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 |
Thames Valley Police is appealing for information after an assault in Thatcham.
A 38-year-old woman was walking along Priors Court Road in Hermitage at about 10pm on Friday (27/5) when the incident happened. As she went to cross the road, she was grabbed by an unknown man from behind.
The woman managed to break free and ran towards the village and called the police.
PC Alex Marshall said: “This is an isolated incident and thankfully the woman wasn’t seriously injured.
“Although she didn’t see her victim very well, we know that he was a white man and that he was more than 5ft 6ins tall.
“I would ask that anyone who was in that area of Hermitage on the night, who may have seen or heard anything in connection to this incident, to come forward and speak to me immediately.”
Anyone with information should contact PC Marshall via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. Alternatively, you can contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Thames Valley Police kicks off the summer drink drive crackdown on Monday 6 June.
The campaign is part of a national crackdown by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Department for Transport (DfT), aimed at reducing the number of people killed and injured on our roads by people who drink and drive.
According to national research and analysis, young men age 16-20 ‘opt-out’ of the current drink drive message because for them it means 'drunk' - they believe that having one to two pints is perfectly acceptable.
In addition, many people are not aware of the continuing effects of alcohol the morning after. In many cases, alcohol is still present in the body and will be identified during the breath test. The overall aim of the campaign is to convince drivers that a conviction for drink/drug driving has the potential to ruin their life.
Thames Valley Police and ACPO hope that understanding the consequences of their offending will deter people from being so irresponsible. A night in police cells sobering up with the possibility of being charged and going straight to court, followed by a lengthy ban, are the reality.
Thames Valley Police will conduct random drink/speed and seatbelt checks at all times of the day and night. Drivers will be asked to provide a specimen of breath in accordance with the Road Traffic Act 1988. Where there is no suspicion of alcohol, no moving traffic offences or involvement in a road collision, drivers will be offered the opportunity to participate in the campaign and provide a sample on a voluntary basis. We will explain the reasons for these checks to drivers and ask for the motoring public’s support.
During last year’s summer campaign, 2,306 drivers were breathalysed and 232 drivers either provided positive tests or refused to give a specimen.
Officers will also record additional information about those stopped, relating to what age bracket they fall into. This data will be provided to the Department for Transport (DfT), who will analyse it to understand the level of drink-driving nationally and the correlation between age and drink-driving behaviour.
Chief Inspector Gill Wootton from Milton Keynes Road Policing base said: “Drink driving is now much more socially unacceptable, but there are still some individuals who continue to ignore the warnings. It is a very serious offence and people need to understand the gravity of their actions if they drink and drive. We are particularly focussing on the effect of driving the day after ‘a night out’.
“For those who have been out to enjoy a summer evening with friends, they must also think about whether the alcohol is clear from their system the day after. If they are not sure, then it is not worth taking the chance.”
Do you know someone who drinks or takes drugs and drives? Call police on 0845 8 505 505 or, if it’s an emergency, dial 999. If you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
All drivers who provide a positive breath test, refuse to provide or fail to provide face losing their licence for at least 12 months. They could go to prison for six months or pay a fine of up to £5,000.
Thames Valley Police is appealing for information after a man was left tied up while his fishing tackle was stolen on Friday (20/5).
The incident happened at about 5.15 am as the victim, a 60-year-old man, got out of his van to open the barrier to the fishing lakes at the Nature Discovery Centre, Lower Way, Thatcham.
He heard a vehicle and was aware of a man to his right. A second man appeared from the left and put him in a bear hug holding him around his chest and upper arms. The first man then grabbed his legs and he was bound by his hands and feet. While this was going on the victim believes that an unseen third man unloaded his van, stealing fishing gear including: rods, tackle boxes, landing nets and baiting reels. Some of the rods and reels are rare. The offenders left the victim tied up until he was discovered by a woman walking her dog around an hour later.
One of the offenders is white with a fair complexion, in his early twenties, between 5ft and 5ft 2ins, skinny with short greasy slicked back black hair and wearing gold hoop earrings in both ears. The second man is white, possibly in his twenties, well built and over 6ft with tattoos on his forearms in a thick black pattern similar to a spider’s web.
Police would like to hear from anyone in the area at the time of the incident that may have seen the offence take place or the offenders leaving the scene.
If you have any information about this incident, please contact Designated Investigator Tracy Cole at Newbury police station via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you do not want to speak to the police, call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a robbery at a hairdresser’s in Thatcham this morning.
A man entered Julian’s hairdressers in the Burdwood Centre at approximately 10.30am today (16/9) and, threatening staff with a knife, demanded cash.
He got away with cash and mobile phones.
The offender was wearing a black hooded top and a mask on his face. He escaped on foot past Co-op and in the direction of the train station. He was carrying a grey rucksack.
Det Con Steve Brown, of Newbury CID, said: “I appeal for anyone who may have been in the area at that time, or travelling on a train, and may have seen or heard anything to contact me as soon as possible.”
Anyone who witnessed the robbery or who has any information that could assist police with their investigation is asked to contact Det Con Brown at Newbury police station via 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.
By-elections were held on Thursday 22 July in Thatcham following the resignation of Terry Port (Liberal Democrat) from both West Berkshire Council and Thatcham Town Council.
Polls closed at 10pm. The candidates, and the number of votes cast for each, are as follows:-
For the Thatcham South and Crookham ward seat on West Berkshire Council:-
Dominic Kevin Boeck (Conservative) 787
Robert Victor Morgan (Liberal Democrat) 936
Robert Victor Morgan (Liberal Democrat) 936
For the South and Crookham ward on Thatcham Town Council:-
Dominic Kevin Boeck (Conservative) 781
Janette Buckley Miranda (Liberal Democrat) 932
Janette Buckley Miranda (Liberal Democrat) 932
The electorate for both is 5,133. The turnout for both was 33.9%.
Thames Valley Police have charged a 40-year-old man after diesel was stolen from vehicles in Thatcham.
Nicholas Velvick from Pear Tree Lane, Newbury has been charged with two counts of theft from motor vehicle.
Between Saturday (12/6) and Monday (14/6) diesel was stolen from a lorry at Cleansing Service Group Ltd and on Thursday (17/6) diesel was stolen from a lorry at Pinnock Brothers Ltd.
Velvick will appear before West Berkshire Magistrates’ Court today (7/7).
West Berkshire Council is more confident about the protection of local gardens when planning applications for development are submitted
Following the recent announcement by Eric Pickles, The Secretary of State for Local Government, that garden land is now reclassified as 'greenfield' and no longer as 'brownfield' (previously developed) land, West Berkshire Council is more confident about the protection of local gardens when planning applications for development are submitted. He has also removed the requirement of a national minimum density of building 30 dwellings per hectare.
Councillor Alan Law, West Berkshire Executive Member for Planning and Housing, said: "Taken together, these two changes will mean that 'local context' will carry much more weight when planning officers and Council members consider such applications.
"Importantly, it does not mean that a proposed development can simply be refused 'because it is in a back garden'. There is still no such planning reason for refusal, and it will still be technically possible to develop on some back gardens", continued Councillor Law.
"However, the weight of material consideration has dramatically shifted and local context, street scene, the 'feeling for the area' and local opinion as expressed in Design Statements and Parish Plans, will carry much more weight than they did previously."
Short link to this news story: http://bit.ly/9p2er4
Short link to this news story: http://bit.ly/9p2er4
Feedback from local people has been taken into account and the Council has decided not to proceed with a parking charge trial.
West Berkshire Council has received an estimated 300 responses to a consultation on introducing an eight week trial of parking charges at the Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham.
The views expressed by local people have been taken into account and the Council has decided not to proceed with the trial meaning all visitors will continue to be able to park free of charge.
This decision means that the need to find other ways of covering the cost of maintaining and running the Centre remains.
Hilary Cole, West Berkshire Executive Councillor for Environment said: "I would like to thank everyone who took the time to submit their views to our consultation. We understand the strength of feeling and have listened to the overwhelming response. There is still a need though to find some way of meeting the increasing costs of this important facility and we will now be looking at alternative solutions."
West Berkshire Council has received an estimated 300 responses to a consultation on introducing an eight week trial of parking charges at the Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham.
The views expressed by local people have been taken into account and the Council has decided not to proceed with the trial meaning all visitors will continue to be able to park free of charge.
This decision means that the need to find other ways of covering the cost of maintaining and running the Centre remains.
Hilary Cole, West Berkshire Executive Councillor for Environment said: "I would like to thank everyone who took the time to submit their views to our consultation. We understand the strength of feeling and have listened to the overwhelming response. There is still a need though to find some way of meeting the increasing costs of this important facility and we will now be looking at alternative solutions."