Howard Woollaston: Parish Matters – December 2022

Howard Woollaston
West Berkshire Council Conservative member for Lambourn Ward
Executive Member for Housing , Leisure and Culture

Well, we all know that meteorological winter has arrived with a large drop in temperature and forecasters threatening snow flurries shortly.

The festive break may give some time to reflect on the events of the year and the changes that we have seen in our lives, from the Ukrainian War to energy and cost-of-living crises, the sad death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and of course a new King – the first in my lifetime.

Household Issues

Mould

After the appalling death of Awaab Ishak in Rochdale, West Berkshire Council has as usual sprang into action. Any mould issues in rented accommodation should be reported immediately to the Environmental Health Team on 01635 503242 or ehadvice@westberks.gov.uk. As Portfolio Holder for Housing, I asked for immediate answers from our main affordable housing provider, Sovereign, which has over 6,500 homes in our area. I was pleasantly surprised at the speed of their response outlining actions that were already in place and their ongoing programme to upgrade all of their properties. The Housing Team also contacted all other registered providers, while the Public Protection team is similarly on the case with the private-rented sector.

Cost-of-living and energy crises

Last month (see below) I outlined the support available for those in need. However, in light of the marked change in weather, I’d like to remind you the Cost-of-Living Support Hub has been set up by WBC to help make it easier for residents to get advice and practical support if they are struggling with finances.

You can browse the hub online to find information about financial support benefits, help with food costs and childcare and money saving tips, as well as support if your mental health is being affected. If you need advice specific to your circumstances or need additional support, you can get in touch with WBC staff via the hub. You can also email the hub or telephone it on 01635 503 333.

The hub is open from Monday to Thursday 8.30 to 5.00pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm. The website, of course, never sleeps.

Winter messaging for older residents

Sue Butterworth is the WBC Officer coordinating this effort and she is happy to take calls if there are problems or questions. You can contact her on sue.butterworth@westberks.gov.uk, 01635 503 410 or 07387 258 245.

Warm Welcome

Warm Welcome continues in the Walwyn Hall Lambourn. The elderly and those living alone are invited at 12.15 on Thursdays for a hot meal in a warm place and the opportunity to socialise. It is hoped to be open until March.

Lambourn Junction

As ever any donations either food or money will be gratefully received by Julie Blogg and her team.

CIL and members’ bids

As I mentioned last month (see below), the hoped-for CIL bid for streetlight replacement ran into a problem as a member’s bid has to be for new infrastructure. I said then that I had asked if this could be a mainstream CIL bid and awaited a response.

I’ve since received this and am delighted to report that £25,000 has been allocated from this fund for the beginning of next financial year. Along with a similar amount ear-marked from the Parish Council, this will replace all of the streetlights in Lambourn with energy-efficient ones which are significantly cheaper to run.

The Lambourn Neighbourhood Development Plan (LNDP)

The final draft for public consultation is almost there, which it is intended will have brief video presentations from the land promoters of the various possible sites put forward. There is only one site in the Woodlands and none in Eastbury.

The whole process continues to be impacted by the nutrient neutrality regulations, but the advice is to ignore that given that the plan life is to 2039.

Once the LNDP is approved by both the Inspector and the residents through a referendum it becomes a key element of the West Berkshire Local Plan: indeed, as much part of the Local Plan as if WBC had drafted it itself. Speaking of which…

The Draft West Berkshire Local Plan

This is (in every sense) “the big one” and is the document that defines planning and development policies for the 15 years after it’s adopted. If a community has, like Lambourn, done a neighbourhood development plan then this will, once it’s passed all its stages, be slotted into the Local Plan.

West Berkshire Council’s Draft Local Plan was approved to go to final public consultation by Full Council on 1 December 2022. Consultation is for six weeks from 6 January 2023, after which any amendments are approved and it goes on the cycle of the Planning Inspectorate and then the Secretary of State. All being well it will come into force in 2024.

There are two allocated residential sites in Lambourn for a total of 67 units at Lynch Wood and Newbury Road. The NDP is tasked with identifying sites for a minimum of a further 27 units. Please bear in mind that this is over the plan’s life to 2039 so there is no need to be concerned about a sudden influx.

There is also a further commercial site allocated at Membury by the grain silos: however, this is not for distribution but small-scale light-industrial use that should generate local jobs.

Speeding

Along with Steve Mead, one of the parish councillors, I did a brief video to be uploaded onto YouTube highlighting the dangers of speeding down Hungerford Hill and explaining the dangers for residents coming down steps from their homes straight onto the road with no pavement. As anyone who has ever done this kind of thing will know, these rarely go completely according to plan…

First, as soon as we began it started to rain; next, a gentleman opposite started doing some quite noisy work on his fence. We then realised that, it being 10am on a Wednesday morning, the road was empty apart from the Postie. Nevertheless, with some careful cutting and splicing I am sure it will make its point, although it may not win any awards.

After the two serious accidents on the B4000 just outside Lambourn Ward between the turning to Poughley and The Pheasant, I have finally succeeded in getting agreement for a speed review on the next round. In these accidents, two HGVs and three cars were written off and trees and a wall taken down (though happily nobody was injured), all of which reinforces what locals have been saying for years – that stretch of the road is just plain dangerous. Congratulations to the Woodlands Protection Group on raising £10,000 through crowdfunding to help fund studies to support the case for a 40mph limit and to continue to fight the proposals at Membury.

The Racing Industry

The planning application for Jamie Osborne’s Gallop was approved with numerous conditions. These included planting 5.7 hectares of natural woodland to replace the 0.57 hectares felled, a stipulation that they be professionally maintained for at least 20 years and significant bio-diversity requirements – overall it seems to me to be a good solution and will allow ongoing use by dog walkers etc as now.

A debate has started about how to attract and retain stable staff. This inevitably revolves around accommodation and hostels, particularly for the teenagers in their first time away from home. It is a key issue for the future of training in Lambourn and at least the ball is rolling. More to follow.

Eastbury Issues

I joined Steve Mead’s surgery in the Church during the month and we had a good stream of people coming through. I really think that joined-up thinking between Parish and District Councillors is hugely beneficial. Issues that arose were:

• Disappearing white lines at the junction of Straight Lane and Newbury Road. I now have confirmation that these are on the schedule for 2023.
• Street lighting. Steve Mead has taken on the thankless task of looking at its provision. A number do not work and there is a debate about a preference for dark skies against traffic and accident risks. Steve is proposing a further consultation on 21 January in the church.
• Speeding (inevitably). I am hopeful that the new data we will get from the new speed cameras will prove the point, at which stage I will ask for a speed review to 20mph.
• A sewage leak caused by a faulty valve up above the Christmas Tree plantation. At the third attempt, Thames Water seem, to have resolved it. Thanks to Tobi Corney and Steve Pearce for being so persistent.

Happy Christmas

December is usually a quiet month, so I usually let myself off my Parish Matters Newsletter at the beginning of January (and similarly in September after what is usually a quiet August). So, unless there’s anything really major, I will be bringing you up to date next at the beginning of February covering December and January.

It only remains for me to wish you and your families a very happy Christmas and a healthy New Year.

Get in touch

I am here to help if I can. You can contact me on 07836 718100 or Howard.woollaston1@westberks.gov.uk.

My thanks as ever to Brian Quinn of Penny Post for bringing his journalistic expertise to my ramblings.