contents

local news updates

West Berkshire Council InfO

police update and scams

Building restrictions

library

climate change

school news

playing field news

INKPEN village hall

Other inkpen News

useful links






Local news updates

For your latest local and regional news, as provided by the BBC, click here. Hungerford and area news can be found here.

Updates from West Berkshire Council
As you will know, the government requires the abolition of district councils and their re-organisation into larger councils. The proposal for West Berkshire Council is laid out here. Also, the new Local Plan Review Adoption Statement is viewable here and the Sustainability Appraisal / Strategic Environmental Assessment relating to the Local Plan is here.

THE NORTH WESSEX DOWNS
Tickets available for our Annual Forum 2025 - Your Landscape, Your Plan Wednesday 12th November 9.30am at the Herongate Club, Hungerford

Our Forum this year is focussing on launching the Management Plan, celebrating achievement and encouraging action from all. The morning will consist of talks from the team and a selection of external speakers.

After lunch, there will be resources for delegates to interact with, encouraging action and delivery for the life of the Management Plan (Nature Recovery, Climate, Historic Environment and Access)

For more information about the event and to book go to https://www.northwessexdowns.org.uk/event/the-north-wessex-downs-annual-forum-2025/. Tickets are £10 to cover catering. Spaces are limited and must be booked in advance. Come and find out what is happening in your Landscape.

Healthy Horse - Healthy Land Mon6th October Sparsholt College
We are delighted to again have Stuart Myers, from Equiculture, returning to talk about his popular Equicentral System for paddock management. Learn how to reduce feed costs and have a happier and healthier horse, at the same time as improving biodiversity on your land. A jointly funded event with the New Forest National Park. Call 01249 706101 or visit www.northwessexdowns.org.uk

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Mental Health Support for those of 11-18 years
West Berkshire Council has set up a dedicated telephone helpline for young people experiencing issues and concerns relating to the pandemic - 01635 503587.

The helpline, which is linked to its Emotional Health Academy (EHA), will offer the district’s young people self-help support, advice and guidance from trained EHA workers. It came into operation on 6 April, and will be open between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday to Friday, providing an opportunity for children and young people (aged 11 to 18) to express their concerns and talk about issues directly affecting them during the current Coronavirus crisis. EHA workers will use active listening skills to support young people in dealing with difficult feelings around Covid-19 and provide signposting and self-help support for their general wellbeing.

This local helpline is a short-term service and will be available only during the pandemic, to provide ‘in the moment’ support to children and young people. It will provide access to trained EHA workers who can offer advice and self-help tools and provide support to manage ‘low level’ problems. It is not a crisis line and does not replace other services such as the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

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RiM, Recovery in Mind is a community organisation, where adults living in West Berkshire get the opportunity to learn life long skills and tools to improve and manage their mental health and wellbeing. Details can be found here.

West Berkshire Council are asking residents across the district/borough to think of others and not light bonfires. Anyone having a domestic bonfire that causes a nuisance  may be prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. To report an incident of a bonfire please use our on-line reporting form here.

Fly tipping is the illegal dumping of any waste or rubbish on public land or sites which are unauthorised to accept waste. If the rubbish is dumped on private land, the landowner is responsible for removing it. If you find or receive notification of fly tipped material on private land you will need to inform the landowner. Landowners unfortunately will have to pay for the cost of disposal of fly-tipped materials. To report an incident of fly tipping please see links on PPP website here.

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Police report

A message from the Police and Crime Commissioner is available here.

Online Fraud. New scams are coming to light all the time. Police guidance is given here.

Local Police News.
Have you heard about THAMES VALLEY TEXT ALERT? Sign up today www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/ to receive free texts or emails about crime in your local area and relevant safety advice.

You can now follow us on twitter @TVP_westberks.
If you would like any further information or advice please contact me on 07814852137 or email Joanna.king@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

SCAMS

Be aware of scams. Download "The Little Book of Big Scams".  For home security, download "Secure your home".

Message shared on behalf of Thames Valley Police -  We have been informed by Thames Water that a number of “Contractor” Identification Cards have been lost in transit. The cards have been deactivated so they cannot be used to gain access to any Thames Water sites but there are concerns that they could be used for criminal activity known as “Distraction Burglaries.” Please be very cautious and verify with Thames Water any Thames Water person’s details before letting anyone into their property?

The real NHS will not ask you to:    1) provide bank details or payments, 2) give details of any other accounts, such as social media, 3) set up a password or PIN number over the phone, or 4) call a premium rate number, such as those starting 09 or 087

People who shop at Tesco have been warned not to fall for a scam email claiming to give them free shopping and vouchers. In emails addressed to customers of the supermarket, scammers have attempted to take advantage of the coronavirus crisis by offering them the chance to shop for free online or in store and to click on a link to register their details.

Similar scams too purporting to be from Morrison offering free vouchers and other scams such as free Dettol or Gillette samples or competitions. They are all trying to get you to like or share which gives them details on your contacts etc. Never click on any links from uninvited emails. If in doubt on any scams, please contact your Bank or other organisations to check whether they have been sent by them.

Other recent scams are a text from O2 saying that a payment had failed and to avoid fees, visit the website using the link in the text and to then sign on using another screen asking for all the security details that the person used followed by credit card and bank account details. The fake website looked exactly like the O2 official site so some people could easily fall for this scam.

Royal Mail scams via email advising that your parcel has arrived but the Courier was unable to deliver the parcel to you. The email then asks you to pay £3.95 for this to be re-delivered and to click on a link to give your bank and other details.

Also Emails saying that the recent payment for your vehicle tax failed because there is not enough money on your debit card and that your vehicle is no longer taxed. They suggest you use a credit card instead to avoid any other consequences and again this is a way of trying to obtain your Bank details.

There are various ways of reporting scams.

A new initiative called Cyberawaregov has launched SERS – the suspicious email reporting service. They say that if you have received an email which you are not sure about, to forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk There is further information on the website: www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/report-suspicious-emails

Scams can also be notified to Action Fraud on 03001232040 or via their website or to the National Trading Standards Scams Team on 03454 040506.

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Out of hours Building works

The law - and frequently planning permission as well - regulates the hours during which construction can be carried out, typically between 8am and 6pm weekdays, 8am and 3pm on Saturdays, and not at all on Sundays. Outside those hours you have the right to complain to the council, who will come and investigate and may take action against persistent offenders. Contact WBC at ehadvice@westberks.gov.uk (Tel. 01635 519192) or planningenforcement@westberks.gov.uk (Tel. 01635 519111).

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THE Library - Brought to you

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Climate change

The North Wessex Downs National Landscape.
.The North Wessex Downs National Landscape management plan consultation, finished on the 30th of April. Nevertheless, the management plan is still visible on their website at:

https://www.northwessexdowns.org.uk/our-work/management-plan/management-plan-review-2025/
A lot of this is perhaps a bit dry, but please have a look at it, and at the policies at the bottom of the webpage. There are numerous policies that we should perhaps be aware of and know where to find them in future. They affect planning, biodiversity, our local history, nature and the environment. These policies will be signed-off by the government in November this year, so they are not to do with some marginal pressure group, they are government agreed and driven targets. They affect You.

Local Climate Group.
We have a newly formed climate group. The website is http://climate.inkpenvillage.co.uk. If you have a look, you’ll see that we have collected data on moths, trees, bird sightings and beetles, as well as data on the weather. This data enables us to see what changes are taking place locally and the pace of those changes. If you have any data, new or historic, on local climate related events or know of someone with an interest in this, then please get in touch with us. We want to bring all local data together in one place and make sure that it doesn’t get lost. Email us at inkpen-climate@outlook.com.

In September, we’ll hold a meeting so that all of you that are concerned about climate change can meet and help us to get properly organised. Keep an eye on the website. Thank you.

Switching off your Outside Lights
The North Wessex Downs NL ask people to switch off their outside lights when they’re not absolutely necessary. Wildlife groups ask the same. Neighbours living next to someone that keep their outside lights on at night want the lights to go off and the police tactfully suggest that leaving outside lights on simply helps burglars. Switching off your outside lights helps the environment and saves money.

Any suggestions about how to incentivise people to switch off unnecessary outside lights would be gratefully received. Email inkpen-climate@outlook.com.

Did you know?
It will cost around £160 to capture 1 metric tonne of carbon from the atmosphere. Forty mature oak trees (or Beech, Ash, Willow etc.) do that if you just leave them alone. Each tree is doing a payback of £4 a year. They pay for their keep.

Silent forests devoid of life are a possibility within a generation in our already deforested nation, according to a panel of British experts.

"Ecosystem collapse", where trees suddenly fade and die, could happen within 50 years, they warn. But the 42 experts said if we act now we can avert the catastrophe. The large-scale loss of forests hit by "wind, fire, pests and disease" has already happened in continental Europe and North America. "A collapsed forest would be heart-breaking, devoid of its essential life and all the joy and benefits it gives to humanity," said Dr Eleanor Tew of Forestry England and Cambridge University.

But she said we have time to make a difference and we know what to do to make our forests more resilient "so they can continue to thrive for future generations".

39 Ways to Save the Planet
Radio 4 BBC Radio Four, in partnership with the Royal Geographical Society, presents 39 ideas to relieve the stress that climate change is exerting on the planet. To tune in, click here.

Official reports suggest that our climate decline is rapidly accelerating. Although we are a small community and many feel that we are too insignificant in the grand scheme, there are things that we can do to make a positive impact.

Obviously we can plant more trees and hedging and the IMPFT  is this month planting more than 300 hedging plants along Post Office Road. But individually we can make a difference by leaving some of our gardens to become wild spaces. We can be more careful in our use of pesticides and herbicides and hopefully use insect friendly alternatives. Remember, Your Climate Needs You.

Following on from the work of Bob May and Bernard Harris, to encourage wild flowers on the Lower Green Triangle, we are hoping to transform other areas of public land in Inkpen in the coming years, with an emphasis on natural flora and their insect inhabitants. Why not set aside a small patch in your garden for beautiful, natural, wild flowers. Have a look at  this  to get a bit of encouragement.

These links might also be of some interest. Trees and Insects. Remember, insects are at the bottom of the food chain - if we lose them we lose all that depends on them!

North Wessex Downs National Landscape
If you live in Inkpen, then you are within the NWD NL. This has the same protections as a National Park but is administered by area local government instead of having its own controlling body. So, what do you know about the NWD NL, it’s management plan or its protections? Have a look at https://www.northwessexdowns.org.uk/. In the coming years, as global warming bites, this will become more important to you. Do take a look at their website and see what’s going on locally.

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school news

T.B.A.

INKSPOTS 

Daisy Chains - INKPEN PAVILION TOYS TOYS TOYS for the Daisy Chains Playgroup

We have plenty of toys for the younger pre-school play group at Inkpen pavilion. We have a delightful venue to restart the former Daisy Chains playgroup with lots of small tables and chairs for the little ones and baby changing facilities available if required.

Mums, Dads and Grandparents are welcome to come and let the little ones play safely. There is plenty of play space as well for siblings outside the pavilion in the children’s play and woodland area. If you are interested, we have a few names already, please let us know your contact details by email: gloriakeene@hotmail.com.

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playing field trust (impft) news

The IMPFT (Inkpen Memorial Playing Field Trust) is pleased to host several regular clubs and societies as well as being available to hire for events (parties, work functions, luncheons etc).

Please check for an up-to-date list of events / bookings under impft.inkpenvillage.co.uk

Opening: We are looking for a (paid) booking clerk to help with the smooth running of the pavilion & its facilities. The role is varied & expected to occupy up to 10hrs pw. If you are interested, please contact brian.cox@inkpenparishcouncil.org.uk and james.fisher@inkpenparishcouncil.org.uk for further details.

IMPFT Activities and regular bookings:

NEW Art Classes	Every 2nd Tuesday of the month @ 10am (Sept – Feb initially)	gilly.burrough@gmail.com
Climate Group	Sessions throughout the year	climate.inkpenvillage.co.uk
Cricket	Sundays during the season See calendar for fixtures	Inkpencricketclub.org Impft.inkpenvillage.co.uk
Daisy Chains	Every Friday 09:45-11:45 From 6th June	clerk@inkpenparishcouncil.org.uk
Football 5-a-side	Sunday Evenings	Chris Stapleton, Mob: 07909 851968
Football (Juniors to U16)	Sunday morning from 10:30am during the season	HTJFCSecretary@outlook.com
History Society	Sessions throughout the year	History.inkpenvillage.co.uk
Netball	Monday evenings Juniors 6pm / Adults 7pm (excl. bank holidays)	Sally, Mob: 07444 593 560
Pop in Café	Every 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month @ 10am till 12:30	All welcome, just “pop-in”
Stargazers	Sessions throughout the year	Stargazers.inkpenvillage.co.uk
Tennis	Pay as you play / subscription (tbc)	clerk@inkpenparishcounsil.org.uk
Yoga	Saturday 09:45 -10:45 pay as you go	Oliviaboydall@gmail.com, Mob: 07554 446 502

Children’s parties, Group and Birthday parties
The Inkpen pavilion is an ideal venue for a wide range of events. The Bi-fold doors open wide so that people can sit outside or wonder around on those balmy summer evenings.

The facilities provided include:
• A fully fitted kitchen with a hatchway that allows views over the main room, ideal for keeping an eye on energetic children.
• Adjoining children’s play area for those special children’s parties.
• Plenty of car parking.
• Wi-Fi is provided with Gigabit speeds.
• Air-conditioned main room for those hot days as well as cold ones.
• Standard toilets and a disabled toilet.
• Caters for up to 60 adults.

If you are looking to host an event locally, the Inkpen pavilion might well be the ideal place for you. For enquiries or bookings go to impft.inkpenvillage.co.uk. The Inkpen Memorial Playing Field Trust (IMPFT) is a registered charity.

COMING SOON to INKPEN - TENNIS AND FOOTBALL COACHING
It’s all happening at Inkpen Playing Field - starting during the summer holidays from 21st July there will be tennis and football coaching at Inkpen Playing Field, for anyone who wishes to improve their game. There is:

Tennis Coaching with Mike Gordon on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday during the summer for those wishing to book a session. Residents will remember Mike from previous sessions. Mike is a LTA level 4 coach, accredited DBS, Safeguarding, First Aid certified. Anyone interested should book with Mike directly: mike@premiumtennis.co.uk

Football Coaching with Chris, who has coached at Inkpen previously, is yet to arrange times and dates for his summer sessions in time for this publication - but sessions will be available to all who wish to attend - we may have a budding Wayne Rooney (or Mary Earps) in Inkpen! Please watch Facebook for further details of dates and times.

INKPEN HISTORY SOCIETY

Additional audio tracks have been added to the history website, history.inkpenvillage.co.uk, alongside a further written commentary on the sinking of the Bismarck. We have further scrapbooks and photos to add and are hoping to add even more audio tracks. If you remember Inkpen and district as it was during or immediately after WW2, then please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.

We could also do with some help scanning photographs and transcribing hand written text. Please get in touch via inkpen-climate@outlook.com if you think you can help.

We had been hoping to start an archaeological dig in September but sadly not enough people came forward for this to be feasible. We will have another attempt in March/April 2026. The site that we are hoping to dig is thought to be a late Saxon, early Medieval site with links to the crusades. If you think you might be interested, please email us, as above, and we’ll keep you posted.

POP-IN CAFE

During September we put all of our donations into a pot and sent it off to the Thames Valley Air Ambulance (https://www.tvairambulance.org.uk/). This October we’re again putting all donations into a pot but this time it goes to Dementia UK (https://www.dementiauk.org/).

Dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) is the leading cause of death in the UK, a status it has held for many years. And there are a lot of people locally that suffer from Dementia. For some reason there still seems to be a stigma associated with dementia. If you wish, you can get a badge from Dementia UK to wear and show your support and understanding for those with dementia.

Both the Thames Valley Air Ambulance and Dementia UK provide support for local residents so this is really just a help your neighbour kind of fund raiser.

The amount raised for the T V Air Ambulance will be posted at the Pop-In Cafe on the 2nd of October. Similarly, we’ll show how much was raised for Dementia UK at the November cafe on Thursday 6th.

The October Pop-In cafe dates are Thursday 2nd and 16th, at the Inkpen pavilion, 10am till 12:30pm. The November dates are Thursday 6th and 20th. All are welcome and we really do mean all.

Inkpen and district Stargazers

On Wednesday 10th September, we had an excellent talk by Steve Harris of Newbury Astro, aimed largely at beginners. The talk was very well received, with an almost full house. Sadly, the sky clouded over immediately the meeting started so there was no opportunity for actual observing. Any suggestions as to how we can prevent the clouding over during our meetings would be gratefully received. We need rain but not on the second Wednesday of the month.

We will post links to talks, on the stargazers website as and when they become available. See http://stargazers.inkpenvillage.co.uk/.

Inkpen Rights of Way - Calling all walkers and riders
Do you walk the footpaths or ride the bridleways in Inkpen? If so, could you help to keep them accessible and in good repair by reporting any issues to a committed group of local volunteers?

The Inkpen Rights of Way Committee was formed over 30 years ago. Our prime objective is to maintain the Rights of Way that criss-cross the village, making sure they are usable throughout the year and ensuring access to the less able.

Volunteer walkers and committee members monitor the network of paths and bridleways and report issues back to the Chair. These can then be resolved locally or elevated to the district council to action. The IRWC formally meets twice a year.

We need volunteers to either join the Committee and/or take on a couple of paths to monitor. They could well be paths you might already walk or ride on a regular basis already.

To find out more the IRWC are holding an open evening between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Thursday 23rd October in the Sports Pavillion to explain what is involved and to answer any questions. Alternatively, if you can’t make the meeting but are interested in helping you can get in touch by contacting Steve Connors on 07831 206061 or Gloria Keene on 07704 718475

The paths and bridleways around our village are a real treasure and an important part of our heritage. With a little help we can keep them in great shape for everyone to enjoy. We hope to see you on 23rd October.

YOGA IN INKPEN
Inkpen Village Hall - Tuesday mornings 9:30-10:30am
Inkpen Pavilion - Thursday evenings 7.00-8.00pm

Yoga which is suitable for beginners and experienced. Classes are £10 pay as you go. Contact oliviaboydall@gmail.com 07554446502 for additional info and requests to book on to a class.

Yoga classes not only bring strength, and a sense of freedom and mobility to our physical bodies, they also leave us feeling calm, aligned, with a settled mind. Through movement, postures, breathwork and meditation you will leave the mat with a new sense of energy and a permeating feeling of deep rest physically and mentally.


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evENTS AT INKPEN village hall

INKPEN STITCH AND KNIT
The Stitch and Knit group will be meeting in Inkpen Village Hall, as usual, on Wednesday 1st October at 7.30 p.m.  We'll all be working on our own various individual projects.  Do come and join us if you enjoy handicrafts.  We charge £2 to cover hall costs and tea/coffee.  Or, if you want any further information, ring Stephanie (07713 097609), our communications contact.

PUDSEY BEAR

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Other inkpen news

VILLAGE LIFE – THE ORCHARD
The village orchard has always been one of Inkpen’s hidden treasures, a place where history, nature, and community meet. First planted generations ago, it has provided fruit, shade, and a peaceful spot for villagers to enjoy throughout the seasons. What makes it truly special, though, is the way it is cared for today.


On Saturday 12th September, the Heads Lane working party came together for the orchard’s annual autumn clear-up. Armed with secateurs, rakes, and plenty of good humour, volunteers tidied the paths, cleared brambles, and made space for the old apple trees to thrive once more.

As with so many village traditions, the hard work was only half the story; the best part came afterwards, when everyone shared a well-earned cup of tea and a biscuit, swapping stories and laughter under the trees they had just tended.

To be part of Inkpen village life is to be part of moments like these: ordinary tasks made joyful by the company of neighbours, and a shared sense that we are looking after something that belongs to us all. The orchard is more than land and trees – it is a living reminder that community spirit, once planted, bears fruit year after year.

CHAIN
Not heard about CHAIN? I’m sure a lot of us haven’t.

Well CHAIN helps those of us that can’t easily get around because of a lack of transport. They provide transport to Doctors, Dentists, Chiropodists, Hospital appointments, and more. Their volunteer drivers collect residents from their home and take them to the appropriate appointment, stay with them and take them back home afterwards. They can also take you to do your weekly shop or whatever.

People often complain that the normal bus is too large especially for country lanes and not sufficiently frequent. They ask ‘why isn’t there a minibus or something’ – well there is and this is it. It is privately funded and relies on volunteers.

The CHAIN Office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 to 11am and the volunteers who ‘man’ the office are there to help you with any bookings or other queries. Call them on 01488 683727.

If you think you can help them, give them a call. As with all such ventures, they rely on support, your support, financial and otherwise. But at the end of the day, they are here to help you.

The Spirit of Giving


NATIONAL SCHOOLREADERS
National children’s literacy charity, Schoolreaders, is looking for volunteers to listen to children read in primary schools in the West Berkshire area. 1 in 4 children are leaving primary school unable to read well so our service is in great demand. No qualifications are required to join Schoolreaders, just a love of reading, a few hours each week in term time and a willingness to go where children need you most. Apply now and you could be ready to start in September. To find out more go to www.Schoolreaders.org

RAMBLERS’ WELLBEING WALKS
The Kintbury group of Wellbeing Walks meets every Tuesday morning at 10am. On the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesday of a month the walk starts from the Kintbury Coronation Hall and ends with coffee at the Bowling Club. On the 2nd and 4th Tuesday, the walk starts at 10am from the Crown & Garter Pub at Inkpen and ends with coffee at the Honesty Bakery.

If you would like to start walking, explore the local footpaths and meet new people just come along or to find out more contact John Noble on 07895 034552 or Janet Taylor on 01488 658225.

Kennet Valley Wetland Reserve
The Town and Manor of Hungerford charity would like your thoughts on its proposal to create a wetland reserve on a site known as Undy's Meadow, between Charnham Park road and the river Kennet. The proposed wetland will be within walking distance of Hungerford town centre, will be open to the public and will include an Education & Information Centre. As a village close to Hungerford, we would like your thoughts on this proposal.

Your feedback is important to ensure we make this project as relevant and appealing as we can. Your responses to our survey (https://tinyurl.com/hungerfordwetland-Survey) will remain anonymous – only the statistics from the surveys will be used. It will only take 5 minutes or less to complete. Thank you.

If you would like to find out more about out proposal do visit our website page on: https://townandmanor.co.uk/wetland-reserve 

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Useful links

Many thanks to Tim and Ali des Forges, editors of the Inkpen and Combe bulletin, for providing bulletin copy for this website.  You can contact Tim and Ali by phone or email thus - aliedesforges@yahoo.co.uk or ring them on 01488 668496. You can also  download a copy of the Inkpen and Combe bulletin here

To report potholes, go to www.westberks.gov.uk/pothole. For other road or pavement issues including overgrown verges, go to www.westberks.gov.uk.

To join Laine's heating oil delivery club, email Lanie.

To report a water leak, go to www.thameswater.co.uk and for loss of electricity, go to www.ssen.co.uk. Both Thames Water and SSE provide priority services for those needing help to cope should there be a loss of service. This includes the elderly and those with special health needs.  Thames Water priority  service can be accessed on-line, here and for SSEN, the details are provided here.


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