OPINION: Letters to the editor of the Newbury Weekly News
Will we get council tax refund due to bins?
I note that WBC are going to reduce our black bin emptying schedule to three weekly.
This is to ‘encourage’ us all to recycle more.
A very noble sentiment, and I thought it was all to do with saving money.
How can WBC do this when I thought that our council tax for 2025/26 was based on fortnightly collections.
Perhaps we should all ask for a partial refund.
Apparently 52 per cent of the people consulted agreed to this. Really?
I don’t know of anyone who answered one way or another.
In order to cope with the huge increase in recycling which will result because of this decision, will WBC give us larger containers and preferably ones that don’t blow away after the slightest puff of wind? I wonder!
Nigel Whiston
Newbury
Council could have put cycle lane on A4
The closure of the A4 to link services to the Lapwing Green development is causing frustration, inconvenience and ‘unexpected’ traffic problems on some roads.
However, the council has missed the opportunity to add a cycle lane through the stretch of the A4 that is currently closed.
This would make riding into Newbury much more attractive for cyclists coming from the west.
That stretch of the A4 is particularly narrow and difficult for cars and bicycles to co-exist happily, particularly coming out of Newbury up the hill to the A34 roundabout.
Putting a cycle lane in would have partially compensated for the significant disruption the closure has caused.
Andrew Gill
Stockcross
Looking for Kingsclere war memorial details
I’ve been going through the film copies of the NWN trying to find when the WW2 names were added to the Kingsclere memorial, starting August 1945 and have (so far) gone up to December 1950.
I have not found it yet, but have found others, so thought readers may be interested.
See attached list:
NWN May 22, 1947: Froxfield – Report on unveiling of war memorial.
NWN August 28, 1947: Ashford Hill – Report on one name added to war memorial.
NWN September 25, 1947: Speen – Report on names added to war memorial.
NWN December 4, 1947: Hungerford – Report on Roll of Honour to be unveiled next week.
NWN March 11, 1948: Woolton Hill – Report on unveiling of war memorial plaque.
NWN May 13, 1948: Bucklebury – Report on war memorial.
NWN May 20, 1948: Newbury – Report on list for Role of Honour.
NWN August 4, 1949: Inkpen – Report on unveiling of memorial plaque.
NWN November 3, 1949: Burghclere – Report that memorial plaque to be unveiled on Remembrance Day.
NWN February 9, 1950: Ecchinswell – Report on memorial window in church.
NWN May 11, 1950: Newbury – Report on dedication of war memorial.
I have not found anything for Kingsclere or Thatcham.
Gareth Martin
The Dell, Kingsclere
Current situation in car park works okay
I see that there is a call (Newbury Weekly News, May 1) for CCTV to be installed in the Waitrose car park in Thatcham, to prevent fly tipping.
The current situation is perfectly okay as it is.
A good percentage of items dumped are taken by other members of the public – a good example of recycling.
The area is cleaned up regularly by the council, and is much more cost effective than having to collect dumped rubbish on, for instance, common land.
Ironically enough this could well increase if the threatened three-weekly collection materialises.
Neo Petman
Thatcham
Thanks to legendary dog trainer Colin
Newbury dog owners past, present and, indeed, future will be saddened to learn that Colin Thomas has retired as a dog trainer or, to be more precise, a trainer of dog owners.
Colin has been involved with dog training for over 30 years during which time, thanks to his efforts, over 1,500 dogs have achieved the Kennel Club’s ‘Good Citizen’ Bronze Award with many going on to pass their Silver and Gold awards.
Colin is a ‘natural’ with dogs. He can read them and they love him.
He has run puppy classes and normal obedience lessons, always focusing on what the owner needed to do with their dog rather than teaching the dog itself, and has also spent many years organising agility training.
He has appeared at countless Newbury shows and the more recent All About Dogs events at the showground.
I first went to Colin 10 years ago when I had rehomed a four-year-old dog who had never been socialised.
From the outset Colin showed us what to do and within a few months Teddy had passed ‘Bronze’ and later went on to achieve ‘Silver’ and ‘Gold’.
Many, many other people and their dogs have benefitted from Colin’s experience, guidance, and calm and cool nature.
Whilst led by Colin, we mustn’t forget his team of helpers: Bubbles, Colin’s wife, David, Caroline and Eva, Mick and many more.
Thank you, one and all.
Ian Thurgate
Thatcham
I think photo of bus station was years later
Regarding page 34 of the Newbury Weekly News dated Thursday, May 1, and the photograph of Newbury Bus Station dated 1960; my attention was initially drawn to the road layout, which I don’t recall as being like that in 1960.
Closer inspection of the row of buses lined up by the road that leads over the bridge into Park Way reveals there are two double-deck Bristol manufactured VRs.
On checking I have discovered that Bristol Commercial Vehicles of Brislington did not build their VR (Vertical Rear engine) chassis until 1966.
Upon checking further I also note that the local bus operator – Thames Valley – did not enter their first VR into service until December 1968, and, although a second example followed in January 1969, neither are likely to have appeared at Newbury due to both initially being trialled on their service from Reading to London Victoria Coach Station.
Even though a further 20 VRs were delivered to Thames Valley before the end of 1971, I strongly suspect that because Newbury Garage was seldom honoured with brand new vehicle allocations – the first exmples in Newbury did not appear until the mid-Seventies.
Therefore, I believe the photograph may well date from some 15 years later than the caption suggests.
Has anyone else commented?
Kevin King
Humber Close, Thatcham
Sad that a driver would run over a hedgehog
It’s very sad that a driver would rather run over a hedgehog and
kill it than stop to let it cross and leave it there for others to drive over it.
It could be seen before you got to it at around 6am on Thursday.
So I moved it to one side of the road.
This was in Kiln Road.
How careless of you.
Keith Haines
Poplar Place, Newbury
Hungerford policing plan is just inadequate
I have recently exchanged emails with the chief superintendent of West Berkshire (Felicity Parker), the police and crime commissioner for Thames Valley (Matthew Barber) and the chief constable of Thames Valley (Jason Hogg).
The subject of this correspondence was the imminent restructuring of the police presence in Hungerford, and I have to say, it’s not looking good.
So I’ve decided to share some of what was said, hoping that some of the other 6,000 residents of Hungerford may wish to voice their concerns as well.
The chief superintendent began by saying: “... there has been some excellent partnership working in the past, and [you] rightly are proud of the low crime rates. You have my support and commitment as the leader of the area that we will work hard to maintain these great ties and safe communities in the Hungerford area.”
She then goes on to say: “From 7 May there will be one dedicated neighbourhood specialist officer, one neighbourhood officer, two PCSOs and they will be supervised by a police sergeant who will have responsibility for a wider area, but they will all be dedicated to neighbourhood policing.”
And she added: “... the new arrangements are very focussed on local engagement, prevention and investigating crime.”
My response to her was simple: “On the surface, this sounds very encouraging … but, and deeply worryingly, the word ‘Hungerford’ isn't mentioned [from May 7] at all. Is this an accidental oversight in your [response], or is there actually no one based in town?”
Her response (which had to be chased) was: “I felt I answered your questions in detail and at this time there is no further insight I can provide you.”
I think that was brush-off #1.
The PCC’s office said: “... a new area sergeant will be assigned to Hungerford next month.”
My response was: “Will this [new sergeant] actually be based in Hungerford?”
Their reply was: “May I refer you to my [earlier] email.”
I think that was brush-off #2.
Based on the totally non-committal answers given by both parties, it looks like we are going to have little or no local uniformed presence, we don’t appear to have anyone’s support, and the safe community of Hungerford will soon be a thing of the past.
The national ratio of police officers to population is one-to-500, so Hungerford town’s 6,000 residents should have about a dozen officers.
We currently have nothing like that, but what little we do have appears to be working reasonably well, so don’t change it, just leave it alone.
Oh, and as for Jason Hogg, our chief constable, I didn't even get a brush-off ... I got nowt!
Geordie Taylor
Hungerford
Get your tickets for the summer Town Walks
Summer is coming and it is the time for Town Walks.
These walks are a popular feature of summer in Newbury and tickets sell fast.
This year the tours start on July 29 and run every Tuesday morning at 10.30am until September 9.
In chronological order the walk topics are:
1. A history of Newbury;
2. Northbrook Street people;
3. Lost Pubs of Newbury;
4. Newbury at war;
5. Northbrook Street and Speenhamland;
6. Tudor Newbury;
7. First Battle of Newbury.
Each walk lasts about one-and-a-half hours and are suitable for accompanied children except for the Lost Pubs tour.
The walks’ pace is leisurely and are led by local historians who provide an expert commentary.
Tickets are available at the Corn Exchange box office or their website.
Tickets cost £5 for adults and £2.50 for children.
A Corn Exchange booking fee of £1.25 is added to all tickets.
There is a limit of 15 adults per walk, so now is the time to buys your tickets before they run out!
John Gardner
Newbury Town Council Heritage Group
