Howard Woollaston: Parish Matters – February 2024
Flood water coming up through man holes
Howard Woollaston
West Berkshire Councillor: Lambourn Ward
February 2024
Back to a normal length of newsletter. Winter has so far been wet but relatively mild, but I believe that we are likely to be in for a cold snap. I had cause to have a doctor’s appointment over a relatively minor but uncomfortable ailment. I got an appointment in less than a week after having seen a nurse for my annual bloods etc. the Doctor took his time and was extremely thorough. The NHS often gets a bad press, but I could not fault it. I am fortunate to be able to tell a number of people through this newsletter so well done to our surgery. I appreciate that other areas may not experience such prompt service: not for the first time, I feel lucky to live where I do.
Sewage and flood risks
Just before I started to write this newsletter, I checked my emails and found the latest flood alert from the Environment Agency noting that there has been continuing rain showers over the last 24 hours and predicting heavy rain going into Thursday 8th February. I don’t need to tell you that this is not good news given the height of water in the Lambourn and continuing high groundwater levels. They go on to say that they do not anticipate any property flooding but to avoid walking on paths along the riverbank for obvious reasons.
Sadly, we still have sewage coming up through the manholes in various places and particularly Lambourn and Eastbury. Until the groundwater subsides there is little that Thames Water can do apart from continuing tankering and this latest EA alert further highlights the issue.
I have now got agreement from the Liberal Democrat Councillors representing the lower reaches of the Lambourn and my colleague, Clive Hooker, who is my opposite number covering East Garston and Great Shefford that we will collaborate through a cross party group to lobby Thames Water, The Environment Agency, West Berkshire Council and Central Government to finda long-term solution to the flood and sewage issues in the valley.
I had a Zoom meeting with Stuart Gourley, who is the lead member for the Liberal Democrats, this evening to look at the best way forward. We agreed to identify half a dozen knowledgeable people to write an extended letter to be signed by all relevant District Councillors and Parish Council Chairs.
Laura Farris, our MP, joined me in Lambourn last Friday, meeting people in Market Square and those most affected by sewage problems. She is committed to getting Governmental effort along with Lord Benyon, our previous MP, who is a minister in DEFRA. Hopefully the combined pressure will have some impact.
As I have said before, there is no quick fix to this problem. I am convinced that Climate Change is having an impact. As well as the extraordinary amounts of rainfall causing the high groundwater levels here, it is worth noting that Los Angeles has had a month’s rainfall over two days this week making for a very soggy red carpet at the Grammy’s!
Flood Relief from Whitehall
Central Government has allocated funds to help both residents and small businesses affected by recent flooding. It only applies to Local Authorities with more than 50 cases of damage. At the last count West Berkshire had about 30.
If you have had flood damage, please report it to the Council.
I have copied below an email sent to the Flood Wardens explaining the scheme: –
Flood Recovery Grant
Central Government has announced the following grants which be administered by ‘eligible’ Local Authorities.
1. Flooded households in eligible affected areas, who can apply for up to £500 cash to help with immediate costs.
2. Households and businesses significantly affected, who will be eligible for 100% council tax and business rates relief for at least 3 months.
3. Small-to-medium sized businesses in eligible affected areas, who can apply for up to £2,500 from the Business Recovery Grant to help them return quickly to business as usual.
4. Eligible flood-hit property owners, who can apply for up to £5,000 to help make their homes and businesses more resilient to future flooding via the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme.
5. Farmers who have suffered uninsurable damage to their land will be able to apply for grants of up to £25,000 through the Farming Recovery Fund towards repair and reinstatement costs for farmers adversely affected by exceptional flooding.
For a Council to be eligible for government support for the above there must have been at least 50 properties flooded internally within the Local Authority area. At the moment we are aware of 37 properties. Whilst in a way this is good news compared to the 180 from 2013/14 we would like to hit the minimum 50 properties to take advantage of the government funding.
We are therefore arranging for a leaflet drop in flood hit areas which will direct residents (via a QR code) to an online questionnaire to encourage additional property owners to come forward. The leaflets will be delivered starting from Thursday this week and will take 3 to 4 days to cover the affected areas. A copy of the leaflet is attached for your reference. If you would like to see plans of the areas that the leaflets are being distributed to in your area, or if you would like any hard copies of the leaflet sent to you, please contact HTAdmin@westberks.gov.uk .
Council Budget
The Council Budget papers for 2024/5 were released in draft last Friday evening so I had the joy of working through the 550-page document over the weekend and Monday – we Councillors know how to have fun!
A number of you contributed to the Consultation process and some attended the meeting in Hungerford Town Hall. I also made comment in various meetings with the administration, and I am delighted to confirm that our views have largely been taken on board: –
• There will be charging for parking in the main Lambourn Car Park behind Universal Stores but the first hour will now be free so that we can all drop into the Co-op, Universal Stores, The Food Hall and the other shops without creating chaos by parking in the surrounding roads or paying £1 for the privilege! It would seem that arguments over damage that would be done to the retail trade was taken on board and sense prevailed.
• The proposal to reduce ditch and drain clearing has been dropped in the light of recent flooding.
• The proposal to reduce dog and litter bin collection has been shelved.
• There is a proposal to reduce the Green Bin charge by a nominal amount costing about £100,000 . This seems to me to be ludicrous as it is meant to be the first stage of removing all charges for Green Bin collection. Nearly every comparative Unitary Authority charge between £60 and £80 p.a. and why should someone living in a flat with no garden subsidise me effectively who has a small garden?
The proposal is to increase Council Tax by 4.99% (including the 2% Adult Social Care provision). I attended Scrutiny Commission this week, which makes recommendations to Executive as part of the Budget process. Executive meets this Thursday to go through the report, which I will also be attending. Theprecept from the Parish Council, Fire Service and Thames Valley Police are still unknown so far but will be firmed up before February 29th when the Budget has to be signed off by Full Council.
Casework
Whilst, inevitably flooding and sewage continue to be the main items in my postbag, housing has also been a busy area. Issues have ranged from a need for new accommodation because of overcrowding, mould, and a leaking roof from one of the smaller Housing Associations in our area to leaking gutters and resulting damp from the main social housing provider. Fortunately, I am the Shadow Housing Portfolio Holder so I can put some pressure on the council Housing Team to get things done.
Several residents have raised the issue of street lighting, and I can confirm that it is proposed to replace all of the streetlights this spring, jointly funded by Lambourn Parish Council and West Berkshire Council. The new lights will be LED, significantly reducing the annual electricity bill.
Roads
Potholes have reared their ugly head again after the prolonged bad weather. This is a District wide issue and Volker, the Council’s contractor, are working their way through the long list. I have asked Highways if the Lambourn area could be a priority.
Working with Tony King, chairman of the Woodlanders Action Group, I have requested a meeting with Highways and representatives of the WPG to look again at speeding and HGVs on the B4000. The lead officer has asked for more detailed information which Tony is collating.
Flooding has rather taken precedence over speeding, but I have reminded the Council of the desire for a 20MPH limit in Eastbury and Lambourn High Street. As I drive around West Berkshire, they are clearly becoming more common place with a further trial starting in Theale. I am hopeful that we might see some progress in 2024.
District Parish Council Conference
I attended this in Shaw House last week. This seemed fairly well attended but I would have hoped to have seen more Parish Councillors there. Part of the reason was almost certainly that it was held mid-afternoon. I am sure that an early evening one would get a better attendance and the next one is scheduled for that time. A number of useful presentations and the opportunity to ask questions of Officers and the Executive.
Get in touch.
Whatever is concerning you please do get in touch on 07836 718 100 or howard.woollaston1@westberks.gov.uk
