contents

local news updates

COVID-19 SHOULD YOU WEAR A MASK ?

Covid-19 information

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.

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CoVID-19. sHOULD YOU WEAR A MASK?

Government guidance says it "expects and recommends" the continued wearing of masks in crowded areas such as public transport. People in England who can avoid mandatory self-isolation are advised to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces as a precaution.

Businesses and travel operators can set their own rules for customers and passengers. For example, Transport for London requires face covering for travel on its services, like the Underground and buses.

In some areas there could be different rules depending on which transport you are using. For example, in Greater Manchester, mayor Andy Burnham requires face coverings on trams. He also wants them to be worn on other city transport like buses, but these are privately run.

Other operators have announced plans: Train operator Greater Anglia says passengers should wear face coverings during busy times. Brittany Ferries continue to require face coverings. British Airways, EasyJet, Virgin and Ryanair say masks are required. Some shops have announced they still want shoppers to wear masks, including Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waterstones. .

Design plans for DIY face masks  can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHrnS6n4iA

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COVID-19 information

The latest government guidance is given here.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published a range of additional information covering all aspects of Covid-19 including what to do if you or a member of your family becomes infected. The link is here.

Covid-19 Symptoms ?
All people with flu-like symptoms - a fever above 37.8C or a persistent cough - should self-isolate (stay at home, away from other people) for seven days and call 111. Don't spread it around !

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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West Berkshire Council have set up a support link reflecting the information available.

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.

Draft proposals of measures to help the public safely make walking or cycling trips part of their daily travel choices, can be found here.

West Berkshire Council together with Greenham Trust have set up a new “Surviving to Thriving” fund to help charities and volunteer organisations carry out small, meaningful projects that can help to mitigate the impacts that COVID-19 has had on mental health and wellbeing in the district.

For this partnership fund, West Berkshire Council and Greenham Trust have each pledged £100,000 to make £200,000 available for local organisations to carry out projects. While the deadline for applications is 30 September 2021, organisations are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. For more information on the fund, and to begin the application process, applicants are invited to visit: https://info.westberks.gov.uk/survivingtothriving

West Berkshire Council are asking residents across the district/borough to think of others and not light bonfires during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic lockdown because many people at home are vulnerable and may have respiratory issues, or even be fighting the Covid-19 itself. During this difficult time we are asking that their needs are put first. Bonfires can also get out of control or cause accidents, creating extra pressure on the already busy emergency services. 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 Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner is available here.

Online Fraud. New scams are coming to light all the time and particularly in the build-up to Christmas. Police guidance is given here.

Local Police News.
With forecasters reporting an improvement in the weather we could see an increase in theft from vehicles parked at beauty spots such as Combe Gibbet, Hungerford Common and other areas used by dog walkers and those out for a stroll in the sunshine. This crime is carried out by opportunists and you can reduce the risk of having your vehicle broken into by considering the following :

• Don’t leave anything in your car. Do not leave items of value in your boot.
• Open the parcel shelf and leave the glove box open to show would be thieves there is nothing of value left in the vehicle.
• Use well lit, secure car parks.
• Don’t return to your car to leave purchases in the boot before continuing with your shopping as thieves may watch car parks.

It has again been highlighted to me that drivers are speeding through the village, particularly during the hours of morning and evening rush hour. The roads in Inkpen, in places, are very narrow and windy with blind bends. Please keep you speed down and be considerate to other road users, and pedestrians who might be in the road.  

If you would like any further advice, or have any information relating to any of the above 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?

Message sent on behalf of South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAMB)
We are aware of a voice message being shared currently on social media regarding the ambulance response to coronavirus. The alarmist information being shared in the message is not correct. We would urge people to disregard the message and not share it further.  In line with our ongoing plans during this challenging time, we are continuing to follow national guidelines regarding the ambulance response and thank the public for their ongoing support in following the government’s advice.

NHS test and trace system
The Government announced the launch of the NHS test and trace system in England and Scotland on 27 May.  Earlier in the month Trading Standards warned about a phishing scam around use of the trial contact tracing app being piloted in the Isle of Wight.  It has not been rolled out across the rest of the country but that hasn’t stopped the scammers trying to take advantage.  The public should look out for texts with links in them.  The link goes to a bogus website which asks for personal details. Scammers may use the information to gain access to bank accounts and commit other forms of identity fraud.

Also, 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 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 Craven Rd at 2.30pm until 2.50pm and at the Inkpen Primary School at 3.05 to 4pm on Friday July 9th and Tuesday 27th July 2021 - Covid-19 arrangements will apply.

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

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

What a lovely day Y5 and Y6 had last week when we visited the Countryside Day at Englefield. This was the school’s first trip outside since the middle of March last year and we could not have asked for better weather.

Englefield Estate had gone to great lengths to ensure that safety measures were all in place for the schools’ visits which meant that were able to have a super day out, learning all about, among other things, bees, telling the age of trees, the kitchen garden and the history of the house. The year 6 residential trip is now only 2 weeks away, and we hope that this will be just as successful.

Our Chick eggs arrived yesterday, and this is always a special time for our youngest children as they get to see the eggs hatch, the chicks emerge and then grow so quickly in the space of only 2 weeks. A wonderful experience.

We are now entering what is usually our busiest time of the year and although we are still not allowed any visitor onsite, the junior children are practising hard for the end of year performance. For the first time, the play will take place outside and filmed so that all our parents still get to see how hard the children have been working on learning all their lines and the songs. Fingers crossed for good weather on the filming day.

Quiz Night
Please come and join us for a Quiz night on Friday 23rd July in aid of Inkpen Primary School. The Quiz is taking place at Inkpen pavilion and is open to all. Tickets are £15 each which includes the quiz and paella, either vegetable or chicken and chorizo, served with salad. You can choose on the evening which you would like. Alcoholic drinks are available, and doors will open at 7.00pm with the Quiz to start at 7.30pm. 6 people per table/team.

We only have a limited number of tables so please get in contact with us soon to confirm your tickets. Georgie - 07917541269 Anna – 07818565405 Cash only and the is a prize for the winning team! We all deserve a much-needed night out and it’s even better when it’s for a good cause. We look forward to seeing you there. .

INKSPOTS

As the end of this extraordinary school year ends, it is difficult not to feel very proud of the journey Inkspots Pre-school has been on. From imminent closure back in December, to a graduation ceremony for seven gorgeous little people in July, and a healthy group of new recruits waiting to join us in the Autumn. Thank you to everyone who has supported us and believed in us. We could not have done it without you. As you will see, we have a colourful new logo, and this marks the next exciting phase of the Inkspots journey.

We are delighted that the Inkspots class of 2021 have now graduated. They really are a fantastic group of little people, who will be missed. We wish you all the best of luck as you embark on the next exciting stage of your educational journey. Thank you for all the laughs and giggles.

In preparation for the next generation of Inkspotters, we had an open morning at the end of term. Thank you so much to those who came to have a look around. We are looking forward to welcoming you all soon. If anyone missed the chance to come and visit, then do get in touch. We are always happy to arrange for you or your child to come and get a taste of what we have to offer.

Another enormous thank you to our volunteers who generously gave up their free time and expertise, on the hottest day of the year, to give the Millennium Garden a well-needed spruce up. It is so heartening to see the community coming together to support the pre-school. We really appreciate your time and energy.

A poem to the Inkspots team:
The little hands you gently hold,
Exciting stories you have told.
All the playtimes we have shared,
And all the ways you’ve shown you cared.
The silly songs, the nursery rhymes,
And forest school with trees to climb.
The duplo trains and marble runs,
Everyday has been such fun!
So, although it is a little sad,
Above all else we are so glad.
As we leave to join big school,
A great big thank you from us all!

Finally, following the success of the Christmas Treasure Trail, we are excited to announce the Inkspots Summer Holiday Woodland Challenge. This is an exciting programme of thirty themed activities put together by our committee, especially for primary school aged children. It is a perfect source of inspiration for how to keep your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews busy all summer long and banish any cries of “I’m bored!”.

It is also a fantastic way of supporting Inkspots and having lots of fun at the same time. The beauty of the challenge is that it can be done from anywhere at any time, so makes the ideal present for any little ones who you are not able to be close to this summer.

Email friendsofinkspots@outlook.com as soon as possible to get your copies.

Support Inkspots pre-school by taking part in the SUMMER HOLIDAY Woodland Challenge, a six week programme of themed activities, inspired by our beautiful woodland setting, to keep your little ones busy until September.

For a donation of £5.00, made to our Go Fund Me page (https://gofund.me/00e65ff3), we will email a PDF copy of our colourful 16 page booklet for you to print out and use. We also have a print and post option (please add £3.00). Upload posts and photos of your progress to the “Save Inkspots” Facebook page for a chance to win one of our exciting prizes.

Email friendsofinkspots@outlook.com for more details.

Daisy Chains
“Daisy chains are meeting up at Inkpen park every Friday from 10:30 until Noon. We are providing tea, coffee and cake but do ask that you bring your own mug. There will be a £1 donation for a cup of tea or coffee and a bit of cake.

As we will not have the facilities to do lunch, we thought it would be nice if everyone bought a packed lunch and we can then have lunch on the playing fields.

We are preparing for the return of the group to the village hall but for now we will carry on meeting outside. We have a WhatsApp group and Facebook page that we communicate through to give everyone updates on plans each week. So, please contact Jenny on 07775883318 or Anna on 07785 184808 and we can add you to the chat.

Come along for some fun and to meet some lovely new friends. We look forward to seeing you all soon”.


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playing field trust (impft) news

Book the Pavilion
If you would like to hire the pavilion or any of the facilities email gloriakeene@hotmail.com 

Hiring the pavilion and facilities enable us to maintain them as a ‘not for profit’ charity

Hire Charges are on the IMPFT website (www.impft.co.uk) and on the notice board at the pavilion or email Gloria for details. We also now have a Facebook page and Instagram account so please do follow us - Inkpen Pavilion & Playing Fields

Playground & Woodland Playground
We have been successful in getting the funds we need to replace the playground equipment which failed the latest ROSPA report. This funding came from WBC and the Lottery.

We are looking at using recycled plastic as the structure for the playground equipment. This not only uses recycled plastic but is guaranteed for 30yrs so all good for the environment.

Fund Raising.
To donate via The Good Exchange please use the links:
Inkpen Court Resurfacing – Ref: 18890 https://app.thegoodexchange.com/project/18890/inkpen-memorial-playing-field-trust/inkpen-games-courts-resurfacing
Inkpen Cricket Astro Strip – Ref: 19064 https://app.thegoodexchange.com/project/19064/inkpen-memorial-playing-field-trust/inkpen-cricket-astro-crease

Alternatively you can donate to IMPFT by cheque or bank transfer just contact Claire (claire@clairejjones.com) for details.

Forthcoming Events
INKPEN CAR BOOT SALE: 25th September 10am – 2pm
WALBURY HILL CLIMB: 26th September
QUEEN’S JUBILEE 2022: 2nd – 5th June 2022. Let us know your thoughts of activities across the four days. Email: claire@clairejjones.com

CAR BOOT SALE
Saturday 25th September 10am – 1pm at the Playing Field

Please support our Car Boot Sale. All proceeds going to the projects at the playing field. If you can bake a cake for the cake stall that would be much appreciated.

If you won’t be there selling and have an hour to help on the morning, please get in touch claire@clairejjones.com

Community support for this event would be much appreciated and please pass the word via social media or just tell everyone you know! Thank you £10 per Car

Get Active
Any activity ideas that can use the pavilion or playing field and get our community active please do get in touch with claire@clairejjones.com.

We now have Yoga on a Thursday evening and many of our youngsters have been enjoying a Junior Football coaching session run by Darryl who has very kindly come from Reading and donated his time for a few weeks in August. We continue to look for a coach for some weekend coaching so if you know of anyone please do let us know.

INKPEN 92 GROUP Meeting - 14th September at 2.30pm
The Inkpen 92 Group is back in action for our first meeting for over a year. It will be lovely to see everyone again - past members and guests are all welcome to attend the meeting for a small donation of £2pp.

We have a new programme of speakers and are starting again in September with Beth Asbury, the Assistant Archaeologist at West Berkshire Council, who will reveal all the archaeological and heritage work that has taken place in W Berkshire.

We are meeting, as before, in the newly renovated pavilion at Inkpen Playing Field with a large TV screen to project the images presented during the talk. Masks and social distancing are at your discretion, so please come and join us at 2.30pm on Tuesday 14th September.


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INKPEN village hall

INKPEN STITCH AND KNIT
It was lovely to meet up in August and see both familiar and new faces. With the windows and doors open for most of the evening I think we all felt safe. Our next meeting in on Wednesday 1st September at 7.30pm in the village hall and will be a general stitch, knit and natter evening. Tea, coffee, biscuits and hall hire charges all included in the £2 fee for the evening.

For our October evening on Wednesday 6th October, Alex King will be giving us a demonstration on braid making as well as the opportunity to have a go ourselves. Alex is very talented in many crafts as well as in weaving. I'm sure this will be a very enjoyable evening and worth putting in diaries. If you need any information, please contact me, Jan Honey on 07584122388 or email jan@honeydesign.co.uk .

INKPEN MARKET
Wow, amazing! Thank you to everyone that came and supported the re-opening of the Inkpen Food & Craft Market. September's market will be held on Sunday 19th September from 10:00-12:30. We will be welcoming back Tropic with Tracey, The Bunting Basket, Sadlers Woodhouse and many more. So please come along have a coffee and catch-up. We look forward to seeing you again.

If anyone would like to donate any items or gifts to the Tombola or the Christmas Raffle, please let us know. Thanks, Debbie & Georgina. inkpenmarket@hotmail.com

KINTBURY BALLET SCHOOL
Ballet classes at the Coronation Hall, Kintbury, have taken place since 2011. Ballet classes for all ages taught by Alex Foley, who trained at the Royal Ballet School, and was a professional dancer with English National Ballet, The Royal Ballet, National Ballet of Canada and the Deutsche Opera, Berlin.

Having retrained to become a teacher at the Royal Academy of Dance she has taught all over the world and when she moved back to the UK, she taught for five years at White Lodge, Royal Ballet School. Kintbury Ballet enters children for Royal Academy of Dance exams and have performed at the Arlington Arts.

Children’s classes on a Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. Adult Ballet on a Friday. For more information contact alex@kintburyballet.com

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Other inkpen news

Inkpen History Group
We are keen to receive copies of old photos, documents etc. that you may have and would be happy to share. Old maps, items of Inkpen pottery and any items relating to the old sawmills. Whatever you judge might be of interest, please drop us an email at - historygroup@inkpenvillage.co.uk.

Our aim is to bring together as much historic content as we can to avoid it getting lost for ever. Your help is important. Thank you.

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 donate in October/November. We will have some contactless machines but not enough to cover the whole village.

Thank you in advance for your support. If you can help with the collections on your road, please do get in touch with claire@clairejjones.com.

BLACK LEGEND
As far as I know there are few internationally recognized names associated with Inkpen. But one of them is John Schlesinger who as a Film Director won two Oscars and many other awards during the 1960s to 80s. When he was at Oxford University in 1948 his parents lived in Inkpen and he at age 24 made his first feature length film about the events that led up to the one and only execution using the Gibbet above Gallows Down. It was a silent black and white production using handheld cameras with the cast made up by Oxford Undergraduates and more importantly people of Inkpen and Combe. It is for this reason that Schlesinger dedicated and gave the first copy to, as he puts it, "the villages of Inkpen and Combe and to all those for miles around whose unbounded goodwill was sufficient to bring the story of the gibbet to the screen."

Though amateur it was, through various contacts, seen by professional film critics who were unanimous in their view that Schlesinger's talent would blossom as it truly did in such films as 'Far from the Madding Crowd' and 'Midnight Cowboy'. He entrusted this copy to Inkpen Parochial Church Council for its care and performance.

The film we will show is the same: but it is also very different. With the full agreement of the John Schlesinger Estate in the U.S. it has been rescued by digital re-mastering and enhanced by a soundtrack with commentary by Robert Hardy and a sequence of appropriate music. So, although some three copies are held by the British Film Institute, the one you will see is unique. Then to complete the evening we are showing the live conversation between Jon Snow and Robert Hardy that we organized when our film was shown at The Watermill in 2011. As you will agree when you see it, they are both at the height of their not inconsiderable powers.

The Film and Conversation will be shown at 8.30pm in St. Michael's Church on Friday 17th September. But as mentioned in the News from St. Michael's the showing is primarily for Newcomers - most others in Inkpen who want to see it already have. But non-Newcomers are very welcome, providing you book to ensure that we have enough room.

Please do this by emailing me on geraldelsa@gmail.com before 13th September. As always, there is a charge of £5 per person.

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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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