In this week's Newbury Weekly News
IN this week’s Newbury Weekly News a Newbury man is beginning a five-year jail term after being convicted of a brutal and “senseless” fatal attack.
Simon Velvick delivered a devastating punch to victim Mark Campbell during an altercation, causing him to suffer a fatal brain haemorrhage, Oxford Crown Court heard on Monday.
Also this week, the full extent of £11m worth of proposed West Berkshire Council cuts has been outlined - with £3m slashed from frontline services including libraries, theatres, public transport, road maintenance, road safety, care for vulnerable young people and support for disabled children.
The Conservative-controlled council is looking to save £8m by internal efficiencies and 26 job cuts next year as it seeks to combat a reduction in grants from central government.
Funding for tourism will be completely cut from the budget, meaning the Tourist Information Centre in Newbury faces closure unless the town council foots the bill.
Funding for school crossing patrols and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme has also been cut.
In other news, the legacy of a woman who “gave her life to the NHS” is living on after her death following her battle with depression – a battle that a West Berkshire coroner said should have been met with greater urgency by mental health services.
Mary Smith, known as Theresa, took her own life on November 20, 2012, although mental health professionals for the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust considered she was not a risk to her life.
Meanwhile, probation staff from Newbury walked out of work at midday on Tuesday for a 24-hour strike. The strike, called by the National Association of Probation Officers (Napo) - the trade union for Probation and Family Court staff – was to protest against Government plans to privatise 70 per cent of the Probation Service.
As always, there’s also a roundup of the week’s entertainment and sport, and of course this week’s £25 free fuel giveaway.
All this plus more in the Newbury Weekly News, on sale every Thursday.
