'We love wild flower verges'

Wild flower verges proved the issue to melt cross party hearts – with West Berkshire councillors in rare agreement – voting in favour of doubling the allocated amount put forward in budget proposals.

An amendment proposed by the minority Green Party – which has three seats at the top table – prompted the vote to double the funds for the verges from £25,000 to £50,000 at last night’s (Thursday) budget setting meeting.

“We love wild flower verges,” announced Ross MacKinnon (Con, Bradfield). “And I expect you might find favour for this amendment over here.”

Urban trees also got a double boost to the proposed budget plan – uplifting the council’s intention to spend £25,000 to £50,000.

A separate Green effort to re-ask the £172,000 allocated to consultants looking at the London Road Industrial Estate (LRIE) redevelopment failed.

They had wanted to split up the cash to buy a delivery vehicle for the West Berks Foodbank, and give a £42,000 boost to The Watermill theatre, which lost its Arts Council funding last year.

“There is a lot of support for The Watermill,” said Mr MacKinnon, who told the meeting he has never actually seen a play there.

“There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes led by Laura Farris MP, so we should not put this in the capital budget until we know what is going on here.”

Council leader Lynne Doherty (Con, Speen) said: “We are moving ahead with the LRIE consultancy as this is about job creation.

"Newbury will become a dormitory town unless we provide job opportunities here.”