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FREE INSIDE THIS ISSUE Ten years on
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Bingo! Thatcham OAPs hit jackpot with grant
from floods, the memories still remain
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Recycling chiefs refuse to lift cross-border ban By Adam Flinn BOARD members of the group that runs the Smallmead recycling centre in Reading have turned down the chance to allow West Berkshire residents to use the facility. The question had been put to Re3’s joint waste disposal board whether it would allow people in West Berkshire to pay to use the tip. New rules were brought in last October to stop West Berkshire residents from using the Smallmead centre, with Re3 restricting usage of its sites in Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell to its own residents. That followed West Berkshire Council ending its £460,000 annual contribution to Re3 for use of the tips. But this left residents in the east of the district having to make the much longer trip to Newbury to dispose of bulky waste. The recycling centre at Padworth is due to be upgraded to accept non-recyclable waste, but the plans have been hit by delays and there is no fi rm date for when this might be accomplished. And following a question from Burghfield Common resident Linda Fort on whether West Berkshire residents could pay to use the tip, Re3 said its position hadn’t changed. A spokesperson for Re3 said: “Re3’s joint waste disposal board has decided, after careful consideration, to continue with the policy of allowing recycling centre access to residents from Brack-
nell Forest, Reading and Wokingham only. Accordingly, West Berkshire residents will not be able to use the Re3 recycling centres, for a charge or otherwise. “The access restrictions were introduced after West Berkshire Council’s decision to stop paying for waste delivered to the Re3 recycling centres by West Berkshire residents, which would have resulted in a £500,000 funding shortfall for Re3.” The spokesperson added that several factors had influenced the board’s decision, such as increased growth in central Berkshire meaning capacity has to be managed. The group also isn’t allowed to make a profit on processing waste, which could have made charging residents to use the tip difficult. The spokesperson continued: “Re3’s principle obligation is to the Re3 area residents who pay for household waste disposal through their council tax. “Re3 appreciates that this may be disappointing to some residents just outside of the Re3 area. “West Berkshire Council’s proposed improvements to the Padworth site should, in time, help to address the concerns of residents who live closest to the Reading recycling centre.” West Berkshire’s recycling centres at Newbury and Padworth also have a permit system in place, meaning only people living in the district can use them.
Picture by Thatcham Photographic Club
Carnival gets the party going IT was party time in Newbury as hundreds of people joined in with the town’s carnival on Sunday. There were almost 50 entries to
the Newbury Carnival, which saw participants dressed in a range of colourful and extravagant outfits march through the town centre.
Thousands of people turned out to watch and also join in with the fun at the carnival fete in Victoria Park. See page 7 for story and pictures.
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