Burghfield, Mortimer, Beech Hill & Wokefield

200 people attend the public meeting 

Basingstoke Meeting

I presented the petition, at the time signed by over 650, along with these grounds for objections to Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council's (BDBC) plan for 350 homes, at their November Cabinet meeting.

Other councillors and residents tabled objections to other aspects of the plan. Cllr Konieczko told us "we hear you" and that no final decision had been made on housing sites. Basingstoke and Deane did however vote to put their plan forward to public consultation. That consultation is open until 23 January 2026. 

Newbury Weekly News article 11 November

Mortimer Public Meeting

About 200 people attended my public meeting on Dec 8, to hear from West Berks Council leadership and senior staff, our view on what are the key issues and our approach to dealing with them. 

The panel comprised:

• Cllr Jeff Brooks, Leader of West Berkshire Council
• Cllr Denise Gaines, Executive Member for Planning & Housing
• Laura Callan, Service Lead for Planning
• Paula Amorelli, Team Lead for Development & Planning

Staff outlined the Local Plan process and we had an interactive session of public questions and ideas. Members of a parish council-led steering group spoke too.

Some of what we covered is summarised in these slides, and this TV report by That’s TV Thames Valley.

Olivia Bailey MP’s chief of staff responded to my call for support. I discussed the main issues with him on Dec 17. He assured me that he or she will raise these with  Basingstoke & Deane and report back.

Next Steps - What Residents Can Do

 👉 NOW

1. Sign the petition ↗  and consider sharing it.
   The more that sign, the greater the strength of opinion it shows. I'll submit it to Basingstoke & Deane before the Regulation 18 deadline.
2. Take a look at the FAQs and objections toolkit here 
3. Raise any questions that you have with Basingstoke & Deane at this drop-in on Weds 7 January

 👉 Before 5pm Weds 23 January

Send your individual response directly to Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, ideally via this online form. Alternatively download the form here and return it by post/ hand to: Local Plan, Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, RG21 4AH or scan and emailed it to [email protected].  

✏️ If you made comments with the petition, I will include these when I submit it. 

If you need a reminder of what you said, or would like help navigating the consultation or your response, please feel free to get in touch.

💡Whilst the Local Plan and any housing allocation in it is led by Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council it is subject to approval by an independent Inspector and West Berks Council, its residents and others can have a say throughout the process.

I'm pleased to announce that funding was approved for new play equipment on Mortimer Fairground.  This follows my call to parish councils to suggest projects, this one coming from Mortimer parish council, who suggested replacing the skate roller area with equipment for   children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The scheme will provide inclusive play opportunities, particularly supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The Members’ Bid scheme uses a levy applied to housebuilders to pay, usually, half the cost of qualifying local projects, with parish councils paying the remaining half. 

Unfortunately Wokefield's, safe walking route bid was not approved although the council leadership (Jeff Brooks) is supporting my efforts to get this work done. See also 'off the record'.

Although we talked about candidates, there was no project proposal from Beech Hill this year, and nothing tabled by Burghfield. 

Cutting waste and increasing recycling

In the Spring, the council expanded its roadside collection of plastic and in September it reduced the black bin collection interval to 3-weekly. These changes aim to increase recycling, reduce waste, and control disposal costs. I understand that if nothing had changed the council could face additional disposal costs of up to £1.4 million per year. In October and November 2025, compared to the same period last year:

• Food waste recycling increased by 25% (196 tonnes).
• Plastic bottles, pots, tubs, trays and food and drink can recycling increased by 17% (an extra 61 tonnes of plastic recycling).
• Paper and card recycling has increased by 6% (62 tonnes).
• Black bin waste reduced by 18% (821 tonnes).
• Overall household waste and recycling reduced by 3% (402 tonnes).

Thank you so much for playing your part in this.  There's more about the reasons for making the changes, and what you can do if you are struggling with them, on the dedicated page.  I welcome feedback and ideas.

Don't forget the Saturday collection

And There's More

Background

In line with the Council pledge to introduce “20 mph where residents want it.”, and following my speed survey that identified a perceived speed problem on one or more local streets (you can still add your views here), there is a petition to seek a time-based speed limit reduction on the Lower Street, Mortimer, outside St Mary’s School. This is done at the request of the governors who feel it  better to proactively encourage lower speeds at school drop off/pick up times rather than hope nobody gets hurt when the limit is 30mph. Whilst council staff's view is that parked cars act as a traffic speed reduction tool, another resident noted (in the survey) that “all urban roads where anyone walks would benefit from 20 mph – it’s the norm in France.” I'd encourage you to sign the petition (even if you completed the earlier survey) if you agree that on balance a time-based reduction is right here, and we'll take it from there.  

New Funding Round

Our MP Olivia Bailey advised that the government has given the Reading West and Mid Berkshire constituency "nearly £15m of new bus funding", comprising " "over £9m for Reading Borough Council and over £5.5m for West Berkshire Council" to "deliver better services for the people who rely on them every day". I understand from staff who'd been waiting for this announcement that they can now work on their various improvement priorities.

Connecting Our Villages

As mentioned last time, following this survey, the council commissioned a study into turn-around points for the No. 2 bus - page 6 of this report under Capital project BP7 refers.  It concluded that whilst there are two possible turning places, a full bus service (an extension of route 2/2a) is not commercially viable - despite the presence of Government funding for rural services. 

I'll work with them and colleague Stuart Gourlay to see if we can use some of this to put in place an on-demand minibus, via the Community Connect scheme, to hopefully connect our villages and Mortimer St Mary's school and train station.

Fly Tip Monitoring

The funding is approved for CCTV to deter fly tipping in Beech Hill. I'm just chasing for the date. I've also tabled Drury Lane Mortimer as a location for a camera, and will keep you posted (no pun intended).

CCTV location approved

Draft Traffic Regulation Order

A Traffic Regulation Order

You may have seen this Draft Traffic Regulation Order and perhaps wondered its purpose. Or maybe you've just clicked the link and thought - eh? I knew it was coming and so discussed it with officers to better understand the context, proposal and the options.  The proposed change (so called traffic regulation order) aims to "just"  formalise the existing double yellows that along the entrance to Tower Gardens now that most of the section has been adopted.

Those current markings were apparently organised by the house builder, to try to dissuade cars from parking on the approach and obstructing construction traffic. 

• I am opposed to spending council time and money (that we don't really have) adding road markings to match the drawing(s). Or having drawings that don't match the "on the ground" markings. I've asked that the drawings be amended to match the as-is/on-the-ground situation. The Highway Code makes clear that parking on the corner of a junction is not allowed.
• Whilst I don't think the whole stretch of the Tower Gardens approach road needed double yellows (no parking/waiting at any time), I think removing a section would be disproportionate.
• In short I support the order, subject to the drawing amendment being made as suggested above.

The approach to Tower Gardens 

Goring Lane, Grazeley Green (Wokefield parish)

Goring Lane Speed Limit 

I had a long and constructive discussion with our Highways staff about Wokefield Parish Council's request to reduce the speed limit from 50 to 40mph along a stretch of Goring Lane. Yes, you've guessed it, they aren't keen. For a bunch of sound reasons. Cutting the story, we're going to have the team check the road markings, signage and site lines, as soon as they can get to it, and discuss again.  I noted (and our staff have too) that Probably for more years than there's been talk of a car park for St Mary's School, Mortimer, or a footpath to Burghfield, there have been calls to cut the speed limit on Goring Lane, in Grazeley Green, for the sake of its residents and road users. There have been many accidents, hospitalisations and even fatalities there.

The parish petition for a 40 mph limit in Grazeley Green, which I tabled on their behalf, to council HERE, fell just short of the 50-signature threshold for referral to the speed review task group. If you support it, please sign the petition below.

Walking Rural Roads Safely 

The Members Bid that I submitted to colleagues, proposing to joint fund creating safe refuges for pedestrians, in line with the Council’s “active travel” policy, was turned down.  I am assured by council leader Jeff Brooks that we'll get it done anyway.

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• Email Nick here or call/WhatsApp 07447 557557
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• Email Geoff here or call 0118 9332536

Drop-In/Surgery

Raise issues with us at our monthly drop-ins/'surgeries' each first Saturday (excluding November 2025)

• Nick is at The Baobab, West End Road, Mortimer  from 10.00-11.00 
• Vic is at Burghfield Library in School Lane, from 10.00-11.30. 

Ask either of us about anything across the "patch".

My newsletter aims to be apolitical and opinion-free as far as possible.  This section is where I stray into giving an opinion on mainly council matters. Feel free to skip over this bit at any point....

350+ homes at Mortimer West End

I really appreciate those who have put in many hours to pore over the documents to try to help residents who wish to, to object to the proposal for 350 homes and traveller pitches in Mortimer West End.  I think we had some excellent discussions and insights last Monday, and perhaps more will come to light. Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council admits that they didn't want to put this site forward and suggests they did so only because they had to.  I see my role here as trying to support those who wish to object, by helping highlight available evidence. 

Whilst council colleagues believe the petition carries weight, the caveat is only that, if you do object, you may wish to both sign the petition and send an objection - of the two the latter is the more important.  

As mentioned at the public meeting, residents who feel strongly may wish to consider peaceful and lawful ways of making their views known directly to the decision-making authority.  Residents from Tadley have done so about a different proposed site in the draft Plan. I suggest protesting outside a council office is more effective (but less convenient) than doing so in Mortimer, athough the latter might attract press coverage. 

Demonstrators at Basingstoke Council offices (image: Sean Dillow)

🗑️ Waste & Recycling

Whilst we are pleased that the changes to recycling and black bin collections seem to be having the desired effect  of cutting waste and boosting recycling, I still apologise for the inconvenience it causes some. I wrote more on this here. Available support includes requesting a larger bin or help putting rubbish out (please click the relevant link if this applies to you). 

Ali's Recycling For The Community

Cod War and Points Of Principle

History

Friends and family know I am a Radio Caroline fan - "the station that kept going as a point of principle, to play great music". There's always another tale or anecdote.  Or perhaps a replay of an old one. I hated History at school but I've actually found an interest in fishing history. This is because I learnt recently that the Caroline boat, not only boasted the tallest radio mast of any (285ft tall in old money) it also boasted the biggest ever cod catch during the cod war with Iceland. These are other facts about the life and times of this record-breaking side trawler  we shared last weekend with enthusiastic punters who we showed round 'the boat' during last weekend's live broadcast. 

Christmas Broadcast

I was delighted to be invited again to join colleagues aboard the historic Ross Revenge, for the December live Radio Caroline North broadcast. I'm sure Gavin and Rachel ex of The Baobab were tuned in, together with other pals around this area.  It was such a fun weekend with over 500 emails entering the competition to win hefty Christmas hampers.  The food and board was excellent too, and there was a lovely tree in the mess room. Some fans had donated drink and nibbles for Christmas. Those will be saved for the Christmas Day. live broadcast - the first since the station's days at sea. I won't be joining that but I'll absolutely have it on, even if I have to go and sit in the kitchen. 

You can catch up with my shows here and here

Ding Ding!