Thursday 17 October 2024
Our usual round-up of local news includes scarecrows, community champions, noodles, closures and coffee – plus a reminder about an excellent online resource providing information about flooding a sewage issues, a peek in a ward member’s in-box and the most recent Pang Valley Flood Forum meeting. See also below for community notices and news from your local council.
Upcoming Compton area events include Scarecrow Trail (hopefully) & Dracula. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.
• A ward member writes
Ridgeway ward member Carolyne Culver has recently penned her regular update in Broadsheet which is delivered to residents in Frilsham, Hampstead Norreys and Yattendon. The main matters covered were as follows (several of these will also be of interest to people in wider areas):
- The proposed clawback of money from The Downs School has been abandoned. We’ve covered this in some detail over the last few months. Carolyne Culver concludes her remarks by saying: “Unfortunately, a lot of damage has been done to the relationship between the council and the school, for no benefit whatsoever. In fairness to the leader of the council, he apologised at a subsequent council meeting. Many politicians would have doubled down.”
- Thames Water and the Environment Agency back at the Scrutiny Commission (which she chairs). For more on this, see the 17 October This Week with Brian column.
- The previous meeting of the Scrutiny Commission on 24 September which looked at SEN high-needs block funding. You can click here for the agenda and to see a recording of the meeting.
- The completion of the demolition and decontamination of the former Pirbright Institute site in Compton. We covered this in the 3 October edition of this column.
- The former Baxter Healthcare site, also in Compton, which has been sold to Archel Homes which has (so far) earned a good relationship for community engagement with projects in Newbury and Hungerford.
- Pang Valley Flood Forum’s recent meeting: see next section.
• The Pang Valley Flood Forum
Still with Carolyne Culver’s Broadsheet article…
“I attended Pang Valley Flood Forum on 9 October in my capacity as flood warden of East Ilsley. The groundwater level is higher than it was this time last year, and it has started to rise a month earlier than last year. We were told that this is the ‘highest low level’ on the flood forum’s records.
“All flood wardens were asked to remind people in their villages to be prepared. Thames Water has been sealing manhole covers and lining pipes in Hampstead Norreys to try to stop sewage leaks. If your home has been affected by flooding or sewage leaks in the past, or if you are concerned in any way about this issue, please contact the flood warden for your village. If you are unsure who this is, ask your parish council.”
If you’re worried about flooding or have a drainage problem to report, these links will be of use:
- Advice about flooding can be found here.
- Sewage incidents can be reported to Thames Water by clicking here.
- You can report specific problems with drainage and flooding here by zooming in and pinpointing on this map.
- See also the section below for information on a new online dashboard which provides a range of useful historical and real-time information about flood-related matters.
• Flooding dashboard
A reminder here about an excellent online flooding, groundwater and sewage information resource that’s available for the Pang Valley, which you can see here (a similar one also exists for Lambourn Valley). The “Dashboards” menu at the top will take you to other displays, such as for sewage discharges. It’s a remarkable resource and one which will keep the Pang Valley Flood Forum, local ward members and parish councils and residents more informed not only about the current and likely future situation, but also the historical context.
• Other news
• Friends of Compton Primary School still need a few more entries for the annual Scarecrow Trail to be able to go ahead from 28 October to 3 November. The entry deadline is Friday 18 October and this year’s theme is Heroes & Villains. They are happy to accept businesses, organisations, and homes without schoolchildren – this is open to everyone. Email contact.focps@gmail.com for more info or click here for entry form.
• Compton Parish Council has announced that Aldworth Road in Aldworth will be closed from Friday 25 to Tuesday 29 October, between its junction with Coombe Road and its junction with Haw Lane to enable Thames Water to install new mains and service connections. All enquiries should be directed to Network Plus on 03339 960672. A plan of the closure can be found here.
• West Berkshire Council is inviting residents to nominate individuals and groups for The Community Champion Awards 2024. All nominations will be judged by an independent panel and the winners will be presented with their award at a ceremony to be held in February 2025. Say a big thank you to those who have contributed to your community by nominating online here. The closing date is 11 November 2024. Paper nomination forms can be obtained by calling 01635 503973.
• Don’t forget to take advantage of the West Berks Council soil conditioner giveaway this Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October between 10am and 4pm at its Padworth Waste Management Facility, Padworth Lane, RG7 4JF. No appointment is needed but take ID or a recent utility bill to prove you’re a West Berkshire resident. Take your own container so you can easily carry and load the soil conditioner into your car as these will not be provided. Expect some queues during peak times.
• Tickets are selling fast for Compton Players‘ Dracula on October 24, 25, and 31 as well as November 1 and 2. There will also be a special one-off late-night performance on Saturday 26 October, which includes a meal. You can book now here or call 07554 842207.
• For other Hampstead Norreys news visit the Parish Council’s facebook page.
• See the 3 October column for a summary of the decontamination work at the former Pirbright Institute site in Compton, which was completed at the end of September about six weeks ahead of schedule.
• Follow the Downlands Practice – Social Prescribing facebook page for details of social get-togethers and community support. And quick reminder it has drop-off points for West Berkshire Foodbank at its surgeries in Compton and Chieveley.
• The Funky Noodle in Chaddleworth offers a delicious take-away and delivery service. See its October menu here.
• Calling young families – do pop along to Compton Stay, Learn & Play in Compton Village Hall on the second and fourth Thursday of the month. See here for details.
• Click here to see the October 2024 edition of Chaddleworth News. Items covered include a farewell, an epic cycle tour, marrows, cricket, Halloween dogs, reports from the local schools, a harvest supper, the pub, the Village Hall and news from other local clubs and organisations. To subscribe, to contribute, to advertise and to get more information on the publication, contact David at ChaddNews@gmail.com.
• Would you like to volunteer your business expertise to help Education Business Partnership prepare our local young people for work? EBP needs volunteers for in-school sessions across Newbury, Thatcham, Hungerford and Kintbury.
• Have your say
Have your say on current consultations being run by West Berkshire Council:
Extension to Newbury Town Centre pedestrianisation hours – deadline 5 November 2024.
Draft Waste Management Strategy 2025-2032 – deadline 6 November 2024.
Draft Carers Strategy 2024 – 27 – deadline 17 November 2024.