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Thursday, April 16, 2020 21

NEWBURY NEWS

Newbury Weekly News

Winterbourne Arms applies to re-licence

‘Delighte’dcampaigners pledge support when pub reopens

reliance on broader trade and its lack of hosted activities such as clubs. “I see no reason to believe that the pub played anything other than an important role in village life prior to its closure in 2017.” Jill Hoblin, of the Save The Winterbourne Arms campaign, said: “We are delighted with the news that there are plans for the Winterbourne Arms to reopen. “The village are very pleased with this decision by Mr Roffe and are keen to recommence socialising in the pub – once the current social distancing measures have, of course, been relaxed. “The community will be providing their full support to the pub to ensure it is the success that it deserves to be.”

THE Winterbourne Arms – the pub at the centre of a commu- nity dispute for two years – is to reopen after its owner applied for a new premises licence. This marks a breakthrough for campaigners in Winterbourne who opposed plans to convert the pub into a dwelling. The application was lodged last week on behalf of Rookery Taverns Limited, a company registered to Winterbourne Arms owner Nicholas Roffe. In the past, Mr Roffe has oper- ated a number of pubs nation- wide. He acquired the Winter- bourne Arms in 2018. The previous landlord had assured residents that the pub would reopen, but this failed to happen as Mr Roffe instead sought permission to convert the

premises into a dwelling. The owner has always contended that the Winterbourne Arms is not an economically viable business. However, villagers’ protests were ultimately upheld by plan- ners, who rejected Mr Roffe’s proposals for redevelopment. The final blow to the scheme came in January, when the Plan- ning Inspectorate sided with villagers opposed to the conver- sion of the 19th-century inn. Planning inspector Benjamin Webb stated: “The past impor- tance of the pub as a community facility is disputed by the appel- lant, citing factors such as its Report by CHARLIE MASTERS email charlie.masters@newburynews.co.uk twitter @charliem_nwn

Ref: 32-1519N Man denies attempting to assault officer

Patriotic flag-waving at last year’s BattlePromsatHighclereCastle

Battle Proms postponed to 2021 THE 20th annual Highclere Castle Battle Proms, sched- uled for July 31, have been postponed until next year. Adam Slough said: “It is with much sadness that we must announce that the 20th annual Highclere Castle Battle Proms will be postponed until Saturday, July 21, 2021. year’s Battle Proms in style from their own private marquee, with delicious fresh picnics with wine, free programmes and flags and a VIP backstage tour with Battle Proms conductor Douglas Coombes.

in Mill Lane on November 4 last year. He further denies breaching the terms of a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) on the same occa- sion, which had been made by the same court in July, 2018, by having an open container of alcohol in Victoria Park, Newbury. Finally, Mr Kelly denies receiv-

ing stolen goods in the form of £30 worth of razor blades belonging to Boots in Newbury on October 5 last year. Magistrates said the case could proceed no further and thematter was adjourned for trial at a later date. Mr Kelly is meanwhile on unconditional bail. In the Newbury Weekly News 23rd April. Our Spring edition of Early Learning Get ahead and find out more about your local childcare nurseries, what they have to offer and how to get in touch with them. comes out next week.

A MAN has denied trying to assault a police of icer. The case of Peter Paul Kelly of St Petroc’s Hostel in Newtown Road, Newbury, was heard at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Monday, March 23 The 50-year-old denies the attempted common assaultof the officer at Newbury police station

The event – the longest- running picnic proms series in the country – will instead take place on July 31, 2021. Ticketholders for this year’s proms will be contacted by the organisers via email. Tickets will automatically be carried over to next year’s concert, although full refunds are available to those who would rather cancel their booking. Alternatively, ticketholders can swap to a different Battle Proms concert venue free of charge, such as Blenheim Palace, Burghley House, Hatfield House and Ragley Hall. Battle Proms event director

“We have a loyal and dedicated audience, many of whom attend our concert annually, and know that this will be as much a disap- pointment to them as it is to us. “However, the health and well- being of our audience, volun- teers, performers and staff are our top priority, so we have taken the decision to postpone our Highclere Castle concert until summer 2021.” Ticketholders who roll their booking over will be included in a draw to win a ‘money-can’t- buy’ experience for their party. The winners will enjoy next

There will also be 10 runner- up prizes of a free pair of tickets. Mr Slough said: “By carrying their tickets over, our audience will be helping to ensure that the Battle Proms will be here for many more years to come. “As a thank you, we will enter everyone who does so into an exclusive prize draw to win a VIP Battle Proms experience.” Full details of all ticket options can be found at https://www.battleproms.com/ postponement-faqs/

Rachel answers the call in emergency A TADLEY woman is giving back to her community by volunteering as a medical responder for South Central Ambulance Service. the moment, when paramedics and other health professionals are being constantly called to virus emergencies. “We bridge that gap in the community.

Rachel Jeans, 29, signed up to become a community first responder earlier this year, not knowing that an international pandemic was just around the corner. Community first responders are fully-trained volunteers who attend emergency calls in the area where they live or work, delivering life-saving treatment until paramedics arrive. This is separate from the recently-launched NHS Good- SAM scheme, which was specifi- cally set up in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Ms Jeans, who is the deputy manager of the University of Reading’s campus jobs programme, said: “I’ve always wanted to help people. “I kind of regret not going down the medical route for my career, but I’ve always tried to incorporate it into my work, such as being first aid trained.” Ms Jeans received her training in February, having no idea that

“If we are called out to a cardiac arrest and can be on the scene in two minutes, it can make such a huge difference. “We can administer that initial first aid until paramedics can arrive and take over.” Ms Jeans is part of a team of four volunteers who cover Tadley and the surrounding area. Each volunteer is required to be on-call for around 20 hours a month, or five hours a week, although Ms Jeans said volun- teers often do a lot more. Since she began working from home two weeks ago, Ms Jeans has been managing her volun- teer on-call duties around her full-time job. “My line manager has been really supportive,” she said. “As long as I am available for teammeetings and I get my work done, they really don’t mind if I have to nip out to attend a call.”

Rachel Jeans

she would soon be attending calls dressed in personal protec- tive equipment. She continued: “It has been strange. “I did my first call to an elderly patient and we obviously had to wear a mask and gloves. “Community first responders are so important, especially at