BOTH Peacocks stores in Newbury have closed following the sale to Edinburgh Woolen Mill.
This makes a further blow to the Kennet Centre as It's former sister store BonMarche is also closing following it's sale last month. BonMarche is due to close on 28th February.
Peacocks also had a store at Newbury Retail Park which only opened in 2009.
On the good news side, Bright House are due to open in the former Gimmie Gizmo and Past Times stores in the Kennet Centre
99p Stores is set to open it's latest store in Newbury tomorrow(Tuesday 29th) at 9am in the shop previously occupied by New Look in The Kennet Centre.
The new store has created 35 jobs for local people.
A key government response has been to cut back on public spending. Local government is being asked to make a contribution to this, through reduced central government grants to local councils. For all councils this means a 28% reduction in grant over four years.
About a third of West Berkshire Council's income is from central government grant, most of the remainder coming from council tax. This means a requirement to save some £28m over the next four years.
West Berkshire Council's response is publication of a draft four-year Council Strategy that prioritises key services - in line with wishes from local residents - recognising the imperative of working within our means. This is now out for public consultation and can be found at www.westberks.gov.uk/councilstrategy Responses are needed by 7 January.
The situation in planning for 2012-13 is made more difficult by increasing demands on our adult social care and services for people with learning disabilities, plus inflation of some 5%. As a result, there is an unavoidable need to make savings of £9m on the current £125m budget.
This means some difficult decision-making. Last year we cut spending by around £8.2m, and a lot of that came from support services, or 'backroom' staff. This coming year's requirement - for even more than that - means there will inevitably be some effect on front-line services for residents, but all our efforts are on keeping that to a minimum wherever possible. The four-year Council Strategy will be used to guide where savings should be made in the future.
We have already identified a further £3m savings in staff, including management, which would mean the loss of 47 employees. This is on top of the 120 redundancies made last year, which was almost 10% of our workforce.
We are aiming for a further £4m saving across all departments, including support services. Details of these will be worked up over the coming months.
By far the greatest expenditure for the council is on services for vulnerable groups, much of it discretionary. The current year's spending of £38m on social care for adults and those with learning disabilities being the prime example. While remaining a priority for the Council those services, given the scale of expenditure, cannot remain immune from savings. It is proposed to make around £2m savings here. That said, over half of these would be through efficiencies or price reductions, not withdrawal of services. So savings directly affecting vulnerable groups would be around £1m or less than 1% of the Council's current budget. Some of these are discretionary benefits, and we would be looking to voluntary groups to support and further help reduce costs.
Before any agreement on these proposals, it is important that the affect on vulnerable groups is fully understood. That is the reason the Council is putting forward these savings proposals now.
Over the coming weeks, the Council will be talking to representatives of these groups to understand the likely impacts of savings, to explore any possible alternatives, and to identify any mitigation measures put forward.
Within this process, it is important to note that the Council funds a number of voluntary groups, yet none of this funding is 'statutory'. The Council currently gives more than £3m to the voluntary sector. The above savings represent only around 5% of that.
Once this process is complete, the Council will be in a position to draw up final budget proposals for the new year.
West Berkshire Council Leader, Graham Jones, said: "As a district we are well-placed to cope with some of the worst affects of the economic recession. However, the district council is duty bound to make its contribution to reducing the national deficit in line with demands of the coalition government.
"Savings are unavoidable and difficult decisions are having to be made, but we believe we can meet this challenge through prudent financial management which will allow maintenance of the most important front-line services for local people."
Kennet Shopping have confirmed that Santa will be visiting Newbury this year after weeks of uncertainty.
It was unsure if anyone was having a Santa this year after Debenhams who normally supply the Kennet Shopping Santa re-located their main store to Parkway, and no one knew if the new Debenhams or Parkway would be having a Santa.
Children will be able to visit Santa & receive a gift free of charge on Saturday 10th December at Kennet Shopping.
It was unsure if anyone was having a Santa this year after Debenhams who normally supply the Kennet Shopping Santa re-located their main store to Parkway, and no one knew if the new Debenhams or Parkway would be having a Santa.
Children will be able to visit Santa & receive a gift free of charge on Saturday 10th December at Kennet Shopping.
Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a 32-year-old cyclist was injured in a collision in Thatcham this morning (24/11).
The cyclist was in collision with a grey Audi A3 in Thornford Road at about 6.45am.
The cyclist was taken to Basingstoke Hospital where it was found she had suffered a collapsed lung. Her condition is not life-threatening.
PC Mark Brazier, based at Three Mile Cross Roads Policing Unit, said: “The collision happened at a junction with an industrial park and there were several other cars in the area at the time.
“I would appeal to the drivers of these cars, or anyone who witnessed the collision, to come forward as soon as possible.”
If you can help, please call PC Brazier via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101. If you don’t want to speak to police or leave your name, please call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses to a serious road traffic collision in Newbury.
The incident happened at around 3.07pm yesterday (23/11), when a 48-year-old man, who was walking towards Wash Common, was involved in a collision with a grey Fiat Punto.
The man suffered serious head injuries and was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, by Air Ambulance.
PC Gareth Miles, from the Three Mile Cross Roads Policing Base, said: “I am keen to speak to any witnesses to this incident and I am especially keen to trace a woman who spoke to the driver of a Fiat Punto immediately after the collision, but who left the scene prior to police attendance.”
Anyone with any information about this incident should contact PC Miles via via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101. If you don’t want to speak to police or leave your name, call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
In order to help the Council meet the financial savings required to deal with the pressures on public finances nationally, a new Sunday parking charge is being proposed.
The new proposals would see a £1.00 charge introduced in the Council's Newbury car parks on a Sunday. As with the rest of the week, there would also be a charge of £1.00 after 6pm on a Sunday.
Many neighbouring towns such as Basingstoke and Reading already charge for parking on a Sunday. The charges there are similar, or in some cases more expensive, than those proposed for Newbury.
David Betts, West Berkshire Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport said: "These plans will bring Newbury in line with many of our near neighbours who already have similar arrangements. We have already done a lot of work in reducing costs so I hope that the increased income will go some way to helping the Council's overall financial position."
The plans will be considered at a full Council meeting on Thursday 22 September.
(c) West Berkshire council
Revised Collections for the August Bank Holiday Week
Normal collection day | Revised collection day | |
Monday 29 August | will be collected on | Tuesday 30 August |
Tuesday 30 August | will be collected on | Wednesday 31 August |
Wednesday 31 August | will be collected on | Thursday 1 September |
Thursday 1 September | will be collected on | Friday 2 September |
Friday 2 September | will be collected on | Saturday 3 September |
Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 August
Buses will experience delays due to resurfacing works.
Wednesday 24 Thursday 25 Friday 26 August
Towards Newbury
From West Bekrshire Community Hospital via Turnpike Road, left into Avon way, right into Gaywood Drive, re-joining normal route in Kiln Road
Towards Reading
From Kiln Road, right into Gaywood Drive, left into Avon Way, and right into Turnpike Road to West Berkshire Community Hospital then resumes normal route.
Image © Copyright Reading Buses
An alternative operator is to take over bus services connecting Greenham and Wash Common with Newbury.
This follows Reading Transport's business decision to stop running these services from 27 August.
The Newbury & District bus company, which already operates several local bus routes within West Berkshire, will take over the routes covered by services 8 and 8A which link Greenham and Pigeons Farm with Newbury, and service 12 which connects Wash Common with the town centre, with effect from Tuesday 30 August.
Newly-introduced, low-floor buses will be operated on both routes by Newbury & District. Under the new arrangements the number 12 will continue as a half hourly service, while the 8 and 8A will revert to hourly as it was before January this year. Newbury & District's service 103 also serves much of the 8 and 8A route in the Greenham area, and tickets will be able to be used across these services.
Fares on the 8, 8A and 12 services will return to the level agreed with Newbury Buses in April 2010. This marks the end to the £1.00 adult and 50p child single fares.
Newbury & District are in the process of finalising the timetable and this will be made available shortly on board the existing Newbury Buses 8, 8A and 12 services. When it is completed the timetable will also be made available at; the Council Offices in Market Street, the Tourist Information Centre at the Wharf, Newbury and Wash Common Libraries, and at the Tesco supermarket in Greenham.
David Betts, West Berkshire Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport said: "This is very good news that we have successfully appointed another operator to ensure these bus services can continue. I am grateful to Newbury & District for stepping in and taking on these routes that I know are important to the communities they serve."
Simon Weaver from Newbury & District said: "We are pleased to be able to work with West Berkshire Council to maintain the services connecting Greenham and Wash Common with the town centre for customers in these areas. We look forward to being able to develop the services further in conjunction with the Council and encourage more people to consider using the bus for some of their local journeys."
Reading Transport will retain the 6 and 6A service (Newbury - Chieveley/Hermitage - The Ilsleys) after 30 August, under the Newbury Buses branding, with no changes to the routes or timetables.
With effect from 30 August, Stagecoach will take over the Newbury to Basingstoke 'Link' service with slightly revised timetable. Copies of the timetable are available from the Council Offices in Market Street, Newbury Tourist Information Centre or from Stagecoach on 0845 121 0190.
Newbury Coroner’s Office has formally identified the man who died near Northbrook Street, Newbury, on Wednesday (20/7).
Thames Valley Police officers were called at 9.10am to the Costain development off Northbrook Street in Newbury town centre, to a report of a forklift truck overturning. The driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver has been named as Mark Williams, aged 41, from Nuneham Courtenay, Oxfordshire. An inquest into his death was opened today (25/7) at Newbury Coroner’s Court.
West Berkshire Museum is celebrating another step forward in its redevelopment plans following a pledge of £40,000 from the Headley Trust.
The Headley Trust is one of 18 grant-making trusts established by three generations of the Sainsbury family. The award is conditional on a successful second round bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund which the Council will be submitting next March.
Hilary Cole, West Berkshire Executive Councillor for Culture and Leisure said: "This is excellent news for the Museum redevelopment project. We are very grateful to the Headley Trust for pledging such a significant amount that will help us to create a fantastic new facility."
The Museum's architects, Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams Ltd of Manchester, will complete design proposals by the end of the year for a new building to house a visitor welcome area and resource centre. The project will also include restoration of the historic Cloth Hall and Corn Stores, which will house new exhibition spaces. It is intended that much more of the collection of around 100,000 items will be on display than in the past.
Public consultation on the plans will take place in early autumn, when the architects and museum designers will outline their proposals. In the meantime the Museum remains closed as staff and over 30 volunteers carefully check and pack objects for storage during the much needed refurbishment.
Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a woman was robbed in Newbury on Saturday (9/7).
The incident happened at about 9.30pm, as a 46-year-old woman was walking along the canal path under the A339, towards Victoria Park.
Two men approached her from behind, demanding cash and her phone before assaulting her, knocking her unconcious.
The offenders then ran off without stealing anything, leaving her handbag on the ground next to her with its contents strewn around.
Once the woman regained consciousness, she was helped home by a passer-by, before she sought hospital treatment. She was admitted to hospital for treatment to her injuries, which were a cut to her eyebrow which required three stitches, a laceration to her upper lip, and bruising and swelling to her eye socket and mouth. She was later discharged.
Both offenders are white. One was stocky and wearing a dark coloured hooded top and the second was taller than the first, slim, and wearing a sweatshirt and scarf.
Det Con Jonathan Coogan, investigating the offence, said: “I would like to hear from anyone in the area at the time of the offence, in particular the woman who helped the victim get home a number of hours later.”
Anyone with any information about the incident should contact Det Con Coogan at Newbury police station via the 24-hour non-emergency number, 0845 8 505 505. If you do not want to speak to the police, call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.
You can also give information to the police in person by visiting any police station. Find out the opening times and location of your local station or please call 0845 8 505 505.
Thames Valley Police is appealing for information after a credit card was fraudulently used in the Reading and Newbury area between Friday (15/7) and Saturday (16/7).
The credit card was stolen when the victims post was intercepted. The offenders then contacted the credit card company and changed the victims contact details. They then withdrew over £250 on two separate occasions from cash machines in Reading and Newbury.
The offenders tried to spend over £500 in Game in Northbrook Street in Newbury on Saturday (16/7) which was declined by the bank, who then contacted the victim to inform him that his card had been fraudulently used.
The staff in the games store who served the man when the transaction was declined described the offender as a white man, 6ft, medium build, and in his late thirties. He had short, dark, shaved hair and a trimmed beard. He had a piercing in his left eyebrow and was wearing a plain dark grey suit with a black shirt underneath. He spoke with a cockney accent.
He was with a white woman, 5ft 3ins, slim, and in her thirties. She had dark brown reddish wavy hair that was tied back. She was wearing a green low cut top with another top over it and dark blue jeans.
If you saw this man and woman in Game or have any information that could help police with their enquiries please contact PC Louise McIntosh at Newbury police station via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, please call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
Worried about how you will entertain the youngsters this summer without huge costs? If so then help is at hand.
Once again Newbury Tourist Information Centre, which is managed by West Berkshire Council, has produced the extremely popular "Summer Action Packs" and this year is offering a chance to win some exciting prizes.
Inside you will find details of local attractions and events in the West Berkshire area including the 2011 list of "101 Things to Do in West Berkshire this Summer". More than half of the activities and events on the list are free or less than £7.50 each. Highlights include Elmer the Elephant at Arlington Arts, the farmer-led Muddy Paws Challenge at Bucklebury Farm Park, or why not strut your stuff at the Glee! Summer School in Tilehurst!
When you collect your pack you'll be given the opportunity to enter our weekly draw for one of these fantastic prizes; family pass to Beale Park, family trip on the Rose of Hungerford, family pass to the Living Rainforest, family pass to Vue Cinema, family voucher plus an Eddie Catz toy for Eddie Catz Newbury, Riding lessons at Halls Place Equestrian Centre and a family swim voucher for Parkwood Leisure.
With this pack you cannot fail to have an action packed, fun summer! There really is no excuse to be bored! Call in and collect your Summer Action Pack from 21 July and have fun! Newbury Tourist Information Centre is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm.
For more information and advice click here or call 01635 30267.
West Berkshire Council has formally adopted a meadow in Greenham as a public open space in honour of an outstanding contribution to the community.
The area near to Mandarin Drive will be known as 'Audrey's Meadow' in recognition of many years of work carried out by Mrs Audrey Appleby on behalf of the local community, including helping to return Greenham Common to public use.
To encourage a variety of plants and wildlife in the meadow, it will be informally managed using grazing and sympathetic cutting.
Councillor Hilary Cole, West Berkshire Council Executive Member for Environment said: "I am very pleased that we are naming this space in Audrey's honour. People can use this attractive meadow to wander as a circular walk or a route through to the Pigeons Farm Estate and link to Greenham Common beyond."
Councillor Tony Forward, Chairman of Greenham Parish Council said: "We have been trying to think of a suitable tribute to Audrey for her unswerving commitment to the wellbeing of Greenham and its residents. This unique opportunity has presented itself and is absolutely fitting given her special love of green open spaces, flora and fauna."
Parents, staff and pupils at Falkland Primary School are celebrating as a long anticipated project to build a new hall reaches an important milestone.
Around £100,000 has been raised by parents over the past three years to fund the new building that will offer much improved facilities for sporting activities as well as art and drama performances.
It is intended that the local community will also be able to take advantage of the new building for a range of clubs and activities. The project is due for completion before Christmas and will be the focus for pupil activities and learning events during the Autumn term.
Barrie Prentice, Chair of governors at Falkland Primary School said: "I am delighted we have reached the stage of 'breaking ground'. I would like to say thank you to all of the parents and carers past and present for their fundraising efforts and donations. We are grateful to Falkland School Association for organising a variety of events including fetes, quizzes, pamper evenings, discos and a 'promises auction', over the years and to all the members of the local community for supporting our events."
Fiona Henderson, Headteacher of Falkland Primary School said: "The hall has been on Falkland's 'Wish List' for a very long time and I am delighted that we are finally able to make it happen. The children and staff are very excited and already looking forward to moving in! I would like to say a huge 'thank you' to all who those who have been involved over the years in making this much-needed hall a reality."
Irene Neill, West Berkshire Executive Councillor for Children and Young People said: "It is excellent to see the fundraising efforts at Falkland Primary have paid off. A new hall will be a fantastic asset for the school and I look forward to seeing it completed."
Drivers coming into Newbury are set to benefit from electronic signs showing the number of spaces available at the town's car parks.
An important feature in a lot of large cities, these signs mean drivers can decide as they approach the town which is the best place for them to park, safe in the knowledge that spaces await them.
The ten signs for Newbury, which will be located at strategic approach points to the town, should be in place in the autumn and their presence will support the new Parkway shopping centre which will include more than 50 shops, two anchor stores including a Debenhams department store, and a multi-storey car park when it opens on 27 October. Changes to traffic arrangements in Newbury come into effect at the same time.
The fixed directional signs to car parks and other destinations that are already in place in Newbury, will be revised slightly to align with the new transport arrangements. These fixed signs will provide more specific directions to drivers who have made decisions based on the electronic messages.
Funding for the signs comes courtesy of the Parkway developers, Standard Life Investments. The signs are being supplied to West Berkshire's Highways Service by Siemens. Often called Variable Message Signs (VMS), they display the number of available spaces at any one time at named car parks or groups of car parks at the same location. The information will be updated automatically, as the signs will be linked to the existing automated car park management systems.
With a total of fourteen Council car parks, there is always plenty of parking in Newbury within a short walking distance of the shops. The opening of Parkway will no doubt bring a large number of extra shoppers to the town, but since the development includes a new 550-space car park, these should be well catered for with the VMS signs proving particularly valuable.
David Betts is the West Berkshire Executive Councillor for Highways. "The new variable message signs are an important part of the traffic management changes for Newbury town centre," he said. "Together with the existing signs, they will do much to help visitors park easily and reduce journey times. They represent another major benefit that the new Parkway development is bringing to the town."
The ten locations for the new Variable Message Signs are the A339 north of the A4 Western Avenue; A4 London Road east of Robin Hood roundabout; A339 between Robin Hood roundabout and the Sainsbury's roundabout; A339 between Sainsbury's roundabout and A343; A339 south of A343; A343 Andover Road; Bartholomew Street; Market Street; London Road west of Robin Hood roundabout; and A4 Bath Road west of town centre.
An important feature in a lot of large cities, these signs mean drivers can decide as they approach the town which is the best place for them to park, safe in the knowledge that spaces await them.
The ten signs for Newbury, which will be located at strategic approach points to the town, should be in place in the autumn and their presence will support the new Parkway shopping centre which will include more than 50 shops, two anchor stores including a Debenhams department store, and a multi-storey car park when it opens on 27 October. Changes to traffic arrangements in Newbury come into effect at the same time.
The fixed directional signs to car parks and other destinations that are already in place in Newbury, will be revised slightly to align with the new transport arrangements. These fixed signs will provide more specific directions to drivers who have made decisions based on the electronic messages.
Funding for the signs comes courtesy of the Parkway developers, Standard Life Investments. The signs are being supplied to West Berkshire's Highways Service by Siemens. Often called Variable Message Signs (VMS), they display the number of available spaces at any one time at named car parks or groups of car parks at the same location. The information will be updated automatically, as the signs will be linked to the existing automated car park management systems.
With a total of fourteen Council car parks, there is always plenty of parking in Newbury within a short walking distance of the shops. The opening of Parkway will no doubt bring a large number of extra shoppers to the town, but since the development includes a new 550-space car park, these should be well catered for with the VMS signs proving particularly valuable.
David Betts is the West Berkshire Executive Councillor for Highways. "The new variable message signs are an important part of the traffic management changes for Newbury town centre," he said. "Together with the existing signs, they will do much to help visitors park easily and reduce journey times. They represent another major benefit that the new Parkway development is bringing to the town."
The ten locations for the new Variable Message Signs are the A339 north of the A4 Western Avenue; A4 London Road east of Robin Hood roundabout; A339 between Robin Hood roundabout and the Sainsbury's roundabout; A339 between Sainsbury's roundabout and A343; A339 south of A343; A343 Andover Road; Bartholomew Street; Market Street; London Road west of Robin Hood roundabout; and A4 Bath Road west of town centre.
Thames Valley Police has charged three men in connection with criminal damage caused at Newbury bus depot in the early hours of Monday morning (6/6).
Tom Smith, aged 20, from London Road, Newbury; Jonny Orwin, aged 18, of Love Lane, Shaw; and Stephen Allen, aged 20, of Chilton Foliat, Hungerford, have all been charged with one count of burglary non-dwelling and one count of criminal damage.
Orwin and Allen have been released on conditional bail and Smith has been remanded in custody. They will all appear at Newbury Magistrates’ Court on 21 June.
Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a sexual assault in Newbury yesterday (30/5).
A 22-year-old woman, from Newbury, was attacked by a man at around 1pm in Shaw Road, Newbury. She was walking along the canal path with a one-year-old child in a buggy when she was attacked from behind by a man wearing a dark coloured tracksuit. The victim kicked out at the man and he ran off.
Det Sgt Paul Davidson, from Newbury CID, said: “I am keen to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity of Shaw Road yesterday afternoon who may have information that could help us progress our investigation.
“I would stress that that there are no indications that there is an increased risk to women or young people in the area but, as always, it is prudent to think about your personal safety.”
Thames Valley Police recommends:
Plan your journeys and evenings out. Arrange how you are going to get home, can you travel with a friend? Check times of public transport, arrange a lift, or think about the safest walk home.
Try to stay in busy well lit areas that you know well.
If you think you are being followed, trust your instincts and take action. As confidently as you can, cross the road, turning to see who is behind you. If you are still being followed, keep moving. Make for a busy area and tell people what is happening. If necessary, call the police.
Let someone know where you are going
Anyone with any information about this incident should contact Det Sgt Davidson in Newbury CID via 0845 8 505 505.
Alternatively, if you do not want to speak to police or leave your name, please contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.