Home   News   Article Thatcham Town Council has appointed Scofell Commercial Landscapes to maintain its public spaces will see the Chieveley-based company take responsibility for cleaning and maintaining Thatcham’s open spaces The town council said it was particularly impressed by the contractor’s commitment to sustainability the town council has installed an electric vehicle charging point on The Moors to enable Scofell’s team to use environmentally friendly vehicles while carrying out their duties Mayor of Thatcham Suzanne Adamantos said: “[Scofell]’s strong environmental values and local roots make them the perfect fit for Thatcham “We look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have on our town’s green spaces.” A spokesperson from Scofell added: “As a company with team members who live in Thatcham we take great pride in looking after the local area “We are excited to work alongside the council and the community to keep Thatcham’s public spaces clean Scofell will undertake a wide range of responsibilities including: grounds maintenance in council run parks and open spaces grass cutting and pathway clearance and weed control A new communications board has been installed to support non-verbal children in Thatcham Thatcham Town Council has installed the board in Turnfields Play Area which is designed to help children who experience difficulty with verbal communication easy-to-use board allows children to express themselves by pointing to symbols and images specifically selected for playground settings The inclusive addition is to ensure that every child can can share their thoughts and fully enjoy their time at the park The board is now available for use and forms part of the town council’s ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility across the community’s public spaces A MAN has been convicted of assault causing grievous bodily harm Michael Endersby appeared in the dock at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday admitted assaulting Liam Hullett in Thatcham on July 4 last year thereby unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on him Magistrates adjourned for pre-sentence reports They stipulated these should be prepared on an ‘all options’ basis who was legally represented by Max Riley-Gould was meanwhile released on conditional bail A motorist was caught behind the wheel after drinking more than three times the legal limit Kevin Massey appeared in the dock at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Monday whose address was given as The Wheatsheaf in Chapel Street had pleaded not guilty to driving a motor vehicle on Artillery Road on March 5 last year after drinking more than the legal limit But he did not turn up for his trial and the case was found proved in his absence Tests showed 106mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system Massey was meanwhile made subject to an interim driving ban A town centre road will be shut for two days in Thatcham between Church Gate and the Bath Road/Chapel Street The closure is to allow Volker Highways to complete block paving works and repair two gullies on behalf of West Berkshire Council The contractor said residential and blue light access will be maintained if possible Motorists in Station Road will need to divert via The Moors and join the A4 Motorists in Church Gate will need to divert via Green Lane and join the A4 Visit https://one.network/?tm=GB142884856 to view the full closure Contact the district council’s Network Improvement Team on 01635 519080 for all enquiries A road in Thatcham will be closed for one day next month Green Lane will shut from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Monday The closure is to permit Sunbelt Rentals safe access to the existing underground Openreach line plant and two jointing boxes to provide service for a customer on behalf of Openreach Blue light and residential access will be maintained where possible Motorists travelling from Church Gate or the Bath Road will need to divert via the Broadway Contact Sunbelt Rentals on 03700 500 792 for all enquiries Visit https://one.network/?tm=GB142454559 to view the full closure and diversion A man is waiting to be sentenced for an offence of dangerous driving Louis Dean appeared in the dock at reading Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday admitted driving a Vauxhall Vectra dangerously on the A4 Bath Road on Lower Way and on Church Gate in Thatcham on September 18 last year He further admitted doing so while uninsured Magistrates adjourned for pre-sentence reports to be prepared and warned Dean that they reserved the right to send the case to be sentenced by a judge sitting at Reading Crown Court should they consider their their own powers of punishment were insufficient Dean was meanwhile released on unconditional bail have started a new online magazine showcasing the hidden talent of creatives behind the scenes went live with Surround Sound on Thursday (May 1) an online-only magazine highlighting the creatives “behind your favourite movies media and more who don’t get the attention they deserve” She developed the site on WordPress with coursemate Aoife Carnevale who she met at the University of York where she is currently studying for a bachelor’s degree in English and related literature They have already interviewed the likes of Brona Steenson who created the iconic jewellery used in Game of Thrones using the tried and tested method of “reaching out to a million people and hoping that five respond” Miss Clift told newburytoday more about how the magazine started: “We were sat in a film studies lecture and were looking at the behind the scenes of a movie “We wanted to write all these stories and we thought we could just do it together “It's mostly an opportunity for me to speak to people I'm really impressed by who do behind the scenes work and learn about all the stuff they're doing.” Miss Carnevale added: “We were looking for a way to crack into the industry while writing about something we felt passionate about “It’s a platform for all the times I’ve thought ‘I wish I could write about this Surround Sound has six categories for readers covering topics related to the arts but I’m really proud of the work that we’ve done,” Miss Clift added “We stayed up until 1am making sure the website looked good [on Wednesday].” Speaking about why she has pursued journalism as a career she added: “I did my A-levels and had the amazing teacher Mr Killeen which was kind of my first step into the world of journalism.” She is now deputy editor-in-chief for her university magazine The pair are currently seeking new contributors and hidden creatives with stories to tell Visit www.surroundsoundmagazine.co.uk or contact surroundsoundmagazines@gmail.com to get involved A slightly different item was up for debate at Thatcham Town Council’s finance and general purposes committee meeting on Tuesday Councillors considered a proposal forwarded by the Community Engagement Working Party for a phased removal of certain details in the town council’s logo after this group was contacted by a resident suggesting it no longer aligned with modern sensibilities suggesting any such removal should be done in a way that doesn’t embarrass any organisations which use similar logos inspired by the council’s own but reminded councillors entirely new logos had been considered in the past and suggested members of the community should be considered if this line was pursued said: “That logo is on our shirts and probably numerous organisations which would then have an indirect cost.” Thatcham North East) said any discussions to alter the town council’s logo were significant and recommended the decision be put forward to full council Thatcham Centre) replied: “I agree with that hook The committee resolved to refer the matter to the full council Our reporter Mirek Gosney and photographer Phil Cannings reported live from the count as the results came in The Lib Dems have won the Thatcham North East by-elections Be sure to keep updated on all the political happenings in the local area by checking the newburytoday website subscribing to our daily newsletter The Briefing or by picking up your copy of the Newbury Weekly News each Thursday Tom McCann wins for the Lib Dems with 690 votes Dominic Parry (Conservative) wins 428 votes Michael Wakelyn-Green (Green) won 127 votes and Lee Allen (Labour) won 65 votes thank you everyone for coming here this evening and giving up your precious time.” voters and party members for their support Mark Thomas wins for the Lib Dems with 738 votes Louis Clement (Conservative) won 407 votes Gary Clark (Reform UK) won 386 votes and Mike Brook (Labour) won 51 votes Mr Thomas said: “Thank you to the Lib Dems and our team who worked tirelessly and to the election staff and the returning officer for a fair election.” We’ve heard it’s a close match between two parties It won’t be long until we find out the results There are several representatives from all the relevant political parties here tonight Among them is West Berkshire Council leader Jeff Brooks former councillor and Newbury MP Lee Dillon deputy leader of the Conservatives Dominic Boeck and last year’s Labour parliamentary candidate Liz Bell We can confirm there has been a 29.1 per cent turnout in the district by-election with 1,679 ballot papers verified And there was a 29.4 per cent turnout in the town by-election with 1,587 ballot papers verified The team are now verifying the postal votes why not find out more about the candidates standing at the links below READ MORE: ‘Patriotic environmentalist’ goes for Thatcham NE council seat READ MORE: Lib Dems announce candidates for Thatcham by-elections READ MORE: Reform UK puts up two candidates for Thatcham council by-elections READ MORE: Labour puts forward candidates Lee Allen and Mike Brook for Thatcham North East seats on West Berkshire Council and Thatcham Town Council The count team are now verifying the second of the five ballot boxes We have now been permitted entry inside Frank Hutchings Community Hall in Thatcham waiting for the election count to begin Returning Officer Jospeh Holmes welcomed everyone and acknowledged some voters had encountered issues with registering their votes via the QR system earlier this evening There is less than an hour to go until the election count begins for the Thatcham North East by-elections There are two seats up for grabs as a result of MP Lee Dillon stepping down from Thatcham Town Council and West Berkshire Council to focus on being an MP There are five candidates standing in the district by-election and four in the town council one The candidates are beginning to emerge to replace Lee Dillon on West Berkshire Council and Thatcham Town Council Mr Dillon stood down as a councillor for Thatcham North East last week to focus on his Parliamentary MP for Newbury role announcing a 20-year-old university student for the post Lee Allen has been an active member of the Labour Party for several years and is currently the communication and social media officer for Newbury Labour “I care deeply about the inequality facing many families and want to be a councillor to change that,” he said Mr Allen says he is passionate about social justice and has been actively involved in various community initiatives that aim to support vulnerable groups Another spot up for grabs is on Thatcham Town Council “I value the services that local councils offer,” he said “The town council has an important part to play in planning It is important that new housing is matched with new infrastructure.” highlighted the significance of this by-election saying: “A second Labour councillor on West Berkshire Council would mean we have representation in two key wards in both the east and west of the district which will help us to continue to directly serve our local communities as the party of government.” Tilehurst Birch Copse) became the only Labour candidate in the May 2024 local elections for West Berkshire Candidates have until 4pm on March 26 to declare for the election on Thursday the article you have requested is no longer available Thatcham mayor Suzanne Adamantos held her Civic Reception on Friday night And in front of an assembly of specially invited councillors she shone a light on some of the best and brightest in the town Mrs Adamantos presented cheques for £1,915 to her chosen charities Thatcham Youth and Cruse Bereavement Support supports Thatcham Youth with fellow councillor Ben Schiffer-Harte (Thatcham North East) She said: “Thatcham Youth do a fantastic job of helping to develop new skills “Paige [McShane] is amazing and she goes above and beyond what she is contracted to do.” She also explained how she benefitted from Cruse Bereavement Support when she lost her sister Mrs Adamantos thanked all the selfless volunteers she has met during her tenure as mayor christening them the “true heroes of our town” She shared some of her highlights in the role, from visiting school theatre performances to presenting a certificate to Thatcham man Pete Congerton for his years of fundraising efforts But she jested singing at Thatcham’s Christmas lights switch-on was not one of them is also a member of the West Berkshire Suicide Prevention Action Group and is a past deputy director for Newbury Samaritans Thatcham North East) gave a moving address to Mrs Adamantos about her time as mayor He confirmed Mrs Adamantos attended 165 events this civic year and recognised her as the first mayor to lead a Chinese dragon during the town’s first Chinese New Year Celebrations He also thanked her for being a generous supplier of cake at council meetings Mrs Adamantos’ successor will be announced at a mayor making ceremony at Frank Hutchings Community Hall on Sunday The Green Party has announced its candidate for the Thatcham North East by-election works in a local inpatient mental health hospital and participate in multi-agency partnerships that help develop local public health policies,” he said “I went to Kennet School; I worked at the little Tesco at 17 The local Green Party wants the Lib Dem district council to increase the youth service budget to £1,000,000 annually you don’t invest in the adults of the future “We know proactive youth work leads to safer streets “It was economically reckless for the Conservatives and Lib Dems to cut these vital services to nothing He also opposes the Thatcham North East housing development sustainable developments that don’t decimate our green spaces and destroy wildlife – this isn’t that.” He pledges to work with local residents to robustly represent their concerns at council Defining himself as a “patriotic environmentalist” please lend me and our Green team your vote “We want to prove ourselves to you by our actions A VIOLENT stalker has been locked up to await his sentence Kieran Murphy appeared in the dock at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday knowing that his behaviour would cause her distress in Thatcham between April 1 last year and March 11 this year He also pleaded guilty to a domestic violence assault by beating in Thatcham between September 30 and November 1 last year admitted causing £500 worth of criminal damage to a car belonging to Ms Doswell on the Broadway in Thatcham on March 8 and reserved their right to commit the case to be sentenced by a judge sitting at Reading Crown Court should they decide that their own powers of punishment were insufficient They meanwhile denied Murphy bail and remanded him in custody They did so because of the nature and seriousness of the offences the fact that offences were committed within a domestic context and due to Murphy’s previous convictions and character Controversial plans to move a path and put fences and gate up through the Memorial Fields in Thatcham have gone through But they were modified at West Berkshire Council’s eastern area planning committee last night (Wednesday) calming fears of blocked access to and from the fields with a request for reinstatement of goalposts councillors pointed out the reasons for the works which are part of the district’s flood alleviation scheme “These basins will keep the people of Thatcham safe,” said Richard Somner (Con “And we should not underestimate what happened “I waded thigh deep to save my children from school,” said Jeremy Cottam (Lib Dem “Stoney Lane looked like rapids in the Grand Canyon It could have been much worse and we should accept some costs on the community to ensure the safety of people here.” saying people had been using the field since the late 1940s no gates had been on the ground for 70 plus years and that such a scheme was to the detriment of local taxpayers “The path connecting Beverley Close entrance around the corner has not been connected in this application which means anyone with mobility issues will not be able to get into the field and go around the top they would have to go all the way down to the clock tower and back,” said Vicky Caws “The gates proposed are also in addition to the original plan.” Nathan Gregory speaking on behalf of the applicant engineer Ardent raised the complex land ownership of the site He said the footpath accesses had been granted in previous years by the trustees of the grounds adding that they were closed once a year to prevent a public right of way emerging He confirmed that no public rights of way exist across the land now “Whilst the flood alleviation scheme is required to protect homes and livelihoods of residents it is the greatest challenge to the sustained running of the site in eight decades,” he said The playing fields will be bisected north and south two different landscapes with two different purposes,” he said “In time the northern area will be transferred to West Berkshire Council to be run as a public open space for recreation “We also hope the council will reconsider the installation of casual football goals in this area.” He says grants have been given to reinstate football on the site for development of junior and women’s sport “The fence is required for delineation of land owners Simon Pike from Thatcham Town Council told the meeting it had actively supported the measures for flood alleviation “We supported the main application for the scheme apart from concerns about gates across the path,” he said “The gates being locked in an open position addresses those concerns “We suggest an additional condition that within a month of the approval that path access to Brownfield Road and Tennyson Road be restored.” A new cricket pitch goes in six months after the works the tennis court stays and the playground areas get put back after three months of the work starting The flood alleviation scheme within the playing fields is the final scheme under the Thatcham Surface Water Management Plan with all the schemes working together to reduce flood risk It was identified that this final scheme would reduce both the probability and depth of flooding for properties to the south of the application site The justification for the flood alleviation scheme was considered to deliver substantial benefits to residents in Thatcham A Savers is opening in Thatcham town centre The popular discount chain – known for its wide range of food, household and health and beauty products – will be moving into units 13 and 14 in the Kingsland Centre Plans have been approved to knock down the separating walls to create a single retail unit But fear not as House of Cards, still trading at unit 14, has confirmed it will be taking the former Lloyds Pharmacy unit directly opposite, which closed in August 2022 said: “We are pleased to announce that Savers has exchanged a lease for a double unit resulting in further investment in the town centre “We hope to announce further signings soon.” Opening times for both new units will be announced shortly Thatcham is set to host two special community initiatives in support of Dementia Action Week The town council is running two events for Dementia Action Week as part of the ‘Paint the Town Blue’ campaign led by Dementia Friendly West Berkshire Thatcham will be turned blue with hundreds of community-crocheted forget-me-nots – the official flower of Dementia Action Week – adorning the Broadway to raise awareness of the support available to those living with and caring for loved ones with dementia Shops and businesses are invited to join in by decorating their shop fronts with information packs to be available throughout the week from many of the outlets in town The week’s activities will continue with a Fundraising Garden Party on Friday from 10am to 12.30pm in the Jubilee Sensory Garden Hosted by Thatcham Town Council and Home Instead the occasion will provide visitors with the chance to enjoy tea Home Instead carers will be on hand to ensure the wellbeing of all attendees and to lead a free informative session on practical advice and insights for anyone supporting a loved one living with dementia at 11.30am Each attendee will receive a free information booklet Director of Home Instead Melissa Johnson said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with Thatcham Town Council for this wonderful event “Our dementia information session will offer guidance for families and even customer-facing staff who want to better support those living with dementia in our community.” BERKSHIRE was the destination for Tavistock AFC’s final game of the season and they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of an already-relegated Thatcham Town side, reports Luca Sperti. On a difficult surface, the winning goals were scored by Ben Portbury and Christian Johnson. Stuart Henderson made one enforced change to his final Lambs team of the season with Tallan Burns returning to the side replacing the suspended Luke Mortimore. The first chance of the encounter at the Mettal Stadium fell to the home side with Maidenhead loanee Christian Johnson picking the ball up down the right wing in the second minute. The former Metropolitan Police forward made his way infield before smashing a powerful effort that flew past Aaron Dearing’s far right post. In the 13th minute, the Lambs picked up the first card of the game with midfielder Tyler Elliott booked for a challenge on Kyle Daniel-Spray, near the Thathcam corner flag. The yellow at first glance seemed harsh, with the challenge the former Tiverton man’s first of the afternoon. Three minutes later, Tavistock had a great chance to take the lead after a Matt Pullinger clearance was intercepted by Jack Crago. The clearance of Crago fell to Elliott, who smashed a powerful effort towards the goal but was denied well by the returning Pullinger, who got his bearings back between the sticks. Chances were coming at either end and it was the hosts who opened the scoring. Callum Willmoth picked out Portbury in the box who took a touch and then smashed a thunderous effort into the top-right corner. This was a goal worthy of opening any game and one that Dearing could do nothing about. 1-0 remained the score at the break and in the second half, Henderson was the first manager to turn to his bench. With attacker Elliott on a tightrope, Tom Symons was sent on to take his place. Thatcham were next to make substitutions and moments after, they nearly had a second. The lead would have been doubled if not for an expert, clawing save from the Lambs’ number one. Dearing came up trumps once again, with similar acrobatics, only for his resolve to eventually be broken. The on-top home side added a second, with the lively Johnson getting a goal his all-round play deserved. A through ball by Wilmoth found Johnson, who flicked the ball past Iestyn Harris, before rolling an effort under the body of Dearing, who was left disappointed with the effort going in. A couple of efforts on goal followed for Tavistock as they went in search of a lifeline but to no avail. Instead, tensions rose and Crago was carded in the 88th minute, after a late challenge on Pullinger on what was a frustrating afternoon for the forward. In additional time, the home side created a few opportunities with a Matthews header from a Daniel-Spray cross smashed over the bar, before Mansel’s shot was flicked wide of Dearing’s far post. Not long later, the referee blew for full-time and for the final time in the 24/25 season, with the Lambs securing Southern League football for the fourth season on the bounce. After a difficult season that ended in relegation, Thatcham will now drop into step-five for the first time since the 17/18 season. Comments Tel: 01822 613666[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 A MAN who groomed a child for sex has been jailed The 32-year-old gave the “young and impressionable” girl gifts before taking her to his bed When her suspicious parents examined her phone they were shocked to find Daniel Griffin’s number listed under ‘husband’ said the victim was confronted about her interaction with Griffin but she initially insisted nothing untoward had happened He added: “They then found she had been at the defendant’s home address by herself on several occasions.” Eventually the child admitted she had stayed overnight and they had had consensual sexual intercourse a former pupil at Trinity School in Newbury Mr Parvin went on: “He gave a prepared statement denying any sexual relationship.” the child was found in possession of an iPhone which didn’t belong to her Mr Parvin said: “It appears it belonged to the defendant; the call log showed she had been speaking to Mr Griffin following his arrest.” Detectives managed to retrieve deleted images including one of Griffin Griffin was arrested again and gave a “no comment” interview Mr Parvin said the child now realised she had been groomed that she consequently has difficulty trusting people and that she acknowledges the relationship had been damaging to her Griffin admitted engaging in sexual activity with a child and sexual communication with a child on specific dates He has previous convictions but they are for unrelated matters said her client now accepted responsibility for his actions and had shown genuine remorse She added that Griffin wished to apologise to the child and to her family and had “taken steps to address his behaviour and attitude” while in custody on remand Ms MacDermott went on: “This was out of character for him and he doesn’t want to go back to prison after this.” she told the court Griffin had been affected by domestic abuse he had witnessed in his childhood home Judge Amjad Nawwaz stressed the grooming aspect of Griffin’s behaviour pointing out that he had bought the child gifts had responsibility for stopping and showing where the boundaries are” Judge Nawwaz added: “But you crossed those boundaries.” he said: “She now realises the mistake she made and the impact it could have on the rest of her life – and it has affected her “She was young and impressionable – you took advantage.” Griffin was sentenced to four-and-a-half years imprisonment – minus the time spent on remand – half of which will be spent in custody and the remainder in the community on licence he was made subject to a 10-year restraining order to protect the child from him in future Griffin was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life is charged with engaging in sex with the girl when he did not reasonably believe she was aged 16 or over in Newbury on a specific date last year A new independent coffee shop is opening soon in Thatcham Cupcakes by Daisy will be opening in the High Street The business is taking over the unit occupied by Vaccaro’s Coffee Shop But she said the decision to open a shop with her husband Jerry came about just this month “It's all been a bit of a whirlwind really,” she told newburytoday “I've had the cake business for probably five years or more “It has a lot of local customers and even some from further afield.” to focus on making cakes about five years ago She added: “I started the cakes just before Covid I was doing that whilst I worked for the NHS “We'll just see how it goes for the first few weeks and hopefully we'll be run off our feet.” dairy free and vegan options – and continue to be dog-friendly Works on upgrading the signage and refurbishing the interior are currently under way Croudace Homes is working on plans for 236 properties on land at Henwick Park in Thatcham The housebuilder has submitted a screening opinion request to West Berkshire Council ahead of a full planning application for the development of the 22.9-hectare agricultural site A previous application for 265 homes was refused on appeal in 2017 and a 2023 application for an 80-bed care home was withdrawn which includes market and affordable homes will include public open space including parkland and play areas will be from Bowling Green Road and Cold Ash Hill Visit https://publicaccess.westberks.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SROTXKRD04Z00 © Thames Tap (powered by ukpropertyforums.com) Sign up to receive our weekly free journal, The Forum here and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" UK Property Forums enable forums and events in the property sector which help to create business development opportunities Office Address:UK Property Forums Ltd is located in Reading 0203 478 7340info@ukpropertyforums.com We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again Reform UK is putting up two local candidates for the upcoming by-elections in Thatcham James Stokes has lived in Thatcham for several years He is the owner and director of Thames Valley Commercial Exports Ltd and now he wants to be on West Berkshire Council to “make a real difference to local council decisions” Gary Clark has lived in Thatcham since 2018 and believes the people in the neighbourhood make this a great place to live He is a regional manager for a large infrastructure maintenance company covering most of the South and Midlands They said they plan to address the problem of increasing rates of council tax and declining services said: “Our candidates have many years’ experience of business management and are acutely aware of the cost of living crisis “They plan to address the problem of ever increasing rates of council tax and declining services “Despite increasing council tax by the maximum of five per cent the council has applied for emergency funding from central government “In the meantime they are planning to spend 10 per cent of the budget on a solar farm while cutting key services “This election offers an opportunity to elect representatives who will examine all town and district expenditure to ensure better value for residents “This will provide a genuine alternative to the councils dominated to date by Lib Dems and Conservatives.” The battle for Pincents Hill has erupted again The developers have been given another go at it after West Berkshire Council’s hand was forced by this to find sites which can be developed for housing in the next five years An eight-week public consultation will now get under way about all the allocated sites prompting a desperate plea from the council “This is your last possible chance to tell the inspector that you are unhappy about the sites proposed in this plan,” deputy leader Denise Gaines told Thursday’s council meeting “We were left no choice but to allocate sites that can be delivered in the next five years.” The council has produced a revised plan now running to 2041 showing where extra housing demanded by the Government will be put up until then This has increased the overall housing requirement for the plan from at least 8,721 additional dwellings to at least 9,270 more homes Development on the North East Thatcham Strategic Housing Allocation has been increased from 1,500 dwellings to 2,500 Space for around 500 extra homes on top of that has also been found elsewhere – including 138 at Pincents Hill That’s despite numerous rejections of previous attempts to put houses on it even the then Reading West MP Alok Sharma joined campaigners against the 165 dwellings put forward The Local Plan is considered something of a political hospital pass to the Lib Dem administration which inherited the plan it maintains is flawed from the previous Conservative-run council “It was rushed through 35 days before they lost control of this council and is a flawed Local Plan,” added Ms Gaines “We will continue to forcefully state that the plan is not right for the residents of West Berkshire; the policies developed within it are sound The West Berkshire Local Plan Review (LPR) is currently being independently examined by a planning inspector appointed by the secretary of state The council was directed by the minister of state for housing planning and building safety on December 19 to not withdraw the plan and to progress it through the examination process There is a significant risk of Government intervention should the council decline to comply with the inspector’s action points It is estimated that the cost of preparation of a plan through to adoption is around £1.5m “The legal implications states that should the council not follow the requirements of the inspector it is highly likely that MHCLG will intervene and take over the process,” said Ms Gaines This would necessitate the Local Plan being highjacked by the Government and West Berkshire having any influence over the Local Plan completely removed – and then being charged for that privilege “So much for local democracy!” Ms Gaines added “Local people are denied the ability to make local choices “Both those directions set in motion a set of actions which we have had no choice but to commit to.” Theale) said: “The inspector is not proposing to remove the extra 100 homes in Theale being added to the 420 currently being constructed increasing the village size by 40 per cent.” Tilehurst Birch Copse) added: “Pincents Hill has been a long and fought for battle “Residents love this open space and use it for exercise “Any residents know already just how terrible the traffic is around the Sainsbury’s and IKEA junction “The proposed development if it goes through will feed traffic through those same bottlenecks and this is why the proposal has been rejected before “I am so disappointed that we are here again fighting this battle Clive Taylor for Labour in the same ward told the meeting he was “flabbergasted” that this site was proposed for inclusion given the history of refusals “I was also disturbed to read the settlement boundary has been moved,” he said Worries about the removal of control on planning was summed up by Richard Somner (Con who said: “I’m also concerned about Pincents “Public opinion has been heard time and time again “But it begs the question if it comes back again with another application how do we have to treat it Newbury Wash Common) said 26 per cent of councils in England don’t have a Local Plan and that the council shouldn’t be too worried about it suggesting instead that the council does not adopt one as the Government planning framework (NPPF) will decide what happens anyway and then assessed by the council – so we are developer led anyway,” he added Newbury Wash Common) added: “Some of the things in the last plan have been watered down which will now be assessed on the amenity of the area infrastructure which previously had to be phased now says ‘where necessary’ “If you want to see the effects of development with no infrastructure Tilehurst and Purley) said: “Pincents Hill is under threat “The so-called benefit is affordable housing… for which household budget It is practically gridlocked and the neighbourhood already under pressure for flooding since land was cleared of shrubs and trees “As for the loss of the green space and the wildlife “I stood to be a councillor and naively believed in local democracy but this is undermined by central government.” Christopher Read (Lib Dem,Bucklebury) said it can’t get any worse for residents “We are now at the mercy of the developers,” he said “They are going to squeeze every acre out of that [North East Thatcham] site and the expense of our quality of life “Developers are squeezing a new town the size of Hungerford between two well-established existing settlements “There is still no commitment to a new secondary school to serve young families for the next 70 years “I understand it will need significantly more investment than can be raised through the developer’s contribution “There is no answer to the over-stretched Thatcham sewage works with Thames Water in a precarious financial position “There is no position on maintaining the ecological links between the Pang and Kennet Valleys “This is for developers to build and sell with no regard for the consequences I cannot vote for this motion to consult.” Hundreds of runners took part in the second annual Thatcham 10k on Sunday (April 6) Runners of all ages and abilities gathered under a glorious sun at the Lower Way Playing Fields, with spectators arriving in force to support both the 10k and the inaugural 1.5k Kid’s Race The route incorporated the scenic paths of the Nature Discovery Centre Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust A total of 245 runners completed the 10k This year’s winner was Jack Boswell (Aldershot Farnham and District AC) in a course record 35:06 In second place was Matthew Woolridge (unattached) and third place Andy Goddard (Basingstoke and Mid-Hants AC) The first female over the line was Emily Craggs (Newbury AC) with a time of 45:20 And in second place was Corinne Callaway (Reading Joggers) with Alice Snare (unattached) following in third place the top three finishers were Matthew Jones This year also saw the introduction of a Non-Binary category to represent the event’s inclusivity In first place for this category was Freddie Watson Stubbs (unattached) in 55:31 Newbury AC retained their Club Team title (Ethan Kuijten Mayor of Thatcham Suzanne Adamantos awarded medals and trophies to the winners and was inundated with requests to have her photo taken Her chosen charities Cruse Bereavement Care and Thatcham Youth will receive the proceeds raised Race director and Thatcham town councillor Ben Schiffer-Harte (Lib Dem which helped to keep the course nice and dry compared especially around the paths running next to the fishing lakes which last year were very soft underfoot due to the amount of rainfall.” “When I brought this idea to Thatcham Town Council to support this event I never imagined it extending to include a kids race “Many runners from the 2024 race decided to come back again for a second time “The race committee was created to raise not only money for charity but also to raise the profile of health and wellbeing.” Event sponsors Roots Estate Agency also retained its Corporate Team title (Ben Perrins The organisers wish to thank main sponsors Roots Estate Agency Bella Luna Restaurant and Howden Insurance without whose support the event would not be possible Visit https://my.raceresult.com/331918/results to view the results from this year’s event Newburytoday understands there are plans to introduce a 5k next year to make the event even more inclusive A new development is being considered at Thatcham Garden Centre made by applicant and site owner Paulin & Wilson Ltd a convenience store and six smaller commercial units with 53 car parking spaces across all units on mostly undeveloped land bordering Tull Way and the A4 roundabout West Berkshire Council has accepted the proposal in principle but requested the applicant change the layout of the buildings so they weren’t located so close to the site boundary It also removed the 12 petrol fuel pumps included in the original plans A full application has now been submitted which A statement prepared on the applicant’s behalf read: “The final proposal protects landscape and visual amenity whilst securing a development which will diversify and complement the retail and commercial offer of the existing garden centre helping to secure the future viability of the business as well as providing new employment opportunities.” vehicles would enter the garden centre from the A4 via an expanded two-lane system travel round the building to order and then exit via the internal access road on to Tull Way New connections to existing foul and surface water sewers located within the site are also included within the plans to manage and reduce the flood risk posed by surface water runoff from the site The exact levels will be confirmed before the works begin A series of zebra crossings on the internal access are also proposed The existing caretaker’s bungalow will also be retained The council is due to decide on the application by Friday Thatcham Garden Centre reopened in October 2020 after undergoing a year-long closure for renovation the site was known as Thatcham Fruit and Flower Farm in the early 1900s and later as Henwick Fruit and Flower Farm It later transitioned into a mushroom farm then eventually evolved into the garden centre it is today Residents have objected to a proposed change to the ongoing flood defence works in Thatcham acting on behalf of West Berkshire Council (WBC) has applied to add a fence with lockable gates across the Memorial Playing Fields But residents fear their access to the fields and other areas of the town will be impeded if the addition of the gates goes ahead Ardent explained: “Following discussion with the landowner it was requested that a fence with gated access would be installed to separate the flood alleviation scheme lands from the Thatcham Memorial Foundation (TMF) land being retained post scheme completion “The footpath was realigned to minimise ecological impacts at the site as well as minimising tree disturbance and tree removal required.” Ardent initially tried to submit the change as a non-material amendment to the original planning application saying that footpaths and accessibility represented “repeated issues” for the public The proposed gates have received 19 objections on the council’s planning portal One comment read: “The public should have access to this green open space at all times to enable them to enjoy the benefits it brings to physical and mental wellbeing.” “I think it is terrible that walking access to vital services like doctors is being blocked for residents of North West Thatcham,” added another “They will soon have no choice but to drive if this important route is obstructed.” Another comment read: “This raises concerns about whether the gates are actually needed and whether there is a risk they may eventually be kept closed at all times as has happened with the other entrance leading to Beverley Close.” The footpath to the field from Beverly Close remains closed – despite appearing open on the plans – and the path by the town war memorial was also previously bricked up Thatcham Town Council recommended the proposal for refusal at its planning meeting yesterday evening (Tuesday) “There’s no justification given in the application as to why the gates are necessary it has potential to harmfully impact that connectivity.” But it added it would withdraw its objection if an amended plan was submitted without the gates and conditions added to the decision notice to ensure connectivity is restored on the completion of the works A condition in the original application for the flood defence works stated the footpaths should be provided within one month of the completion of the works and that the connectivity the field provides to residents must not be harmfully impacted by the development chairman of the TMF Nathan Gregory said: “Following the advice of the foundation’s surveyor and solicitor a fence will be placed to delineate the retained Thatcham Memorial Playing Fields and the area being purchased by West Berkshire Council “This will be installed as part of the Flood Alleviation Scheme and is not being undertaken by the foundation “Pedestrian gates are required in the fence to link to the new perimeter path.” But it is not yet clear how often the gates will be kept open and accessible for the public The TMF has been approached for further clarification The application is due to be decided by March Find out about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal The Local Plan Inspector has requested West Berkshire Council to suggest a number of additional housing sites for inclusion in the Local Plan 2023 to 2041 These have now been submitted to the Planning Inspector The Local Plan is a set of overarching planning documents which sets out where and when houses will be built in the coming years The Local Plan Review covers the period to 2041 and is currently being examined by a Planning Inspector.  in response to the Council proposal to withdraw the local plan the housing minister directed the Council to progress the Plan through the examination process.  Following a number of public hearings the Planning Inspector has found there is a shortfall of around 850 homes against a requirement for a minimum of 9,270 new homes to be built between 2023 and 2041 the Inspector set out the next steps for the Council to take before he can consider whether the plan is sound These included asking the Council to suggest new sites for development to meet the shortfall - and the Council has now responded to suggest the sites set out below Approximately 225 homes are proposed for land near to Henwick Park This includes space allocated within the site for a landscape buffer You can also view the location on Google Maps Approximately 45 homes are planned for land east of the Regency Park Hotel on Bowling Green Road in Thatcham You can also view the location on Google Maps Approximately 138 homes are planned on land at Pincents Lane in Calcot This includes space allocated within the site for a community parkland and public open space You can also view the location on Google Maps Approximately 25 homes are planned for land north of Pangbourne Hill in Pangbourne You can also view the location on Google Maps.  These sites have been submitted through the local plan process as available for delivery of the new homes West Berkshire Council has also identified an area north of Newbury which could be explored for future growth as it has the potential to deliver between 650 and 800 homes later in the plan period (from 2034 onwards) These sites will deliver the additional homes the Planning Inspector has asked to be included in the Local Plan Review to be able to conclude that the plan is sound The Planning Inspector has also found that the site proposed at Northeast Thatcham has capacity beyond the 1,500 homes proposed and has found that to make effective use of the site this should be expanded up to 2,500 homes Not all of these additional 1,000 homes would be built within this plan period with the majority likely to be delivered after 2041 The final capacity of the site will be determined through the creation of a masterplan which will be developed collaboratively by the Council and developer and with comprehensive engagement with the local community.  Following the submission of the information about the new sites the Planning Inspector will consider these and issue a report with his preliminary findings The Council will consider his report and full Council will need to agree any modifications ahead of further public consultation You can subscribe to our Local Plan Review newsletter to receive future updates direct to your inbox Speaking about these latest developments the West Berkshire Council Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing Councillor Denise Gaines "The Council has been directed by Central Government to progress the local plan through the Examination by the Inspector we suggested new sites with great reluctance but we have been left with no choice because the Government would very probably take over the Plan process if we failed to engage at this time We believe that these decisions should be taken by your local Council rather than at Westminster Engaging with the Planning Inspector and suggesting these sites enables us to continue to speak on behalf of local residents and doing what needs to be done in their interests.  "We inherited what we consider to be a poor Plan by the outgoing Administration and wanted to start the Plan again but the Government intervened and directed us not to dispense with that Plan Now we have the new Government stating that we should be building double the number of new homes per year If we don't progress this Plan that the Inspector is deliberating upon the Council would be forced to find sites for an even greater number of houses  It really is a poor situation for our District and our residents."  "We will consider our next steps once we have the Planning Inspector's report in the preliminary findings." Alongside the information requested by the Planning Inspector Councillor Jeff Brooks - sent the following letter to him West Berkshire Local Plan Review - Inspectors Post Hearings Letter IN30 I write regarding the Council's response to the interim findings and recent action points set out in your Post Hearings Letter IN30 Thank you for your dutiful consideration of the Local Plan Review and expert chairmanship of the examination hearings to date which have been a challenging process for all involved particularly the Council given the exceptional circumstances surrounding the development of this Plan Lee Rowley earlier this year in our letter dated 12 January 2024 the Council has been put in the most difficult position of progressing with a plan which the Liberal Democrat Administration has declared to be significantly flawed and not representative of community aspirations we are once again extremely disappointed at being instructed to follow a course of action that we know will result in even more dissatisfaction within our communities Recent Government announcements have made it very clear that the Council has no reasonable alternative option other than to comply with your requirements or risk direct intervention further eroding any influence over the Plan and breaking this Liberal Democrat Administration's commitment to listen to its residents and secure the very best for the communities it serves We believe firmly that decisions should be taken by Local Councils but recognise that direct Government intervention could result should we not comply with the Inspector's instructions This would be a further blow to local democracy which we are unwilling to accept suggested to you for consideration and inclusion in your final report in the knowledge that they will place a heavy burden on our communities but will enable some level of local influence to continue We trust that throughout your consideration to ensuring that this Local Plan also provides for the necessary local amenities and infrastructure to support our communities and the protection necessary for our valued landscapes and places West Berkshire Council's submission to the Planning Inspector will be published shortly and is available to view on the West Berkshire Local Plan Review website After nearly two decades as a local councillor for Thatcham Newbury’s Liberal Democrat MP Lee Dillon has confirmed he will stand down from his seats on West Berkshire Council and Thatcham Town Council who was last year elected as the Member of Parliament for the constituency will now concentrate on representing the area in Westminster “Serving my hometown as a councillor has been one of the greatest honours of my life,” he said and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved for Thatcham.” West Berkshire Council leader Jeff Brooks paid tribute saying: “Lee has been a tremendously effective councillor at both Thatcham Town and West Berkshire Councils “He must now concentrate on making a real difference to our district through his work at Westminster and we will continue our excellent symbiotic relationship with him as the MP improving our lovely area for all our residents.” By-elections will be held to fill Mr Dillon’s positions The MP has endorsed the Liberal Democrat candidates Mr McCann has been a Thatcham town councillor since 2023 and is the incumbent leader of the council is chairman of the Old Bluecoat School charity and a volunteer at the West Berks Foodbank “Tom and Mark are dedicated local champions who will be alongside me in fighting as your MP for the issues that matter most whether that is healthcare or making sure our environment is safe,” said Mr Dillon “The Conservatives have a history of taking Thatcham for granted Thames Valley Police issued a statement around 22 hours after the chaos in Thatcham reported as it happened by newburytoday.co.uk Around 20 police officers and a crew from South Central Ambulance Service attended and a male was lying beneath a police jacket until medical help arrived Police have now appealed for witnesses and issued the following: “At around 5pm on the Broadway neighbourhood police offers were flagged down by a member of the public who reported that his moped had been pushed over and damaged officers arrested a teenager on suspicion of criminal damage the teenager became obstructive and another man became involved and an altercation ensued “Two officers were injured in this altercation “She required hospital treatment but has since been discharged “The other officer suffered a fractured tibia “The teenager has since been de-arrested in connection with the incident of criminal damage.” an 18-year-old man from Thatcham was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and he remained in custody as of Friday afternoon A 16-year-old girl from Thatcham was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker She has since been released on conditional bail A 15-year-old girl from Thatcham was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order and criminal damage Det Insp Bill Sykes said: “We are appealing for witnesses after two of our officers were assaulted on the Broadway yesterday afternoon “This incident occurred outside a coffee shop and we are aware that members of the public witnessed this incident take place and we are appealing for these witnesses to contact the force as they may have important information which can assist our investigation “Anyone with information can call 101 or make a report online quoting investigation reference number 43240526646 “If you do not wish to speak to police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.” Calls for a bridge over Thatcham Level Crossing have gone unheard for decades Commuters have spent countless hours waiting at the barriers of the notorious ‘southern crossing’ leaving many still asking: will a bridge ever be built Thatcham Level Crossing currently sees around 140 rail movements daily and is used by around 9,800 vehicles and 450 pedestrians on an average weekday It is closed longer than other level crossings with staff previously reporting an average wait time of 10 to 15 minutes – sometimes a lot longer for those at the back of queues How are waiting times controlled at Thatcham Level Crossing? Newbury MP Lee Dillon recently requested a meeting with the rail minister and has tabled a written Parliamentary question to press the Secretary of State for Transport on this issue He told newburytoday: “This is a big strategic issue for the Newbury constituency and I’ll be getting across to the rail minister just how much of a priority it is for local residents and how much better it would be for the environment too We’ve seen the Labour Government strip back some big infrastructure projects so we really need to see what the Chancellor will put in her budget for local infrastructure projects “I don’t think it necessarily has to be where the level crossing is I think you could look into the industrial state.” But calls to build a bridge here are nothing new Former Newbury MP Laura Farrispreviously endorsed the construction of a bridge over the railway line to solve delays Network Rail and West Berkshire Council told newburytoday a bridge would cost in excess of £20m and would need to be funded by central Government or a developer a planning application has come forward from The Colthrop Village Consortium to build 950 homes south of the railway line and Kennet and Avon Canal West Berkshire Council said it was “exploring the possibility of a bridge” as a part of its transport plan Network Rail said it supported the 950-home plan The proposed bridge would come off a new roundabout at Pipers Way and into roads at the housing development leading onto Crookham Hill discussions were held between Berkshire County Council British Rail and British Waterways regarding a bridge over the railway and canal Thatcham’s bridge is almost the stuff of legend now One persistent story is that the Americans offered to pay for a bridge when they were running Thatcham Army Ordnance Depot Thatcham historian Nick Young weighed in on this theory: “I have heard the story of the Americans offering to pay or build a bridge over the railway so many times before “I have spoken to personnel that were at the Depot various council staff and councillors but so far all I have is hearsay “I have not found anything in writing and official.” The idea to build a bridge resurfaced again to solve the traffic woes across Thatcham throughout the 1980s which included a potential bridge coming off Pipers Lane the new £177,000 station reopened after a six-month project Improvements included a new red-brick ticket office one resurfaced platform and platform waiting shelters Fast-forward to the late 1990s and early 2000s West Berkshire Council scrapped plans to make developers build a bridge as part of the 500-plus homes planned for Kennet Heath as it couldn’t afford to pay its £10m share of the project – a ‘wasted opportunity’ and one of Thatcham’s last chances to build a bridge developer Redrow Homes spent £1.5m on building a new roundabout in Station Road and other traffic schemes to reduce traffic congestion in the area One of the barriers in securing an appropriate location for a bridge has always been the flood risks in the area residents of Crookham Hill and Thornford Road feared a bridge might generate an increased volume of traffic travelling towards Basingstoke plus more motorists travelling north across the bridge to reach the A4 and A339 Not to mention the logistical issues a bridge would cause Would the roads southbound be adapted or widened to accommodate the increased traffic Can the existing infrastructure continue to cope without change The first station in Thatcham was built in 1844 as part of the Berks and Hants Line to Hungerford It was built so far south from the town centre due to opposition from landowner Miss Fromont The early station was only a wooden structure Passengers on the Newbury platform were exposed and got soaked when it rained a goods shed was built as goods traffic was introduced after passenger traffic Brick buildings replaced the old timber structure when Messrs Goodchilds of Reading won the contract around 1893 the original station and footbridge was demolished by Lord Beeching and later rebuilt several times a single bridge crossing it,” added Dr Young “An additional bridge was added to cross the canal when the Kennet Navigation came along “It was extended later to the Avon Navigation becoming what we know today as the Kennet and Avon Canal (completed in 1810) Those bridges have been rebuilt several times We’ve listed the 10 pubs closest to the centre of Thatcham for you to vote for in our poll Vote now and let everyone know your favourite A new independent coffee shop opened in Thatcham High Street this morning (Monday) run by husband and wife duo Jerry and Kerry ‘Daisy’ Rolls opened to a full house of customers joined by Mayor of Thatcham Suzanne Adamantos The family and dog friendly café sells a selection of homemade cakes pastries and sandwiches (including gluten free as well as a special blend of coffee supplied by Podium Place in Newbury Co-founder Mr Rolls told newburytoday how it felt to finally open: “We're glad it's come “We have another business called Cupcakes by Daisy (still active) and so we will use all the cakes from there in here And all our stock we buy from local wherever possible Podium have been a fantastic support to us “We buy our beans from them and they've helped us with barista training.” He added one customer named Eric Panting had been waiting outside since 7.30am for the shop to open Wholesale manager for Podium Daisy Chambers whose team has been on site supporting Jerry and Kerry today said: “[Jerry and Kerry] came into Podium to ask about coffee and we just talked them through the journey “We did some taste tests and they said they were really happy “It's local businesses supporting local businesses which is what we need more of around here.” The business is taking over the unit previously occupied by Vaccaro’s Coffee Shop A man whose behaviour caused “considerable distress” in Thatcham has been sentenced pleaded guilty to one count of theft of a motor vehicle five counts of interference with a motor vehicle and one count of handling stolen goods in a hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday He was subsequently sentenced on Wednesday at the same court to six weeks imprisonment but due to being on remand has been released because of time served Watkins was also issued with a criminal behaviour order (CBO) which will remain in force until April 2 Watkins is prohibited from touching any vehicle that does not belong to him in West Berkshire without the owner’s permission He could face up to five years’ imprisonment if he fails to follow the terms of the CBO He is also prohibited from being in the company of Stuart Coventry in any public or private place of the Thatcham Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “Watkins’ behaviour has caused considerable distress and upset in Thatcham as it is a necessary step to deter further offences and safeguard the community “Thames Valley Police take a firm stance against antisocial behaviour and I hope this result serves as reassurance to the local community that such incidents are handled with utmost seriousness.” Watkins interfered with a number of vehicles with the intention of stealing He also dishonestly undertook the handling of stolen goods – namely a red carpet cleaner – to the value of £400 Six new bus shelters have been promised for Thatcham in the new year will be provided within Thatcham at a cost of £47,604.37 They will be located along the London Road (A4) Station Road (opposite Flagstaff Square) and The Moors (westbound The project was made possible thanks to a grant awarded to Thatcham Town Council by West Berkshire Council’s Bus Services Improvement Plan The grant will provide a contribution to clean and maintain each of the shelters for five years single occupancy flat is available for someone in housing need in Thatcham Thatcham Parochial Almshouse Charity has a compact one bedroom first floor single occupancy flat available in Thatcham The charity has said applicants must be over the age of 55 in housing need and able to live independently They must also currently live in either Thatcham There is an accessible entrance to the building and a stair lift to the upper flat from the entrance hall unfurnished and newly carpeted and consists of its own front door There is also an enclosed rear courtyard garden for the residents to use There are no designated car parking spaces available with this accommodation Priority will be given to the applicant with the greatest housing need Application forms and further information are available upon request from clerk to the trustees call (01635) 863351 or email thatchamcharities@btinternet.com for more information One of Thatcham’s oldest family businesses will cease trading tomorrow (Friday) has permanently closed after almost 70 years of serving Thatcham Owners Kevin and Veronica Heimsoth say they have chosen to retire on a high after struggling for years to find new staff despite their workload being bigger than ever Mr Heimsoth said: “We’ve had a good run and we’ve both still got our health And the couple say they have been moved by all the messages they have received from their customers “A lot of our customers have become friends,” said Mr Heimsoth and he’d brought one of the transit vans as a model It’s identical with all the sign writing and everything “And he put it in a little showcase and presented it to me “He said ‘we are so going to miss you so much’ “It’s the lease on this building; it’s the guys who are all retiring “ If I can’t get the workforce through the door The company was started from nothing by Heinz Heimsoth a former German prisoner of war who was interned at Newbury Racecourse It has since grown to provide comprehensive glass cutting glazing and polishing services to hundreds of schools “I always said that Thatcham Glass was my dad’s baby and my child,” Mr Heimsoth continued But while its closure certainly marks the end of an era it signals a new start for the Heimsoth family I will go off and do something else eventually Whether that’s something to do with the industry again And he said his son will soon be continuing with his own venture in Hermitage started Thatcham Glass from the back garden of his wife’s family home in Station Road and they moved to new premises on the Bath Road in 1978 the family business relocated a couple minute’s away to a dedicated workshop in the industrial estate off Green Lane A car caught fire at a petrol station in Thatcham this morning (Monday) Police and firefighters were called after a car burst into flames at the Esso petrol station in London Road at around 8.30am Traffic movements were restricted whilst emergency services responded to the incident and have since returned to normal The burnt out vehicle was moved and taped off on the footpath outside the entrance to the London Road Cemetery Thames Valley Police and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service were approached for further comment A MAN who left faeces on his ex-girlfriend’s carpet The judge said it was an unusual case because the violence had been filmed on a mobile phone In the dock at Reading Crown Court on Monday had been in a relationship with victim Bethany Pease for around six years when she ended it and began seeing someone new He added: “His response to her breaking up with him was to leave faeces on the carpet.” On another occasion he turned up at her home causing damage and shouting: “I’m going to hurt you – I hate you; I don’t want you to exist.” The mobile phone footage which captured what happened next was screened in court Rampton screams abuse and threats directly into her face Mr Warburton went on: “He pushed her on to the bed and told her how much he hated her “He slapped her face; he strangled her – she couldn’t breathe and the fear could be heard in her voice.” Rampton then grabbed her flat keys and left locking the door from the outside and imprisoning Ms Pease he released her but refused to give her keys back assault by beating and causing criminal damage He also has previous convictions including assault causing actual bodily harm and drink-driving In a victim impact statement read to the court Ms Pease described the emotional toll the relentless abuse had taken She said she was left feeling worthless after being told no one else would ever love her and that “the emotional scars might never heal” The statement added: “The bruises will heal but the anxiety will remain “But today I can say I’m more than just a victim: I’m a survivor.” said the strangulation and false imprisonment had been “fleeting” She added: “The pre-sentence report notes that he engages well and doesn’t attempt to evade responsibility “He has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression.” These conditions would make custody difficult for Rampton who suggested any prison sentence could be suspended Judge Alan Blake said he would “need to hear substantial mitigation” to be persuaded that immediate imprisonment was unjust he told Rampton: “Usually the court does not have the advantage of a recording of such domestic incidents as this “That video is indeed distressing and disturbing.” He added: “Strangulation is a very serious offence “It’s terrifying for anyone who suffers it “It’s an act which establishes utter control over someone and features in the history of cases where people go on to perpetrate really serious – even fatal – attacks on women.” minus the 70 days he has spent in custody on remand up to half of which he will serve locked up and the remainder on licence in the community Rampton was made subject to a seven-year restraining order preventing him from contacting Ms Pease either directly or indirectly A MOTORIST has been caught driving while disqualified Daniel Wilder appeared in the dock at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday admitted driving an Audi A3 near his home on November 11 Wilder further admitted two charges of driving without insurance – once on the above occasion and again on Longcroft Road was meanwhile released on unconditional bail