Thursday 31 August 2023
This week we cover sales, owls, buses, art, rubbish and donations – plus our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
Scroll down below “This weeks news” for news of the possible ditching of the nutrient neutrality regulations which affect planning decisions in some parts of this area and a look back at a couple of important planning matters in Compton which we covered last week.
This week’s news
• Compton’s community tabletop garden/driveway sale this Sunday 3 September from 9am to 2pm offers 16 separate properties to visit – see map here and pick up a bargain or enjoy a homemade treat en route.
• FC Cougars currently have spaces for footballers U6s, U7s and Under 16s. If you are interested contact graham on [email protected]
• Hampstead Norreys Community Shop is excited to have an exhibition of a wonderful local artist Louise Weston’s work in the Cafe Artspace now. Pop in and take a look, her paintings are truly stunning.
• Hampstead Norreys Community Shop is hosting its third Owl Club session this Saturday 2 September, to investigate, survey and collate data of what already lives at their site. They’ll supply nets, tweezers and magnifying glasses and suggest you bring along gloves, trowels and/or forks to dig up the soil. Wear protective clothing against stinging nettles, brambles and pokey branches. Please sign your child up here.
• 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 [email protected].
• Compton Parish Council is keen to remind residents to please take rubbish home with them if litter bins are full.
• Help Ukraine Group Support (HUGS) are hosting their sixth Donation Day at Chieveley Village Hall (RG20 8TE) on Tuesday 12 September between 9am and 2pm. Please see their website here for up-to-date list of items needed. Strong, lidded cardboard boxes are also required and there’s plenty of parking. HUGS work with several partners to send aid to the areas of Ukraine affected by the continuing war. If you’d like to volunteer to help on Donation days or you want to arrange another day to donate, please contact us on [email protected] or 07999 693399. Thanks to all the local organisations and individuals who have generously donated so far. There will be one more collection day in November but HUGS will be happy to collect from you in the meantime.
• 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.
• Volunteers are being sought to help out at Brightwalton’s Children’s Halloween Party on Monday 30 October from 4pm to 6pm at Brightwalton Village Hall. If you can help please email Katherine Moore at [email protected].
• 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.
• On Saturday 30 September from 10am to 12noon there will be a Macmillan Coffee Morning, in the Village Hall. Chat to old friends and meet new ones, over a cuppa and a slice of delicious cake. Free entry, just donate what ever you would like for your coffee and cake.There will also be stalls in the Hall, selling locally made, grown or picked goodies. Get in touch with Chantal Cornelius if you’d like a stall, orif you can bake/donate a cake, or help out on the day.
• The Downland Practice – Social Prescribing suggest you check out these amazing meal deals for children during the summer break. See here for details.
• 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.
• Afternoon Teas at St. Mary’s Church, Aldworth on every Wednesday until the end of September between 2.30pm and 4.30pm. Delicious homemade cakes in the company of The Aldworth Giants statues in the church. For further details and to book groups please contact Gill on 01635 578624 or [email protected].
• Click here for the 2022-23 annual report from the excellent Citizens Advice West Berkshire which has recently been published.
• 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.
• Brightwalton Village Hall welcomes footballers on the field next door on Wednesday evenings. Kick off at 7pm for all players over 15 years old.
• For road closures and other news visit Hampstead Norreys Parish Council‘s facebook page.
• Quick reminder about Citizens Advice West Berkshire and the Public Protection Partnership’s advice about scams and how to protect yourself and what to do if you get caught. There is no shame if you do get caught out by scammers and you must seek help and warn others.
• A quick reminder that all are welcome to enjoy Tea and a Chat on Mondays from 9.30am to 11am at the Wilkins Centre in Compton.
• There is a Drop Off/Drop In Coffee Morning every Wednesday during term time at Brightwalton Church from 8.45 to 10am.
• For the latest Chaddleworth newsletter please see here.
Nutrient neutrality
In the last eighteen months we’ve heard a lot about these Natural England regulations which were introduced in several parts of the country including Lambourn catchment area (which includes a good chunk of West Berkshire) last year. The intention was to reduce the amount of phosphates and nitrates which entered our waterways; and the number-one target was held to be new housing developments of any size. Trying to implement these new regulations caused local planning departments considerable headaches and certainly caused delay to decision-making. Now, just when officers seem to have got their heads round the issue, the government has said that it wants to do away with the whole thing. This will, Whitehall’s rationale runs, remove another EU-imposed shackle on national growth and help ensure that we get our house-building targets back on track.
In this separate post, we take a look at what the nutrient neutrality policies are (and are not), why they are in several ways misguided and what positive effects they have so far had. We also consider the political time and the legal implications of the announcement and wonder if the environment has, as campaigner and musician Feargal Sharkey suggested, “been left to fend for itself.”
In case you missed it…
Last week, we covered two planning issues in Compton – one at the Downs School and one at the former Pirbright Institute – both of which were considered at a particularly long meeting of WBC’s Western Area Planning Committee earlier this month. A good number of people visited on this section so, in case you were away, click here to see last week’s edition of this column (and scroll down to “Compton’s call-in” and “Compton’s hall).
Community notices
• See Compton Parish Council’s website for a list of current scams going around in the area that you should be aware of.
• St Mary & St Nicholas, Compton has a drop-in café from 2.30pm to 4pm on the last Wednesday of every month at the Village Hall in Compton. Tea, coffee, cakes and biscuits are on offer and the chance for a friendly chit-chat. Open to anyone.
• Recovery in Mind and The Downland Practice host a free one hour introduction session for local adults wishing to further their knowledge on wellbeing and mental health. Please contact [email protected] to book your place.
• Free tea, coffee, cake and biscuits at The Wilkins Centre in Compton from 9.30 am to 11 am every Monday.
• Compton Karate based at Aldworth Village Hall is a small and friendly dojo that welcomes new members.
• More local hosts are needed for people escaping the war in Ukraine. If you could consider hosting a Ukrainian refugee or family, please get in contact with the local support group or visit westberks.gov.uk/homesforukraine.
• For how to avoid scams and what to do if you unluckily get caught, please see important advice here from Citizen’s Advice.
Local events and activities
For more information on events and activities across the Penny Post area, see the website calendar.
• Regular events and groups
• Stay, Play and Learn at Compton Village Hall on Thursday mornings during term for children 0-4 years to socialise with others, exploring a variety of play activities and crafts. Book online with West Berkshire Council here.
• The Handybus service to Wantage picks up Chaddleworth and Leckhamstead residents from their homes on the second and fourth Tuesday morning. The round trip will cost £4. See here for more details and how to book.
• Marcham Cricket Club welcomes new cricket players and officials.
• The Aldworth Saturday Market at Aldworth Village Hall, RG8 9SE from 10.30am to midday sells fresh fruit and vegetables, groceries, stamps and cards; and also offers freshly-brewed tea or coffee and biscuits to customers for only 50p. For further details please contact Kathy on 01635 578090 or e-mail [email protected]
• The Gents Breakfast Club created by The Downland Practice – Social Prescribing is proving popular. If you would like more information please contact [email protected].
• Compton Tots on the first and third Thursday of every month at Compton Village Hall from 9.30am to 11am. Providing a safe, fun and educational space, in partnership will Compton Pre-school for 0-5 years and costs £2 per family (cash only).
• Quiz night at The Crown and Horns in East Ilsley every Thursday from 7pm with prizes to be won. You can reserve a table by calling 01635281545 and see more information here.
• Brickleton Babes Baby and Toddler Group in Brightwalton Village Hall. Join their facebook group for details.
• Autumn Group regular meetings include the Hobbies Club at the Wilkins Centre, Compton. Visit their facebook page for details. Anyone from surrounding villages very welcome.
• Aldworth Art/Painting Group at the Aldworth Village Hall on first and third Tuesday of every month from 9.30am to noon. Details on the East Ilsley Communicator (issue 105, p 21) here.
• Aldworth Craft Group meet at Aldworth Village Hall on the second and fourth Monday of every month (within the school term time) from 10am to noon. More details in the East Ilsley Communicator (issue 105, p 16), which you can download here.
• Hampstead Norreys Village Hall club and event information is on Hampstead Norreys Community website.
• Ilsley Under Fives meet every Wednesday between 10am to 11.30am at various locations throughout the Ilsley villages. Please join their Facebook group or a see details here.
News from your local council
Note: “the most recent meeting” refers to the most recent one for which minutes (in some cases draft) or some other summary is available. Other meetings may have taken place since. Some councils publish minutes more promptly than do others.
• The most recent meeting of West Ilsley Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 25 July and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: matters arising; planning matters; financial matters; and the West Ilsley Parish Council Trust.
To see the dates and agendas for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. To see minutes from past meetings please click here.
• The most recent meeting of Compton Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 18 July and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: a report from the ward member; reports from the working parties; the Memorial Gardens; the play areas; planning matters; and financial matters.
To see the dates of future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. To see the agendas, please click here. To see the minutes click here. Please click here for the latest on Compton’s neighbourhood development plan (which has now been ratified).
• The most recent meeting of Brightwalton Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 17 July and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: a councillor co-option; the community co-ordinator; the Village Hall; matters arising; dog bins; repairs and maintenance; speeding; highways; financial matters; and an aggressive dog.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.
• The most recent meeting of Peasemore Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 11 July and you can read the minutes here.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.
• The most recent meeting of Aldworth Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 10 July and you can download the minutes here.
To see the dates, agendas and mintues for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.
• The most recent meeting of Beedon Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 5 July and you can read the minutes here.
To see the dates and agendas for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. To see minutes from past meetings please click here. Please click here for details of the planning applications currently active in the parish.
• The most recent meeting of Chaddleworth Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 4 July and you can read the minutes here.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.
• The most recent meetings of Ashampstead Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 22 May and you can read the minutes here.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.
• The most recent meeting of Hampstead Norreys Council for which minutes are available took place on 18 May and you can read the minutes here.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.
• The most recent meeting of East Ilsley Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 16 May and you can read the minutes here.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.
• Compton & Downlands area council contacts
Parishes: Hampstead Norreys Parish Council, Compton Parish Council, Ashampstead Parish Council, Beedon Parish Council, Chaddleworth Parish Council, Brightwalton Parish Council, Peasemore Parish Council, Aldworth Parish Council, West Ilsley Parish Council and East Ilsley Parish Council.
West Berkshire Council: click here to visit the website.
News from other areas
Penny Post area – please see the following separate sections: Hungerford area; Lambourn Valley; Newbury area; Thatcham area; Burghfield area; Wantage area; Marlborough area.
News and views from across the area and beyond: please see the most recent Weekly News with Brian column.
