Howard Woollaston: Parish Matters – Oct 2025

September/October 2025

I hope that everyone had a good summer: autumn is now definitely upon us. As I look out of my window whilst writing this it is still raining, the skies are grey, and the winds are getting up ahead of Storm Amy. At least the lawns are green again…

Council devolution and reorganisation

The latest rumours are for Slough to become a London Borough and the rest of Berkshire to be a unitary council centred on Reading – the saga continues.

The asphalt plant appeal

The appeal was held in the Council Chamber on Thursday 2 October which I attended and spoke at.

By way of background, the application for “the installation and operation of an asphalt plant and associated ancillary development on Land Adjacent To M4 Membury Airfield”, ref 23/02142/MINMAJ, was considered by WBC’s Western Area Planning Committee (of which I’m a member) on 19 March and, after a long debate, refused. The applicants appealed this decision.

The morning was taken up by discussions on the impact of particulates on horses and the statistics are quite amazing. Horses have massive lungs compared to humans. Top racehorses – of which Lambourn has a lot – take a breath every stride and take in more air in a 2 1/2 mile gallop than a typical human does in a day.

The opponents to the application, co-ordinated by the Woodlanders Protection Group, had a series of speakers including the Lambourn Trainers Association, a highly qualified equine vet, the Jockey Club Estates, Lambourn Parish Council and various trainers and breeders close to the proposed development. I also spoke against.

By the lunch break I was feeling very confident that the independent Inspector would uphold the planning refusal.

The afternoon was more technical, focussing on matters such as local need for asphalt and highways issues. At the end I suspect it is finely balanced, and we will have to wait for the Inspector’s decision in a month or so.

Lambourn Neighbourhood Development Plan

We are finally nearly there. Lambourn Parish Council has approved the final version, and it has now been sent to WBC before the government Inspector considers it. Assuming that is approved, it comes back to residents of the parish for a referendum to agree to adopt it.

All I can say is hallelujah and well done to Sue Cocker in particular for getting us here.

Public issues

I continue to get complaints about the black-bin changes and particularly from…

People with large families especially where there are very young children in nappies.
People with disabilities who struggle to get two bins out when they coincide every six weeks.
People living up narrow Cul de sac lanes who bring their bins down to the main road for collection. There are two in Eastbury which have been specifically raised with me.

I have taken these up with the waste team and the Portfolio Holder at WBC who are “looking at the problem” – we shall see.

Lambourn Valley Flood Forum

I have been Chairman of the LVFF for the six-plus years that I have served you as Ward Councillor at WBC. We have achieved a massive amount in that time in terms of keeping Thames Water’s feet to the fire. This has resulted in…

Lining many of the sewer pipes to prevent groundwater intrusion resulting in sewage problems.
The new main sewer from Bockhampton Lane to the East Shefford Sewage Treatment Plant.
The extension of that East Shefford Sewage Treatment Plant.
The Great Shefford Flood Alleviation Scheme.
Putting pressure on WBC and landowners to clear ditches and drains.

It is all so much better, but we cannot be complacent: and obviously winter is coming.

I think that the Forum needs an injection of energy from someone who has more time. Accordingly, I have asked Vicky Rieunier to replace me.

Vicky was previously Chair of Lambourn Parish Council and has been very active in co-ordinating Lambourn and Upper Lambourn’s flood and sewage resilience. I have agreed to take the role of Vice Chair so that I can continue to put political pressure on the utility companies and WBC and I will continue to host the Zoom meetings as I have a full licence.

Similarly valuable work is also being done, concentrating on the areas immediately downstream of Lambourn, by SAGLUV.

Speeding

Finally, we seem to be getting some traction. Top marks to Steve Mead and Lambourn Parish Council for getting some “happy/unhappy” face signs up in Eastbury and Lambourn. In my view, we need more, and I have suggested that these may be part of my next member’s bid.

Partly as a result of a number of accidents on the B4000, one of which had a fatality. We are also getting somewhere on a WBC, Police and Parish Council meeting to look at the B4000 to go down to 40mph and Eastbury and parts of Lambourn to 20mph. Will keep you informed.

Mobile and internet reception

A meeting is being set up to review the position. This was initially for Upper Lambourn but I am aware that there are some not-spots in Lambourn itself, so I have asked for the overview to be spread wider. Possible solutions seem to revolve around mini masts which I think we have on St. Michaels and All Angels in Lambourn.

Casework

You will understand that I cannot share specific details but there are some real issues out there ranging from housing to planning and everything in between.

This month I have been trying to resolve the re-opening of the bridge between Harris Close and Goose Green in Lambourn to ease the problems for less able residents of this Sovereign-owned scheme. As usual it’s like punching cotton wool, but I am making some progress.

I try to do what I can through my contacts at the Housing and Planning Teams at WBC, the local Police and Sovereign or other housing associations.

Get in touch

If you have any concerns or need any help, please get in touch on howard.woollaston1@westberks.gov.uk or 07836 718 100.