Newbury Weekly News - May 11th 2017

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Newbury Weekly News

Work on second Tull Way flood basin set to start WORK on Thatcham’s second flood shield will begin next week. contributions from West Berkshire Council and May 15, and is scheduled for completion by the end of October 2017. allow for construction of the site access.

THATCHAM Keeping in touch

looking forward to delivering this important flood defence scheme for Thatcham and will be working closely with all parties concerned to ensure that the works cause as little inconvenience as possible.” The construction work will be carried out by Jackson Civil Engineering, super- vised by West Berkshire Council. Work will start on Monday,

Have you got a story? Contact our Thatcham reporter JOHN HERRING, on (01635) 886633, or email: john.herring@

Thatcham Town Council. The basin is the second of four to be constructed around the town to prevent a repeat of the 2007 floods. More than 1,000 properties were affected after three months of rain fell on the town in 24 hours. Projects manager at West Berkshire Council Jon Winstanley said: “We are

The footpath from Tull Way to Cold Ash, which passes through the site, will be closed during the construc- tion period and an alternative route will be via Ashmore Green Road. A basin at the bottom of Cold Ash Hill was constructed in 2014 and two more are planned at Floral Way and south east of the town.

A large earth embankment will be created to the north of Tull Way to retain flood water and hold excess water, which it will then release at a rate with which local drains can cope. The £1.2m flood alleviation scheme is funded by a Government grant through the Environment Agency and

Normal working hours for the project will be from 7.30am until 5pm, Monday to Friday. A temporary speed restric- tion of 30mph will be in place along Tull Way between the A4 and Bowling Green Road to allow for safe working. There will also be off-peak lane closures on Tull Way to

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NewsupdatesfromThatchamare now availableonlinethroughouttheweek.Go to newburytoday.co.ukand selectthe districtpages

Plea for funds to keep memory café running

Motorcyclist hurt in crash A MOTORCYCLIST was taken to hospital following a collision in Thatcham on Sunday. The rider was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospi- tal with leg injuries after being involved in a colli- sion with a car in Westfield Crescent at 7.30pm. A spokesman for the South Central Ambulance Service said that the injuries were not believed to be serious. The event marks the finale in a week of activities to mark Dementia Awareness Week by West Berk- shire Council and other agencies. Walk around lakes for dementia cause TAKE a walk around Thatcham Lakes and join in activities to help raise awareness of demen- tia next week. The Nature Discovery Centre will be holding activities between 10.30am and noon on Thursday, May 18, including taking a walk around the lakes. Then, between 2pm and 4pm, an afternoon tea will be held at the Frank Hutchings Community Hall in Bradley Moore Square with board games, music and reminiscence opportunities.

Council, West Berkshire Council and Alpkit we were able to run the café sessions earlier free of charge. “Keeping these sessions free for anyone to attend means that everyone gains the benefits of spending time in nature, as well as the social interaction that the café offers.” BBOWT’s ambition is to keep the project going for two years and needs to raise £5,440 to achieve the goal. People wishing to donate can visit www.wildcrowd. org/campaigns/detail/46/ help-people-living-with- dementia-connect-to-nature The dementia-friendly project is run by BBOWT in collaboration with the demen- tia-friendly communities project officer at West Berk- shire Council. “People who have come to the café sessions say that they are a lifeline,” Mrs O’Melia

A PLEA for funds has been issued to help people with dementia in Thatcham. The Nature Memories Café has been running at the Nature Discovery Centre since January, offering relax- ing social and creative activi- ties After a successful 10-week trial, the Berkshire, Bucking- hamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has secured funding to keep the café open for the next 18 months. But the trust says it needs more funding to keep it going long-term. Centre ranger at the Nature Discovery Centre Becky O’Melia said: “The Nature Memories Café is a lifeline for people living with dementia, and their friends and family members who come along as well. “Because we received fund- ing from Thatcham Town

Centre ranger BeckyO’Melia nddementia-friendly community programme officer SueButterworth atthe NatureMemoriesCafé

Ref:03-2017C

said. “The opportunity to spend time in a relaxing envi- ronment with others who

truly understand what they’re going through is vital, not just for the wellbe-

ing of their loved ones living with dementia but also for their own wellbeing.”

Neighbourhood police in merger

The West Somerset Steam Express Saturdays 12th, 19th and 26th August 2017

Steam to the seaside resort of Minehead

Bob Green

U K S T E A M R A I L D A Y T R I P £99 from

Thatcham team combines withNewburyfor

‘more coverage’

THATCHAM’s policing team is to merge with Newbury in a bid to cover the town more effectively. Thatcham currently has one neighbourhood inspector, one sergeant, two Pcs and two Pcsos. In contrast, Newbury town centre has an inspector, a sergeant, two Pcs and six Pcsos. But the two towns are to pool their manpower from June in order to cover a greater area. The announcement was made at the annual town meeting last month by Thatcham neighbour- hood sergeant Llian Spinks. She said that the combined team would result in two sergeants, four Pcs and nine Pscos covering the two towns. “By having a bigger team, it gives more flexibility,” she said, adding that having a small team in Thatcham meant that officers could be pulled away from the

hopefully mean there will be more times that officers are about in Thatcham.” Sgt Spinks said that as the Thatcham team was on the same shift pattern there was little police presence on their days off. She said the new system would allow one Pc and two Pcsos from Newbury and Thatcham to focus on the town. “The new structure will require more flexibility and the officer will have to deal with the demands for the day which could mean all officers are dealing with a job in Newbury but it also means if there is an issue in Thatcham there will be more offi- cers available to come to Thatcham.” And Sgt Spinks said that longer term issues, such as police efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour in Thatcham, would be able to call on assistance from

Broadway incident occurred elsewhere in the town. “Hopefully it will give us a bit more coverage,” Sgt Spinks said. “You will still have familiar faces in the community and attending community events.” Speaking after the event, Sgt Spinks said that the force was restructuring to become more effective following a reduction in government funding and the number of officers being cut. She added that changes to the neighbourhood policing teams were because of the introduction of a new problem-solving team. “Officers on the problem-solv- ing team have come from neigh- bourhood so it means the local geographical teams are a bit smaller and hence the Thatcham and Newbury merger,” Sgt Spinks said. “By having two teams covering Newbury and Thatcham it will if an

An exciting day out by steam featuring two magnificent historic locomotives in one day, beautiful scenary and a visit to the Bristol Channel seaside resort of Minehead. Our special train will travel beside the Kennet & Avon Canal, climb Savernake Summit and steam through the Vale of Pewsey with views of one of the famous Wiltshire white horses before transferring onto the heritage West Somerset Railway and a WSR steam loco will take charge to Minehead, where we will take a break to enjoy this delightful seaside town. Our steam locomotive will be from a pool inc. 6023 King Edward II, 34046 Braunton, 60009 Union of South Africa and 46100 Royal Scot.

Approx. Timings

Outward

Return

Fares

Adult

Junior Family

Newbury Minehead

10:05 14:40

21:40

Premier

£249 £159

£175 £112

£760 £486 £312

17:15

First

Standard

£99

£76

• Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat. • First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with a savoury dish followed by a selection of fancies and cakes. • Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four. £5 per person discount for Newbury News readers. Please quote code AKF when booking.

Primary pupils to sing with Cold Ash Brass STAGE and screen themes and the voices of Thatcham schoolchildren will ring out at St Mary’s Church this week- end. Cold Ash Brass will be hosting their spring concert at 7pm on Saturday, featuring the White- lands Park Primary School Choir under the baton of Jess Watson. Entrance for adults costs £7.50 and £2.50 for children, which includes an interval drink. For more information visit www.coldashbrass.org.uk email secretary@coldashbrass.org.uk or follow @ColdAshBrass on Facebook and Twitter.

14a Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1JN Visit www.railwaytouring.net or phone us on 01553 661 500. A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments. Tables for two can be guaranteed in First Class and Premier Dining for a supplement of £22 per person. (subject to availability) Terms and conditions apply. Please ask for details.

Your booking is made subject to the terms and conditions of The Railway Touring Company