hours please call Di Loft on 07867 977783.
• Hungerford Town Council reminds those aged 65 and over who wish to receive their Autumn Covid booster, that appointments are available at the Hungerford Hub on Sunday 22 and 29 October.
• The Under 13s football team from Hungerford Town Juniors is currently looking for some extra players, but especially a goal keeper, from year 7 (playing up a year) or year 8. If you know of anyone looking for somewhere to play please contact Garry Cook 07469 192 069 or helen.doman@outlook.com
• Hungerford Town Football Club Juniors is seeking Under 14s Lionesses. Contact Michelle Tallack for more information on shellitallack@gmail.com.
• Please see events section below for details of forthcoming open days at local schools.
• Kintbury Pre-School is extremely grateful for the community’s support of its appeal to stay open. See the latest news on their facebook page. Donate to its gofundme page here or join its facebook raffle group to pick up fab prizes kindly donated by local businesses.
• Slow processes in the High Street
As we mentioned last week (scroll down to Crash bang in the 19 October column below), it was recently announced that it was unlikely that any prosecutions are likely as a result of the high-speed accident in Hungerford High Street last December. This has left the owners of a building with a severely damaged property, Hungerford with a seeming indefinite contraflow system and WBC with a £9,000-per-month bill for managing this.
The apparent lack of legal action was met with a mixture of disbelief and disquiet in the town. It seems that the motorist committed pretty much a full-house of driving offences which would on its own be worth some official and public reaction. There’s also the question of whether there’s any risk they’ll put in a repeat performance.
The matter has not, however, been allowed to rest there. A local resident has written to a number of local politicians, media groups and Thames Valley Police personnel about this and has also been taken up by Hungerford’s Mayor. I understand that, as a result, the previous decision may be subject to a review. We’ll have more news on this when it’s available.
Meanwhile, it seems likely that the contraflow will still be in place when the first anniversary of the prang comes round on 13 December. This will need to remain until the building works are completed. First, however, they have to start: and the one piece of good news is that seems that a contractor has very recently been appointed. When the work will begin and how long it will take are currently uncertain. What is not is that, for the duration of the works, the area that’s bollard-off will need to be larger to allow for scaffolding, access and health-and-safety issues, which may mean that the contraflow area needs to be longer. It’s also likely that the pavement will be completely closed by the building, so requiring two other temporary crossing areas to the north and south.
Despite this, it’s hard to judge which of the two processes – the legal or the repairs – have moved forward more slowly. If only the car had been travelling at the same sort of speed.
• Important dates for the Neighbourhood plan
Many parishes are currently engaged in neighbourhood development plans (NDPs) and Hungerford is amongst them. The town’s was started in May 2018 and is now approaching the final corner before the home straight. You can see more detail on NDPs generally, and Hungerford’s in particular, by clicking here.
All NDPs, and Hungerford’s is no exception, have periods when activity continues but in a way that’s unseen by most people. Periodically, the moment arrives when, like a train emerging from a long tunnel, the whole thing becomes visible again. This generally results in a period of public participation, consultation or engagement. This is a vital part of the process. NDPs must be community-led if they are to pass their external examination.
Such a stage has been reached with Hungerford’s and the project team has organised an informal consultation to obtain residents’ views and comments. Two session will take place in The Corn Exchange building on:
- Wednesday 1 November 2023 upstairs in the Town Hall, 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9pm.
- Saturday 4 November 2023 in the Magistrates Room, 10am to noon.
This will be your chance to comment on the alternative housing sites and the NDP team looks forward to seeing you there. You can see the details of these by clicking here.
• On-demand travel
Wiltshire Council’s new Wiltshire Connect on-demand bus services in the Pewsey Vale area has, a recent statement says, had “a hugely successful start, with more than 5,000 passengers travelling on the service in the first two months.” The service, which launched at the start of August, initially covered the area west of Pewsey, from Pewsey to Devizes, but now two additional Wiltshire Connect vehicles will begin on Monday 30 October, covering the rural area between Marlborough and Hungerford.
For more information, please see this post on Wiltshire Council’s website.
• Latest local newsletters
Thursday 19 October 2023
Our usual round-up of local news includes: Halloween, colouring, dressing up, Remembrance Day, jabs and football – plus good news from Kintbry’s school, less good news from Shalbourne’s, no action on the High Street and the latest on Boots the Chemist. See also below for community notices and news from your local council.
Upcoming Hungerford events include: Poppy Dance, wrestling and a family film. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.
This week’s news
• The Hungerford Co-op is running a Halloween colouring competition for children 3 to 11 years old. Pop into the store for a colouring sheet and return by Tuesday 31 October. Each winner will receive a prize and have their entry displayed in store.
• The lovely Natura Spa at Audley Inglewood just outside Kintbury has a fab offer on treatments this month with an extra 20% off during the week of halfterm from Monday 23 to Friday 27 October.
• Royal British Legion Hungerford Club will launch its 2023 Poppy Appeal on Thursday 26 October with dates for the diary. There will be a Poppy Dance on Saturday 28 October, Armistice Day on Saturday 11 November at 11am when everyone is invited to honour those who died during conflict by a two minutes silence and of course Remembrance Day Parade and Service on Sunday 12 November at the town war memorial. They are also always looking for volunteers to sell poppies, so if you could spare a couple of hours please call Di Loft on 07867 977783.
• HEAT (Hungerford Environmental Action Team)‘s next monthly meeting is at 7pm on Wednesday 25 October at Hungerford Hub & Library and anyone is welcome to attend. If you want any help with reducing your home energy bills, please contact heat_hungerford@yahoo.com.
• The popular Hungerford Christmas Fair in Hungerford Town Hall is coming soon on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 October. This year all proceeds from the door and raffle will go to Newbury Samaritans and 10% of all sales will go to Amref Health Africa which is the charity supported by Kathini Graham who started and ran this fair for over 25 years. There are many new stallholders this year and entry is £3 on the door. You will also be able to buy Christmas cards in aid of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.
• Yvonne Gillies has let us know that the last session of Hungerford Cancer Support Group will be on Thursday 16 November from 2pm to 4pm in the Hungerford Hub (the library space). The group has been going for 7 years but no new people have attended for a while. If you have any questions please contact Yvonne on Ygillies@btinternet.com
• Hungerford Town Council reminds those aged 65 and over who wish to receive their Autumn Covid booster, that appointments are available at the Hungerford Hub on Sunday 22 and 29 October.
• The Under 13’s football team from Hungerford Town Juniors is currently looking for some extra players, but especially a goal keeper, from year 7 (playing up a year) or year 8. If you know of anyone looking for somewhere to play please contact Garry Cook 07469 192 069 or helen.doman@outlook.com
• Hungerford Town Football Club Juniors is seeking Under 14s Lionesses. Contact Michelle Tallack for more information on shellitallack@gmail.com.
• Please see events section below for details of forthcoming open days at local schools.
• Kintbury Pre-School is extremely grateful for the community’s support of its appeal to stay open. See the latest news on their facebook page. Donate to their gofundme page here or join their facebook raffle group to pick up fab prizes kindly donated by local businesses.
• Crash bang
Little progress appears to have been made on the saga of the building that was damaged by a high-speed prang last year. It also seems that no progress will made on any criminal charges, a recent statement from the Police saying that the case has been “filed”. An article in this week’s NWN referred to this, and asked for clarification from Thames Valley Police as to what “filed” means. This was translated as “the investigation is complete but no action has been taken.”
That covered the past: but might action be taken in the future? I emailed the local Police team on 19 October to ask this question. The (very prompt) reply suggested that this was “unlikely”. It appears that the accident was investigated by an officer from a separate department so this decision was not taken by the local team.
Some may see this as perplexing. If going at about 65mph in a 30mph limit, reckless driving, causing an accident, damaging a building, not having insurance and (as I understand) then leaving the scene of the crash do not amount to sufficient reasons for prosecution then many will wonder what does.
As mentioned before, some residents, including several members of the Town Council, are concerned that the cracks in the building are getting wider. WBC has said that the building is being monitored and that it’s currently safe. Getting the place fixed and the contraflow removed, however, seems as far off as ever. WBC has “thanked residents for their continued patience”. This patience will be tested for some time yet. As for the costs, those continue to mount with the scarcely credible sum of £9,000 a month being spent on the lights ands bollards. At this rate, the bill for the traffic measures (already over £100,000) are going to be more than that for the repairs.
• Kintbury’s Pre-school
As mentioned before, Kintbury’s Pre-school has encountered some severe funding problems and has been appealing for donations in order to stay open. In this separate post, we look at the background to this and look at some of the challenges facing pre-schools everywhere. We’re also pleased to include the following statement that was received from the pre-school on 19 October:
“We have raised over £6,000 from the GoFundMe page. We are continuing to fundraise to get us in a more financially stable position, but will be remaining open for the foreseeable future. Staff are remaining positive and are all looking to the future of the setting. We have also had some interest from prospective parents, so numbers will hopefully rise soon.
“There are some upcoming events organised for December including a Christmas craft workshop at the Jubilee centre craft fair and a Christmas prize Bingo to be held at the Blue Ball. Dates to follow.
“We would like to thank everyone for supporting us so that we can remain open. Kintbury Preschool is a much-needed community resource, not just for Kintbury families but for everyone in the local community.”
• Pharmacy questions
There are still questions about the future of the Boots Pharmacy in the High Street. The store has been suffering from staffing and service problems for some months: in this respect it’s not unique in the district. There are, however, two specific issues which threaten its viability, certainly in that location.
The first is that the lease is due to expire early next year. The second is that the new landlord (the freehold changed hands recently) has been granted permission to convert the top floors to dwellings (technically, no permission was needed and the application has merely established that the work can proceed without further formality. The technical planning terms for this decision is a “deemed discharge”, which sounds rather like the kind of condition someone might need to go into Boots to get a prescription for).
Due to delays in processing the application, it was not possible for this to be considered by WBC’s Western Area Planning Committee, so robbing the Town Council of the chance of having the matter aired in public. Whether the potential loss of the pharmacy is a matter that the planners can consider I rather doubt: however, there were other issues as well, such as parking, that could have been looked at.
In any event, WBC decided it was more important that the matter be decided quickly rather than after wider discussion. The reason suggested was that, if the decision date was passed, then the applicant could start work on grounds of non-determination. Another might have been that planning departments are measured on how many applications they process on time. Those who fall below a certain threshold risk being put on the naughty step by the government and being placed in special measures.
Whether or not the applicant plans to start work quickly I cannot say. However, they wouldn’t have made this move if they hadn’t planned to make the concession at some point. The problem for Boots is that the toilet, store room and staff room are on the first floor and so presumably will become part of the new flats. I have recently established that discussions are taking place between Boots and the landlords on a range of issues and I understand that there might be more definite news in a couple of months.
In the meantime, there seems to be no immediate threat to the store and efforts are also being made to improve the service there. Please remember that the current staff are doing the best they can under difficult circumstances.
An irony of the situation is that one of the reasons the service levels at the store have recently slipped is because of the problem of recruiting staff. In turn, one of the reasons for this is the shortage of suitable accommodation at the lower end of the price range. This is exactly what the proposed flats might provide. Whether there will still be a pharmacy on the ground floor as a result of this remains to be seen. Hopefully there will.
• Shalbourne’s School
At its meeting on 12 October, Shalbourne Parish Council was invited to respond to Wiltshire CC’s consultation into the closure of Shalbourne’s School due to sharply falling pupil numbers. Shalbourne PC agreed with the decision to close and also added the following comments.
The Council recognizes the inevitability of the school closure but would make the following points:
- There should be a ‘lessons learnt’ investigation into the precipitous decline in numbers this year with a view to avoid its happening elsewhere;
- The diocese should be asked to liaise with the village through the Parochial Church Council or the Parish Council with a view to either finding uses of the building which align with the terms of the gift from the Ailesbury Estate possibly in conjunction with either a pre-school provider or the Outdoor Centre at Oxenwood;
- Wiltshire Council should similarly liaise with the village before any decisions are taken on the remaining land;
- Consideration should be given to the preservation of the original school building and the rain garden on the site;
- The land now claimed by Wiltshire Council was a gift to the school by the late Mr and Mrs. Ennion then living at the Mill House. The terms of that gift should be made available.
- Provision for places at schools in Berkshire should be investigated.
In summary, the school and playing field are located in an area central to the village and the conservation area. The Parish Council requests that both the diocese and Wiltshire Council engage with the village before any decisions are taken on the future of the site.
• Latest local newsletters
Thursday 12 October 2023
Our usual round-up of local news includes: football, freedom, crafters, thanks from a pre-school and another final for the Bookshop – plus apple day, more thoughts on the contraflow and a surprising omission from a decision notice. See also below for community notices and news from your local council.
Upcoming Hungerford events include: Family Fun Days, James Holland author talk, a build up to Halloween, Covid boosters and scams. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.
This week’s news
• Congratulations go to this year’s Freedom of the Town Award winners: Stewart Hofgartner the founding member of Hungerford Chamber of Commerce, Charlie Barr recognised for her enthusiastic work with Hungerford Youth and Community Centre and Tony Drewer-Trump who has given up generous amounts of his free time over a significant number of years setting up and running events that are a huge benefit to the community, currently with Arts for Hungerford. Read Mayor Helen Simpson’s reaction here.
• Hungerford Town Council reminds those aged 65 and over who wish to receive their Autumn Covid booster, that appointments will soon be available at the Hungerford Hub on Sunday 15, 22, and 29 October.
• Hungerford Bookshop is delighted to be a finalist for Romantic Bookseller of the Year as their booksellers believe that all genres of literature deserve equal attention; and it’s about matching the right book to the right person. If you love a sweeping romance then don’t miss Strictly’s Anton Du Beke talk to Rebecca Fletcher about his latest novel The Paris Affair at Corn Exchange Newbury, co-hosted by Hungerford Bookshop at 3pm on Friday 3 November. (If racing is more your thing, catch Felix Francis talking about his new thriller No Reserve next Wednesday 18 October in the Croft Hall. Tickets £7 here.)
• If you would like to reduce your energy bills and carbon footprint, there is a great opportunity this weekend to find out about a range of sustainable options at Green Open Homes across the Hungerford and Bedwyn area. Book appointments to talk to homeowners and see a range of systems in action and take advice from those with experience (who aren’t trying to sell something).
• The wonderful Shalbourne Community Growers market garden grows organic and obviously very local produce which you can taste for yourself at their Community Harvest Lunch in Shalbourne Village Hall this Sunday 15 October and a Slow Food Supper at Shalbourne Pavillion on Wednesday 18 October.
• The Under 13’s football team from Hungerford Town Juniors is currently looking for some extra players (girls or boys), but especially a goal keeper, from year 7 (playing up a year) or year 8. If you know of anyone looking for somewhere to play please contact Garry Cook 07469 192 069 or helen.doman@outlook.com
• If you are a crafter who would like a stall at The Christmas Fayre on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November at the Croft Field, contact Rhoda on milkanjiro8@gmail.com particularly if you have art, children’s stalls or something unusual to offer.
• Please see events section below for details of forthcoming open days at local schools.
• Hungerford Town Football Club Juniors is seeking Under 14s Lionesses. Contact Michelle Tallack for more information on shellitallack@gmail.com.
• Quick reminder about Newbury College and University Centre Newbury (UCN)’s Open Event on Wednesday 18 October to get all the information you need to make an informed decision about your future career and discover how they are working with local businesses to develop the skills needed for the workplace.
• Kintbury Pre-School is extremely grateful for the community’s support of its appeal to stay open. See the latest news on their facebook page. Donate to their gofundme page here or join their facebook raffle group to pick up fab prizes kindly donated by local businesses.
• Pipping Success
Hungerford’s first Apple Day (and last monthly food and artisan market of 2023) last Sunday 8 October saw scores of visitors bringing bags of apples and pears and learning how to press them into delicious fresh juice. Roy Bailey from Great Shefford offered cider apple tasters and Tony Hammond from Growing Newbury Green worked hard to identify many apple species brought along by the public. Hungerford Food Community‘s
Tobias Lane from Kintbury, who has a PhD in how apple trees are responding to climate change, demonstrated how to graft fruit trees to get the best harvest. The Hungerford Food Community team demonstrated a range of apple recipes from soup and chutney to cake, scones, syrup and caramel.
“It was a brilliant day and we are sad this is our last monthly market of 2023,” says Penny Locke from Hungerford Food Community. “But we are already looking forward to re-starting in April 2024. We would like to thank all our volunteers and supporters including the fabulous Scampy buskers.”
If you still have apples and pears to spare you can press them at the Green Weekend in the Lambourn Valley in East Garston on Saturday 14 October or Eastbury on Sunday 15 October or take them to My Apple Juice in Hungerford Park. Please contact hungerfordfoodcommunity@gmail.
• No parking here
On 2 October 2023, WBC issued a decision notice refusing permission for “Redevelopment for retirement living accommodation for older people comprising 45 retirement apartments including communal facilities, access, car parking and landscaping and 2 cottages at Hungerford Railway Station Car Park, Station Road, Hungerford,” this being application 23/00826/FULMAJ from Churchill Retirement Living. Nothing odd in that, one might think: decision notices are issued every day.
What seems odd about this is that one matter that seems a clear breach of WBC’s own policy, that of the shortage of parking spaces, was not mentioned as one of the eleven reasons for refusal. The proposals suggest 17 spaces for the 45 apartments and two additional spaces for the cottages. The previous application on this site provided for 29 parking spaces for 30 flats. By WBC’s own figures, the 47 dwellings here should have 46 spaces. Why was the shortfall accepted?
It would appear that a good deal of weight, perhaps an undue amount, was given to a document prepared by the applicant’s own consultants which justified a far lower number of parking spaces. This research dates back to 2016 and appears to rely on surveys conducted at two other Churchill sites. One could argue the toss about whether 17 or 46.5 or something in-between is the correct number. What seems odd is that the officers appeared to have accepted the information provided which was designed to minimise the costs of the development. As I’ve said 57 times before, I get it that developers are private companies and need to make a profit. However, that’s why we have a planning system in order that some compromise can be found between private profit and public good. No such compromise seems to have been attempted here.
The matter was considered at HTC’s Planning Committee meeting on 18 May 2023 and lack of parking was one of the issues raised, so there can be no doubt that WBC’s officers were aware that this was a concern and that their council has a policy on this.
As the matter has been refuse, one might argue that it doesn’t matter. That’s to ignore the possibility of an appeal. If that happens – which seems likely – the planning authority can’t introduce fresh reasons for refusal over those that were mentioned in the decision notice. I may be wrong, but it’s also possible that it can’t even be added as a condition. If the applicant decides rather to put in a new application, the lack of any parking mention will not incline them to do any better on this aspect next time.
Either way, not to mention parking issues as another reason for refusal seems slightly like a manager fielding a team for a cup final with only 10 players. It also risks turning HTC’s deliberations on the matter, WBC’s desire to refuse the application as it stands and the whole business of having a policy on parking places at all seem like a colossal waste of time.
I understand, however, that if the matter does go to appeal, Hungerford Town Council can request that any views it’s already expressed as a consultee can be taken into account, regardless what was in the decision notice. This doesn’t seem like the most efficient way of going about things, though. The Town Council has already made the point once to WBC. Why should it need do so again to the Planning Inspector?
• Hungerford’s contraflow
No further change on what I mentioned last week, except that I’ve been trying to find out how two temporary traffic lights and some bollards can possibly cost £9,000 a month. A WBC spokesperson told me on 11 October that “the cost is for maintenance of the signals and the temporary traffic management (signing and guarding). I can’t give any more details or contractual rates as this is commercially sensitive information.” I was, however, able to establish that this service is supplied by Volker Highways, the Council’s contractor.
I’m sure that there’s a lot more involved than there seems but, when confronted by an income stream like that, many might feel that they were in the wrong job. This point was made by local resident Geordie Taylor, in a letter sent to Penny Post and others. He also wonders why the work is taking so long. “The answer,” he suggests, “lies with the insurance industry. A recent article said that they have tried to appoint a builder to complete the restoration task but have “found this difficult due to the nature and location of the work”. As a self-appointed, self-taught verbal engineer with years of experience pertaining to insurance shenanigans, their statement could be interpreted thus: “The quotes that we’ve received are way more than our directors and shareholders are prepared to pay out”.”
If, as WBC has assured me is the case, the sums will be recouped from the insurance companies then the insurers would seem to have an incentive to get matters done quickly. It will be interesting to see how much of this cost (currently £90,000) is indeed repaid when the matter’s resolved.
In the meantime, concerns remain as to whether the cracks in the building are getting wider. HTC thinks they are: WBC currently seems confident that they aren’t. “The issue of the cracks has been raised with the structural engineer on behalf of the insurance companies,” a WBC spokesperson told me on 5 October, “and they are content that the building is structurally sound, taking into account the traffic management mitigation in place. Should the situation change we would take advice from the engineer.”
• Latest local newsletters
Thursday 5 October 2023
Our usual round-up of local news includes: apples, jabs, fun, streams, mail, open days and lionesses – plus the October Penny Post Hungerford newsletter, the latest news from Froxfield, the return of the town-centre strategy and concerns about the contraflow in the High Street. See also below for community notices and news from your local council.
Upcoming Hungerford events include: Hungerford Apple Day, Felix Francis author talk, open days at local schools and more. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.
This week’s news
• Bring your surplus apples and pears to Hungerford Food Community‘s Hungerford Apple Day this Sunday 8 October to press your own juice to take home. You can also enter the largest apple and pear competition, get your apples identified by an apple expert, find out about grafting apple trees (which will also be for sale) and taste interesting apple recipes too. These activities will be running from 10am to 1pm at the Croft Field as part of the last Food & Artisan Market of 2023.
• You may have noticed signs around Freeman’s Marsh and Hungerford Common regarding Southern Streams that were put up in September. The Town & Manor of Hungerford is a member of Southern Streams, a farming cluster group of more than 25,000 acres, with land that delivers water to the Rivers Dun and Shall – both tributaries of the River Kennet – as well as the River Kennet itself. The farmer members of this group are committed to enriching the landscape and biodiversity in our environment, whilst enhancing water quality in our rivers, stream, lakes and ponds. For more information, click here.
• 1st Hungerford Scouts are busy preparing for their Family Fun Day on Sunday 15 October that will offer plenty of activities including tomahawks, climbing wall, bouncy fun obstacle course, fire lighting, crafts and much more from 1pm to 4pm at the Scout Hut (behind The Croft Hall). Entry is free. See their facebook page for more details.
• Hungerford Bookshop are hosting an event with author Felix Francis on Wednesday 18 October at 7pm at The Croft Hall. His new book No Reserve is a blistering new high-stakes thriller set in the glamorous but cut throat world of British racehorse sales. Tickets £7 which includes £5 off the book on the evening and a glass of wine. For more details click here.
• As autumn marches on, Halloween starts to come into sight and pumpkins start to take on a renewed interest. The Pumpkin Patch at Cobbs Farm will be open from Wednesday 18 to Sunday 29 October from 10am to 4pm. Foxglove Farm also offer a pick your own pumpkin opportunity from October 1 at RG17 9QR and ask you to text and collect at a cost of £3 per pumpkin. Phone 07738 464794.
• Please see events section below for details of forthcoming open days at local schools.
• Hungerford Town Football Club Juniors is seeking Under 14s Lionesses. Contact Michelle Tallack for more information on shellitallack@gmail.com.
• Laura Farris MP continues to investigate Royal Mail delivery issues in the West Berks area: see this separate post for her latest statement regarding Hungerford.
• Hungerford Town Council is keen to promote Home-Start West Berkshire which is looking for volunteers to help families in need and looking for individuals with energy, reliability and creativity to engage in this wonderful service. Full training will be given to those who are interested. For more information or an application pack contact on 01635 760 310 or email office@home-startwb.org.uk
• The Hungerford Bookshop will be hosting author James Holland talking about his book The Savage Storm: the Battle for Italy 1943 on Thursday 12 October at 7pm at the Herongate Club. Weaving together a wealth of letters, diaries, and other incredible documents, Holland traces the battles in Italy as they were fought. Tickets available here.
• Looking to take the next step after school and not sure where to start? Maybe you want to further your education and improve your career prospects? Go along to Newbury College and University Centre Newbury (UCN)’s Open Event on Wednesday 18 October to get all the information you need to make an informed decision about your future career and discover how they are working with local businesses to develop the skills needed for the workplace.
• Kintbury Pre-School is extremely grateful for the community’s support of their appeal to stay open. See the latest news on their facebook page. donate to their gofundme page here or join their facebook raffle group to pick up fab prizes kindly donated by local businesses.
• Hungerford’s newsletter
The October Penny Post Hungerford was published earlier this week and as ever provides the best round up off life in the town. Click here to read it if you didn’t get it.
If there’s anything you’d like to contribute to the November edition, please email penny@pennypost.org.uk by the end of this month.
• Hungerford’s town-centre strategy
As described in this separate post, in 2022 West Berkshire Council commissioned the first part of a town-centre strategy (AKA place-making strategy) for Hungerford. These provide the opportunity for town and district councils and other local organisations such as the Town and Manor and local businesses to come together and, under a formalised structure, develop plans for how the towns can be improved. Conducting the exercise in this way also provides clear evidence of community involvement which not only ensures that the proposals are not just whimsical aspirations but also makes grant funding more likely to be secured.
The first phase was completed in March 2023 but there was then a pause while the election took place and, resulting from this, the new administration got its feet under the table. Martin Colston, the portfolio holder responsible for these initiatives, has recently confirmed that the first Hungerford steering group meeting will be on 16 October at 6pm in Hungerford Town Hall and will be chaired by Councillor James Cole. Various stakeholders have been invited including from the Town Council and the Town & Manor.
As well as studying the terms of reference which have been specified, the first order of business is expected to be identifying the top two or three priorities to focus on from the seven outlined in the Hungerford Town Centre Strategy (p38 if you’re looking at the thumbnails or pp74-5 if you’re following the numbers at the foot of each page).
• Going with the flow
As anyone who uses Hungerford High Street will be aware, a contraflow has been in place at the top (south) end since a serious accident in December 2022 led to damage to a building. The matter was aired at the most recent meeting of Hungerford Town Council at which concerns were expressed that the cracks appeared to be widening and that it was unclear how often the building was being inspected. Hungertford Mayor Helen Simpson said that “people are concerned, as am I, that the onset of winter is likely to cause further and perhaps catastrophic damage to the building as water enters and then freezes in the exposed brickwork.”
Perhaps in response to this observation, WBC issued a statement on 3 October. This refers to the protracted discussions between the insurance companies involved and the problems in finding a contractor to do the work. “We are assured that all efforts are being made to bring this to a conclusion as quickly as possible in order to completely reopen the road,” the statement said, before adding that “this situation is out of the Council’s control.”
Well, up to a point. I accept that as WBC neither owns the building nor is paying for the work it can’t impose its will on the matter. However, as the Highways Authority it is responsible for the safety of road and pavement users. I therefore asked WBC if there was any suggestion that, as Hungerford Town Council believed, the cracks were geeing wider.
“The issue of the cracks has been raised with the structural engineer on behalf of the insurance companies,” a spokesperson told me on 5 October, “and they are content that the building is structurally sound, taking into account the traffic management mitigation in place. Should the situation change we would take advice from the engineer.”
I imagine that any measures in such a case would involve closing the pavement. However, this would be to create another traffic problem as there are no zebras in the immediate vicinity (although one has been proposed in the past).
One thing I have managed to establish is that the contraflow is costing WBC a staggering £9,000 a month (so about £90,000 and counting to date). The good news for us council-tax payers is that this will, so WBC’s spokesperson assures me, be claimed back from the insurance companies. At the present rate of progress this will take some time and the costs will by then be well into six figures. Let’s hope the insurance companies can be compelled to cough up. In the meantime, expect the delays to continue for several more months at least.
• Latest local newsletters
Thursday 21 September 2023
This week we cover friends, repairs, tea, a savage storm, a quiz, pies and jabs – plus our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This week’s news” for an appeal from Kintbury’s Pre-school, an open day at John O’Gaunt and a reminder about the forthcoming October Penny Post Hungerford newsletter.
We’re taking a bit of time off so this post will next be updated on Thursday 5 October.
This week’s news
• Upcoming Hungerford events include: Historical Association talk, author/broadcaster Julia Bradbury, Hungerford Football Club Quiz Night and Hungerford Apple Day. See events section below for details, plus on-going regular community events and clubs.
• Hungerford Surgery is keen to remind residents that Flu and Covid Vaccines will be available on Saturday 23 September and Saturday 7 October at John O’Gaunt School. Use the NHS App, call in at the surgery in person or phone 01488 682507 (option 5) between 9.30am and 3.30pm for more details.
• Hungerford Repair Cafe was another great success last Saturday 16 September helping fix over 40 items and as a result keeping about 80kg of material out of landfill. The principle is simple: instead of throwing away stuff that is broken, see if Hungerford Repair Cafe‘s kind volunteers can fix it and enjoy a chat around the cafe area while you wait. The next one will be on Saturday 18 November. For more information, including how to volunteer as a fixer or in any other capacity, please see here.
• Sunday CommuniTEA at the Methodist Church Hall on Bridge Street is open every Sunday noon to 3.30pm with free food and hot drinks with time to chat, play board games or enjoy the peaceful riverside garden at the Methodist Church Hall, Bridge Street. This Sunday 24 September at 2pm they will also be showing a family film you can sing along to. The next films be on Sunday 22 October and 19 November.
• Hungerford Town Council is keen to promote Home-Start West Berkshire who are looking for volunteers to help families in need. Looking for individuals with energy, reliability and creativity to engage in this wonderful service. Full training will be given to those who are interested, starting on Friday 29 September and running until November. For more information or an application pack contact on 01635 760310 or email office@home-startwb.org.uk
• The Hungerford Bookshop will be hosting author James Holland talking about his book The Savage Storm: the Battle for Italy 1943 on Thursday 12 October at 7pm at the Herongate Club. Weaving together a wealth of letters, diaries, and other incredible documents, Holland traces the battles in Italy as they were fought. Tickets available here.
• Royal British Legion Club Hungerford have a Quiz Night on Saturday 30 September. The event starts at 8.30 pm, with cash prizes to be won. £1 pp and no more than 6 in a team. The Royal British Legion Club Hungerford will also be holding their annual Family Halloween and Fancy Dress Party Disco on Sunday 29 October from 3pm to 7pm.
• Hungerford Town Football Club invites you to its first Pie and Quiz Night of the season on Thursday 28 September at 7pm. Pre booking is essential and tickets cost £10 pp.
• If you are looking for a Home Education group go to Hungerford Youth and Community Centre every Tuesday from 11:00-12:30 for fun activities and life skills. More information here
• The latest news from Hungerford Youth and Community Centre includes a massive thank you to Dion, their youth worker, who is stepping down but will stay involved as a volunteer. They welcome Jade who will be taking over the role of youth worker. This term the youth club is encouraging young people to bring reusable water bottles to help reduce the use of disposable cups. They have also started a recycling program at the Centre and encourage young people and centre hirers to use the new bins provided. They have a number of youth groups running this term, including two new youth groups for Home Educated young people on Tuesdays and Years 9 and 10 on Thursdays.
• If you have spare apples in your garden do collect them up and take them along to the Croft Field on Sunday 8 October for Hungerford Food & Artisan Market’s Hungerford Apple Day where you will be able to press them into juice you can take home, get them identified by an apple expert, enter the largest apple and pear competition and sample some tasty apple recipes. See more details here.
• Kintbury St.Mary’s CE Primary School invites prospective families to their Whole School Open Morning on Wednesday 11 October. Please contact the office on 01488 658336 or email office@kintbury.w-berks.sch to book your place.
• There are just a few tickets left for Hungerford Bookshop’s event with broadcaster Julia Bradbury talking about her new book, ‘Walk Yourself Happy’ at Hungerford Town Hall from 7pm to 9pm Thursday 28 September. Book your tickets here.
• Looking to take the next step after school and not sure where to start? Maybe you want to further your education and improve your career prospects? Go along to Newbury College and University Centre Newbury (UCN)’s Open Event on Wednesday 18 October to get all the information you need to make an informed decision about your future career and discover how they are working with local businesses to develop the skills needed for the workplace.
• Friday 22 September heralds World Car Free Day and consequently West Berks Council is offering free bus travel on routes starting in West Berkshire and including return trips too.
• Thames Valley Police has launched a new online portal for victims of crime. They are the first police force to use this technology. Click here to find out more.
• Quick reminder about the The Rivers Trust‘s first ever Big River Watch from Friday 22 to Monday 24 September. You just have to spend 15 minutes observing the wildlife, water colour, litter and pollution in your local river to help gather vital data on the state of our rivers, to support the work being done to improve and protect them. Find out more here.
• Did you know that you can collect one free roll of compostable food caddy liners from any West Berkshire Library or from the West Berkshire Council Office reception in Newbury? They’ll be available until Saturday 30 September.
• Maria Leon runs a chronic pain support group at Hungerford Surgery on the second Tuesday of the month. See here for details.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Hungerford Arcade.
• Click here for the latest Inkpen and Combe Bulletin.
Kintbury News
• Kintbury Pre-School is in desperate need of help to raise thousands of pounds to prevent closure.
• Kintbury St.Mary’s CE Primary School invites prospective families to their Whole School Open Morning on Wednesday 11 October. Please contact the office on 01488 658336 or email office@kintbury.w-berks.sch to book your place.
• Kintbury St Mary’s School PTA areexcited to be hosting their second Dog Show on Saturday 30 September with lots of stalls and activities too.Entries from 11.30 am and finishes circa 4pm. £3 per class or 2 for £5 (cash and card accepted)
• Kintbury Jubilee Centre is home to a wide range of clubs and activities from sword fighting to netball. Follow their facebook page for latest news.
Hungerford’s newsletter
The next Penny Post Hungerford will be published on Tuesday 3 October and will as ever provide the best round-up of life in the town. If you have anything you’d like to contribute to this, please email penny@pennypost.org.uk by Monday 2 October.
Open day at JOG
John O’Gaunt School offers big school ambition with small school care. They welcome prospective families to their upcoming Open School Events: on Friday 13 and Monday 16 October from 10am to 1pm you can book a School Tour and there will be an address by the Principal on Thursday 12 October at 4.45pm and 5.45pm.
To book call 01488 682400 or email johngoffice@excalibur.org.uk
Kintbury Pre-School’s appeal
Many organisations are feeling the financial pinch at the moment and are having to reduce services, lay off staff or even close. Wilko and Birmingham Council are two of the high-profile casualties but by no means the only ones. The problems become even more severe when, as well as shortage of money and rising costs, one adds in demographic changes. Organisations have as little control over these as they do over inflation or supply-chain problems.
One group that is currently feeling the pinch to the extent that it needs to raise a five-figure sum very soon or face closure is Kintbury Pre-school, which has been in existence for nearly fifty years. In this article, we take a look at the general background and the specific problems Kintbury faces and also look at what the school is trying to do – and how you can help. Other pre-schools in the area may well be facing similar problems and looking to run similar appeals. If so, please get in touch and we’ll do our best to publicise these.
Thursday 14 September 2023
This week we cover a repair café, policing, thanks from the market, Oliver and two school open days – plus our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This week’s news” for a look at how John O’Gaunt is coping with the school-transport problem, an appeal from Kintbury’s Pre-school and your chance to ask questions about the local water and sewage services.
This week’s news
• Upcoming Hungerford events include: Repair Cafe, Car Boot Sale, Historical Association talk, author/broadcaster Julia Bradbury and Hungerford Football Club Quiz Night. See events section below for details, plus on-going regular community events and clubs.
• If you’ve not visited a Repair Cafe before do pop into the Croft Hall this Saturday 16 September between 10am and 12.30pm. The principle is simple: instead of throwing away stuff that is broken, see if Hungerford Repair Cafe’s kind volunteers can fix it and enjoy a chat around the cafe area while you wait. They’ll have a go at most things as long as they are not too heavy to carry in to the hall. Guide dogs only in the hall please. For more information, including remaining dates for 2023 and how to volunteer as a fixer or in any other capacity, please visit repaircafe.org/en/cafe/
• Hungerford Food & Artisan Market’s Heritage Festival last Sunday 10 September was a big success (see photos on their facebook page) and the organisers from the Hungerford Food Community committee would like to thank all the volunteers and supporters that made it happen. Their next and last market for 2023 will be on Sunday 8 October and will also be a Hungerford Apple Day so bring along your apples to be pressed or identified, enter the largest apple and pear competition and sample some tasty apple recipes.
• Hungerford Neighbourhood Policing Team are holding a Scam Awareness Event on Monday 18 September 11am – 1pm outside Hungerford Town Hall. They will be highlighting and raising awareness of scams and frauds along with Trading Standards. Come along and have a chat with the team.
• Auditions for The Community Of Hungerford Theatre Company‘s next show Lionel Bart’s Oliver are this Friday 15 September for adults and children over 8 years from 7 to 10 pm at Hungerford Youth and Community Centre.
• Latest news from Hungerford Bookshop includes success of their Sebastian Faulkes event (a couple of signed copies of his new book are still available in the shop) and lots more literary events to look forward to in coming months both in Hungerford, Thatcham and Wantage.
• Hungerford’s John O’Gaunt School combines big school ambition with small school care and invites prospective students to their Open Evening on Thursday 12 October and their Open Morning Tours on Friday 13 and Monday 16 October. See here for details and book your place with the school office on 01488 682400 or jogoffice@excalibur.org.uk
• Kintbury St.Mary’s CE Primary School invites prospective families to their Whole School Open Morning on Wednesday 11 October. Please contact the office on 01488 658336 or email office@kintbury.w-berks.sch to book your place.
• Sunday CommuniTEA at the Methodist Church Hall on Bridge Street has re-started after the summer break and is open every Sunday 12 – 3.30pm with free food & hot drinks with time to chat, play board games or enjoy the peaceful riverside garden at the Methodist Church Hall, Bridge Street. They are now also offering a free film screenings on Sunday 24 Sept, 22 Oct, and 19 Nov at 2pm.
• British Red Cross shops (Hungerford) need some more volunteers to join their friendly team, sorting donations or front of house at the till. Pop into the shop or see more details and apply on-line here
• Hungerford Bookshop reports that ticket sales are going well for broadcaster Julia Bradbury talking about her new book, ‘Walk Yourself Happy’ at Hungerford Town Hall from 7pm to 9pm Thursday 28 September. To secure tickets for the event, please click here.
• Looking to take the next step after school and not sure where to start? Maybe you want to further your education and improve your career prospects? Go along to Newbury College and University Centre Newbury (UCN)’s Open Event on Wednesday 18 October to get all the information you need to make an informed decision about your future career and discover how they are working with local businesses to develop the skills needed for the workplace
• Action for the River Kennet (ARK) encourages everyone to join The Rivers Trust‘s first ever Big River Watch from Friday 22 to Monday 24 September. You just have to spend 15 minutes observing the wildlife, water colour, litter and pollution in your local river to help gather vital data on the state of our rivers, to support the work being done to improve and protect them. Find out more here.
• Don’t miss Hungerford Primary School’s Car Boot Sale on Saturday 16 September from 8.30am to 12.30pm. Sellers to arrive at 7.30am charged £10 per stall. Pre-booking essential with friendsofhungerfordprimary@
• Hungerford Surgery is keen to remind residents that Flu and Covid Vaccines will be available on Saturday 23 September and Saturday 7 October at John O’Gaunt School. Use the NHS App, call in at the surgery in person or phone 01488 682507 (option 5) between 9.30am and 3.30pm for more details.
• Did you know that you can collect one free roll of compostable food caddy liners from any West Berkshire Library or from the West Berkshire Council Office reception in Newbury? They’ll be available until Saturday 30 September.
• Our family, like many, has very sadly lost friends to suicide, including young adults in Newbury. Here in West Berkshire we have a Suicide Prevention Action Group that provides training and awareness materials. Do have a read Chairman Garry Poulson’s article here for Suicide Prevention Week 10 to 16 September and you can also sign up for their next Suicide Prevention First-Aid Course on Thursday 19 October.
• Maria Leon runs a chronic pain support group at Hungerford Surgery on the second Tuesday of the month. See here for details.
• Hungerford Cricket Club has an end of season party on Saturday 16 September with curry cooked by their finest chefs, presentations and a disco into the night. Festivities starting at 6.30 pm.£10 per ticket kids free.
• On Sunday 17 September there will be a special community cricket match between Hungerford Tennis Club are player Hungerford Chancers which is basically a social event that everyone’s invited to – bar and BBQ at Hungerford Cricket Club, plus a match to watch.
• Hungerford Chamber of Commerce had a good meeting at The Funghi Club and a number of issues facing local businesses were discussed including business rates. If you would like support for your business please contact Karen at chairman@
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Hungerford Arcade.
• Click here for the latest Inkpen and Combe Bulletin.
Kintbury News
• Kintbury St.Mary’s CE Primary School invites prospective families to their Whole School Open Morning on Wednesday 11 October. Please contact the office on 01488 658336 or email office@kintbury.w-berks.sch to book your place.
• Kintbury St Mary’s School PTA areexcited to be hosting their second Dog Show on Saturday 30 September with lots of stalls and activities too.Entries from 11.30 am and finishes circa 4pm. £3 per class or 2 for £5 (cash and card accepted)
• Kintbury Jubilee Centre is home to a wide range of clubs and activities from sword fighting to netball. Follow their facebook page for latest news.
On the buses
There have been some unexpected and unwelcome problems with the home-to-school bus services which have resulted in some areas being without a proper service since the term started Councillor Denise Gaines discussed the matter at the most recent meeting of Hungerford Town Council and said that the transport officers had “played a blinder” in trying the resolve the problem which was, it appears, dumped on them at short notice.
Problems remain, however. On 14 September we contacted one of the affected schools, John O’Gaunt in Hungerford, to ask how things were going. As spokesperson provided the following statement:
“We have been working very closely and urgently withWest Berkshire Council to resolve this issue with statutory home-to-school transport that they are obligated to provide.
“We appreciate this is a difficult situation for the local authority but it has made for a challenging and unexpected start for our students and their families, at the start of the new school year and with just two working days notice. It has been particularly unsettling for those students keen and ready to begin their Secondary School ‘career’ in Year 7 and has shaken the confidence of our Year 11s going into their GCSE year.
“The issue has affected 66 students and their families living in the villages of Inkpen, Kintbury and Great Shefford. It is unrealistic, and in some cases unsafe, to expect children to walk the sometimes considerable distance to Kintbury train station (as was suggested) and for the children to catch a train that either gets them into school too early (before staff arrive) or after the school day has started.
“Whilst we have no control over West Berkshire Transport, we are pleased that they have been communicating with us and earlier this week a meeting between the school and the officers responsible for transport took place.From this meeting, it seems we are closer to a more satisfactory solution for affected families, which we understand has now been communicated to them.The school has agreed to make temporary provision available for affected students arriving in school earlier, or having to leave later, as a result of the current transport issues.We will of course be keeping communications with the local authority open on these issues.”
Kintbury Pre-School’s pinch is more of a punch
Many organisations are feeling the financial pinch at the moment and are having to reduce services, lay off staff or even close. Wilko and Birmingham Council are two of the high-profile casualties but by no means the only ones. The problems become even more severe when, as well as shortage of money and rising costs, one adds in demographic changes. Organisations have as little control over these as they do over inflation or supply-chain problems.
One group that is currently feeling the pinch to the extent that it needs to raise a five-figure sum very soon or face closure is Kintbury Pre-school, which has been in existence for nearly fifty years. In this article, we take a look at the general background and the specific problems Kintbury faces and also look at what the school is trying to do – and how you can help. Other pre-schools in the area may well be facing similar problems and looking to run similar appeals. If so, please get in touch and we’ll do our best to publicise these.
Scrutinising the water
Do you have concerns about the activities of Thames Water and the Environment Agency? If so, you can submit questions to a special public West Berkshire Council Oversight and Scrutiny Committee meeting being held at 6.30pm on Wednesday 11 October. At this event, the members of the committee will be reviewing the recent performance of TW and the EA in the district and will be questioning representatives of both organisations who will be attending the meeting. If you have any questions you’d like ask or concerns you’d like to raise, please email these to Executivecycle@westberks.gov.uk by 18 September. The meeting will be streamed live on the Council’s YouTube channel for residents wanting to follow the meeting as it happens or at their convenience later. Click here for more details.
Friday 8 September 2023
This week we cover a skatepark, a car boot, Sebastian Faulks, a cricket party and flu jabs – plus our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This week’s news” for a quick look back at the first hundred days for the new administration in West Berkshire and a link to the most recent Penny Post Hungerford newsletter.
Apologies that this is a day late. As many of you will know, we were recently beset by IT problems severe enough to make us wonder if we’d ever get this out at all. Apologies on behalf of the gremlin or gremlins responsible.
This week’s news
• In this week’s September Penny Post Hungerford we cover latest news from the Town Council, Town & Manor, independent businesses and shops,
• Hungerford Town Council is thrilled to announce the new skatepark is now open. See demonstration video on their facebook page and conditions of use.
• Pop down to the Croft Field for the annual Heritage Festival this Sunday 10 September. This year’s highlights include a living history kitchen and cooking demonstration by the Marquess of Winchester’s re-enactment Regiment, sponsored by Doves Farm Foods who are supplying flour made from ancient grains like einkhorn and spelt for the traditional bread recipes from the 1640s. Entry is free and there will also be an opportunity to have a go at willow weaving, enjoy some entertaining ferret racing, browse lots of stalls and street food. See here for more details.
• There is still time to book your place on Arts for Hungerford’s brand new programme of ten introductory arts workshops at The Croft Hall including mixed media, watercolour, printmaking and acrylics. Starting on Tuesday 12 September at the total cost of £130. Click here for full details.
• Don’t miss Hungerford Primary School’s Car Boot Sale on Saturday 16 September from 8.30am to 12.30pm. Sellers to arrive at 7.30am charged £10 per stall. Pre-booking essential with friendsofhungerfordprimary@
• Hungerford Surgery is keen to remind residents that Flu and Covid Vaccines will be available on Saturday 23 September and Saturday 7 October at John O’Gaunt School. Use the NHS App, call in at the surgery in person or phone 01488 682507 (option 5) between 9.30am and 3.30pm for more details.
• Don’t miss Hungerford Bookshop’s latest event starring Sebastian Faulks in conversation with Hannah MacInnes at the Herongate Club on Tuesday 12 September at 7pm. For further details click here.
• Our family, like many, has very sadly lost friends to suicide, including young adults in Newbury. Here in West Berkshire we have a Suicide Prevention Action Group that provides training and awareness materials. Do have a read Chairman Garry Poulson’s article here for Suicide Prevention Week 10 to 16 September and you can also sign up for their next Suicide Prevention First-Aid Course on Thursday 19 October.
• Last Wednesday, 25 members and guests of the Hungerford Environmental Action Team (HEAT) visited the site of the proposed Kennet Valley Wetland Reserve (KVWR) which The Town and Manor is planning to convert 16 hectares (40 acres) of land on the north-western edge of the town – known locally as Undy’s Meadow – into a beautiful reserve. There was much positive feedback and enthusiasm for the project. Anyone else interested in visiting the site can get in touch via the dedicated KVWR page here.
• Maria Leon runs a chronic pain support group at Hungerford Surgery on the second Tuesday of the month. See here for details.
• Hungerford Cricket Club has an end of season party on Saturday 16 September with curry cooked by their finest chefs, presentations and a disco into the night. Festivities starting at 6.30 pm.£10 per ticket kids free.
• On Sunday 17 September there will be a special community cricket match between Hungerford Tennis Club are player Hungerford Chancers which is basically a social event that everyone’s invited to – bar and BBQ at Hungerford Cricket Club, plus a match to watch.
• Hungerford Chamber of Commerce welcomes local businesses and prospective new members to their next meeting at The Funghi Club at 6pm on Wednesday 13 September. Please book with Karen at chairman@
• The Trussell Trust’s Step Up September Challenge is in aid of preventing the need for Foodbanks. Please click here if you would like to sponsor Penny doing the challenge.
• Last chance to complete West Berkshire Council’s Bus Survey by Sunday 10 September. Buses sustain town centres, allow young people and the elderly to access education and work, and help reduce carbon emissions from car travel.
• Calling local actors of all ages! The Community Of Hungerford Theatre Company are proud to announce that their next show will be Lionel Bart’s Oliver. Auditions for adults, youth and children aged 8+ will take place on Friday 15 September from 7 to 10 pm at Hungerford Youth and Community Centre.
• Hungerford’s next Repair Café will be on Saturday 16 September from 10am to 12:30pm in the Croft Hall. The clever volunteer fixers will help fix your broken electrical goods, repair toys and furniture, sharpen tools and help mend clothing. Repairs and refreshments are free as donations from grateful members of the public to help cover costs. For more information, including remaining dates for 2023 and how to volunteer as a fixer or in any other capacity, please visit repaircafe.org/en/cafe/
• Do you have plans for crime prevention projects in your community? Applications for the latest round of Thames Valley Police’s Community Fund are now open, with £200,000 of grant funding available for community group projects to help prevent crime across Thames Valley. Application deadline is 12pm on Monday 11 September.
• The Methodist Church in Bridge Street is launching a 20 minute dementia-friendly service for those living with dementia and their carers. This will start on Thursday 14 September and will continue thereafter every second Thursday of the month. All accessibility issues covered. Call Karen on 07444 851606 for further enquiries.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Hungerford Arcade.
• Click here for the latest Inkpen and Combe Bulletin.
Kintbury News
• Kintbury St Mary’s School PTA are excited to announce their next fun dog show on Sunday 30 September with an even bigger line-up of attractions. Trade stalls are available, please email chairksmpta@gmail.com for prices and availability.
• Kintbury Jubilee Centre is home to a wide range of clubs and activities from sword fighting to netball. Follow their facebook page for latest news.
Hungerford’s newsletter
As ever, the first week of the month sees the publication of Penny Post Hungerford and this month was no exception. If you didn’t get it, please click here for the best round up of life in the town, including news from the Town Council, local retailers, voluntary groups, charities, schools and societies.
If you want to contribute anything to the October edition, please email penny@pennypost.org.uk by the end of the month.
The first hundred days
The new Lib Dem administration was sworn in or whatever the ceremony involved at WBC on 25 May, so they’ve had just over a hundred days with their hands on the levers. This seemed like a good moment to reflect on what has and has not been accomplished.
Ross Mackinnon, leader of WBC’s Conservatives had the same idea and sent round a press statement on 13 August which provided his party’s take on how things were going. Green leader David Marsh added some thoughts of his own. So did I. Read more in this separate post.
Thursday 31 August 2023
This week we cover arts, friendship, a chamber meeting, rugby taster and networking – plus our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This week’s news” for a quick look back at a successful beer festival over the bank holiday and a last call for submissions for September’s Penny Post Hungerford.
This week’s news
• Arts for Hungerford is launching a brand new series of ten introductory arts workshops at The Croft Hall including mixed media, watercolour, printmaking and acrylics. Starting on Tuesday 12 September at the total cost of £130. Click here for full details.
• Mayor Helen Simpson and Hungerford Chamber of Commerce Chair Karen Salmon were pleased to unveil Hungerford’s first Friendship Bench on the Canal Wharf last Friday. The bench is designed to be a safe place where people can connect if they want someone to talk to, or if they want to help someone in need. There is also a QR code to access information about support organisations. Click here for more details.
• Hungerford Chamber of Commerce also welcomes local businesses and prospective new members to their next meeting at The Funghi Club at 6pm on Wednesday 13 September. Please book with Karen at chairman@hungerfordchamberofcommerce.co.uk
• Congratulations to the organisers and participants of last weekend’s Summer Produce and Handicraft Show in the Town Hall. There was a spectacular array of entries from some very talented local people. It is bound to become an annual event. See Forbes Stevenson’s photo gallery here.
• Looking for something to do with the kids on a Sunday morning? How about trying rugby? Hungerford RFC offer two free taster sessions for girls and boys Year 6 upwards with qualified coaches and first aiders. Call Lou on 07917 058523 for further enquiries. They also have a Play for All scheme which provides support for any families struggling to pay for kit or subs.
• Jon Shatford Business Support Services, based in Wessex House on Hungerford High Street runs monthly networking for local businesses 11am to 1pm on the first Thursday of the month, with the next one being on Thursday 7 September. They also offer a meeting room and hot desks that can be booked on a casual basis. For more information on this please visit hungerfordworkspace.co.uk
• The Trussell Trust’s Step Up September Challenge is an inspiration to walk 30 minutes each day of the month to raise funds to help build a future where nobody needs to use a food bank. If you would like to join our Penny Post Team, please search for ‘Penny’ when it asks you to find a team (thanks to Leo Sumner for setting this up). Or if you prefer to sponsor Penny, please do so here.
• There is still time to complete West Berkshire Council’s Bus Survey by 10 September. Buses sustain town centres, allow young people and the elderly to access education and work, and help reduce carbon emissions from car travel. Paper copies of the survey can be requested at 01635 519394 or transport@westberks.gov.uk.
• Hungerford Food Community‘s September event down at the Croft Field will be the annual Heritage Festival on Sunday 10 September. This year’s highlights include a living history kitchen and cooking demonstration by the Marquess of Winchester’s re-enactment Regiment, sponsored by Doves Farm Foods who are supplying flour made from ancient grains like einkhorn and spelt for the traditional bread recipes from the 1640s. There will also be an opportunity to have a go at willow weaving, enjoy some entertaining ferret racing, browse lots of stalls and street food. See here for more details.
• Calling local actors of all ages! The Community Of Hungerford Theatre Company are proud to announce that their next show will be Lionel Bart’s Oliver. Auditions for adults, youth and children aged 8+ will take place on Friday 15 September from 7 to 10 pm at Hungerford Youth and Community Centre.
• Hungerford’s next Repair Café will be on Saturday 16 September from 10am to 12:30pm in the Croft Hall. The clever volunteer fixers will help fix your broken electrical goods, repair toys and furniture, sharpen tools and help mend clothing. Repairs and refreshments are free as donations from grateful members of the public to help cover costs. For more information, including remaining dates for 2023 and how to volunteer as a fixer or in any other capacity, please visit repaircafe.org/en/cafe/hungerford-repair-cafe.
• Hungerford Primary School invites you to their Car Boot Sale also on Saturday 16 September.
• Do you have plans for crime prevention projects in your community? Applications for the latest round of Thames Valley Police’s Community Fund are now open, with £200,000 of grant funding available for community group projects to help prevent crime across Thames Valley. Application deadline is 12pm on Monday 11 September.
• The Methodist Church in Bridge Street is launching a 20 minute dementia-friendly service for those living with dementia and their carers. This will start on Thursday 14 September and will continue thereafter every second Thursday of the month. All accessibility issues covered. Call Karen on 07444 851606 for further enquiries.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Hungerford Arcade.
• Click here for the latest Inkpen and Combe Bulletin.
Kintbury News
• Kintbury St Mary’s School PTA are excited to announce their next fun dog show on Sunday 30 September with an even bigger line-up of attractions. Trade stalls are available, please email chairksmpta@gmail.com for prices and availability.
• Kintbury Jubilee Centre is home to a wide range of clubs and activities from sword fighting to netball. Follow their facebook page for latest news.
Sold out
The August bank holiday has for many years been the time for the Hungerford Club’s annual Beer Festival. The Club is on the Croft, just to the west of the High Street.
“This year saw us take the beer festival to another level,” the Hungerford Club’s Steward Debbie Hutchins told Penny Post. “We had a range great beers, quaffable ciders and lots of delicious hotdogs and burgers and fantastic music supplied by various local artists. We would like to thank all who supported the club at the event, all the bands and singers and of course all the people who lent a hand in many ways to make the event a huge success.”
She added that “we were drunk dry of beers and guest cider.” That alone would seem to be the definition of a successful beer festival.
Penny Post Hungerford
The next edition of this monthly newsletter will be published on Tuesday 5 September and will, as ever, provide the best round-up of life in the town. This will also, as ever, provide a summary of the many tasks and projects with which Hungerford Town Council is involved. The next Council meeting will take place at 7pm on Monday 4 September (you can read the agenda here) and residents are welcome to attend.
If there’s anything you’d like to see covered in September’s Penny Post Hungerford, please email penny@pennypost.org.uk as soon as possible.
Thursday 24 August 2023
This week we cover a bench, a playground, a festival , networking and happy walking – plus our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This week’s news” for Kintbury news, a quick decision at Hungerford’s newest school and pigswilll (and sheep-dip).
This week’s news
• Hungerford Town Council and Hungerford Chamber of Commerce invite you to the unveiling of The Friendship Bench at the Canal Wharf this Friday 25 August at 11am. A wonderful idea to provide support for anyone in need.
• Hungerford Town Council are giving notice that, over the next week, some of the equipment at Bulpit Lane Play Park will be painted and hope the disruption will be minimal.
• The Hungerford Club in the Croft invites you to its annual August Bank Holiday Beer Festival from Saturday 26 to Monday 28 August from noon to 8pm with 10 beers, two ciders, a variety of live musical entertainment and a barbecue. Free entry. See more details here.
• Looking for something to do with the kids on a Sunday morning? How about trying rugby? Hungerford RFC offer two free taster sessions for girls and boys Year 6 upwards with qualified coaches and first aiders. Call Lou on 07917 058523 for further enquiries.
• Jon Shatford Business Support Services, based in Wessex House on Hungerford High Street runs monthly networking for local businesses 11am to 1pm on the first Thursday of the month, with the next one being on Thursday 7 September. They also offer a meeting room and hot desks that can be booked on a casual basis. For more information on this please visit our hungerfordworkspace.co.uk
• Congratulations to the Bedwyn Train Passenger Group (which has been campaigning for improved rail services from Bedwyn, Hungerford, Kintbury and Newbury since 2006) which recently picked up two gongs at Railfuture’s annual awards. More information on this and the BTPG’s latest news on services, please click here.
• Hungerford Food Community‘s September event down at the Croft Field will be the annual Heritage Festival on Sunday 10 September. This year’s highlights include a living history kitchen and cooking demonstration by the Marquess of Winchester’s re-enactment Regiment, sponsored by Doves Farm Foods who are supplying flour made from ancient grains like einkhorn and spelt for the traditional bread recipes from the 1640s. There will also be an opportunity to have a go at willow weaving, enjoy some entertaining ferret racing, browse lots of stalls and street food. See here for more details.
• Calling local actors of all ages! The Community Of Hungerford Theatre Company are proud to announce that their next show will be Lionel Bart’s Oliver. Auditions for adults, youth and children aged 8+ will take place on Friday 15 September from 7 to 10 pm at Hungerford Youth and Community Centre.
• Do you have plans for crime prevention projects in your community? Applications for the latest round of Thames Valley Police’s Community Fund are now open, with £200,000 of grant funding available for community group projects to help prevent crime across Thames Valley. Application deadline is 12pm on Monday 11 September.
• Unsurprisingly tickets are selling quickly for Hungerford Bookshop’s event with the much loved presenter Julia Bradbury on Thursday 28 September at Hungerford Town Hall. Through science-backed information, practical tips and Julia’s own story, her latest book, Walk Yourself Happy will explore how nature can soothe anxiety and stress, how a mountain or a tree can keep you company in times of grief, and the importance of building nature into your everyday life so you eat well, sleep better and move more. Click here for full details and how to book.
• It’s not too late to apply to achieve a degree locally at University Centre Newbury which runs its own clearing process in-house, by the people who actually deliver and support your programmes. This gives you direct access to the information, advice and guidance you need to make an informed choice about your studies – whether you’ve just finished sixth form and have changed your mind about the university, your recent A Level results have surprised you or if you’re a professional looking to advance in your career.
• The Methodist Church in Bridge Street is launching a 20 minute dementia-friendly service for those living with dementia and their carers. This will start on Thursday 14 September and will continue thereafter every second Thursday of the month. All accessibility issues covered. Call Karen on 07444 851606 for further enquiries.
• On Thursday 7 September at 7pm at Hungerford Hub/Library, Hungerford Bookshop invites you to a fascinating evening with two authors in conversation about their retelling of classic works. In Fair Rosaline Natasha Solomons, the author of the celebrated I, Mona Lisa turns her attention to Juliet Capulet’s headstrong cousin Rosaline in this inspired ‘untelling’ of Shakespeare’s most famous couple. In Bliss and Blunder Victoria Gosling re-tells the King Arthur legend, Britain’s most famous myth as a modern drama full of love, wealth, secrets and revenge, set in Wiltshire. Tickets are £7 and available here.
• Newbury Show on 16 and 17 September is offering a special price of £300 (normally £500) on a 3m x 3m stall for local artists, artisans and craftspeople based within 15 miles of the showground. For how to apply please click here.
• The free school uniform TUXchange shop in Newbury posts its opening times each week on Facebook. You don’t have to swap – you can take items for free or make a small donation.
• Our Summer Holiday Guide includes lots to do with your kids this summer including lots at Hungerford Youth & Community Centre including their Summer HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) Programme which offers free spaces for children and young people eligible for free school meals.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Hungerford Arcade.
• Click here for the latest Inkpen and Combe Bulletin.
Kintbury News
• Kintbury St Mary’s School PTA are excited to announce their next fun dog show on Sunday 30 September with an even bigger line-up of attractions. Trade stalls are available, please email chairksmpta@gmail.com for prices and availability.
• Kintbury Jubilee Centre is home to a wide range of clubs and activities from sword fighting to netball. Follow their facebook page for latest news.
Hungerford’s new school
The application for Oaklands, a new SEN school in Charnham Park in Hungerford, was considered by the Western Area Planning Committee on 23 August and was approved unanimously after a comparatively short debate. Both the Town Council and the ward member spoke in favour of the scheme. Why, then, was it called in to the committee at all?
The reason, as ward member Tony Vickers explained at the meeting, was that there was a serious lack of detail in the application (which was first a certificate of lawfulness, later changed to a full application for a change of use). The idea of a school (the nature of which was also uncertain) in an industrial area seemed odd and was worth having a look at. A senior officer, Bob Dray, clearly felt the same way and it was he who instigated the call in. Neither Hungerford Town Council nor West Berkshire Council had, I understand, been briefed as to what was intended so it’s perhaps not surprising that both chose to draw pessimistic conclusions.
After this inauspicious start, discussions did take place and relations improved in direct proportion to the better communication. Once it understood what was intended, HTC came round to the idea. It also recognised, a point echoed at the committee, that this was a good use of an empty building. Unfortunately, once a matter has been called in this can’t be withdrawn so the matter had to go to committee. This is one aspect of planning procedure that might be looked at again: the meeting on 23 August lasted for nearly four hours and this would have shaved off about 45 minutes.
The speed with which the application was decided also attracted some comment. HTC member James Cole referred to this in his brief statement in support of the scheme, although admitted that this wasn’t an issue the committee could consider. The full application was submitted on 11 July and validated the next day (this usually takes a lot longer). To have a matter decided nearly two weeks in advance of the determination date (rather than weeks or moths afterwards) is almost unheard of. Tony Vickers said that such pace was “perfectly justified when there is a wider interest,” which in this case was getting Oaklands open by 1 September. Others with applications of their own might wonder whether this fast-tracking might not be more widely applied.
Pigswill and Sheep-dip
Here’s a question for you. Are Busman’s Blonde, Pigswill, Sheep-dip, Great Bustard and Crazy Goat (i) the runners in the 3.15 at Haydock Park next Tuesday; (ii) the nicknames of our cats; or (iii) some of the ales and ciders available at the Hungerford Club’s Beer Festival over the bank holiday weekend?
The answer, I can exclusively reveal, is (iii). This takes place on 26, 27 and 28 August and will run from noon to 8pm on all three days. Entry is free and it’s open to members and non-members alike. For those who don’t know, the Hungerford Club is on The Croft, just to the west of the High Street (take the alleyway by Christian Alba’s butcher’s shop). Click here for more information.
Thursday 17 August 2023
This week we cover beer, books, a movie, produce, a local degree, fridges, brunch and a best-seller – plus our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This week’s news” for Kintbury news and the continuing problem of Hungerford’s mail deliveries.
This week’s news
• The Hungerford Club in the Croft invites you to its annual August Bank Holiday Beer Festival from Saturday 26 to Monday 28 August from noon to 8pm with 10 beers, two ciders, a variety of live musical entertainment and a barbecue. Free entry. See details here.
• The rescheduled Outdoor Cinema at Cobbs screening of Top Gun 2 is this Saturday 19 August. Book your tickets here and keep everything crossed for a dry evening.
• There is still time to plan your entries for Hungerford’s Summer Produce and Handicraft Show on Saturday 26 August. The Town & Manor of Hungerford are proud to be sponsoring this wonderful community event, which takes place at Hungerford Town Hall and organised by the Hungerford Allotment Holders Association (HAHA). The show is open to amateurs of all ages and there’s something for everyone. See here to download the class schedule. It will be open to the public from 2.30pm, with prize giving for the categories taking place at 4.30pm.
• The Royal British Legion Hungerford‘s weekly Meat Draw is returning soon and only costs £1 per ticket, drawn on Saturday ready for your Sunday roast and there will also be an imminent return of their Cash Draw. Keep your eyes peeled for further updates.
• It’s not too late to apply to achieve a degree locally at University Centre Newbury which runs its own clearing process in-house, by the people who actually deliver and support your programmes. This gives you direct access to the information, advice and guidance you need to make an informed choice about your studies – whether you’ve just finished sixth form and have changed your mind about the university, your recent A Level results have surprised you or if you’re a professional looking to advance in your career.
• Every now and then The Five Bells in Wickham offers a lovely breakfast/brunch menu (including full English, pancakes, avocado on toast, and scrambled eggs with smoked salmon) and this Saturday 19 August is one of those dates. So if you fancy a slap-up start to the day, they recommend booking a table on 01488 657300 or hello@fivebellswickham.co.uk. It’s also a lovely pub to walk to if you want to work up an appetite.
• The Methodist Church in Bridge Street is launching a 20 minute dementia-friendly service for those living with dementia and their carers. This will start on Thursday 14 September and will continue thereafter every second Thursday of the month. All accessibility issues covered. Call Karen on 07444 851606 for further enquiries.
• UKtoUkraine thanks everyone who responded to their appeal for used fridges or freezers. They will be leaving on a convoy of lorries from Chichester this Monday 21 August.
• On Thursday 7 September at 7pm at Hungerford Hub/Library, Hungerford Bookshop invites you to a fascinating evening with two authors in conversation about their retelling of classic works. In Fair Rosaline Natasha Solomons, the author of the celebrated I, Mona Lisa turns her attention to Juliet Capulet’s headstrong cousin Rosaline in this inspired ‘untelling’ of Shakespeare’s most famous couple. In Bliss and Blunder Victoria Gosling re-tells the King Arthur legend, Britain’s most famous myth as a modern drama full of love, wealth, secrets and revenge, set in Wiltshire. Tickets are £7 and available here.
• Newbury Show on 16 and 17 September is offering a special price of £300 (normally £500) on a 3m x 3m stall for local artists, artisans and craftspeople based within 15 miles of the showground. For how to apply please click here.
• The free school uniform TUXchange shop in Newbury posts its opening times each week on Facebook. You don’t have to swap – you can take items for free or make a small donation.
• St Lawrence’s Church, Hungerford invites children aged 5 to 11 years are to join its new holiday club for fun, faith and friendship at The Restoration Station on Monday 21 to Friday 25 August from 9.30am to 12pm. It’s FREE to attend and suitable for all faiths or none. For more information or to book a space email curate@stlawrenceshungerford.org.uk
• Our Summer Holiday Guide includes lots to do with your kids this summer including lots at Hungerford Youth & Community Centre including their Summer HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) Programme which offers free spaces for children and young people eligible for free school meals.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Hungerford Arcade.
• Click here for the latest Inkpen and Combe Bulletin.
Kintbury News
• Kintbury St Mary’s School PTA are excited to announce their next fun dog show on Sunday 30 September with an even bigger line-up of attractions. Trade stalls are available, please email chairksmpta@gmail.com for prices and availability.
• Kintbury Jubilee Centre is home to a wide range of clubs and activities from sword fighting to netball. Follow their facebook page for latest news.
Hungerford’s snail mail
A local resident has contacted Penny Post about the “dire state” of mail deliveries in and around the town. This has also been issue in other areas, Wantage and Thatcham both having experienced similar disruptions in the last year or so. Residents started to be aware in May that Hungerford’s problems were more than just a glitch and in June, Laura Farris MP become involved, as we reported at the time. She referred on her FB page to “the intolerable level of delay” and also to “points raised by postal workers who told me about the unmanageable delivery schedules they had been assigned.”She promised to “urgently contact senior Royal Mail management and get to the bottom of this problem.”
Sadly, the problem appears to be deeper than she was expecting. Our correspondent contacted Laura Farris again in early July but has, aside from what seem to be holding emails, not received any further news. The situation in one part of town, Ramsbury Drive, has deteriorated to the point where there might be one delivery a week, some way short of what should be provided. In June, a local manager blamed the issue on staff shortages, an excuse that’s offered for virtually every service failure in virtually every sector. Perhaps it’s easier to recruit call-centre staff to deal with complaints from customers resulting from staff shortages than it is to find and retain staff to do the tasks in the first place.
The Royal Mail is in an awkward time of its life. As recently as twenty years ago, mail was the main method of communication and the postal delivery marked the start of the working day. It twenty years time, it may be that the service has withered away completely and everyone is doing everything online. Now, however, we need both systems. There is still a sizeable minority of people who use the internet rarely if at all and for them the postal delivery remains vital. The measure of a successful business is how it manages change. At present, and certainly in Hungerford, Royal Mail’s response to this challenge can best be termed indifferent.
Thursday 10 August 2023
This week we cover summer produce, a Sunday market, white goods, book chat and musicals – plus our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This week’s news” for a link to our latest Penny Post Hungerford newsletter and congratulations to the town’s foster sponsors.
This week’s news
• There is still time to plan your entries for Hungerford’s Summer Produce and Handicraft Show on Saturday 26 August. The Town & Manor of Hungerford are proud to be sponsoring this wonderful community event, which takes place at Hungerford Town Hall and organised by the Hungerford Allotment Holders Association (HAHA). The show is open to amateurs of all ages and there’s something for everyone. See here to download the class schedule. It will be open to the public from 2.30pm, with prize giving for the categories taking place at 4.30pm.
• Hungerford Town Council is eager for residents to check out the progress being made regarding the new Skatepark in Bulpit Lane. Have a peek at the most recent photos here.
• Hungerford Food Community is looking forward to seeing everyone at its August market this Sunday 13 August from 10am to 1pm at the Croft Field. Come have a go on the smoothie bike (a stationary bike with a blender attachment so you pedal power a tasty drink), find out how to make spinach roulade and forage for nettle seeds.
· There is an urgent APPEAL for used fridges or freezers from the team at UKtoUkraine (based in Hungerford) who have last minute space on lorries departing for Ukraine within the next two weeks. Please feel free to contact Pip Holmes on facebook if you have any surplus to requirements, or contact them at uktoukraine.com.
• Fiona Cox thanks everyone for their interest in her Night at the Musicals this Saturday 12 August which is now sold out.
• The Outdoor Cinema at Cobbs screening of Top Gun 2 has been rescheduled to Saturday 19 August. Book your tickets here and keep everything crossed for a dry evening.
• On Thursday 7 September at 7pm at Hungerford Hub/Library, Hungerford Bookshop invites you to a fascinating evening with two authors in conversation about their retelling of classic works. In Fair Rosaline Natasha Solomons, the author of the celebrated I, Mona Lisa turns her attention to Juliet Capulet’s headstrong cousin Rosaline in this inspired ‘untelling’ of Shakespeare’s most famous couple. In Bliss and Blunder Victoria Gosling re-tells the King Arthur legend, Britain’s most famous myth as a modern drama full of love, wealth, secrets and revenge, set in Wiltshire. Tickets are £7 and available here.
• West Berkshire Council has increased the number of appointments at its Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) across the district in order to provide more flexibility and capacity during the most popular time slots for residents. Additionally, the Newtown Road HWRC has extended its operating hours on Thursdays to close at 8pm until September. Click here for more information.
• Newbury Show on 16 and 17 September is offering a special price of £300 (normally £500) on a 3m x 3m stall for local artists, artisans and craftspeople based within 15 miles of the showground. For how to apply please click here.
• The free school uniform TUXchange shop in Newbury posts its opening times each week on Facebook. You don’t have to swap – you can take items for free or make a small donation.
• The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley is urging residents to complete its ongoing local crime survey. The survey is an opportunity for Berkshire residents to share their experiences and have a say in how local policing services are shaped. Have your say here.
• This week, Housing Secretary Michael Gove is urging social housing tenants to complain about substandard housing. Residents are being encouraged to make their voices heard by complaining to their landlord in the first instance and then escalating to the Housing Ombudsman if they are unhappy with the landlord’s final response. For more information click here.
• St Lawrence’s Church, Hungerford invites children aged 5 to 11 years are to join its new holiday club for fun, faith and friendship at The Restoration Station on Monday 21 August – Friday 25 August from 9.30am-12noon. It’s FREE to attend and suitable for all faiths or none. For more information or to book a space email curate@stlawrenceshungerford.org.uk
• Our Summer Holiday Guide includes lots to do with your kids this summer including lots at Hungerford Youth & Community Centre including their Summer HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) Programme which offers free spaces for children and young people eligible for free school meals.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Hungerford Arcade.
• Click here for the latest Inkpen and Combe Bulletin.
Kintbury News
• The Blue Ball Kintbury is celebrating its Grand Re-opening with a Spectacular Family Fun Day and Music Festival on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 August, promising joy and laughter for guests of all ages. From exciting games, kids bouncy castle, ball pit & tug of war. BBQ & fresh pizzas.
• Organist, pianist, harpsichordist and counter tenor Toby Wright from Kintbury is performing a free Summer Organ Concert at Douai Abbey on Sunday 13 August.
• Kintbury St Mary’s School PTA are excited to announce their next fun dog show on Sunday 30 September with an even bigger line-up of attractions. Trade stalls are available, please email chairksmpta@gmail.com for prices and availability.
• Kintbury Jubilee Centre is home to a wide range of clubs and activities from sword fighting to netball. Follow their facebook page for latest news.
Foster sponsors
Congratulations to Hungerford Town Football Club for supporting West Berkshire Council Family Placement Team to recruit much needed foster carers. The team has a bold ‘Foster NOW’ message on the front of their shirts. According to newburytoday, it’s a cause particularly close to manager Danny Robinson’s heart; with his parents having been foster carers, he grew up understanding how important fostering is and how many more foster families are needed in West Berkshire.
Penny will be talking to Keith Langley from the Family Placement Team on 4LEGS Radio at 11.30am on Friday 11 August. In the meantime, to find out more about fostering please click here.
Hungerford’s newsletter
The August 2023 issue of Penny Post Hungerford was published earlier this week and you can click here to read it if you didn’t receive it. As usual, it contains the best round up of what’s happening in the town.
This month we have all the usual features including an update for Hungerford Town Council and news from the town’s retailers, including Cobbs and Barr’s Yard. There’s also the regular diary for John O’Gaunt School’s head Richard Hawthorne, a look back at the Carnival, news from community and voluntary groups, forthcoming events (including the Sunday market on 13 August), the launch of our late summer quiz (with a wonderful prize for the Jack Russell Inn in Faccombe), activities, events, jobs and property.
To contribute anything for the September 2023 edition, please email penny@pennypost.org.uk by the end of the month.
Thursday 3 August 2023
This week we cover musicals, fast bowling, markets, a holiday club, fruit and veg and a cook-in – plus our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This week’s news” for how to contribute to next week;s Hungerford newsletter and a special offer from Newbury Show.
This week’s news
• Hungerford resident Fiona Cox is hosting a Night at the Musicals at The Croft Hall on Saturday 12 August. Hear your favourite tunes from stage and screen, featuring the singers & musicians of MTW Gold, University of Warwick’s most talented alumni reuniting for one night only. Proceeds will go to SAYes mentoring charity in South Africa and the UK. Tickets are £10 and available from the SAYes website here. Doors open at 7:15 for a 7:30 pm start. Bring your own refreshments and cash to buy raffle tickets.
• Hungerford Food Community‘s Summer Community Cook-In last Saturday was a huge success with local residents of all ages cooking up a feast at the Scout Hut that was enjoyed by nearly thirty people. The inspiration of the event is to use up ingredients that would otherwise go to waste, raise people’s confidence in cooking from scratch. Leftover portions are also distributed to those who need them in the community. The Hungerford Food Community team run cooking sessions with Hungerford Scouts, Primary School, Hungerford Family Centre and Foodbank. If your group would like a free cooking session please email hungerfordfoodcommunity@gmail.com
• Many will have noticed that Neil and Karen’s fruit and veg stall was not at the Hungerford market this week. Don’t worry, though: this was just a temporary absence caused by a combination of family sickness and the awful weather forecast. Normal service should be resumed next Wednesday.
• Fast bowler Lauren Bell, originally from Hungerford, reflects on the historic Ashes and the role she played in England’s draw against Australia in NewburyToday. Lauren is now taking a well-earned break before returning to the game at the end of the month. For the latest on Hungerford’s cricket scene visit Hungerford Cricket Club’s facebook page where Lauren first played and her father Andy Bell coaches.
• Hungerford Allotment Holders Association invites everyone (amateurs only please) to enter Hungerford’s Summer Produce and Handicraft Show on Saturday 26 August in the Town Hall. The sections include veg/fruit, home baking and produce, floral, flower arranging, handicraft and photography and children’s classes. For all the class information and how to enter please see here.
• Terrace View Cafe upstairs at Herongate Club is hosting an indoor market with free entry this Saturday 5 August from 12pm to 4pm.
• West Berkshire Council has created a new welcome webpage for anyone new to West Berkshire so can know where and how to access the council’s services.
• Are you a local community or voluntary sports or physical activity club that would like to meet with other groups across West Berkshire. Then register here for the Sports Forum, run by the West Berkshire Volunteer Centre.
• St Lawrence’s Church, Hungerford invites children aged 5 to 11 years are to join its new holiday club for fun, faith and friendship at The Restoration Station on Monday 21 August – Friday 25 August from 9.30am-12noon. It’s FREE to attend and suitable for all faiths or none. For more information or to book a space email curate@stlawrenceshungerford.org.uk
• Our Summer Holiday Guide includes lots to do with your kids this summer including lots at Hungerford Youth & Community Centre including their Summer HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) Programme which offers free spaces for children and young people eligible for free school meals.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Hungerford Arcade.
• Click here for the latest Inkpen and Combe Bulletin.
Kintbury News
• The Blue Ball Kintbury is celebrating its Grand Re-opening with a Spectacular Family Fun Day and Music Festival on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 August, promising joy and laughter for guests of all ages. From exciting games, kids bouncy castle, ball pit & tug of war. BBQ & fresh pizzas.
• Organist, pianist, harpsichordist and counter tenor Toby Wright from Kintbury is performing a free Summer Organ Concert at Douai Abbey on Sunday 13 August.
• Kintbury St Mary’s School PTA are excited to announce their next fun dog show on Sunday 30 September with an even bigger line-up of attractions. Trade stalls are available, please email chairksmpta@gmail.com for prices and availability.
• Kintbury Jubilee Centre is home to a wide range of clubs and activities from sword fighting to netball. Follow their facebook page for latest news.
• See last week’s column below for information on the recent planning decision regarding Audley Inglewood.
Hungerford’s newsletter
The next Penny Post Hungerford will be published on Tuesday 8 August and will, as ever, provide the best round-up off what’s going on in the town (and there’s always a lot). This will include a report on the work of Hungerford Town Council which will hold its monthly meeting the day before. This will be shorter than usual as the August meeting generally only deals with immediate and formal matters. Our report will, however, cover all the major projects with which HTC has been involved.
And that’s not all. News from the local retailers, the latest diary from JoG Head Teacher Richard Hawthorne, updates from local community groups and charities, jobs, property, features: the list goes on and on. If there’s anything you’d like to have featured next week, please email penny@pennypost.org.uk as soon as possible.
An offer from the Show
After a three-year pause – two due to Covid and the third to a change of management – the Newbury Show is back on 16 and 17 September. The organisers have recently announced a special offer for any local artists, artisans and craftspeople who want to take a stall. A 3m x 3m stand will cost only £300 for anyone within 15 miles of the Showground, rather than the usual £500. The Show is expected to attract 50,000 people over the weekend, so one way of looking at this is having about one third of the population of West Berkshire coming to see your wares.
For more information on this offer, and the Show generally, click here.
Thursday 27 July 2023
This week we cover wetlands, kids, a phone number, a holiday club, a play and and arcade – plus our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This week’s news” for a look a public meeting in Chilton Foliat to discuss expansion plans at The Wheatsheaf, a hedgehog petition and the imminent arrival of on-demand buses.
This week’s news
• The Town & Manor of Hungerford has now raised over £17,000 towards the £40,000 cost of carrying out the relevant surveys for the Kennet Valley Wetland Reserve (KVWR) project. The KVWR will transform the land between Charnham Park Road and the River Kennet, known locally as Undy’s Meadow, into 40 acres of wetland. The response to the public consultation has been overwhelmingly positive and it seems the community are really behind this project.
If you would like to donate, please visit the Good Exchange website, donate direct to The Town and Manor of Hungerford bank account, sort code: 60-11-28, account no: 20631197 or write a cheque payable to: Town and Manor and posted to The Town Hall, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 0NF. Cheques and cash can also be delivered by hand on Wednesdays during market hours.
• If you have any surplus fresh or frozen produce or tins lurking in the back of the cupboard that you don’t know what to do with, please donate them to Hungerford Food Community‘s Summer Community Cook-In this Saturday 29 July. There are a few free tickets still available for anyone who would like to learn some recipes, or share a community meal made from ingredients that would otherwise go to waste. Anyone who lives alone or needs confidence with their cooking are especially welcome. Places are free but numbers limited so pre-book here for cooking from 10am and/or lunch at 1pm. Donations welcome on the day.
• Hungerford Legal & Financial Centre‘s July show on 4LEGS Radio with Karen, Taylor and Kelly covers the importance for separated parents to plan and coordinate summer holiday plans, how to approach financial settlements and why 50/50 spilts never work, all things pensions (and do they need consolidating), attitudes to risk, pension freedoms, death benefits, compound interest, changes at HMRC, self-assessment helpline closed until September (but an accountant can help you and should save you money as well), why you need to check if your NI contributions need topping up by 5 April 2025, payments on account due by the end of July, changes in tax allowances on dividends.
If you have any questions please contact the HLFC team on 01488 508008 or pop into their office down the alley between Eliane’s and Hungerford Bookshop.
• St Lawrence’s Church, Hungerford invites children aged 5 to 11 years are to join its new holiday club for fun, faith and friendship at The Restoration Station on Monday 21 August – Friday 25 August from 9.30am-12noon. It’s FREE to attend and suitable for all faiths or none. For more information or to book a space email curate@stlawrenceshungerford.org.uk
• Free rugby for girls at Hungerford Rugby Club starts this Sunday 30 July. Complete beginners welcome. If you are interested in playing rugby but not sure if you might like it, these free taster sessions for all levels will be on Sunday 30 July and 6/13/20 August from 10.30am to 12pm. Please contact Rob Cox at memsec.hrfc@gmail.com if you require more details.
• Our Summer Holiday Guide includes lots to do with your kids this summer including lots at Hungerford Youth & Community Centre including their Summer HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) Programme which offers free spaces for children and young people eligible for free school meals.
• There have been good reports of the opening night of the Boxford Masques The River and The Bell, which runs until this Sunday 30 July at Boxford Rec (under a big marquee so don’t worry about the weather). Grab your tickets from the Watermill Box office www.watermill.org.uk or phone 01635 46044.
• Just a reminder of the phone number for West Berks Foodbank – if you need help please call 0808 208 2138 (phoneline open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm except Bank Holidays). The Hungerford distribution centre is open every Wednesday 1 to 3pm in the Methodist Church Hall, Bridge Street – through the alleyway between the church and the shop next door.
• Click here for the 2022-23 annual report from the excellent Citizens Advice West Berkshire which has recently been published.
• Quick reminder to get involved with The Big Butterfly Count 2023 until 6 August. You can help butterflies and moths by downloading this free app and ID chart here.
• For ladies concerned about the cost of HRT, a new Prescription Pre-payment Certificate (PPC) is now available, where you can make a much lower one-off payment. Visit gov.uk for details. One lady paid just £19.40 for the year (yes a year), and that covers her for every HRT prescription she now gets – a saving to her of around £76. This scheme only came out in April this year, so please spread the word.
• Read Easy West Berkshire harnesses the initiative, energy, skills and experience of volunteers, and equips them to provide confidential one-to-one reading coaching for adults who want to improve their reading. Please see more details here if you could volunteer or need help.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Hungerford Arcade.
• Click here for the latest Inkpen and Combe Bulletin.
Kintbury News
• Organist, pianist, harpsichordist and counter tenor Toby Wright from Kintbury is performing a free Summer Organ Concert at Douai Abbey on Sunday 13 August.
• Kintbury St Mary’s School PTA are excited to announce their next fun dog show on Sunday 30 September with an even bigger line-up of attractions. Trade stalls are available, please email chairksmpta@gmail.com for prices and availability.
• Kintbury Jubilee Centre is home to a wide range of clubs and activities from sword fighting to netball. Follow their facebook page for latest news.
• See last week’s column below for information on the recent planning decision regarding Audley Inglewood.
Plans for The Wheatsheaf
On 26 July, I was at a very well-attended (standing-room only) event in Chilton Foliat Village Hall. This was requested by the new (since late 2022) owners of The Wheatsheaf which is pretty much next door. The intention was to apprise locals of their future plans for the pub.
There are several applications regarding The Wheatsheaf on Wiltshire Council’s planning portal. Not all have been completed, or even started, and all but two have been determined. The two that have not are PL/2023/03985 and PL/2023/03749. These relate to different aspects of the same proposal: 749 is the full application and 985 is the part of it that relates to the building’s listed status. Anyone wanting to comment can do so on either or both, although technically observations about the listed-building aspects should be on 985 and ones about the general details of the application should be on 749.
Comments can still be made, even through the determination deadline of 5 July 2023 has passed. This is common for planning authorities and could be due to staff shortages or the lack of documentation either from the applicant or one of the consultees. The listed-building aspect also adds more time, as I imagine does the fact that we’re in the holiday period when more people are likely to be away. If you do want to make a comment, however, bear in mind that the window can slam shut at any time.
One of the responses that has not yet been received is from Wiltshire’s Highways Department. Given the dominant aspect of the meeting on 26 July, this will be awaited with interest.
To wind back a bit, at the meeting the owners stressed that for the pub to survive and thrive expansion and change were needed. This is true. The days when a village could support one of more pubs just servicing beer, whisky, pork scratchings and the occasional chicken-in-the-basket to local residents (mainly males) are long gone. The Wheatsheaf’s owners want to increase the number of covers, although it appears that this will mainly result from re-configuring the current restaurant rather than expanding it. However, the main aspect that was touched on at the meeting was adding up to 16 new guest rooms.
These will surely increase the need for car parking, a fact many people at the meeting seized on (so far, though, this hasn’t caused Wiltshire Highways any concern). The number of spaces will be increased but partly at the expense of the garden; which will, in turn, reduce the number of people who can eat there.
Given the land it currently owns, to increase the covers, the rooms and the parking and keep the garden at an acceptable size seems an impossible trick to pull off. The owners will have to make compromises. Not all of these will be to the liking of all residents. However, for the pub to fail is surely the worst outcome of all.
One suggestion which was mentioned several times by the owners was coming to an agreement with the Parish Council about being able to use the wide footpath alongside the pub for parking whilst still retailing enough of it to be used for pedestrians, including school children. CFPC Chair Nic Coombe suggested to the meeting that this was something worth considering. He was, he said, talking in a personal capacity as the Parish Council has not yet had an opportunity to consider the matter.
A number of other suggestions were also made, including that the changes should include a café or a shop. These are commercial rather than planning issues and the owners can accept these or not as they wish. They asked for comments from residents and they got them. I’ve been at such meetings which have descended into chaos and abuse. This one did not.
To return to the question of parking and traffic, there was also some confusion as to how Wiltshire Highways can regard the applications to date as not likely to worsen these matters when most locals feel they’re bad enough already. Wiltshire Councillor James Sheppard was at the meeting and promised to try to check with the officers that all the estimates had been done in the most appropriate way. Such apparent disconnects between official decisions and local experience has cropped up before, certainly in West Berkshire.
It’s always possible that the Wiltshire Highways team may object to the six extra rooms which are the subject of the pending application. If so, a re-think will definitely be required.
For anyone who hasn’t sampled any of the food prepared by the Wheatsheaf’s Executive Chef Thomas Frake, have a look at his website here. He was the 2020 Master Chef champion and these mouth-watering photos suggest another reason why it’s important that the pub survives and thrives.
Finally, hats off also to him and his co-owner Adrian Gott for deciding to engage with the parish council and with residents in a public meeting in the first place. Many applicants don’t bother to perform this basic act of courtesy and, frankly, good PR. Hopefully this exercise will be repeated as the need arises and also be emulated by other applicants elsewhere.
Hedgehogs and swifts
Last week’s Full Council meeting at West Berkshire Council considered a petition to create “hedgehog highways”. These are gaps in fences on housing developments through which these important and much-loved mammals, which are unable to climb or fly, can use to travel in order to feed and to mate. In that respect, they’re not that different from us, then.
The petition did not succeed. However, I don’t think that this reflects as badly on WBC as this bald statement might imply. Indeed, the fact that this particular protection for this animals cannot now be provided by the Council, at least not through the planning system, may be good newest it dispels any illusions that regulations and laws can on their own create what we need, the more so if there’s any doubt as to whether they can be enforced. Britain’s swifts had a similar date with destiny in the Commons last week which met with a similar response. For the same reason, this may not be bad news for them, either.
You can read more on this in this separate post.
Buses on demand
A recent article in Marlborough News confirms something which I first heard mooted at a meeting of Hungerford Town Council several months ago, the implementation of which has been slightly delayed. This concerns an on-demand bus service which will be launched in the Pewsey Vale area by Wiltshire Connect next week. As the article explains, the service “will operate on a pre-bookable, on-demand basis, allowing you to travel between any designated pick up and drop off point within each zone.”
The reason that Hungerford Town Council was discussing this is because later in the year the service will be extended to provide a “new off-peak timetabled service operating between Marlborough and Hungerford via Great Bedwyn.” On-demands are seen as a viable way of providing a bus service in rural areas although it may take time for people to get used to how they work.
I’ll try to chat to Wiltshire Connect in the next couple of weeks and will share any further information then.
Thursday 20 July 2023
This week we cover carnival, a donation, a cake sale, a walk and a contract tender – plus our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This week’s news” for a look at the latest news on the town-centre strategy, at a planning decision at Audley Inglewood and the imminent arrival of a new SEN school in Charnham Park.
This week’s news
• There was lots of British pluck displayed in the elements but nothing dampened the spirit of last Sunday’s Hungerford Carnival as illustrated by Lee Sainsbury’s great photos here. Donations still welcome here. Please email hungerfordcarnival100@gmail.com or follow its Facebook page for how to get involved next year.
• The Town and Manor represented by Constable Julie Lloyd and Trustee Fiona Hobson was delighted to present Hungerford Primary School with a £750 donation this week towards the visiting theatre group which performed The Jungle Book in school this term.
• If you are in town this Friday 21 July morning do visit the charity cake sale on the Town Hall steps in aid of Action Through Enterprise, a small charity based in Hungerford that supports many communities in rural Ghana. Do pop over to have a chat, and have a go at drumming and children’s activities. See here for more details.
• For any train lovers, the LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 no. 45596 Bahamas steam locomotive will be passing through Hungerford this Saturday 22 July. See more details here about the train’s route which includes Theale and Newbury.
• Hungerford High Street has a lovely new independent shop down by the canal (underneath the Blue Cross shop). Do pop into Shine Down, an eco-friendly candle and gift shop specialising in pure, virgin cappings beeswax. It never uses any chemicals and rely on the natural honey scent of the wax.
• The Big Butterfly Count 2023 has officially started. Butterflies are indicators of a healthy natural environment. With half of Britain’s butterfly species already threatened or near threatened with extinction, it’s never been more important to understand how our insects are responding to the changing climate and to take action to protect them. You can help butterflies and moths by downloading this free app and ID chart here.
• Hungerford Town Council’s arrangement with its existing cleaning contractor for the town’s public toilets expires on 31 August 2023. HTC invites quotations for a three-year contract from then on. Please click here for more information. Tenders need to received by 5pm on Friday 28 July 2023.
• Community United is planning an exhibition about the journey of those who were forced out of their homeland because of race, hatred, war, family, religion or even gender. It is looking for volunteers to share their journey through photography and podcast. Please contact pragna@50yearsago.co.uk or hello@communityunited.uk
• Hungerford Food Community still have a few places available for their Summer Community Cook-In on Saturday 29 July. People coming together to prepare and enjoy a delicious summer feast made from ingredients that would otherwise go to waste. The lunch will be veggie with several vegan dishes. Places are free but numbers limited so pre-book here for cooking from 10am and/or lunch at 1pm. Donations welcome on the day.
• For more about Hungerford Food Community (including their monthly markets and cooking projects with Hungerford Primary School and Hungerford Family Centre) please see their summer newsletter here.
• Do you have a new injury or an old nagging issue that hasn’t been checked out yet? Save £65 on your first appointment at Hungerford Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Centre at The Croft Hall.
• Reminder of the advice from Swift Town Hungerford to enjoy our summer visitors while they are still with us, busy feeding their babies who soon will leave the nest and fly straight to Africa on their own without their parents. Click here to find out more from swift guru Ailsa Claybourn how to help our endangered swifts this month.
• Our Summer Holiday Guide includes lots to do with your kids this summer including lots at Hungerford Youth & Community Centre including their Summer HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) Programme which offers free spaces for children and young people eligible for free school meals.
• From Wednesday 26 to Sunday 30 July enjoy this year’s Boxford Masques The River and The Bell, the most fun you can have sitting outdoors with a beer and a BBQ watching musical theatre at Boxford Rec. Tickets from the Watermill Box office www.watermill.org.uk or phone 01635 46044.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Hungerford Arcade.
• Click here for the latest Inkpen and Combe Bulletin.
Kintbury News
• Kintbury St Mary’s School PTA are excited to announce their next fun dog show on Sunday 30 September with an even bigger line-up of attractions. Trade stalls are available, please email chairksmpta@gmail.com for prices and availability.
• Kintbury Jubilee Centre is home to a wide range of clubs and activities from sword fighting to netball. Follow their facebook page for latest news.
• See the section immediately below for information on the recent planning decision regarding Audley Inglewood.
Two hours on Inglewood
WBC’s Western Area Planning Committee met on 19 July to decide two matters, the first of which was an application by Audley Inglewood (20/02079/COMIND) for “redevelopment of land within the existing walled garden to provide 22 additional units of C2 accommodation as an extension to the Audley Inglewood care community and a new pavilion with associated landscaping, infrastructure and parking.”
The discussion of just this item lasted for well over two hours and the meeting itself for three and a half. I tried to call several members of the committee for some further thoughts the following morning but, with one exception (and one who who had called me), none were answering their phones at that time. Possibly they were having a lie-in: I probably would have done.
There was a good deal of discussion about highway issues, not only during construction but also when occupied. Access to Audley Inglewood is basically either via Hungerford or Kintbury. Both of these routes have choke points and neither is suitable for construction traffic. WBC can apply as many conditions as it likes about what route should or should not be used but there’s no way on past evidence that these will be enforced. Delivery drivers tend, like water, to find the shortest route from A to B. Anyone living on or using a route which might be used by lorries for this project should thus brace themselves for extra vehicle movements.
The application was first lodged in 2020. The reason for the delay in determining it was, I understand, in large part due to discussions about the viability report. The issue here is that developers are required to make Section 106 payments (as well as the separate and less discretionary CIL ones) to mitigate the effect of the development. S106s are often used if, for whatever reason, the developer is not able to follow the council’s policy on providing affordable homes. Normally, this being a greenfield site, 40% of the dwellings should be of that kind. Here, affordable homes would not be appropriate so a payment should have been made instead.
Unfortunately in many people’s opinions, developers can use viability assessments to show that the development would not be financially do-able were this charge or other conditions to be applied. The outcome in this case was that the officers had accepted that Inglewood’s point was fair. My concern is that the committee did not seem to have been able to study the documents. Certainly there was no discussion at the meeting. WAPC was presented with a fait accompli by the planning team. I wonder if there should have been some examination of that.
There was a compromise, of sorts. It had also been agreed that the viability assessment would be re-done at the end to see if, based on construction costs and sale prices, the scheme was viable or not. This report would be done by a company of WBC’s choosing and paid for by the developer (as happened at Lancaster Park in Hungerford), which is something. Two members, Carolyne Culver and Clive Hooker, had opposing views on the chances of this producing any funds: the former felt that it probably wouldn’t, the latter asserted that it might. I think I’m on team Culver on this one.
I spoke to a few councillors who have served on planning committees for several years and none of them had heard of a retrospective assessment being used before. It has the look of a face-saving exercise.
Several members made the point that the development will cater for, as ward member Tony Vickers put it, the top 1% of the population and that the likely lack of any S106 money will reduce WBC’s ability to provide affordable housing for those from the other 99% who need it. The problem is that the National Planning Policy Framework not only demands that viability be seen as a material consideration but also that the wealth of the developer is not a factor. The development’s viability needs to to be looked at on its merits, regardless of whether the applicant is Elon Musk or someone who has ploughed all their life savings into the plan. A number of members would, if given the chance, have jumped at the chance to amend the NPPF in this way. Local planning committees do not, however, have this power.
As the meeting progressed, many members were clearly overcome with uncertainty. The question of the S106 seemed to rankle and concerns about traffic remained: on the other hand, many admitted that it was a good use of a redundant site, that the dementia provision was positive and that it wouldn’t compromise the AONB. No one was willing to propose a motion, doubtless because they were unsure which view they supported. Even Simon Till, the senior Planning Officer present, admitted that the official view was an “on-balance” recommendation.
Eventually, Howard Woollaston took the plunge and proposed in favour of acceptance, subject to conditions, which were coming thick and fast. These were then discussed and noted. The clock ticked on past the two-hour mark.
Shortly before the vote, Simon Till reminded the members (as officers generally do) that if they were to refuse it they needed to be very clear what the planning grounds for this were. The sub-text certainly was very clear and he didn’t need to spell it out: refusal could lead to an appeal and he was doubtful that WBC could defend this. This familiar fear focussed everyone’s minds. In the resulting vote, all bar Carolyne Culver (who voted against) and the Chairman Adrian Abbs (who abstained) supported it.
Given that the discussion partly turned on a viability report that the committee wasn’t able to consider, that the members fell in behind the officers’ view when an appeal was alluded to and that a certain amount of time was spent discussing conditions some of which which might not be enforced, one was slightly left wondering what the session managed to accomplish. This is no reflection on any of those present, all of whom did their job with great thoroughness (which included unseen hours reading all the papers). Certainly it highlighted that emotional, ethical or moral considerations play no part in these discussions unless they’re enshrined in policy, that aspects of the NPPF are weighed in favour of the developer and that appeals are things to be feared.
As well as opening up a discussion on any viability report that’s produced, I think that committees should be more bold to go against officers’ recommendations where they feel there’s a genuine point of principle at stake. To me, the almost certain lack of any S106 funds would have been enough. As Tony Vickers put it in his address as ward member, this sets a bad precedent and effectively means that WBC’s residents are subsidising the development. This is surely not the intended outcome of the regulations, even though it seems often to be the outcome that they produce.
A new SEN school coming to town
It looks as it Hungerford is to get its own Special Educational Needs (SEN) school. This will be Oaklands, located in the old Norgate House at the northern end of Charnham Park. It will be co-educational and non-residential and will eventually cater for about 30 pupils aged five to 16. All will have autism or mental-health issues. It’s also independent, which I first took to mean fees would be charged. “It’s not a private fee-paying school,” a spokesperson corrected me. “We are paid by the local authority (so, state funded) and all of our children will be in receipt of an Education Health and Care Plan. The independent means we can design our curriculum offer and adapt other aspects of our offer to meet the personalised demands of special needs children.” I was also told that it will opening to his first cohort on 1 September.
There are a few regulatory hoops to be jumped through first. A certificate of lawfulness (essentially, a request that changes or development can take place without a full application) was lodged on 28 April and validated by WBC on 12 May. At some point in the following couple of months it was decided by, or suggested to, the applicants that this was not sufficient. A full application was submitted on 11 July and validated the very next day. This requests permission for a “change of use of office building (Class E) to education use (Class F1(a)), minor external alterations and associated works to curtilage, including provision of outdoor amenity space and erection of fencing.” The determination deadline for this is 5 September, five days after the school’s planned opening date. If it is to open legally and on time, it will therefore be necessary for WBC to decide the matter before the stated deadline rather than, as often happens, after it has passed.
The certificate of lawfulness was considered by Hungerford Town Council at its June planning committee meeting. The conclusion was “Hungerford Town Council propose objection based on the lack of information on highway safety, the educational needs of the school pupils, workforce (ie teachers and number of employees), playground facilities, sustainability of the location, parking accessibility and change of use from a designated employment land.” The full application will come before the committee later this month. As this application is essentially a different way of getting the same result, unless any of the concerns have been addressed in this it’s hard to see what that meeting should come a different conclusion. It’s important, as ever, to stress that HTC is like all town and parishes only a consultee in the process.
By all accounts, Hungerford and its surrounding area has need to a SEN school and I suspect that Oaklands will have no shortage of pupils. We look forward to covering its work (as we do with other schools in Hungerford and throughout the area) once it opens: on 1 September, on 5 September or whenever WBC’s planning system permits.
Town-centre strategies
As mentioned most recently a couple of weeks ago, last year WBC started two projects, one for Thatcham and one for Hungerford, to create “visual plans for the town centres with a range of suggested improvements and uses which will enhance their vitality and economic success in the future.” These are variously known as place-making strategies and town-centre strategies. Whether by accident or design, these reached the end of their first stage just before the official start of the local election campaign at which point all such initiatives needed to pause.
That now being out of the way, work is set to re-start on these. On 18 July I caught up with Martin Colston, the portfolio holder responsible for these projects (and also the more advanced one in Newbury) to ask him what the next steps were.
He explained that he’d be attending a briefing about it later in the week and that further details would be announced thereafter: but he was able to say that the Chair of the Hungerford working group would be someone nominated by the Town Council. Discussions regarding Thatcham were slightly less well advanced but there was no reason he could see why the same would not apply there.
This is important, for the Chair has a good deal of influence over what gets discussed. The aim of these groups is to develop plans and projects, informed by the results of the initial consultations, which will benefit the towns. As Martin Colston pointed out, all of this is hypothetical until money is raised. This might come from WBC, from the government or from other sources. In all cases, the fact that there’s a solid evidence base will make applications more likely to succeed. As regards who holds the reins once any such projects have been funded, he suggested that this would depend where the money had come from. If from WBC, the Council would probably wish to control how it was spent; if from elsewhere, other arrangements might apply. He was unable to confirm how large the working parties would be nor how the representatives would be chosen.
The projects that result could be substantial. As mentioned before, the whole thing will be the work of years rather than months. In Newbury, whose town-centre strategy was started earlier, funding has already been secured for a specific project at the Wharf. The groups in Thatchem and Hungerford, when formed, will doubtless be watching with interest how its Newbury counterpart goes about its work.
The local emphasis being placed on the decision-making will be welcomed by the two town councils. They know their areas better than does WBC and are thus better placed to create local engagement, which is vital. Martin Colston was for four years until May 2019 the Leader of Newbury Town Council so probably feels this more keenly than do many other people. NTC was not involved in the process to the same extent during the first phase of Newbury’s town-centre work , which started under the last administration. Putting this right seems a useful first step in the right direction.
Thursday 13 July 2023
This week we cover music, a charity walk, a carnival, a tender, kids, cats and having your say – plus our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This week’s news” for a look at the relationship between Hungerford Town Council and some of the other organisations it needs to deal with and a look back at a successful food festival last weekend.
This week’s news
• Hungerford Town Band invites you to their Music for a Summer Evening concert on Saturday 15 July including a performance by their Training Band. Entry on the door £8. Raffle and refershments available all proceeds to be shared between St Lawrence’s Church and Hungerford Town Band. See here for details.
• This year’s annual Beejacks Tombo Foundation charity walk in aid of the school Beejacks founded in Sierra Leone is this Sunday 16 July and starts from the Downgate Pub carpark at 10.30am. Click here for more details and how to get a sponsor form or donate directly to the charity here.
• After a few years break (due to lockdown and a severe weather warning last year), it’s all go for the Hungerford Carnival also this Sunday 16 July. Enter on the day or see their Facebook page for how to volunteer. The Terrace Cafe at Herongate welcomes everyone at the end of the Carnival for drinks and refreshments from 6pm onwards. Donations welcome here or please email hungerfordcarnival100@gmail.com for more details.
• Do you have a new injury or an old nagging issue that hasn’t been checked out yet? Save £65 on your first appointment at Hungerford Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Centre at The Croft Hall.
• Hungerford Town Council’s arrangement with its existing cleaning contractor for the town’s public toilets expires on 31 August 2023. HTC invites quotations for a three-year contract from then on. Please click here for more information. Tenders need to received by 5pm on Friday 28 July 2023.
• On Tuesday 18 July Thames Valley Police are offering you the opportunity to have your say with your Local Neighbourhood Team from 3pm to 5pm at Dobbie’s Garden Centre on the A4.
• Our Summer Holiday Guide includes lots to do with your kids this summer including lots at Hungerford Youth & Community Centre including their Summer HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) Programme which offers free spaces for children and young people eligible for free school meals.
• Action Through Enterprise is a small charity based in Hungerford that supports many communities in rural Ghana. They will be having a charity cake sale on the Town Hall steps on Friday 21 July all morning. Do pop over to have a chat, and have a go at drumming and children’s activities. See here for more details.
• West Berkshire Council want you to take part in their Bus Survey. Buses are a vital part of public transport allowing young people to go to college or school, enabling pensioners to see their family and friends, and connecting people to work opportunities they would not otherwise consider. Buses sustain town centres, strengthen communities and help reduce carbon emissions from car travel. Please complete the online survey by 10 September 2023 here: westberks.gov.uk/wbbussurvey2023. Paper copies of the survey can be requested at 01635 519394 or transport@westberks.gov.uk.
• If you fancy some political scandal then book to see former aide to Boris Johnson and Teresa May, Cleo Watson talk about her scandalous new novel, Whips. Listen over a glass of wine on Tuesday 25 July at The Retreat, Elcot Park, as she lifts the lid on Westminster, and takes us behind the doors of Number 10, discussing her gripping and scandalous tale of modern government. Tickets are £25 and include a signed copy of the book. Call The Retreat to book your place on 01635 800520.
• A reminder that time is running out to use regular stamps without a barcode. After 31 July anyone using non-barcoded 1st and 2nd class stamps with the Queen’s profile risks a surcharge being added to their post. So here’s how the changeover is set to work: special stamps, printed to commemorate a person or special event are not going to be barcoded, and these will remain valid for postage and while Christmas stamps are soon to get their own barcode, previous non-barcoded Christmas stamps will also remain valid after the deadline so there is no need to rush to use them up or swap them out. See here for more details.
• Cats Protection is offering financial assistance to eligible residents for neutering and microchipping your cat.
• Our Summer Holiday Guide includes lots to do with your kids this summer including West Berks Council’s Summer HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) Programme which offers everything from coding to kayaking, with free spaces for children and young people eligible for free school meals.
• On Thursday 27 July at 7.30pm, Shalbourne Cinema will be showing ‘Midnight in Paris’ at Shalbourne Village Hall. Doors open at 7pm and tickets cost £6 available from Shalbourne Stores or on the door.
• From Wednesday 26 to Sunday 30 July enjoy this year’s Boxford Masques The River and The Bell, the most fun you can have sitting outdoors with a beer and a BBQ watching musical theatre at Boxford Rec. Tickets £7 to £13, Children under 11 free, Gates open at 5.30 and 12.30 on Saturday. Tickets from the Watermill Box office www.watermill.org.uk or phone 01635 46044.
• Inkpen School is excited to be holding a Quiz Night to raise money for their new library. If you would like to get a team of six together it would be wonderful. £15 per ticket with paella included. Pre-book with Kate on kworley94@hotmail.com.
• Swift Town Hungerford was launched last Sunday with a fascinating introductory talk by swift guru Ailsa Claybourn to a packed audience in the library. Click here to find out more from Ailsa how to help our endangered swifts this month and also please write to your MP about the debate on vital swift nesting bricks this Monday 10 July. See suggested letter text here on the new Swift Town Hungerford facebook page.
• There are still places available with Hungerford Memory Singers so if you have dementia or support someone else who does, please see more details here or get in touch with Olivia on 07989 388827 or dementia.choir@gmail.com. Their next singalong is on Monday 17 July.
• Do you have the confidence to step forward and help in an emergency? Would you like to know basic first aid including the use of a defibrillator? Or are you a small business owner or voluntary group member who needs the full one day accredited certificate to fulfil your service to your clients? You can sign up for this Emergency First Aid at Work Course at the Hungerford Youth & Community Centre on Saturday 15 July. The course costs £75 and the regulated certificate lasts for 3 years.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Hungerford Arcade.
• Click here for the latest Inkpen and Combe Bulletin.
Kintbury News
• Kintbury Jubilee Centre is home to a wide range of clubs and activities from sword fighting to netball. Follow their facebook page for latest news.
Hungerford’s messengers
Every month, usually within the first few days, Hungerford Town Council meets. Every month Penny Post is on hand to cover what was discussed and write a summary of this and any other matters that HTC has been involved with but which didn’t get any airtime on the night. The most recent such meeting was held on 3 July and you can click here to see the report.
As even a quick glance at the headings show, the work of a town or parish council covers a wide range of things, all of which have an effect on the lives of people in the community. In some matters (such as with maintaining or developing assets thatchy own or awarding grants to local groups) they can act more or less autonomously. In others (such as with planning decisions) they are consultees. There are also cases where they are working with other bodies like the parent authority, the local police force and utility companies. The relationships here can vary, both in their nature and their tone. HTC might in one case be a partner, in another a client and in a third a facilitator.
A town or parish’s relationship with its parent authority is always particularly complex and will exist on many different levels at the same time. The above-mentioned report has several examples of these. This is where the district councillors (aka ward members) are particularly important. Although they probably wouldn’t describe themselves in these terms, they are messengers between WBC and the councils of the towns and parishes in their ward. Diligent ward members (Hungerford and Kintbury has three) will therefore turn up to as many meetings as possible and participate as requested. It’s worth pointing out that the attendance records of the ward members at HTC meetings have since May 2019 been very good.
Residents can also contact their WBC ward members and/or HTC’s officers or councillors themselves about any matter that they feel needs to be addressed: click on the appropriate links for details.
Our most recent HTC update following the 3 July meeting is fairly representative of the range of matters covered. Outside bodies with a connection with the area (Citizen’s Advice West Berkshire in this case) are generally invited to address the meeting before it formally starts, as is the local Police team (which generally sends a written report). Other issues covered this month ranged from problems with the dog-bin contracts to progress at the new skate park, from the work at the Croft Field Centre to the neighbourhood development plan and from current challenges being experienced by customers of Boots and Gigaclear to the seemingly perennial challenge of getting WBC to install some EV charge points in the public car parks. The chances are that if you live in the town, then getting at least one of these resolved will have a beneficial effect on your life.
Food Festival success
The Hungerford Food & Artisan Summer Fesitval on Sunday 9 July was blessed with fine weather and a big turnout. Garston Galloper morris dancers entertained the crowds, expert forager Freya Rimington demonstrated fascinating recipes, Nin Dulai ran hands-on chapatti-making workshops and lots of fruity fun was pedalling a smoothie bike to whip up tasty drinks. Sizzling street food and local tipples added to the party atmosphere and the amazing volunteer team led by Sara Fricker made it all possible.
“Our monthly events focus on seasonal and local food,” says Penny (with her Hungerford Food Community hat on). “With local producers, HEAT (Hungerford Environmental Action Team), Scouts, Hungerford Allotments, and Shalbourne Community Growers it’s great to bring the community together and this is the frequent feedback that we get. All our profits go to support cooking in the community encouraging healthy meals on a budget. We provide cooking lessons at Hungerford Family Centre and Hungerford Primary School, free community cook-in meals and donations of cooking equipment and ingredients where required. Please contact us on hungerfordfoodcommunity@gmail.
Thursday 6 July 2023
This week we cover swifts, ecology, a carnival, a market, ASB and summer reading – plus our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This week’s news” for a link to our recent Penny Post Hungerford newsletter, an eight-year wait for a solution, the latest on the town-centre strategy, replanting trees at Lancaster Park and solar deals.
This week’s news
• Swift Town Hungerford was launched last Sunday with a fascinating introductory talk by swift guru Ailsa Claybourn to a packed audience in the library. Click here to find out more from Ailsa how to help our endangered swifts this month and also please write to your MP about the debate on vital swift nesting bricks this Monday 10 July. See suggested letter text here on the new Swift Town Hungerford facebook page.
• It is time to start thinking about Hungerford Carnival Parade, which will be lighting up the town on Sunday 16 July. It starts at John O’Gaunt School at 5pm, but all entrants need to be there at 4pm. Please see their facebook page for more details or email hungerfordcarnival100@gmail.com.
• All local Ukraine hosts and guests are invited by West Berkshire Council to an online Access to Information event on 6pm 20 July. Please register with ukraine@westberks.gov.uk by 12 July for login details.
• The Town and Manor of Hungerford works tirelessly with the Environment Agency, Action for the River Kennet (ARK) and other agencies to maintain and protect the fragile ecology of this rare chalk stream and last Saturday a team of Trustees donned their waders on Saturday to help clear the debris blocking one of the River Kennet’s channels just below Eddington Mill. The Town and Manor would like to apologise for the mess, but it was necessary to do this to allow the wildlife caught in it to return to the river. The debris will be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way, but is currently lining the footpath.
• If you like food, cooking, shopping locally and sustainably, pop over to Hungerford’s free Food & Artisan Market Summer Festival this Sunday 9 July at the Croft Field from 10am to 3pm. Enjoy Garston Gallopers morris dancers, yummy street food (including thai curry, Chinese dumplings and local burgers), smoothie bike, cooking demos, have a go at making your own chapattis, Freya Forages foraging recipe demos, and lots of fab local stalls. Don’t forget you get £1 off hot drinks if you bring your own resuable cup.. Please also bring aluminium (including foil and cans) for recycling by Rotary Club of Hungerford and plants, seeds or produce to swap or donate.There will also be a raffle in aid of Hungerford Nursery School. Entry is free and dogs are welcome on leads.
• After a hiatus due to lockdown and a severe weather warning last year, it’s time to get Hungerford Carnival back on track on Sunday 16 July. Enter on the day or see their Facebook page for how to volunteer. Donations welcome here or please email hungerfordcarnival100@gmail.com for more details.
• If you have reported anti-social behaviour but no-one seems to be doing anything and no-one is listening but the anti-social behaviour is continuing, the ASB Case Review has been designed for you. If you (or others with your consent) have reported 3 incidents (or more) within a 6 month period you can activate the ASB Case Review through your Local Authority. This has been designed to give you, the victim, the right to demand that agencies deal with persistent anti-social behaviour. For further advice and links to the ASB Case Review Directory please click here.
• Highlights of this week’s Chilton Foliat Summer Gala include a delightful concert of music for flute, harp and cello, a highly entertaining talk on A Beefeater’s Life and Ladies of the Tower this Friday 7 July by former Beefeater Tony Stafford, and an Evening of Folk Music with Bob and Gill Berry. There is also an exhibition by 25 local artists (open daily), an open gardens trail, a duck race, an afternoon of rounders, and a day of crafts presented by the village WI. Full details can be found at chiltonfoliatgala.info.
• There are still places available with Hungerford Memory Singers so if you have dementia or support someone else who does, please see more details here or get in touch with Olivia on 07989 388827 or dementia.choir@gmail.com. Their next singalong is on Monday 17 July.
• Hungerford Bookshop will be announcing some exciting news at their Summer Reading Celebration this Saturday 8 July in the courtyard with canapes, pimms, freebies and some exciting news from the bookshop. See more details here.
• Hungerford Town Band invites you to their Music for a Summer Evening concert on Saturday 15 July including a performance by their Training Band. Entry on the door £8. Raffle and refershments available all proceeds to be shared between St Lawrence’s Church and Hungerford Town Band. See here for details.
• Hungerford fitness trainer Beejacks created a foundation ten years ago to create a new primary school in an impoverished part of Sierra Leone where he comes from. This year’s annual Beejacks Tombo Foundation Charity Walk in aid of the school is on Sunday 16 July and starts from the Downgate Pub carpark at 10.30am. Click here for more details and how to get a sponsor form or donate directly to the charity here.
• Do you have a new injury or an old nagging issue that hasn’t been checked out yet? Save £65 on your first appointment at Hungerford Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Centre at The Croft Hall.
• Do you have the confidence to step forward and help in an emergency? Would you like to know basic first aid including the use of a defibrillator? Or are you a small business owner or voluntary group member who needs the full one day accredited certificate to fulfil your service to your clients? You can sign up for this Emergency First Aid at Work Course at the Hungerford Youth & Community Centre on Saturday 15 July. The course costs £75 and the regulated certificate lasts for 3 years.
• Click here for the latest newsletter from the Hungerford Arcade.
• Click here for the latest Inkpen and Combe Bulletin.
Kintbury News
• St Mary’s School invites everyone to their Summer Festival this Friday 7 July ffrom 5 – 9pm. See details here.
• Kintbury Jubilee Centre is home to a wide range of clubs and activities from sword fighting to netball. Follow their facebook page for latest news.
Eight years on
The most recent meeting of WBC’s Western Area Planning Committee considered an application to deal with some unfinished business regarding two properties, Harefield House and The Gables, in Upper Eddington. The issue here was that the land was or was feared to be contaminated a matter that the original developer – who has since been sentenced to a spell in prison – for many years sought to conceal. The planning history of the site goes back to 1998 although building work didn’t start until 2015. Since then the matter has been mired in the kind of appalling delays that only entrapment in both the legal and the planning systems can accomplish. The courts having made their decisions earlier this year, a retrospective application was lodged to fix the problem that remained.
Planners and planning committees are normally ill-disposed towards retrospective applications – they certainly get a fair few of them – but on this occasion there seemed no reason to refuse it. Councillor Phil Barnett asked the inevitable question as to whether the work would be monitored and enforced and how the impact on local residents could be minimised. Hungerford Town Council had also expressed concerns regarding the spread of possibly contaminated dust, vehicle access and parking. A senior planning officer said that there would be a construction management plan, that the enforcement team was aware of this latest issue on a site what he rightly described as having had a “troubled” development history and that an environmental officer would be monitoring the work. The application was approved unanimously, meaning that the work (paid for by the insurers) can start and the land returned to the condition specified when the application was first approved.
As the application did not specify anything concerning adjacent properties it wasn’t possible for WAPC to discuss this as planning committees can by law only consider the application as it stands, not as they would wish it to be. I understand, however, that informal discussions have taken place with the insurers to try to ensure that their interests are not ignored. As the Chairman, Adrian Abbs, observed just before the vote, the committee is “doing what it can within the powers that it has.” Whether these powers should be extended is a discussion for a different day in a different place.
The town-centre strategy
Last year, WBC started two projects, one for Thatcham and one for Hungerford, to create “visual plans for the town centres with a range of suggested improvements and uses which will enhance their vitality and economic success in the future.” These are variously known as place-making strategies and town-centre strategies. Whether by accident or design, these reached the end of their first stage just before the official start of the local election campaign at which point all such initiatives needed to pause. People could as a result be excused for thinking that the things are finished: a lot of talk, a lot of bullet points in a report and that’s it.
Nothing could be further from the truth. In many ways, the bulk of the work is yet to be done. The first step is for WBC to set up working groups or similar and I understand that discussions are taking place to agree how these will be constituted and, crucially, how the power will be divided between West Berkshire and the Town Councils, both of which have well-deserved reputations for looking after their town’s interests and are, obviously, highly knowledgable about the strengths and weaknesses of the areas they represent. Once that’s agreed, more information will provided. There will thereafter be further need for public engagement of various kinds.
Whitehall’s method of funding local councils involves, as I’ve mentioned before, a series of what might be termed beauty contests in which posts of funds are bidder for, each one ring-fenced for specific kinds of projects. Having evidence-based work to support bids, which these local strategies will provide, will help increase their chances of success. As anyone who has ever worked on such things will know, the process of gathering information, making decisions, consulting on the results and then applying for funds is neither quick nor simple. The lifecycle of such groups is thus to be measured in years rather than months.
From little acorns…
It’s estimated that about 52 million trees were planted across the world in 2022. About 330 of these found their forever home in the Lancaster Park development in Hungerford as just one of the many conditions that formed part of the planning approval. Unfortunately, about half of them have since died, as have some of the hedges.
This does happen. The developers, Bewley Homes, are experts in building houses, perhaps less so at arboreal work. Some of them may have been bashed about a bit by diggers, under- or over-watered or succumbed to shock at finding themselves, temporarily at least, in a building site.
Hungerford Town Council and local residents have been on the case with this one. The reason this is significant now is that, the work having finished, the management of the common parts of the site will be being handed over to an estate management company. Were a rational system to prevail, local councils – which aren’t going to go bust, move out or change their business model – would be offered first refusal on handling this work. No such rational system exists, however. The concern was that if dead trees were handed over to the new company, dead trees they would remain. Hungerford Town Council has therefore insisted that the lost trees will be re-planted at its expense and presumably given some kind of health check before being handed over to the estate managers.
Penny Post contact Bewley Homes on 6 July about this. “It is unfortunate that some of the trees planted by our landscape team have not survived,” a spokesperson told us. “We had a meeting with residents at Lancaster Park recently to reassure them Bewley will be carrying out works on the landscaping in line with the approved drawings, which includes the replacement of dead trees. Importantly, we will carry out the work in the correct planting season. We will be sending a communication out to all our customers in the next few weeks detailing the planting programme.”
If, therefore, anyone wonders what town and parish councils do, this is another example. To a long list that includes maintaining playgrounds, consulting on planning applications and organising the Christmas lights can now be added replace 160-odd trees. Future generations in Lancaster Park will be grateful.
Hungerford’s newsletter
• Our July Penny Post Hungerford newsletter includes news from the Town Council, independent businesses on the High Street, the new football pitch at John O’Gaunt School and the Headteacher’s look back at the last three years. Click here to read it if you didn’t get it. Please submit any contributions for the next issue by the end of this month by emailing penny@pennypost.org.uk.
Solar deals
Did you know that more than a quarter of all carbon emissions comes from households? This means our homes play a crucial role in achieving carbon neutrality target. Switching to Solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy is an excellent way to reduce carbon emissions and decrease electricity bills.
West Berkshire Council is partnering with Solar Together Berkshire to offer a group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage. The scheme enables West Berkshire householders and small businesses to install Solar PV systems and batteries at a competitive price with a trustworthy, pre-vetted installer. Any tenant, homeowner, small business or common hold association in Berkshire can
Please note that this section is presented as an archive of past columns and is not updated. Some web links may no longer be active (usually indicated by a score-through), for instance when a consultation has closed. For reasons of space, the Events, Community Notices and News from Your Local Councils sections have been deleted from the archive posts.
To see the current Hungerford Area Weekly News section, please click here.
