Curridge Horticultural Society  are having a major speaker on the 20th Feb.

Mr Ray Broughton from Sparsholt and Wisley giving a talk on Topical tips and New ideas.

Please contact Gordan Main for more information on 01635201224

The Bucklebury and Downlands Neighbourhood Team cover the areas of Bucklebury, Downlands, Cold Ash, Chieveley, Hermitage, Midgham and Woolhampton.

The latest crime statistics can be found by visiting www.police.uk (opens new window)   This website provides you with helpful information about crime and policing in your area. Enter your postcode, town, village or street into the search box, and get instant access to street-level crime maps and data, as well as details of the neighbourhood police team and ‘Have Your Say Events’. The level of crime and anti-social behaviour in the area remains below average compared with the rest of England and Wales. The crime rate in your neighbourhood for the period April to December 2013 inclusive as opposed to the same period in 2012 has reduced by 11%, with vehicle crime down by 8%, burglaries down by 19% and criminal damage down by 19%.

The neighbourhood has three priorities; Rural Crime, Speeding, and Anti Social Behaviour & Criminal Damage in Upper Bucklebury. If you have any concerns about crime or disorder in the Bucklebury & Downlands neighbourhood please email  the address below or call the non emergency number for Thames Valley Police, 101.

On 15th January speed enforcement was carried out in Beedon between 2.40pm and 3.40pm. Five motorists were caught speeding between 36 and 48mph and were reported for speeding.  On 24th January speed enforcement was carried out in East Ilsley between 3.10pm and 4.10pm.  Three motorists were caught speeding between 36 and 44mph and were reported for speeding.  

At this time of year hare coursing again becomes an issue. If you see vehicles driving off road at any time of the day, or lights in fields at night then please call us. Likewise if you see persons walking on fields in a line with dogs then also call us.  

Two teenagers in Chieveley were arrested on suspicion of entering land as a trespasser at night with poaching equipment.  At just before 9pmon the 27thJanuary a member of public reported seeing lights coming from a field at Newbury Showground, Priors Court Road, Chieveley.  Police officers attended and located two males, aged 16 and 19, with lurcher type dogs walking along Priors Court Road. One of the males had a bright lamp and battery pack which was seized and both were arrested and subsequently bailed to appear at Newbury Police station on the 8th February.

Please make sure you report all crimes and any instances of anti social behaviour to Thames Valley Police so we can deal accordingly. Too often we are receiving calls from your parish councilors of incidents that should be reported to the police and too much time has passed by to be able to deal effectively.

Contact us

If you want any advice or would like to contact the neighbourhood team you can call us on the police non emergency number 101 but if your call is an emergency then dial 999. You can also contact us via email: [email protected] This e-mail address should not be used to contact Thames Valley Police to report crimes or for any urgent matters. If you have information about crime or Anti Social Behaviour in your area but you do not want to speak to the police, please call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555111. To view information on your neighbourhood team you can visit the force website at: www.thamesvalley.police.uk

Have you signed up to Thames Valley Alerts?

Thames Valley Alerts is the new system for receiving crime and policing updates for your area.   The state-of-the-art system allows anyone who signs up to choose what updates they receive and how they would like to receive it.    A new option includes receiving information via text and more traditional landline and email messages will still be available.   You can also filter the updates you receive by specifying the priority level of the messages you receive.

To sign up to receive alerts visit www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/

We welcomed a number of residents to our open meeting on Wednesday 22nd January 2014, to cover various issues concerning Curridge and also to discuss the future of the CRA.

After a very positive discussion regarding the function of the CRA, we have all reached the conclusion that there is still very much more that the CRA can do for the village! We have also been able to appoint a new Chair and Treasurer, and we look forward to their input in the coming months.

The meeting also covered a number of points, including:

·      The Strategic Land Availability Assessment, where the review of results has shown that proposed sites concentrate on Chieveley, as a Service Village, rather than Curridge.

·      Curridge School/Community Playing Field – Although Curridge Primary School have been looking to purchase a piece of land as a school/community playing field, they have since withdrawn their offer on a piece of land.

·      Forestry management on Curridge Road - This sympathetic felling is complete, and there will be a restocking plan, mainly Oak & Sweet Chestnut to begin within 18 months.