Welcome to Inkpen

Website updated 26-OCtober-21

Covid-19 and flu

News

The NHS Covid-19 roadmap can be downloaded here. For a local and almost up-to-date view of what's happening in West Berkshire, click here. The government website shows 844 cases per 100,000 in the week 16 to 22 Oct for West Berkshire. The average for the UK is 503.

To see the detailed local cases map for Inkpen and Kintbury, click here.

We are currently experiencing a large increase in cases across the West Berkshire area; for context, they have more than doubled in the past week and are now at the highest since we started regular testing in the community.

We understand some of the case increase is due to the issues created by the negative lab results that many people experienced. While this is beyond our control, we hope everyone can come together to keep each other safe from Covid-19.

As a reminder, the issues experienced recently were caused by the lab; rather than Newbury Showground, the Showground site continues to run successfully and is available for bookings.

Thank you to everyone who completes a PCR test when feeling unwell; this helps keep everyone safe.

Please help us all to stop the spread of the virus. That means;

1) wearing a face-covering in crowded areas, indoors or on public transport
2) keeping your distance from other people
3) where possible washing or sanitising your hands
4) regularly booking a free test and isolate if you feel unwell
5) testing twice weekly with lateral flow tests if you don't have COVID-19 symptoms
6) keep up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations - having all your doses protect you and those around you
7) check if you can have a booster jab, click here.

We ask everyone to do these wherever possible. Even if you are fully vaccinated, you can still catch and pass on COVID, and though you may have a milder case, it could be devastating for a person you give it to. You can collect your FREE kits from any Pharmacy, or order online.

Stay safe while attending parties or Trick or Treating with Halloween next week. While you're Trick or Treating, being outside is excellent for good ventilation, but we would encourage people to only give up wrapped sweets and try to sanitise hands regularly.

For the latest guidance and information on what to do as a precaution or in the event of getting possible symptoms, go to the News page. A summary of the current covid-19 restrictions is provided here. If you are in good health, please make sure that any of your neighbours that might be vulnerable to the covid-19 are able to manage and are well, and keep in touch with them regularly. If you are aware of someone in Inkpen who is self-isolating but may not be getting help, please contact the clerk to the Parish Council.

THE LATEST COVID-19 GUIDANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT IS PROVIDED HERE.

Local councils in England and Wales have issued alerts following reports of bogus calls and messages asking for money to cover the cost of coronavirus testing kits or vaccinations. NHS officials will never ask for payment of any kind or for bank details.

The latest West Berkshire Council update is here. This covers information on the Delta variant, the status of surge testing, vaccinations and other pandemic news. Community and West Berkshire Council information has been added here.

If you need help and are in self-isolation, the News page provides a list of those offering to help you - take your pick.

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Flash NEWS

Bulletin
To download your copy of the latest Bulletin click here.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION POPPY COLLECTION
The house-to-house poppy collection will return this year. The withdrawal from Afghanistan has had a huge impact on the mental health of many of those in the services and their families. Those who suffered injury or lost fellow servicemen or family are reliving the trauma and needing help from the likes of the Royal British Legion so if you can please put aside any coins you have for the collection and buy a Poppy. We will have some contactless machines but not enough to cover the whole village. Thank you in advance for your support.

All collectors will have Gift Aid envelopes should you wish to give Gift Aid. Any questions get in touch with claire@clairejjones.com

Concert in aid of Noreen's Kids
Christopher Burrows, a brilliant classical pianist, is giving a concert in aid of Noreen's Kids. All profits go towards caring for children with severe disabilities in one of the poorest parts of Romania. The concert is on Saturday 23rd October starting at 6.30 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic church, Priory Road Hungerford. Tickets are £12.50 to include a glass of wine and canapes. Please contact Anna Dunn at anna@noreenskids.org or phone Anita Campbell on 01488 683501

History Group
The Inkpen History Group has a new home at inkpenhistory.uk. The site contains photos, maps and a wide variety of documents. If you have items, whatever the condition, that you think will be relevant to the group, please contact them at historygroup@inkpenvillage.co.uk

Email and Phone Scams
There are always people out to exploit the vulnerable, especially at times where peoples attention is diverted to other matters of harm. A number of Covid19 related phishing emails have been reported to Action Fraud. These emails and texts attempt to trick you into opening malicious attachments which could lead to fraudsters stealing your personal information, logins, passwords, or banking details. If you get emails that you aren't sure about, or unknown people phone you or knock on your door, ignore it and please seek advice - go to ActionFraud. If you are using electronic devices that don't have up-to-date virus protection, please get it fixed - if in doubt, talk to one of the helper listed on the News page. A range of current scams, including track and trace scams, is listed on the News page.

You might receive a call, text or email offering the COVID-19 vaccine. If you’re asked to provide payment or bank details, please don’t respond – it’s a scam. The NHS will never ask you for payment, bank account details, passwords or passcodes.

Going for a walk
If you want a breath of fresh air and some exercise, check out the Inkpen walks, but keep your distance from others, that's at least 6 feet apart in old money. If you feel that you should wear a face mask when outdoors, then checkout the design given on the News page.

Also on the news page this month there are a number of updates including from the Inkpen Primary School and pre-school, from the Playing field trust and Village Hall, and there's this months Police Report .

Climate change issues.
Climate issues haven't gone away. Climate change IS a pandemic just as much as COVID 19 is. The parish council is engaged in re-wilding and tree planting, but that isn't enough. All residents need to play their part. We urge you to get involved with this now. Stop unnecessary car journeys, plant more trees if you can and reduce your waste.

A copy of the West Berkshire Environmental Strategy can be found here. A Link to Berkshire’s climate emergency: What it means and what is being done to tackle it is here.

The State of the Global Climate 2020 finds the year was one of the three warmest on record, despite a cooling La Niña event. The global average temperature was about 1.2° Celsius above the pre-industrial (1850-1900) level. The six years since 2015 have been the warmest on record, with 2011-2020 the warmest decade on record. The report documents indicators of the climate system, including greenhouse gas concentrations, increasing land and ocean temperatures, sea level rise, melting ice and glacier retreat and extreme weather. It also highlights impacts on socioeconomic development, migration and displacement, food security and land and marine ecosystems.

United Nations reports over the last decade have warned that the world must turn towards healthy plant based diets if climate change is to be stopped. Tree planting is crucial part of a solution to tackle climate change and protect biodiversity, but the wrong tree in the wrong place can do more harm than good, say experts at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The rules include protecting existing woodland first and involving locals.

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inkpen parish council

Parish Council public meetings are, for the time being, suspended. Councillors will conduct their business by email. All council business is shown on the 'Council' page which is selectable via the menu at the top.

Parish Council Information includes planning updates, an archive of previous minutes and agendas, and dates for up-coming meetings are shown . In addition, there are updates on environmental issues, library services and other services, such as high speed broadband.

There's a register of Councillor's details and interests, Council financial reports, details of the Code of Conduct, and application forms for village groups to apply for the limited Parish Council grants.

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