contents

local news updates

West Berkshire Council InfO

police update and scams

Building restrictions

library

climate change

school news

playing field news

INKPEN village hall

Other inkpen News

useful links






Local news updates

For your latest local and regional news, as provided by the BBC, click here. Hungerford and area news can be found here.

Parish Council Election was held on 17th August 2023 for the remaining unfilled post for the Parish Council. James Fisher, resident of Lower Green, Inkpen, was elected as a Councillor with 149 votes. The Parish Council now has 7 councillors to represent the interests of residents. Councillors are in post for a period of 4 years- a list of those in post is on the village notice boards for reference and on this website here. Councillors are all custodian and corporate Trustees of the Inkpen Memorial Playing Field.

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Mental Health Support for those of 11-18 years
West Berkshire Council has set up a dedicated telephone helpline for young people experiencing issues and concerns relating to the pandemic - 01635 503587.

The helpline, which is linked to its Emotional Health Academy (EHA), will offer the district’s young people self-help support, advice and guidance from trained EHA workers. It came into operation on 6 April, and will be open between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday to Friday, providing an opportunity for children and young people (aged 11 to 18) to express their concerns and talk about issues directly affecting them during the current Coronavirus crisis. EHA workers will use active listening skills to support young people in dealing with difficult feelings around Covid-19 and provide signposting and self-help support for their general wellbeing.

This local helpline is a short-term service and will be available only during the pandemic, to provide ‘in the moment’ support to children and young people. It will provide access to trained EHA workers who can offer advice and self-help tools and provide support to manage ‘low level’ problems. It is not a crisis line and does not replace other services such as the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

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The latest West Berkshire Council weeknote is available here.

RiM, Recovery in Mind is a community organisation, where adults living in West Berkshire get the opportunity to learn life long skills and tools to improve and manage their mental health and wellbeing. Details can be found here.

West Berkshire Council are asking residents across the district/borough to think of others and not light bonfires. Anyone having a domestic bonfire that causes a nuisance  may be prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. To report an incident of a bonfire please use our on-line reporting form here.

Fly tipping is the illegal dumping of any waste or rubbish on public land or sites which are unauthorised to accept waste. If the rubbish is dumped on private land, the landowner is responsible for removing it. If you find or receive notification of fly tipped material on private land you will need to inform the landowner. Landowners unfortunately will have to pay for the cost of disposal of fly-tipped materials. To report an incident of fly tipping please see links on PPP website here.

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Police report

A message from the Police and Crime Commissioner is available here.

Online Fraud. New scams are coming to light all the time. Police guidance is given here.

Local Police News.
As we approach the end of Harvest, we find this is the time of year when we see an increase in rural crime offences. Particularly hare-coursing and poaching. We are already receiving reports of this nature in other areas not far from here. Please be mindful of this when driving through open countryside and report suspicious behaviour to Police. Ideally a vehicle make, model and index.

Recently in the local area there have been reports of cooking oil being stolen from rural businesses as well as small amounts of metal, mainly lead. Please keep an eye out for vehicles / persons acting suspiciously and report to the Police.

Have you heard about THAMES VALLEY TEXT ALERT? Sign up today www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/ to receive free texts or emails about crime in your local area and relevant safety advice.

You can now follow us on twitter @TVP_westberks.
If you would like any further information or advice please contact me on 07814852137 or email Joanna.king@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

SCAMS

Be aware of scams. Download "The Little Book of Big Scams".  For home security, download "Secure your home".

Message shared on behalf of Thames Valley Police -  We have been informed by Thames Water that a number of “Contractor” Identification Cards have been lost in transit. The cards have been deactivated so they cannot be used to gain access to any Thames Water sites but there are concerns that they could be used for criminal activity known as “Distraction Burglaries.” Please be very cautious and verify with Thames Water any Thames Water person’s details before letting anyone into their property?

The real NHS will not ask you to:    1) provide bank details or payments, 2) give details of any other accounts, such as social media, 3) set up a password or PIN number over the phone, or 4) call a premium rate number, such as those starting 09 or 087

People who shop at Tesco have been warned not to fall for a scam email claiming to give them free shopping and vouchers. In emails addressed to customers of the supermarket, scammers have attempted to take advantage of the coronavirus crisis by offering them the chance to shop for free online or in store and to click on a link to register their details.

Similar scams too purporting to be from Morrison offering free vouchers and other scams such as free Dettol or Gillette samples or competitions. They are all trying to get you to like or share which gives them details on your contacts etc. Never click on any links from uninvited emails. If in doubt on any scams, please contact your Bank or other organisations to check whether they have been sent by them.

Other recent scams are a text from O2 saying that a payment had failed and to avoid fees, visit the website using the link in the text and to then sign on using another screen asking for all the security details that the person used followed by credit card and bank account details. The fake website looked exactly like the O2 official site so some people could easily fall for this scam.

Royal Mail scams via email advising that your parcel has arrived but the Courier was unable to deliver the parcel to you. The email then asks you to pay £3.95 for this to be re-delivered and to click on a link to give your bank and other details.

Also Emails saying that the recent payment for your vehicle tax failed because there is not enough money on your debit card and that your vehicle is no longer taxed. They suggest you use a credit card instead to avoid any other consequences and again this is a way of trying to obtain your Bank details.

There are various ways of reporting scams.

A new initiative called Cyberawaregov has launched SERS – the suspicious email reporting service. They say that if you have received an email which you are not sure about, to forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk There is further information on the website: www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/report-suspicious-emails

Scams can also be notified to Action Fraud on 03001232040 or via their website or to the National Trading Standards Scams Team on 03454 040506.

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Out of hours Building works

The law - and frequently planning permission as well - regulates the hours during which construction can be carried out, typically between 8am and 6pm weekdays, 8am and 3pm on Saturdays, and not at all on Sundays. Outside those hours you have the right to complain to the council, who will come and investigate and may take action against persistent offenders. Contact WBC at ehadvice@westberks.gov.uk (Tel. 01635 519192) or planningenforcement@westberks.gov.uk (Tel. 01635 519111).

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Library - Pass It on

The mobile library will call at Inkpen on the 14th November 2023; 16th January 2024; 6th & 27th February 2024 and 19th March 2024. The mobile van stops at: Craven Rd. Inkpen 2.20-2.50pm and at Inkpen School at 3.05 – 4pm. Please use the library as we are lucky the service has continued to be supported by West Berkshire Council. .

If you need large print books, please contact library services on  01635 519900

The Libraries Service are also offering a new online service to residents so that they can continue to enjoy new books and to share their love of reading without leaving the house. They have set up a new Facebook group called West Berks Reads, which is a useful, alternative way for people to share their thoughts and pick up ideas for what to read next.

Meanwhile, the digital resources and e-library services are continuing 24/7 and understandably being very well used at this time. Why not go to the Libraries page on our website and discover a new book or magazine?

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Climate change

Did you know?
It will cost around £160 to capture 1 metric tonne of carbon from the atmosphere. Forty mature oak trees (or Beech, Ash, Willow etc.) do that if you just leave them alone. Each tree is doing a payback of £4 a year. They pay for their keep.

Silent forests devoid of life are a possibility within a generation in our already deforested nation, according to a panel of British experts.

"Ecosystem collapse", where trees suddenly fade and die, could happen within 50 years, they warn. But the 42 experts said if we act now we can avert the catastrophe. The large-scale loss of forests hit by "wind, fire, pests and disease" has already happened in continental Europe and North America. "A collapsed forest would be heart-breaking, devoid of its essential life and all the joy and benefits it gives to humanity," said Dr Eleanor Tew of Forestry England and Cambridge University.

But she said we have time to make a difference and we know what to do to make our forests more resilient "so they can continue to thrive for future generations".

39 Ways to Save the Planet
Radio 4 BBC Radio Four, in partnership with the Royal Geographical Society, presents 39 ideas to relieve the stress that climate change is exerting on the planet. To tune in, click here.

Official reports suggest that our climate decline is rapidly accelerating. Although we are a small community and many feel that we are too insignificant in the grand scheme, there are things that we can do to make a positive impact.

Obviously we can plant more trees and hedging and the IMPFT  is this month planting more than 300 hedging plants along Post Office Road. But individually we can make a difference by leaving some of our gardens to become wild spaces. We can be more careful in our use of pesticides and herbicides and hopefully use insect friendly alternatives. Remember, Your Climate Needs You.

Following on from the work of Bob May and Bernard Harris, to encourage wild flowers on the Lower Green Triangle, we are hoping to transform other areas of public land in Inkpen in the coming years, with an emphasis on natural flora and their insect inhabitants. Why not set aside a small patch in your garden for beautiful, natural, wild flowers. Have a look at  this  to get a bit of encouragement.

These links might also be of some interest. Trees and Insects. Remember, insects are at the bottom of the food chain - if we lose them we lose all that depends on them!

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school news

I always find myself wanting to start these messages with “What a busy term it has been ...” and this month is no exception. It has been an incredibly busy month and everyone is looking forward to a lovely half term next week.

Last week, the Year 6 children went away for their residential at Grittleton house and took part in a range of exciting activities such as crate stacking, buggy building and escape the room. We were really impressed with their enthusiasm and resilience throughout the week, especially as for many children, this was their first big trip away from home.

We were also really impressed with the Year 3 and 4 children who represented our school brilliantly at a Tag Rugby tournament at Hungerford Rugby Club. The theme for this tournament was “World Cup” and each school was asked to represent a country; we were proud to represent Portugal. The children worked incredibly hard as a team and demonstrated an excellent understanding of the rules. For many of these children, this was their first ever tournament and they certainly did us proud. We were particularly delighted to be awarded one of four trophies as a result of our enthusiasm and determination.

I wish everyone a happy half term and am looking forward to one of the busiest periods in the school calendar: Christmas! Miss Buck

INKSPOTS

The children have been thinking about their coordination, of how they bounce the balls of the tub.

‘Force and Motion’ is a wonderful thing to learn - developing anticipation and reaction when working with balls.

Ball play builds hand-eye coordination, gross and fine motor skills, spatial awareness, grasping skills, problem-solving.

The children have also really enjoyed story mapping Stick Man this week.
Storytelling will help develop listening and communication skills, improve concentration and memory, bring experiences alive, create a sense of wonder and help sequence events.
Story mapping allows a child to visualise story characters, events and settings. It is a way to increase a child's ability to comprehend and to organise their thoughts and sequencing of main events. Great job

Daisy Chains
Contact Jenny on 07775883318 or Anna on 07785 184808.

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playing field trust (impft) news

‘POP-IN’ CAFÉ
Where do you really get a FREE cup of Tea or Coffee these days?

It’s certainly not in Newbury or Hungerford. But a few individuals have opened a Pop-In-Cafe, otherwise known as the PIC, at the Inkpen Pavilion. Too good to believe? Well, why not come along either on your own or bring a friend on Thursday 16th November from 10-12.30. No photo ID required, just be an Inkpen resident.

So, what’s this all about? It’s about being a part of Inkpen and all the good things about our community. It’s not religious, it’s not political, and it’s certainly not a dating club, it’s just come along and chat to your friends and make other new ones. Oh, and not forgetting the extra benefit… FREE Biscuits and sometimes, cake. If you have a mobility issue, contact cafe@inkpenvillage.co.uk or phone 01488 757471 and leave a message so we can organise a lift, so you don’t miss out. If you can’t make the 16th, then put Thursday 7th December in your diary. PIC is going to be open every first and third Thursday of each month.

INKPEN PLAYING FIELD & PAVILION -  Members of ‘Sport England’
Please keep up to date with the activities at Inkpen Playing Field – the contact link for the website is : www.impft.co.uk
Did you know that one in four of us do fewer than 30 minutes of physical activity a week, while 1 in 6 deaths is caused by inactivity. Even if you can make small changes like gentle jogging or playing rounders on the field, we can help everyone experience the benefits that taking part in sport and physical activity brings including: mental wellbeing, physical wellbeing and above all social and community involvement.
Jogging: can anyone lead a team of joggers around the playing field?
Football: – can anyone teach the youngers to enjoy being a member of an Inkpen team?
Walking Football: on the hard court: we need a volunteer to start the sessions.
Five a Side Football: – on Sunday evening, we need more players - male and female welcome.
Netball: – the hard court is available with markings for the sport, with new netball nets. Even basketball could be considered if there is a sportsperson in the village.
Daisy Chains: are meeting on an ad hoc basis for the little ones on Friday mornings at the pavilion – please let us know if you are interested in joining or leading the group on a rota basis. Social interaction for babes and mums is important as well.
Tennis and coaching: – is available for all at Inkpen playing field- please contact Taj Woodhouse for membership of Inkpen Tennis Club
The pavilion is available to book on 7 days of the week: and there is a regular Pop-in-Café on first and third Thursday mornings of each month, and the History Group would welcome more members.
Meeting Room at the pavilion: for up to 60 people with access to a TV screen.
Party bookings: have been popular this summer – football parties, tennis parties and playground parties- there is still time to book a place if you are having a family event. A fully stocked kitchen with double oven, dishwasher, fridge/freezer and microwave. All the benefits of a home kitchen.
For more details: and booking information please contact the Parish Clerk: parishclerk@inkpenvillage.co.uk

THE INKPEN HISTORY GROUP
Whoever thought that picking through the dirt could be so exciting. One 15-minute session of picking up a few bits of pottery from an Inkpen field produced a piece of Romano-British pottery dating between around 200 to 600 AD and several post medieval pieces. Maybe your garden has hidden treasures. If you find something that looks interesting, bring it to our Pop-in Cafe.

We’ve also been trying to establish the direction of movement of goods to and from the Inkpen mill, the mill that’s listed in the doomsday book. This involves a bit of metal detecting, so if you have a metal detector and would like to work as part of our team, just get in touch via enquiries@inkpenhistory.uk.

There’s lots going on. If you have time to spare, come and give us a hand.

YOGA IN INKPEN
Inkpen Village Hall - Tuesday mornings 9:30-10:30am
Inkpen Pavilion - Thursday evenings 7.00-8.00pm

Yoga which is suitable for beginners and experienced. Classes are £10 pay as you go. Contact oliviaboydall@gmail.com 07554446502 for additional info and requests to book on to a class.

Yoga classes not only bring strength, and a sense of freedom and mobility to our physical bodies, they also leave us feeling calm, aligned, with a settled mind. Through movement, postures, breathwork and meditation you will leave the mat with a new sense of energy and a permeating feeling of deep rest physically and mentally.


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evENTS AT INKPEN village hall

INKPEN STITCH AND KNIT
Our November meeting is on Wednesday 1st November at 7.30pm in Inkpen Village Hall.

We will have a demonstration on making rope mats and/or bowls with a sewing machine and a chance to try out the technique. All materials will be supplied - including sewing machines!

Our December meeting is on Wednesday 7th when we will have a demonstration on how to make faux chenille fabric. The cost for the evening is £3 which covers hall hire and refreshments. If you haven't joined us previously your first visit is free. Further information from Jan 01488668222 or email jan@honeydesign.co.uk

INKPEN MARKET - Sunday 19th November
This month at the market we have an interesting selection of stalls, with some new to us so come and see what’s on offer.

Why not start your Christmas shopping for gifts and goodies that you certainly won’t find on the high street.

We have a Tombola for grown-ups and children, books and puzzles. Please come along, have a bacon roll, a cuppa and a natter at the Charity café.

We look forward to seeing you there. Chrissy & Tracey

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Other inkpen news

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION - POPPY COLLECTION
We will as usual be carrying out house-to-house collections for the annual Poppy Appeal. All donations raised help the Royal British Legion to provide life-long support to serving and ex-serving members of the British Armed Forces, their families and dependents through hardships, injuries, and bereavements.

Thanks to campaigning there will be poppies made entirely from paper and will be even easier to recycle. The charity has committed to reducing single-use plastic in all its activities in a drive to be sustainable. We will still have Poppies containing single-use plastic and these can be returned to Sainsbury’s stores for recycling. 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

NEWS IN COMBE
There will be a sale of woollen scarves and mufflers by women from the Indian Himalayas, knitted in the snowy winter to add value to their own wool, and organised by supporters from India and the UK. Enjoy a glass of wine or apple juice and hear the story of these woollens from 5.00 - 6.30pm on Sunday 19th November at the Barn at Lower Farm, Combe, RG17 9EH.

COMBE FILM CLUB – “OUT OF THE ASHES”
Combe Film Club – Saturday, December 2nd at 4pm, at The Barn, Lower Farm Combe. Filmmaker Leslie Knott is presenting Out of the Ashes, her documentary following the meteoric rise of the Afghan cricket team from refugee camp to World Cup. RSVP leslie@tigernestfilms.com for more details.

INKPEN COMMON
It’s been a busy summer on the Common with lots of projects to improve access as well as the wildlife habitats. The Cattle pen and ‘crush’ were moved to the Rooksnest Lane side to make it easier to catch and load the cows and to reduce the winter mud at the previous location across the public footpath.

Volunteers have started to lay sleepers along the paths that get muddiest and will continue this once the ground is a bit softer. BBOWT has replaced the boardwalk and refenced the ‘Mire’ using natural and recycled materials where possible. This was funded by contributions from several agencies and individuals and huge thanks go to the people of Inkpen that contributed to this project. Most recently our intrepid Friends of Inkpen Common have been installing ‘shuttering’ in 2 parts of the ‘Mire’ (the fenced off boggy area) to hold back some of the water from the seasonal stream and keep the area wetter for longer. Not only will this benefit the rare species that are part of our SSSI status, but this wet area acts as a giant sponge and should reduce downstream flooding in times of heavy rainfall.

Friends of Inkpen Common meet on the first Saturday of each month and new volunteers are extremely welcome. Please drop me a note if you would like to be added to our mailing list (hughes.s@hotmail.com). No previous experience required and all tools are provided.

Our veterans need you.
Would you like to mentor a Wounded Veteran and help them build their life outside of the armed forces? A veteran's wounds can be physical, mental or both. Have you got the resilience, patience and commitment to stick with someone through the highs and lows they may be facing? Could you willingly give one hour of your valuable time per week to mentor for Supporting Wounded Veterans (SWV). Is it something you would like to do, knowing that you may mentor someone every week for a year or more?

Main qualities needed, patience, tenacity, empathy and being non-judgemental. Full Training and support is provided. https://www.supportingwoundedveterans.com/mentoring-programme

Supporting Wounded Veterans (SWV) was founded in 2012 as “Skiing with Veterans” as they left the forces still impacted by their injuries. It focuses on physically and mentally impacted ex-servicemen and women and uses sportshabilitation and continued mentoring to enable them to return to employment. The charity has a 92% success record in achieving this.

The Charity also initiated and funded the recent research with King’s College London into those veterans suffering with complex PTSD by Psychedelic drugs assisted therapy which has had positive results. A differentiating factor for SWV is that the charity has a mentoring arm that stays in contact with any veteran who wishes to do so. It can be very helpful to the mentees who can take the opportunity to use SWV’s contacts but also for the mentors who learn to understand the veterans’ lives better. For more information you can read more about the Charity here www.supportingwoundedveterans.com

Crown and Garter 
Wreath Making
On Monday 27th November, from 6.30pm to 9pm, the Crown & Garter in partnership with Newbury's Willow and Blooms florist, will be hosting a wreath making workshop. Tickets cost £65 per person and include a mince pie and Christmas cocktail. To book a place or for further information call 01488 668325 or email crownandgarter@honestygroup.co.uk. Bar snacks and drinks available throughout the evening.

Pub Quiz
Don't forget our pub quiz on the last Wednesday of every month from 7.30pm. It's become a very popular evening with locals - every table in the pub was taken last month. All team entry fees will go to our charity of the year, ‘Time To Talk West Berkshire’. Drinks and food available throughout the evening. Prize for the winning team. We hope to see you there.

Honesty Live
Join us for a fun evening of live music with the return of talented vintage-inspired singer Harriet Jane, who will be performing an array of popular songs on Friday 17th November and Friday 1st December - so don't miss out. Food and drink available throughout the evening. Music starts at 7.30pm. Entry is free. Booking a table is advisable.

NATIONAL SCHOOLREADERS
National children’s literacy charity, Schoolreaders, is looking for volunteers to listen to children read in primary schools in the West Berkshire area. 1 in 4 children are leaving primary school unable to read well so our service is in great demand. No qualifications are required to join Schoolreaders, just a love of reading, a few hours each week in term time and a willingness to go where children need you most. Apply now and you could be ready to start in September. To find out more go to www.Schoolreaders.org

RAMBLERS’ WELLBEING WALKS
The Kintbury group of Wellbeing Walks meets every Tuesday morning at 10am. On the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesday of a month the walk starts from the Kintbury Coronation Hall and ends with coffee at the Bowling Club. On the 2nd and 4th Tuesday, the walk starts at 10am from the Crown & Garter Pub at Inkpen and ends with coffee at the Honesty Bakery.

If you would like to start walking, explore the local footpaths and meet new people just come along or to find out more contact John Noble on 07895 034552 or Janet Taylor on 01488 658225.

Kennet Valley Wetland Reserve
The Town and Manor of Hungerford charity would like your thoughts on its proposal to create a wetland reserve on a site known as Undy's Meadow, between Charnham Park road and the river Kennet. The proposed wetland will be within walking distance of Hungerford town centre, will be open to the public and will include an Education & Information Centre. As a village close to Hungerford, we would like your thoughts on this proposal.

Your feedback is important to ensure we make this project as relevant and appealing as we can. Your responses to our survey (https://tinyurl.com/hungerfordwetland-Survey) will remain anonymous – only the statistics from the surveys will be used. It will only take 5 minutes or less to complete. Thank you.

If you would like to find out more about out proposal do visit our website page on: https://townandmanor.co.uk/wetland-reserve 

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Useful links

Many thanks to Tim and Ali des Forges, editors of the Inkpen and Combe bulletin, for providing bulletin copy for this website.  You can contact Tim and Ali by phone or email thus - aliedesforges@yahoo.co.uk or ring them on 01488 668496. You can also  download a copy of the Inkpen and Combe bulletin here

To report potholes, go to www.westberks.gov.uk/pothole. For other road or pavement issues including overgrown verges, go to www.westberks.gov.uk.

To join Laine's heating oil delivery club, email Lanie.

To report a water leak, go to www.thameswater.co.uk and for loss of electricity, go to www.ssen.co.uk. Both Thames Water and SSE provide priority services for those needing help to cope should there be a loss of service. This includes the elderly and those with special health needs.  Thames Water priority  service can be accessed on-line, here and for SSEN, the details are provided here.


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