WBC chief exec at parish council meeting
Nigel Lynn, chief executive of West Berkshire Council, came to meet parishioners in Hamstead on 21st March as part of a district-wide tour of parish council meetings.
More than 20 attendees, including the four parish councilllors and three district councillors, heard him deliver a short speech in which he praised the officers and operating standards of West Berkshire Council. This was followed by a Q&A in which several parishioners highlighted what they perceived to be WBC’s shortcomings.
In his replies Nigel Lynn pointed out that the planning department is struggling with 20 vacancies in a staff roll of 70.
The WBC website is currently under review, and improvements should soon be evident.
Potholes are a problem everywhere, particularly this year: WBC has received 700 complaints about them, compared to 400 last year. An online reporting system for potholes was praised.
The wildflower verge programme (contracted out to BBOWT) is widely appreciated, and is to receive more funding.
Several complaints were noted down for futher action, including the failure of the recent surface repairs to Holtwood Road.
Concern was expressed for people without digital access, for whom dealing with WBC is becoming increasingly difficult. Continuing availability of person-to-person contact was promised.
The rest of the parish council meeting
Further vandalism and flytipping have been noticed at the Craven Keep quarry site. The parish clerk is to contact Earthline to ask what the current intentions are.
Members of the parish council accepted an invitation to visit All Angels Vineyard in Holtwood.
Vehicle speed monitoring by parishioners is inactive at present, but is expected to liven up with better weather.
Reports (with photo) of a large HGV manoeuvring with difficulty on “Chapel Lane” (presumed to be Warwick Hill) are to be forwarded to WBC.
The clerk will chase repair of the recently damaged village and speeding signs near the Craven Arms.
The parish clerk’s probationary period has been satisfactorily concluded, and her salary will increase to £16 per hour.
District and parish councillors visited Good Hope Farm and were impressed with what has been achieved.
A Community Lift Share scheme is being piloted in West Berks (but you’d struggle to find any relevant information on the WBC website because of the inadequacies of its search engine).
The problem with the stile in Hamstead Park has been resolved.
Bad weather has delayed work on refurbishing the bus shelter.
The parish council website is in process of being restructured.
Nigel Lynn was appointed in July 2021, replacing Nick Carter. He has 18 years’ experience in a variety of senior local authority roles, most recently having served as chief executive of Arun District Council in West Sussex.
Candidates in 4th May local elections
James Cole (Con) and Claire Rowles (Con) have confirmed that they will not be standing for re-election to the Hungerford ward (which includes Hamstead Marshall) of WBC this year.
James Cole was first elected to WBC in 2015, and was joined by Claire Rowles in 2019. The third councillor for the ward, Dennis Benneyworth (Con), is intending to stand.
A full list of candidates for all wards and parties will be released at 4pm on Wednesday 5th April, following closure of nominations.
Hamstead Marshall's parish council also falls due for re-election on 4th May, but given the long-running shortfall of members, it seems unlikely that a surplus of candidates will give rise to an election. The willingness (or otherwise) of current members to continue serving will be confirmed on 5th April.
A change in electoral law (to minimise fraud) means that all voters must present photo ID at the polling station on 4th May.
You can see here a list of the types of document which will be accepted as proof of identity. Your poll card is not one of them because it has no photo.
Voters who do not have one of these proofs will be turned away.
The March 2023 issue of the Hamstead Hornet can be seen here.
"Craven Country" copies available
Craven Country, the first and only history of Hamstead Marshall, was first published in 1996. A second edition (in colour) of 100 copies came out in 2012.
Both have been long out of print, and second-hand copies appear only rarely. However, Berkshire Family History Society's Newbury Branch is selling off its library, and one second-hand copy of each edition is currently on offer. £10 each.
Contact the website if interested.
White Hart on the market
The White Hart is being offered by Colliers for sale at £895,000. Leasehold is offered as an alternative. Details can be seen here.
The pub has been closed since before Christmas.
What’s on in the village
March
Thu 2nd 19.00 Circle of Friends at the village hall. Women’s group meeting monthly: crochet baskets using leftover wool.
Sat 11th 10.00-13.00: Community market in the village hall. Sue’s cakes and savouries, bread from Hetherton’s, Lanie’s preserves, refreshments and more. Stalls available: for details contact Lanie Allen.
Thu 16th 10.00-15.00 Open Day at Good Hope Farm. Arrivals please on the hour to coincide with tour times. Bookable on info@goodhopefarm.org.uk
Mon 20th 19.30: Parish council meeting in the village hall (NB date and time). Doors open 19.00 for meet & greet with councillors. Tea & coffee. All parishioners welcome. Meeting includes a talk by WBC's CEO Nigel Lynn. Agenda posted on PC site a few days before.
21st-24th Village hall closed for work.
April
Wed 5th 19.30: Garden Society meeting in the village hall. Jonathan Allchorne of Tudor Thatch Honey. 2023 membership cards available. Non-members welcome. Details from Penelope Lake.
Thu 6th 19.00: Circle of Friends at the village hall. Women’s group meeting: Sugarcraft Easter baskets. £5 includes refreshments.
Sat 8th 10.00-13.00: Community market in the village hall. Sue’s cakes and savouries, bread from Hetherton’s, Lanie’s preserves, refreshments and more. Stalls available: for details contact Lanie Allen.
May
Thu 4th 07.00-22.00 WBC elections in the village hall. Voters must bring photo id.
(Circle of Friends meeting to be rescheduled.)
Mon 8th 12.30 Coronation celebration lunch in the White Hart (venue tbc). £12/£6 pp. Details from trishtandy@icloud.com.
Sat 13th 10.00-13.00: Community market in the village hall. Sue’s cakes and savouries, bread from Hetherton’s, Lanie’s preserves, refreshments and more. Stalls available: for details contact Lanie Allen.
Thu 18th 20.00: Parish assembly and council meeting in the village hall. All parishioners welcome. Agenda posted on PC site a few days before.
June
Thu 2nd 19.00: Circle of Friends at the village hall. Women’s group meeting monthly for chat, tea and a talk. £5 to include refreshments.
Sat 10th 10.00-13.00: Community market in the village hall. Sue’s cakes and savouries, bread from Hetherton’s, Lanie’s preserves, refreshments and more. Stalls available: for details contact Lanie Allen.
Pilates in the village hall continues on Tuesday mornings, 09.30 to 10.30. To enquire or join, contact Jenny Carter.
Ladies who Brunch contact is Lanie Allen.
Circle of Friends contact is Sue Watts.
The mobile library will stop at Ash Tree Grove from 10.40 until 11.10 on Thursdays 6th and 27th April, 18th May, 8th and 29th June, 20th July, 10th and 31st August and 21st September.