OPINION: Letters to the editor of the Newbury Weekly News

Our commons are not really a nature reserve

Your excellent article on page 30 of last week’s Newbury Weekly News ‘Move to improve your mental health in May’ implies that Greenham and Crookham commons are a nature reserve.

Of course they have flora and fauna in abundance, but they are not a nature reserve.

They are in fact working commons with active commoners exercising various private property rights, most notably grazing.

All of which is regulated by the Crookham and Greenham Common’s Act which established a commission to administers the commons together with the landowner, West Berkshire Council.

In recent years West Berkshire Council have delegated many of their powers to run the commons to BBOWT and this is may be where the confusion arises.

Christopher Austin
Former chairman, Crookham and Greenham Commons Commission

Town Walks are a way to discover Newbury

I would like to draw your readers’ attention to the Town Walks due to take place between July 30 and September 10, 2024.

There will be seven walks led by local historians covering Newbury and the Civil War sites.

Each walk starts at the Corn Exchange at 10am and lasts approximately two hours, except for the Battle of Newbury Walk which starts at The Bowlers Arms in Wash Common and last approximately 2.5 hours.

The walk dates are: July 30; August 6, 13, 20 and 27, September 3 and 10.

The topics on those respective dates are: A History of Newbury; Northbrook Street People; Lost Pubs of Newbury; Newbury at War; Northbrook Street and Speenhamland; Tudor Newbury; First Battle of Newbury.

Your readers may recall that these walks have taken place each year for several years and they have proved to be very popular.

Each walk has a limit of 15 participants and tickets are required.

Last year all tickets were sold out ahead of the walks and waiting lists had to be set up for some walks.

Tickets cost £6.25 which includes £1.25 Corn Exchange booking fee.

The walks are organised by the Newbury Heritage Group in conjunction with Newbury Town Council and the proceeds go towards the purchase and installation of blue plaques around Newbury to commemorate past famous inhabitants of the town.

Tickets and further information may be found at the Corn Exchange.

John Gardner
Newtown Road, Newbury
(01635) 44992

Tories are to blame for the sewage scandal

I see from the NWN front page on May 9 that Laura Farris, our current MP, is “critical of watchdog in scandal of sewage”.

Me too, except I am substantially more critical of the Conservative Government’s strategic decision to create private water and sewage monopolies able to siphon large amounts of money from customers through charges and by loading the companies with debt, rather than focussing on improvements in operational delivery.

Mrs Farris asserts that the Environment Agency is “apparently toothless” in its failure to act against Thames Water in the Lambourn Valley.

Could this be the same Environment Agency which had its budget cut by over one third in 2021 by the Conservative Government to save public money at the expense of effective regulation of water quality and sewage treatment?

Certainly this has affected me.

Last summer the road outside our house was was subject to a water leak which took Thames Water months to fix because of other, bigger leaks in its aging infrastructure.

This year our garden – on a hill above the Lambourn Valley – has been repeatedly flooded due to heavy rainfall.

It seems unsurprising that this rainfall also affected the Valley and its catchment area.

While some may welcome Ms Farris’ attempts to encourage local action by Thames Water and the Environment Agency, NWN readers should be clear that the overall responsibility for underinvestment in water and sewage infrastructure results from Conservatives’ historic preferences for national and international financial interests as opposed to those of UK citizens.

Only a change of Government is likely to bring sustained change to this situation.

Rob Borthwick
Wickham Heath

The Conservatives caused all this mess

Staggering hypocrisy from Tory MP Laura Farris.

She conveniently forgets that Tory privatisation created Thames Water and that Tory cuts have rendered the Environment Agency toothless.

N Taylor
Bagnols Way, Newbury

Vital to help children and young people

I am delighted to inform readers of the Newbury Weekly News about my chosen charity, as chairman of West Berkshire Council.

Daisy’s Dream provides invaluable support two children and young people affected by bereavement, offering assistance in preparing for loss and guiding them through the difficult period following the death of a loved one.

I am the father of three children and four grandchildren.

We know it is vital for children and young people to be surrounded by supportive networks and also provide advice and guidance for parents, carers’ schools and other professionals involved in their lives.

And I believe we should do all we can to help the families in any way we can.

For further information: PO BOX 4738, Twyford, Reading, Berkshire, RG10 9GT, or info@daisysdream.org.uk or (0118) 934 2604.

I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to all the councillors for their unanimous support in appointing me as chairman of West Berkshire Council.

Additionally, I am grateful for the endorsement of councillor Tony Vickers as vice chairman; I am confident that councillor Vickers will excel in his role.

I extend an invitation to all groups large or small and individuals, or anyone else who would like me visit and have a coffee and to have a chat and I can tell you about my role as chairman. Please do contact me to arrange a date: Chairman@westberks.gov.uk

Billy Drummond
Chairman, West Berkshire Council