Welcome to Brightwalton News

Saturday 29th June at 10am
Following all the tree work at the Old Churchyard, we need some help to tidy up. All volunteers are welcome to take firewood in return for their help!
Please meet at the Old Churchyard with tools - chainsaws, strimmers, rakes, gloves etc. All help appreciated. 

Thank you 
Brightwalton Parish Council 

2018 – 2019 Parish Council Summary – Shaun Orpen, Chairman
The backdrop to the year is that we are seeing more cuts in services from West Berks as they continue to need to find creative ways to operate within their shrinking budgets.
 
This has a knock-on effect on Parish Councils who are required to be more self-sufficient on some of the services, such as topping up salt bins.
 
The priority at the start of the year was finding a cost-effective solution to the maintenance of the playing field. The new Scofell contract seems to be working well (all be it with a recent hiccup). Thanks should also go to the Breadmore’s who have kindly taken on the mowing of the playground which has been a great help.
 
Considerable time has been spent in supporting the Holt with their bid to get traffic calming measures in place on the road through the Holt. By using Section 106 money we were able to get the Council to install “entrance gate” signage at each end of the Holt. Regrettably, on advice, the case to get a further reduction in speed limit was not compelling enough for us to take forward at this time; however, we continue to push the case.
 
We helped find a new chairman to take on the leadership and revitalisation of the village fete. This has led to a very successful re-invigoration of energy and enthusiasm, which translated, into greater attendance and a significant increase in takings for the village hall. A big thank you to Jeremy Snow and his team.
 
We continue to actively support the ASPIRE project, as the single largest and most significant project being undertaken in the village at this time. This is progressing to final approvals from the DAC (Diocesan Advisory Committee). A launch plan for the major fundraising has been prepared and is in the process of being finalised. Importantly this plan is as much about “getting more people engaged in the village community” as it is about “fundraising”. If anyone is interested in getting involved in whatever capacity please let us know.
 
There has been some significant tree maintenance at both Dunmore Pond and the Old Church Yard, which will need to be continued over the next few years on a managed basis.
 
We are very sorry to announce that Jackie Boxall has decided to step down from the Parish Council after 20 years’ service as Councillor, Clerk and Chairman. We are hugely grateful for her time and dedication to the village for so many years. She has been a great asset and will be sorely missed.
 
To replace Jackie. I am very grateful to Annie Agnew who has kindly stepped forward. To that end, I would like to welcome Annie who has now been co-opted onto the Parish Council.
 
In conclusion, we ended the year £160 under our budget plan of £6,700. We have either spent or have plans in place for spending the remaining Community Infrastructure Levy money.
 
Finally, as we turn our attention to the next year, we continue to focus on the plans and objectives outlined in the ongoing Parish Plan.

Your March edition of the Brickleton News will soon be arriving through your door, with details of the Fete, tree plating and the Open Gardens event, if you cannot wait for its arrival you can download it here:

Local elections set for 2 May, 2019
Elections are set to take place to elect councillors to the district council as well as town and parish councils.
West Berkshire Council has  published its Notice of Election confirming the elections to be held on Thursday 2 May, 2019.
The nomination process is now open and anyone wanting to stand for election either to West Berkshire Council or their local council has until 4pm on Wednesday 3 April to submit their nomination to the Returning Officer. West Berkshire Council has produced a guide to the elections which includes more information on the nomination process and eligibility criteria for potential candidates. This can be viewed online: www.westberks.gov.uk/elections2019. A list of candidates standing for election will be published online by 4pm on Thursday 4 April.
Preparations for the district council elections are well underway with West Berkshire Council's Electoral Services team busy booking polling stations, arranging staff for polling stations and the count, as well as making sure everyone who wants to vote can do so.
Since the district council elections were held in 2015 there have been changes to the areas each district councillor represents. The review was conducted both to reduce the number of district councillors and to adjust ward boundaries so that each councillor represents a similar number of residents. Changes to towns and villages, and their populations, had led to disparity between how many residents councillors had been representing.
Following a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, there will be 24 wards across West Berkshire instead of 30 and 43 councillors instead of 52. Polling cards will begin to arrive from Tuesday 19th March and will show residents which will state their ward and the polling station to attend. 
There is still plenty of time for residents to register to vote in the May elections if they have not already done so. Residents have until Friday 12th April and they can register to vote online in just a few minutes or opt to register to vote by post. 
Residents are able to vote by post if they prefer to, or to apply for a proxy vote which allows another person to cast their vote for them. The deadline for new postal votes and changes to existing postal vote details is Monday 15th April, and the applications to vote by proxy must be submitted by Wednesday 24th April.
For more information about registering to vote visit https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. There is also more information about the elections elsewhere on our website.
West Berkshire Council - 15th March 2019

The spring edition of the West Berkshire Countryside Society Upstream magazine can be downloaded below. 
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Press Release - 13th March 2019 from West Berkshire Council

​West Berkshire Council working to improve the local environment for wildlife
Roadside verges can be a real haven for nature. During the winter, West Berkshire Council promised to look at the best way of managing the district’s grass verges and protecting the flora, fauna and wildlife that inhabit them.
Some verges, such as those at busy junctions where visibility is key, have to be cut back for safety. Others have the potential to be precious linear nature reserves for flora and fauna. Those left to grow naturally can be a place where wild flowers, pollinators, birds and small mammals thrive.
This spring West Berkshire Council will trial a new approach by creating a wildflower verge in two areas. These are on the A4 near Halfway, between Newbury and Hungerford and the A4 between Ufton and Aldermaston. The results wont be visible immediately as the verges have to be prepared and sown over the spring and summer but they will hopefully bloom early in the following spring.  Lessons learned from the trial will be used to inform our management of verges in the future.
Jeanette Clifford, West Berkshire Council’s executive member for Transport and Countryside, visited one of the sites this weekend. Councillor Clifford said: ‘With hundreds of miles of verges in West Berkshire, this is an important project that we hope will enrich our environment. Not so many years ago, we could all witness the passing of the seasons in our roadside verges, and, of course, they were particularly glorious in spring and summer. We would like to see that diversity and complexity return and once again experience the colours, scents and buzz of living verges.’

Unnamed Road from A338 Wantage Road to B4494 in the Parish of Chaddleworth will be closed on 15th March 2019, between the hours of 9.30am – 3.30pm, so that contractors can carry out drainage clearing
 
The closure will be in place from its junction with the A338, to its junction with the unnamed road from the A338 to Common Lane, Woolley.
 
Access will be maintained for residential access.
 
The diversion will be signed on site.
 
All enquiries to: West Berkshire Council: Highway Maintenance Team on 01635 519080
 
A plan of the closure can be found at: (click on link) Chaddleworth Road closure
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​Come along on for a stroll around some of the village’s gardens. 
There are competitions to enter and then enjoy tea and cake at the village hall
£5.00 per adult, under 16s free
Raising money for the ASPIRE Project
What better way is there to spend a Sunday afternoon?

West Berkshire Council Press Release - 27th February
West Berkshire Council is gearing up for district council elections with residents going to the polls in two months’ time.
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On Thursday 2 May residents will go to the polls to elect district councillors to sit on West Berkshire Council, and also to elect councillors to town and parish councils.

Preparations for the district council elections are well underway with West Berkshire Council’s Electoral Services team busy booking polling stations, arranging staff for polling stations and the count, as well as making sure everyone who wants to vote can do so.

Since the district council elections were held in 2015 there have been changes to the areas each district councillor represents. The review was conducted both to reduce the number of district councillors and to adjust ward boundaries so that each councillor represents a similar number of residents. Changes to towns and villages, and their populations, had led to disparity between how many residents councillors had been representing.

Following a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, there will be 24 wards across West Berkshire instead of 30 and 43 councillors instead of 52. More information about the new wards and a small number of changes to polling stations will be published in March.

Anyone wanting to stand in the elections is able to do so with a deadline of 4pm on Wednesday 3 April for completed nomination forms. A list of candidates standing for election in each ward will be published online on Thursday 4 April. More information about the nomination process for candidates can be found in West Berkshire Council’s Guide to Election Procedures.
There is still plenty of time for residents to register to vote in the May elections if they have not already done so. Residents have until Friday 12 April and they can register to vote online in just a few minutes or opt to register to vote by post. 

Residents are able to vote by post if they prefer to, or to apply for a proxy vote which allows another person to cast their vote for them. The deadline for new postal votes and changes to existing postal vote details is Monday 15th April, and the applications to vote by proxy must be submitted by Wednesday 24 April.

For more information about registering to vote visit https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. There is also more information about the elections on the West Berkshire Council website.

West Berkshire Heritage have just published their Spring / Summer What's On Guide.

​It includes lots of family events, workshops, exhibitions, theatre and concerts.

To download a copy click here: What's On

Brother and sister team Dan Whidborne (local farmer) and Claire Pill (owner of Saddleback Farm Shop) brought Saddleback Farm Shop to local residents in Brightwalton, Chaddleworth and Leckhampstead who have been cut off from civilisation (unless you have a 4×4 and even some of them have had to be towed out). It is this community spirit that makes this such a special place to live. 

Villagers queued up for bread, milk, meat and other essentials. 

The village hall AGM will be on Tuesday 5th February at 7.30 - all welcome, the agenda can be downloaded below

We have been advised that West Berkshire libraries is having a fines amnesty on the 22nd and 23rd Feb.  There will be no late fees to pay on any items returned to any West Berkshire library on these dates.

The annual Walk for Parkinson’s at Welford Park is taking place on Sunday 28th April. The walk helps Parkinson's UK to raise vital funds and awareness for Parkinson’s which is essential in helping them to find better treatments and a cure, whilst supporting everyone affected by Parkinson’s.
 
If you would like more information on the walk - visit Parkinson's UK  

Received from the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley - Anthony Stansfeld

"I have continuously lobbied the Government for a much-needed increase in police funding and so I am pleased that the Government has announced that an additional £813m will be available nationally to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to fund local police forces. However, it must be recognised that more than half of this funding (£509m) is expected to come from local taxpayers by increasing the police portion of the Council Tax.
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Demand on police forces nationally has risen significantly in the last year as a result of higher crime numbers, the increasing complexity of crime, and the increasing reach of criminals both physically and via technology. This includes an increase in the reporting of high harm and previously hidden crimes such as child sexual abuse and modern slavery. The challenge from serious and organised crime networks is also growing both in economic value and the geographical spread, whilst nationally there has been a spike in serious violence and knife crime alongside the increase in a gang culture.  A significant amount of the more serious crime is now being committed by foreign national offenders.

In addition the police are dealing with a large amount of non-crime business, especially in relation to mental health. My focus will continue to be on delivering strong neighbourhood policing for all of the communities across the Thames Valley whilst addressing the serious threats and hardship posed by criminals.

An increase to the council tax will enable me to protect many of the vital functions that may otherwise have been reduced, and ensure that Thames Valley Police has more resources to tackle crime and keep the public safe.  I am therefore proposing to increase council tax by £24 (equivalent for a Band D household) and will ensure that all the extra cash generated from council taxpayers will be spent on operational policing.

I will be running a public consultation exercise over the Christmas period to gather local council taxpayer views on the proposed increase.   You can find more information about my public survey on the council tax increase below.   I encourage you to complete the survey and to share it widely with your local communities.  

Finally, I wish you all a Happy Christmas and New Year 
​Anthony Stansfeld "

In response to the exceptional operational demands on the police, particularly in areas such as Thames Valley, the Government has encouraged all PCCs to raise the policing element of the council tax by £24 a year in 2019/20 or £2 a month for a Band D property. (The increase in other property bands are detailed within the survey)

The PCC supports the increase in council tax by £24 for a Band D property.  The draft budget for 2019/20 includes additional funding to increase local frontline policing, recruit more investigators and improve contact management with the aim to reduce call waiting times on 101 calls.  Further information about the budget can be found here.

The PCC is holding a public consultation exercise over the Christmas period to gather local council taxpayer views on the proposed increase in the police portion of the council tax.  

To have your say on the propose increase, please complete the survey. Please share this widely with your communities.

The survey is open until Wednesday 9th January at 5pm

Services in the West Downland Benefice will be:
​23rd December 2018 – Fourth Sunday of Advent.
8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) at Leckhampstead.
6.00pm UB Combined Carol Service, Leckhampstead.
Christmas Eve
3.00pm Carols at Catmore
3.00pm Crib Service at Wickham
10.00pm Holy Communion at Chaddleworth
10.00pm Holy Communion at Wickham
11.30pm Holy Communion at Great Shefford
Christmas Day
8.00am BCP Holy Communion at Fawley
9.30am Family Holy Communion at Great Shefford
10.00am Family Holy Communion at Brightwalton
11.00am Family Holy Communion at Welford
Sunday 30th December
30th December 2018 – First Sunday of Christmas
10.00am United Benefice Holy Communion at Great Shefford

Recycling Collection for real Christmas Trees
To help West Berkshire residents to have a green Christmas and recycle even more, West Berkshire Council will collect real Christmas Trees from residents even if they do not subscribe to the garden waste collection service.
Real trees should simply be left with your recycling on your scheduled collection day up until Friday 18 January.  Any decorations, lights and pots must be removed before recycling.  

​Revised collection day
Christmas and New Year collection dates 2018/19
Mon 24 Dec as normal Mon 24 Dec
Tues 25 Dec will be collected on Thurs 27 Dec
Wed 26 Dec will be collected on Fri 28 Dec
Thurs 27 Dec will be collected on Sat 29 Dec
Fri 28 Dec will be collected on Mon 31 Dec

Mon 31 Dec will be collected on Wed 2 Jan
Tues 1 Jan will be collected on Thurs 3 Jan
Wed 2 Jan will be collected on Fri 4 Jan
Thurs 3 Jan will be collected on Sat 5 Jan
Fri 4 Jan will be collected on Mon 7 Jan

Mon 7 Jan will be collected on Tues 8 Jan
Tues 8 Jan will be collected on Wed 9 Jan
Wed 9 Jan will be collected on Thurs 1 0 Jan
Thurs 1 0 Jan will be collected on Fri 11 J an
Fri 11 Jan will be collected on Sat 12 Jan
 
Collections will return to normal on Monday 14 January 2019
To check your collection week or for updates to waste services during severe weather visit www.westberks.gov.uk/waste
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