Thursday 14 September 2023
This week we cover a fete, social prescribing, tea, coffee, book exchanging, local art and your chance to ask questions of local water firms – plus our usual round-up of other local news, local events and activities and news from your local councils.
This week’s news
• Enjoy The Downs School Summer Fete this Friday 15 September from 4pm. Enjoy stalls, BBQ, Beer and Pimms tent. Free to enter.
• The Downland Practice – Social Prescribing is pleased to report that its monthly Gents Breakfast Club on Wednesday 6 Sept at Ye Olde Red Lion Chieveley, was a great success and is excited that a woman’s equivalent event will be happening on Wednesday 13 September at 10.30am at a cost of £8.50 per person also at Ye Olde Red Lion and who knows, you may see some classic cars making an appearance in the car park again
• Hampstead Norreys Community Shop is trying to work out if it is a good year for apples? If you have apples on your tree, please do bring them along to Hampstead Norreys Community Shop for juicing this year.
• A reminder that The Wee libraries/book exchanges in Compton are still full of great books. The one in Newbury Lane has lots of Clive Cussler at the moment and some vintage Isaac Asimov. Feel free to borrow books and put in good quality books.
• 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.
• Action for the River Kennet encourage 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 or stream 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.
• 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 Groupthat 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.
• Compton Parish Council is keen to remind residents to please take rubbish home with them if litter bins are full.
• 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.
• 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
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 (chaired by Ridgeway ward member Carolyne Culver) 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 [email protected] 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.
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/
• 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]
• Brightwalton Village Hall welcomes footballers on the field next door on Wednesday evenings. Kick off at 7pm for all players over 15 years old.
• 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 Hampstead Norreys Council for which minutes are available took place on 27 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 West Ilsley Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 25 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.
• 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.
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.
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 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 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.
• 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; Lam
News and views from across the area and beyond: please see the most recent Weekly News with Brian column.
