There has been an increase in crime in the local area this week. Thames Valley Police have advised residents to report everything that they notice that appears suspicious as well as any act of crime, using the 101 telephone number. They are aware that the area has suffered an increase in rural crime and are keen to build up a picture of these elusive criminals' movements, including dates, places and times.

Here is the latest update for the Bucklebury & Downlands neighbourhood from Neighbourhood Officer PC Matthew Allen.

The latest crime statistics can be found by visiting www.police.uk  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 September 2013 inclusive as opposed to the same period in 2012 has reduced by 12%, with vehicle crime down by 20%, burglaries down by 24% and criminal damage down by 29%.

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

Henry Hartley Russell a 20 year old male from Chapel Row has been found guilty of possession of a class C drug and fined £350 following an incident on 9th August 2013 in Chapel Row.

A 20 year old male has been given a conditional caution for being in charge of a dog and allowing it to be dangerously out of control and injuring a person in Beedon on 20th May 2013.   

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

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.

You can keep up to date with news from the Bucklebury & Downlands Neighbourhood Police Team and find out about forthcoming meetings, crime statistics and how to contact your neighbourhood officers by visiting the Thames Valley Police website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk and following the links for Neighbourhood Policing.

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  

For updates and news in your area follow us on Twitter @TVP_WestBerks.

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

Chieveley Parish Council – latest news

 

Snapshot…of the Parish Council meeting on 8th October 2013. 

Planning Applications

Four planning applications were tabled for consideration:

• One was for the demolition of Downend Water Tower and the construction of a new dwelling
• One was for request to vary a Condition of an approved application for the erection of a barn
• One was for a replacement roof to a building at Priors Court School
• One was for a two storey extension and sun room.

Further information about Planning Applications can be found on the Planning Advice section of the West Berkshire Council website.

 

Superfast Broadband

The Parish Council received an update report regarding progress of the Superfast Berkshire Programme.  West Berkshire Council has now signed a contract with BT on behalf of all the Berkshire District Councils to provide broadband speed and coverage improvement across Berkshire.  The project will be delivered in 5 phases and rollout should be complete in September 2015.  The Parish of Chieveley is currently scheduled to receive broadband upgrades in phases 1, 4 and 5.  Indicative figures (which are subject to survey from BT and may therefore change) show that the number of premises in the Parish (1,046) as having basic broadband (2Mbit/s) is currently at 82% and that this figure will rise to 100% as a result of the planned improvements.  In the case of superfast broadband (24Mbit/s) the figure for the Parish is currently 0% and this will rise to 29% by the end of the rollout.

The Parish Council agreed to write to West Berkshire Council to seek clarification on a number of points and to better understand the plans for, and impact of, the rollout in the Parish.  Further information about the Programme can be found via Superfast Berkshire.

Winter Service Plan Consultation 2013/14

The Parish Council considered information provided by West Berkshire Council regarding the Winter Service Plan for 2013/14.

The Plan includes information about primary and secondary roads that will be treated where snow is forecast.  Further information about the Plan will be available in due course and via Highway Winter Service.

Chieveley High Street Bus Shelter

The Parish Council received an update regarding damage to the bus shelter and agreed that the removal of rubble and clearing of the site should take place, subject to clarification of quotes received, as quickly as possible.  The Parish Council also considered the options and to replace the bus shelter and noted the funds available from the insurance cover.  Options and costs associated with a replacement bus shelter will be considered at a future meeting.       

Spotlight… on the Winter Weather Guide

The Parish Council has produced a simple Guide designed to help you to act in a neighbourly way by safely clearing snow and ice from pavements and public spaces.  You can download the Guide via the Chieveley Parish Council web pages on MyChieveley.co.uk.

FAQ…of the month

Question – Where do meetings of the Parish Council take place?

Answer – The venue varies between the Chieveley Village Hall & Recreation Centre and the Curridge W I Hall. The Agenda for the meeting is put up on notice boards around the Parish 3 clear working days before a meeting is due to take place and is also posted on the Chieveley Parish Council web pages on MyChieveley.co.uk.  The Agenda confirms the venue the meeting will take place and the matters to be considered.

Next Meeting...

The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place at 7.30pm on 12th November 2013 at the Chieveley Village Hall & Recreational Centre, Chieveley, Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 8TE.   

Chieveley Parish Council – latest news

 

Snapshot…of the Parish Council meeting on 10th September 2013. 

Planning Applications

Three planning applications were tabled for consideration:

• One was to build a new barn over an existing pig building to improve current facilities
• One was for a two storey extension
• One related to an agricultural occupancy condition.

Further information about Planning Applications can be found on the Planning Advice section of the West Berkshire Council website.

 

Community Speed Watch SID/Radar Gun

The Parish Council received a brief regarding Community Speed Watch which outlined the background to the project group formed in 2011 to monitor road traffic within the Parish; the current situation regarding funds ring fenced for the purchase of a radar gun; and the next steps and options for consideration.  The Parish Council noted that speeding was an issue identified by residents in the Parish Plan and that many would support measures to address the problem.  It was agreed that a plan would be created to progress the matter and that more data would be sought to help indicate the scale of the problem and to pinpoint locations of particular concern.

Heritage Forum

The Parish Council gave consideration to a request from the West Berkshire Heritage Forum (the Forum is a partnership established to recognise, promote and protect the heritage of West Berkshire) for a donation.  The Parish Council agreed that further information was required to enable a decision to be reached.

Crime in the Parish

The Parish Council received a report regarding criminal activity in the Bucklebury and Downlands neighbourhood – the policing area which includes the Parish.  The report recorded that ‘the level of crime and anti-social behaviour in the area remains below average compared with the rest of England and Wales and that the crime rate in Bucklebury and Downlands neighbourhood for the period April to June 2013 inclusive as opposed to the same period in 2012 has reduced by 18%, with burglaries down by 28%’.

Parish Council meeting dates for 2014

Meeting dates for the forthcoming year were approved and will be published on the Parish Council pages of the MyChieveley web site in due course.  The Parish Assembly will be held on 8th April 2014 at the Chieveley Village Hall and Recreational Centre.

Spotlight… on Neighbourhood Policing

You can keep up to date with news from the Bucklebury and Downlands Neighbourhood Police Team and find out about forthcoming meetings, crime statistics and how to contact your neighbourhood officers by visiting the Thames Valley Police website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk and following the links for Neighbourhood Policing. 

FAQ…of the month

Question – If I encounter a problem with a road (e.g. a pot hole or footway), or with the countryside and the environment (e.g. a public right of way) in the Parish, who do I report this to?

Answer – Please report the matter to West Berkshire Council using their Report A Problem service.

Next Meeting...

The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place at 7.30pm on 8th October 2013 at the Chieveley Village Hall & Recreational Centre, Chieveley, Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 8TE.