Howard Woollaston: Parish Matters August/Sept 2021

I am the ward member (district councillor) for Lambourn and the representative on West Berkshire Council. (The Lambourn Ward has the same borders as the parish of Lambourn.) These reports give a monthly summary of the work that I’ve been involved with in the ward. If matters take more than a month to resolve – which sadly is often the case – then expect to see them referred to more than once. You’ll see my contact details at the end if you need to get in touch about any of these, or anything else.

Just as some MPs also have executive responsibilities, so do some district councillors at local level. It might be useful to give you a quick overview of what mine are (some of these changed in April 2021):

• I have a seat on the nine-member Executive (WBC’s main decision-making body).
• I am the portfolio holder for Internal Governance (which includes IT, HR, Legal and electoral services, customer communication and all things administrative).
• I am also the portfolio holder for Leisure and Culture (leisure includes leisure centres, playing pitches and anything to do with sport. Culture includes libraries and all of the cultural and heritage buildings and events in the district).
• I am also leading on the Leisure Centre and Football strategies which is, to put it mildly, a testing role.
• I am a member of the Western Area Planning Committee which considers planning issues which either the relevant the ward member/s or a sufficient number of residents feel need to be looked at more closely before a decision is made.

My colleague Clive Hooker is the ward member for Downlands, which includes the parishes of East Garston and Great Shefford, so please contact him if your enquiry relates to that area.

August/September 2021

August is meant to be a quiet month – that was not the case in 2021, however…

Membury Industrial Estate and the B4000

I arranged a meeting with Sue Halliwell, WBC’s Executive Director for Place which includes Planning, Highways and Enforcement. She is also the Interim CEO until Nick Carter’s replacement Nigel Lynn arrives next month. The agenda included seeing what could be done to prevent further expansion at Membury Industrial Estate (MIA), to improve traffic issues on the B4000, to create some form of masterplan and generally to find a way to enforce restrictions.

As a result, I now have a meeting set up as a preliminary to a wider session which will include members of the Woodlanders Action Group (WAG) and the senior officers responsible for Planning and Highways. The officers are beginning to understand the opposition – and, to a degree, anger – from residents at having their views ignored. The process was helped by some insightful public questions at both the Executive on 2 September and the upcoming Full Council meeting on 9 September from local people. More to follow.

The asphalt plant application

Still at the MIA, it would seem that the planning application for the asphalt plant will be withdrawn. The issues are slightly technical, but the application was for a change of use from warehousing/distribution to general industrial. However, the previous planning consent for warehousing had expired and the land has reverted to the AONB.

I suspect that the applicants will restart the process: but this pause provides an opportunity to object again or at the very least get some tighter use restrictions imposed.

Ramsbury Road speed limit

The 40mph speed restriction on Ramsbury Road should be in place shortly.

Lambourn Neighbourhood Development Plan

The dates for public consultation have been widely publicised and I would encourage you to attend one of these below: –

• Wednesday 8 September, 5pm to 7.30pm, Jockey Club Estates, Mandown Farm, Upper Lambourn.
•  Saturday 11 September, 10am to noon, Eastbury Church.
•  Thursday 16 September, 5.30pm to 7.30pm, Lambourn Memorial Hall.
•  Wednesday 22 September, 5.30pm to 7.30pm, Woodland St. Mary Village Hall.
•  Saturday 25 September, 10am to noon, Lambourn Church.

I will be at the Jockey Club Estates and Lambourn Memorial Hall ones but have a Council Strategy Meeting Day to attend for the Eastbury one and we are hopefully on holiday for the last two. (We have a house/dog sitter whilst we are away but neither they, nor the dogs, will be able to deal with any ward matters on my behalf…)

With potential changes to the planning protocols due to government policy coming up, and the consequent delay in the new Local Plan, it is even more important that you have your say.

Members of the steering group had a useful meeting with the Local Plan Team at West Berkshire Council so that we could ensure that we are on the right track.

Afghanistan

I am extremely proud that West Berkshire Council has risen to the occasion to help the refugees from Afghanistan

The Council had already announced back in July that Afghan families would be welcomed to the district in the next few weeks. We have now also confirmed that two local hotels will be used to temporarily host further evacuees from this weekend (3 to 5 September).

The Council was contacted by the Home Office on 2 September and was advised that two hotels in the district will be used to house evacuees who have completed a 10-day quarantine until permanent accommodation is identified. WBC has already offered permanent housing to three families.

Throughout the pandemic, I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of local residents and businesses. This has again been in evidence with this issue with many offers of support and donations for the refugees having already been received. It is vital that this is managed properly so please make any offers using the proper channels:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-housing-portal-offers-of-support
• https://www.gov.uk/help-refugees

Fulke Walwyn Way, Upper Lambourn

I am occasionally able to put bids in from various Council funds for the ward. Last time round I secured a £1,000 contribution towards the cost of the new climbing frame for Lambourn School. The bid this time is to the Community Infrastructure Levy fund to surface Fulke Walwyn Way to stop mud and dust (depending on the season) and reduce horse traffic on the busy B4000 in Upper Lambourn. The bid is for £10,000 match funded by Jockey Club estates – fingers crossed.

Rural crime

I recently met our MP Laura Farris and Matt Barber, the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, to discuss rural crime, particularly in the Lambourn Valley. My thanks to Rooksnest Estate for hosting the meeting and particularly to Robert Price, the Estate Manager, who joined us for the discussion.

Three Posts Lane

I am in discussion with the countryside team at West Berkshire Council to try and resolve the issues with the wall in Three Posts Lane Lambourn – I know it is in the village but Rights of Way come under Countryside .

Speeding

The speed review will now include Eastbury, Baydon Road and Hungerford Hill both in Lambourn as well as the B4000.

Jabs in Lambourn

Graham Jones, one of my predecessors as District Councillor for Lambourn, will soon be providing Covid jabs in the Lambourn Pharmacy – so, when my or your turn comes round for a booster, we won’t have to go to Swindon and Tilehurst as I had to in the Spring.

And finally…

As part of my WBC responsibilities, I recently hosted a webinar on our plans for the Newbury Lido and had some very positive and useful input. The consultation for this has now closed but the many responses we’ve received will assist with our planning for the renovations. It’s hoped that one of the results of these will be extending its season (currently it closes in early September). It’s certainly Lido weather at the moment…

Get in touch

If there’s anything you want me to look into, get in touch on 07836 718100 or Howard.woollaston1@westberks.gov.uk.

My thanks to Brian Quinn of Penny Post who changes my ramblings into sensible English!!