Thursday 3 July 2025      

Our usual round-up of local news includes A34 roadworks, questions regarding Ridgeway Council, a fete, meet your MP, water mains upgrades, engagement at the Pirbright site and energy-saving grants. See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Compton area events include Compton’s Fete and Beer Festival. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

• A34 roadworks

West Berkshire Council has pointed out that National Highways will be resurfacing sections of the A34 northbound between Beedon and West Ilsley. To do this, they will close the A34 northbound from the A34/M4 J13 Chieveley Interchange to the A4185 Chilton Junction,. Weekend closures are necessary because of the depth of resurfacing needed in some sections:

• 9pm Friday 4 July to 6am Monday 7 July
• 9pm Friday 18 July to 6am Monday 21 July

For more information on the official diversions for motorway traffic and non-motorway traffic, click on the appropriate links

• Other news

• There’s a fab line up of acts to look forward to at this Sunday’s Compton Fete from 12pm to 4pm and also great raffle, BBQ, bucking bronco, dog show and more. Classic cars and machinery are welcome. See here for more details and please support this village event that plans to keep growing, year on year.

• Afternoon teas with ‘the giants’ at St Mary’s Church, Aldworth launched this week and run every Wednesday throughout July, August and September from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Groups are welcome but need to be pre-booked with Gill on 01635 578624 or gillwilding@hotmail.com. The teas are in aid of the church and there is disabled access.

• On Sunday 6 July between 2.30pm and 3.30pm, Olivia Bailey MP will be holding a Meet Your MP event in Compton. If you live in Compton and would like to go along for a chat with tea and biscuits, please email olivia.bailey@parliament.uk

• The water mains upgrade in East Ilsley has started and will take place in two phases. Phase one is predicted to last until Tuesday 29 July, involving a single lane closure of Cow Lane: phase two will run from Wednesday 23 July until Tuesday 2 September and will involve full closure of Compton Road. See here for all details.

• For details of the engagement exercise which Homes England has been carrying out on the Pirbright site in Compton (which has now reached a pause), please see this separate post.

• West Berkshire Council has teamed up with Warmer Homes to obtain funding for energy-saving grants to help the community reduce energy bills, cut carbon emissions and enhance home heating. The scheme is open to homeowners or private tenants only, housing association properties and council owned housing are not eligible.  For further information or to register your interest click here.

• See the 26 June edition of this column for the latest on an important housing-needs survey which has been conducted in Compton, the preliminary results of which are now in. With about two hundred homes set to be built in the village, this will help ensure that WBC and Compton PC can insist that the developers contribute the  number of affordable and social-rent homes that the exercise has identified as being required.

• Compton Parish Council is keen to shine a light on exactly what their part-time Parish Council Clerk does to keep the Parish running smoothly. From legal advice to litter bins, the Clerk keeps the wheels oiled. Click here for more info.

• The merger between West Berkshire, the Vale and South Oxfordshire under the name of Ridgeway is the preferred marriage choice for these three councils: though not, it’s now clear, for Oxfordshire CC. In this separate and recently updated article, we look at the current options, the main issues involved and how you can have your say. A final submission needs to be made to Whitehall in November.

• There has been a lot in the news about this issue since the government announced it wanted to make cuts to the benefits system to reduce the annual spend on the welfare system. The proposed cuts caused a lot of fear and uncertainty, eventually prompting a late-night U-turn by the PM. Diluted plans are now being laid before the Commons. But what do people who currently receive benefits think about the proposals? We asked three local residents for their views.

• West Berkshire Council submitted its Bus Services Improvement Plan (BSIP) to the Department for Transport in October 2021 and received £2.6 million to make improvements to buses by March 2026. It established an Enhanced Partnership with local bus operators in April 2022 and received further funds in May 2023 and June 2025 to continue the work. To show the impacts the Enhanced Partnership is having on the local public bus service, WBC needs to measure customer satisfaction. The Council is therefore asking local residents to share their views by 31 August.

• Check out the latest scams to look out for, highlighted by Angela Money BEM from West Berkshire Neighbourhood Watch, here.

• West Berkshire Libraries are inviting all children aged four to eleven to join this year’s free Summer Reading Challenge starting Tuesday 1 July. The 2025 theme is Story Garden, celebrating imagination, nature, and the joy of stories. Read up to 6 books, earn rewards along the way, including a medal and certificate when you complete the challenge. Click here to see more.

• You can click here to read the text of the Chair’s address to the Ashampstead annual parish meeting on 19 May.

• Should you be looking for the perfect local walking route, Compton Parish Council have created a detailed map of scenic walks in the area, that can be downloaded here, for free.

• You can click here to read the report provided by the Brightwalton’s Parish Council Chair, Tim Wyatt, to the annual parish meeting on 12 May 2025. Cherry trees, vandalism, maintenance lessons, a refurbished phone box, a tight budget and thanks to his fellow councillors and the Clerk are all covered.

• Allotment plots available at Newbury Lane allotment in Compton from £12.50 per year. If you’re interested please mail newburylaneallotmentmanager@comptonparishcouncil.gov.uk

• West Ilsley Willows welcome new members to their women’s cricket team. Whether you’re a novice or seasoned player go along to meet the team at a Thursday evening training.

• The next Fantastic Friday trip in the Downland Volunteers Group Handebus will be Friday 11 July to Cotswold Wildlife Park. See here for details and how to book.

• Don’t forget the Household Support Fund is there to support those most in need. Priority will be given to households who are ineligible for other government support and vulnerable groups regarding the cost of living crisis. To apply click here.

• For Hampstead Norreys news visit the Parish Council’s Facebook page.

• Latest local newsletters

• Chaddleworth News.
• West Ilsley News.

• Have your say on:

Consultations being run by West Berkshire Council:

• Draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment Document 2025 – deadline 13 July.
• A proposal for two new unitary Councils – Oxford and Shires, and Ridgeway – deadline 16 July.
• West Berkshire Bus Service Survey 2025 – deadline 31 August.
• Springfield Primary School – School Streets Scheme – deadline 2 December.

Parish and town councils also run consultations from time to time: see the appropriate website/s below under Council contacts.

Community notices

• Have your say on current consultations by West Berkshire Council. Parish and town councils also run consultations from time to time: see the appropriate website/s below under Council contacts.

• Compton Netball, for all ages and all abilities at The Downs School Sports Hall. Please message Nadia Oriani Balfour  if you’re interested and she will send you a link to the WhatsApp group.

• The Downlands Practice Social Prescribing Facebook page has details of social get-togethers and community support.

• Compton Stay, Learn & Play in Compton Village Hall on the second and fourth Thursday of the month for young families. See here for details.

• Ilsley Evergreens welcomes all to join its coach day trips. Just contact Liane on ilsleysevergreens@gmail.com to book a place.

• Downland Volunteer Group has an electric HandeBus. For those wishing to use the HandeBus or volunteer to help the DVG’s work, contact 07713 813 523; dvg.handebus@btinternet.com or on its website. More information can also be found here.

• U6, U7 and U16 footballers are welcome at FC Cougars. Please contact Graham on graham@fccougars.com.

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

• For how to avoid scams and what to do if you unluckily get caught, please see important advice here from Citizen’s Advice. There is no shame if you do get caught out by scammers (Penny has) and you must seek help and warn others.

Local events and activities

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

• Dates for the diary

• Sat 5 Jul Compton Fete Compton Recreation Ground

• Sat 12 Jul Beer Festival The Swan Compton.

• Sun 13 Jul Project Band Hermitage Village Hall

• 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.

• Tea and a Chat on Mondays from 9.30 a.m to 11 a.m at the Wilkins Centre in Compton: all welcome.

• Downland Practice’s Social Prescribing reminds patients that Hillier’s Garden Centre is delighted to be able to host the Ladies Breakfast Club on the second Wednesday of every month.

• Wellbeing and mental health free one-hour introduction session with Recovery in Mind and The Downland Practice. Please contact pm.downland@nhs.net to book your place.

• Drop Off/Drop In Coffee Morning every Wednesday during term time at Brightwalton Church from 8.45 to 10 a.m.

• Aldworth Saturday Market at Aldworth Village Hall, RG8 9SE from 10.30am to 12noon sells fresh fruit and vegetables, groceries, stamps and cards plus tea and coffee. Contact Kathy on 01635 578090 or e-mail kathyneville@outlook.com.

• The Gents Breakfast Club created by The Downland Practice – Social Prescribing is proving popular. If you would like more information please contact nicky.ager@nhs.net.

• Compton Tots on the first and third Thursday of every month at Compton Village Hall from 9.30 a.m to 11 a.m. 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 7 p.m with prizes to be won. You can reserve a table by calling 01635 281545, and see more information here.

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

• Autumn Group regular meetings include the Hobbies Club at the Wilkins Centre, Compton. Visit its 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 12 noon. Details on the East Ilsley Communicator (issue 105, p 21) here.

• Aldworth Craft Group meets at Aldworth Village Hall on the second and fourth Monday of every month (within the school term-time) from 10am to 12noon. 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 meets every Wednesday between 10am to 11.30 a.m at various locations throughout the Ilsley villages. Please join its Facebook group or 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. If the link is scored through this may be because draft minutes have been replaced by approved ones and the drafts file deleted. If so, please follow the links provided to the council’s website.

• The most recent meeting of Chaddleworth Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 10 June and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: planning matters; and the annual governance and accountability return.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Compton Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 9 June and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: planning matters; financial matters; the salt bin; vandalism and ASB; and the sports pavilion.
You can also click here to read the minutes of Compton’a Annual Parish Meeting on 10 March. We have also published the Chair’s address in a separate post which you can read here.
To see the dates of future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), agendas and minutes, please click here. Please click here for the latest on Compton’s neighbourhood development plan (which has now been ratified).

• The most recent meetings of Ashampstead Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 19 May and you can read the minutes here.
You can click here to read the text of the Chair’s address to the annual parish meeting, also on 19 May.
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 13 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 Brightwalton Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 12 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 Beedon Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 8 May and you can read the minutes here.
You can also click here to see the minutes of the annual parish meeting on 3 April.
To see the dates and agendas for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. To see minutes from past meetings please click here. Please click here for details of the planning applications currently active in the parish.

• The most recent meeting of Aldworth Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 6 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 West Ilsley Parish Council for which minutes are available took place on 1 May and you can read the minutes here.
You can also click here to read the minutes of the annual parish meeting on 20 May.
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 27 March and you can read the minutes here.
You can also click here to read the minutes of the annual parish assembly on 24 April.
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 5 March and you can read the minutes here.
To see the dates, agendas and minutes for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. 

• Compton & Downlands area council contacts

• Parishes: Hampstead Norreys Parish Council, Compton Parish Council, Ashampstead Parish Council, Beedon Parish Council, Chaddleworth Parish Council, Brightwalton Parish Council, Peasemore Parish Council, Aldworth Parish Council, West Ilsley Parish Council and East Ilsley Parish Council.
• West Berkshire Council: click here to visit the website.

News from other areas

• Penny Post area – please see the following separate sections: Hungerford area; Lambourn Valley; Newbury area; Thatcham area; Burghfield area; Wantage area; Marlborough area.
• News and views from across the area and beyond: please see the most recent Weekly News with Brian column.

Archives

To see earlier Compton & Downlands & Surrounding Area Weekly News columns, please click here.