Thursday 7 December 2023

Our usual round-up of local news includes: trees, a councillor’s newsletter, a mystery, reverse advent and a nativity – plus hopes that Garth Hall in Mortimer might soon be returning to public use. See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Thatcham area events include: York Nativity Play, Christmas Tree Festival and more. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

This week’s news

• This weekend St Mary’s Church is holding their annual Christmas Tree Festival. There will be 24 decorated Christmas trees to admire, as well as some stalls and children’s activities to enjoy. There will also be some local choir performances and Café will be serving soup and rolls. Come along this Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December between 12pm and 4pm. Details can be found on their Facebook event.

• Theale Councillor Alan Macro has released his latest letter which discusses West Berkshire Council’s consultation regarding budgeting plans, Christmas bus travel and “Car Meets”.

• The York Nativity Play at St Mary the Virgin’s church in Aldermaston is in its 67th year and well worth the experience. The performance of this traditional medieval version of the nativity runs from Thurday 7 to Sunday 10 December. Tickets are free but must be pre-booked. See details here.

• The Kennet branch of Save the Children invite you to their fundraising murder mystery evening at Englefield House this Saturday 9 December. Boundary Players present Murder In The Theatre by Stephen Schollar at 7pm for 7.30 start in the Long Gallery. Tickets £25 available online here or email [email protected] or text 07456 188057.

• 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.

• 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.

• Theale Parish Council are fundraising to start a new local Youth Club/Youth Café to help support young people in the area. This is in response to a series of anti-social behaviour incidents which occurred earlier in the year. The Council have approached Berkshire Youth to help deliver this project and the Greenham Trust have already made a donation of £750 to get the ball rolling. If you would like to learn more or make a donation, please see here.

• Burghfield and Mortimer Foodbank are organising a Reverse Advent Calendar, where participants donate a box of festive treats which will go to members of the community who are going through a tough time to help make their Christmas special. To get involved, email [email protected] to register. Upon registration you will receive a full list of instructions. Drop-off deadline is Friday 15 December.

• Click here to see a list of all active planning applications in Theale (check the date at the top of the post for latest update).

• Click here latest newsletter, to see Burghfield and Mortimer ward member Nick Carter’s latest newsletter.

• Garth Club’s proposals

We’ve covered in the past the slightly tangled story of the Garth Club Hall in Mortimer, the upshot being the Royal British Legion’s announcement earlier this year that it was prepared to listen to offers from community groups as to how the building could be used. A statement from Stratfield Mortimer Parish Council in its Autumn 2023 newsletter put the situation as follows:

“Stratfield Mortimer Parish Council members met representatives from the Royal British Legion in July and September to discuss the future of the property known as Garth Club (aka Garth Hall), Mortimer which is currently held by the Royal British Legion on trusts declared in 1942.

“A number of issues were discussed, principally the transfer of the trusteeship of the trust to new trustees. The next step will be for a public notice to be placed in the local press and on the property seeking expressions of interest from local community groups, or any other third parties, interested in taking on the trusteeship of the trust (and thus taking on the premises). The notice will also cater for the property to be sold in the event that new trustees cannot be found.

“A period of six weeks will be given for interested parties to come forward and further details will be found on the public notice once it is published, which is likely to be on Thursday 19 October 2023 – anyone interested in taking on the trusteeship will be able to get more information from the Royal British Legion’s agents, whose details will be in the notice.”

The six-week period has now expired and, as Mortimer Life reports, two groups have come forward. Parish (and District) Councillor Nick Carter is quoted as saying that consultations in 2022 “established that not only did the community want the place saved, but there were people prepared to save it.”

It now appears that Men’s Shed and Royal Berkshire Boxing have expressed an interest in using the building. “I am delighted that after over twelve years we see signs of reaching a positive outcome,” Nick Carter added. Hopefully these hopes will prove justified and the building will return to community use sometime in 2024.

• Have your say

Have your say on current consultations being run by West Berkshire Council:

Review of polling districts, polling places and polling stations 2023 Deadline 12 December 2023.
Draft Corporate Complaints Policy Deadline 13 December 2023.
Four Houses Corner Traveller site near Ufton Nervet Deadline 15 December 2023.
Proposal to extend and vary the current Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in Newbury Deadline 18 December 2023.
Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople – Call for Sites Deadline 23 December 2023.
Berkshire’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy Deadline 31 December 2023.
Budget proposals 2024-25 Deadline 11 January 2024.
Francis Baily Primary School – School Streets Scheme Feedback Survey Deadline 3 March 2024.

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

• Latest local newsletters

• Englefield Parish Magazine.
• Padworth Village Newsletter.
• Benefice of Aldermaston and Woolhampton

Community notices

• West Berkshire Library Service is appealing for local volunteers at Mortimer and Burghfield Common libraries. Please see this post on Facebook, call 01635 519533 or email volunteerinyourlibrary@westberks.gov.uk for further information.

• Mortimer and Burghfield Toy Library is run by volunteers providing toys to local families on the fourth Saturday of the month at Mortimer Methodist church 9.30am to 11am. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

• Theale Parish Council is often looking for volunteers to help run fun community events. Please check out their website to find out more and register your interest.

• Are you interested in becoming an on-call firefighter? The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue are looking for on-call firefighters particularly in the Mortimer area. To find out more and register your interest get in touch at [email protected] or click here for more information.

• Holy Trinity Church is the drop-0ff point in Theale for West Berkshire Foodbank. See request list here.

• Theale Parish Council has urged residents to take part in the Patient Participation Group which aims to support and improve the way services are delivered by your GP Practice. See more here on the goals and how to join.

• If you need help getting to medical, dentist or optician appointments do contact Burghfield and Mortimer Volunteer Bureau between 9.30am and 11.30am Monday to Friday on 01189 831814.

• 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.

• Volunteer drivers needed by Burghfield and Mortimer Volunteer Bureau. Click here for more information.

• Holy Trinity Church in Theale is seeking donations for the Foodbank that is open on Sundays and Wednesdays from 9am to 6pm. Find out what is requested each week by clicking here.

• The mini re-cycling centre at the end of Theale High Street has banks for plastic pots, tubs, trays cans, small electricals, cardboard and paper.

• 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.

• Dates for the diary

• Thu 7 to Sun 10 Dec York Nativity Play, Aldermaston.

• Sat 9 to Sun 10 Dec Christmas Tree Festival, St May’s Church, Burghfield.

• Wed 13 Dec Vivace Voices Christmas Concert, St May’s Church, Burghfield.

• Sun 24 Dec Christingle Service, St May’s Church, Burghfield.

• Regular events

• Burghfield WI (The Woman’s Institute) meets at 7.30pm on the second Tuesday of the month at Burghfield Village Hall. See their facebook page for details.

• Are you over 55 and would like the opportunity to get creative? The Corn Exchange Newbury is running arts and crafts, painting, drawing, sketch and stroll, and poetry workshops in the Burghfield area. See here for dates, locations and how to book.

• The Corn Exchange is also running a Home Artist scheme where you collect monthly creative project packs from Mortimer Library to enjoy in the comfort of your own home or get them delivered to your home address.

• Click here for information about the range of activities organised by the Burghfield Community Sports Association.

• Theale Library hosts in-person events for people of all ages. To find out more information on future clubs and events click here to visit the West Berkshire Library Facebook page or email Theale Library at [email protected].

• Mortimer Library also host regular events, such as their Rhymetime group who meet every Tuesday (during school term time) at 2.30pm.

• Theale Parish Council’s free community coffee morning, every Wednesday from 8.45am to 11.15am is at the Peter Gooch Room on Englefield Road. Everyone is welcome including young children and well behaved dogs. Click here for details.

• Walking for Health meet every Tuesday at the community centre car park opposite the Horse & Groom, Mortimer, between April and October. There are three walk lengths to chose from as mentioned on mortimervillage.org.uk,

• All cyclists are welcome to join the On Your Bike Burghfield facebook group“which doesn’t take itself too seriously.”

• Beenham Art Group every Tuesday from 10am to noon at Victory Hall, Beenham. More details in The Benefice of Aldermaston and Woolhampton Magazine (September edition, p 17).

• Aldermaston Coffee Club meet at the café at Rosebourne, Aldermaston between 10am to 11.30am on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Further details in The Benefice of Aldermaston and Woolhampton Magazine (September edition, p 11).

• Holy Trinity Church, Theale free choir group rehearses on Thursdays between 7pm to 8pm and performs at Sunday services from 10.30am. All are welcome to join. Send enquiries to [email protected].uk.

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 Aldermaston Parish Council was on 14 November and the minutes will be available here in due course. Items covered included: the skateboard project (APC said it was “pleased to note the level of support for the project” and that two people have stepped forward to replace the now departed main mover of the project); the two months’ closure of the Lifting Bridge (The Chair advised that WBC had “heeded our comments, and mitigation measures were planned, although the Parish Council had not been consulted about HGVs, some of which would use the Lane, rather than the long diversion route via Burghfield); two planning applications (Hilliers Garden Centre and an out-of-area application in Tadley), with of which were objected to; clearing the ditch along Fisherman’s Lane; and the continuing need for a new Councillor.
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, please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Stratfield Mortimer Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 9 November and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: the Clerk’s report; committee and working party reports; Garth Hall; Thames Water; the neighbourhood development plan; financial matters; and planning matters.
To see the dates and agendas for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. To see the minutes, please click here. See this page on Stratfield Mortimer PC’s website for more information on the refresh of its neighbourhood development plan.

• The most recent meeting of Padworth Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 6 November and you can read the minutes here. Items covered included: Four Houses Corner (see separate section above); reports from the ward member and the Clerk; financial matters; the Village Hall; rural policing; dog bins; repairs and maintenance; and repairs at Aldermaston Bridge.
To see the dates and agendas for future Parish Council meetings (including any committees), please click here. To see the minutes, please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Englefield Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 17 October 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 and minutes, please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Burghfield Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 12 October 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 the minutes, please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Basildon Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 11 October and you can download 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 Bradfield Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 3 October 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 here for 2022 or here for 2023. To see the minutes, please click here.

• The most recent meeting of Beenham Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 2 October 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. Click here for details of Beenham’s Community Plan.

• The most recent meeting of Theale Parish Council for which minutes are available was on 7 August 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 and minutes, please click here.

• Burghfield area council contacts

Parishes: Theale Parish Council, Aldermaston Parish Council, Padworth Parish Council, Stratfield Mortimer Parish Council, Englefield Parish Council, Beenham Parish Council, Bradfield Parish Council, Basildon Parish Council and Burghfield 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; Compton & Downlands; Wantage area; Marlborougharea; Swindon area.

News and views from across the area and beyond: please see the most recent Weekly News with Brian column.

Thursday 30 November 2023

Our usual round-up of local news includes: ice, Santa, neighbours, a York nativity play, planning and a new café – plus a trial of 20mph zones in Theale and an open session about Four Houses Corner. See also below for community notices and news from your local council.

Upcoming Thatcham area events include: Burghfield on Ice, Christmas Markets & York Nativity Play. See below for details, plus regular events and group activities.

This week’s news

• This Friday kicks off the much-anticipated Burghfield on Ice with a Disco Night. The Council have even added an extra session for the event and as of right now, there are still a few tickets left – if you act fast! Other Christmassy events taking place this weekend include the Theale Christmas Market on Saturday (we hear Santa might be making an appearance there too…) and Garland Junior School’s Christmas Bazaar on Sunday.

• Pssst… Rumour has it that Santa Claus himself will be passing through Burghfield this Monday 4 December. By the sounds of things, the Newbury Lions Club will be showing him around the town before he jets off back to North Pole. If you stand by a window, you might get to sneak a peak!

• 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.

• Burghfield Parish Council invites you to ‘Nominate a Neighbour and Say Thank You!‘ at the Burghfield on Ice event on Friday 1 December, f you know a local person who has gone an extra mile or who always puts a smile on your face. Click here for details.

• All welcome at Burghfield Residents Association’s annual meeting on Tuesday 5 December at 7pm in the West Wing at Burghfield Village Hall. Please come along if you’re interested to hear what events they have planned for the next year, if you’d like to volunteer or join the committee. For more details please visit their website.

• St Mary the Virgin’s Church in Aldermaston invites you to their 67th Aldermaston York nativity play from 7 to 10 December. An enthralling performance of the story of the first Christmas, the medieval text from the York Mystery Cycle plays is combined with medieval costumes and sung music of the period. All set inside the 12th century decorated church. This is a beautiful and traditional way to start the festive season, away from hustle and bustle of everyday life. Tickets are free. Please see more details on their website here.

• Click here to see a list of all active planning applications in Theale (check the date at the top of the post for latest update).

• Click here latest newsletter, to see Burghfield and Mortimer ward member Nick Carter’s latest newsletter.

• Four Houses Corner

West Berkshire Council has said in a recent statement that it is “committed to re-developing Four Houses Corner, a recognised Traveller site near Ufton Nervet, and we need your views on the proposals. “The consultation has been open online for a few weeks now, but to assist those who would like to talk to us face-to-face about the plans, we are holding an open public presentation with a Q&A session on Monday, 11 December from 6pm to 8pm. This will take place at St. John’s Village Hall, West End Rd, Mortimer Common, RG7 3TF. No need to book, just drop in. For more information and to have your say on the consultation, please visit our website and submit your views by 5pm on 15 December.”

• Theale’s speeds

In early November, the Council’s Executive discussed a motion, proposed by Cllr Adrian Abbs back in March 2023, to change the way in which requests from residents for 20mph speed limits are dealt with by the Council.

“Requests for new or amended speed limits,” a statement from WBC says, “including 20mph zones and 20mph speed limits, are considered by the Speed Limit Review Task Group, which consists of Council officers, Members, and the Police, with Parish and Town Councils being invited to attend its meetings as appropriate. When assessing requests, the Task Group considers current setting local speed limitsguidance from the Department for Transport, traffic survey results, the number of recorded injury accidents, and the local road environment. The recommendations are then presented for approval with various other groups and finally at Executive for an individual executive member decision.

“A 20mph pilot scheme or 20mph zone in Theale was approved at Executive in early November. New criteria will be agreed with members by the end of this financial year and once the pilot scheme in Theale has been completed, estimated costs and assessments will be detailed for consideration with a view to implementing 20mph speed limits on roads which meet the new criteria over the next thereto four years.

“The pilot is subject to a consultation process which will allow residents and businesses to respond to in due course. You can read more about the decision here.”

Other communities in the district, including Eastbury and Lambourn, will be watching with interest how this experiment develops.

• 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).