Also on this page........I Love Hungerford.........Chain Office.........Police Report........
TRAVEL TOKEN COLOUR CHANGE UPDATE
As from April 1st NEW token colours are PURPLE & LILAC, but what is IMPORTANT is that the old ones must be used BEFORE 30th APRIL.
Please hand in to the CHAIN office all your unused ORANGE & YELLOW tokens by the 14th of MAY.
CHAIN really appreciates these unused tokens to help keep our services running. This last year has seen an enormous drop in donated tokens, so if anyone would like to drop a fiver or tenner or even a larger cheque as a donation into the office it would be most welcome.
D.P.
The Hungerford Chamber of Commerce
……………..recently launched the 
“ I Love Hungerford” campaign. This is the amalgamation of two separate
schemes to promote, encourage and inform people of the benefits of shopping with
independent retailers rather than the large multiples.
The posters, which you will see in many shop windows, are designed by Alex
from ‘Deep Clothing’ and used extensively in Henley. The leaflet
that promotes independent shopping was a discovery from the USA by Emma from
Hungerford Bookshop.
With the recent loss of ‘Five Star Fruit & Veg’ being a timely
reminder of just how vulnerable independent retailers can be, it is perhaps
worth considering that we in Hungerford are very fortunate to have a varied
High Street rather than the all too familiar generic High Streets found in
so many towns. Also, do compare prices and quality, not to mention customer
service, between the independents and multiples. You may be surprised just
how much money you can save by staying away from the superstores.
So next time you are in the new Fruit & Veg shop, the Butchers or Bookshop,
to name but a few, please take a minute or two to read the leaflet, and thank
you for supporting the High Street.
B.B.
News from the CHAIN office
During the recent heavy snow and icy conditions, some of the staff members
were unable to get to the office, but at no time was the service we offer
curtailed, thanks to the stalwart individuals who 'manned the fort'.
Inevitably time brings changes to the personnel who man the 'phones and drive
their cars, we therefore welcome three new ladies to our office team also three
new volunteer drivers.
Leaving us recently was June Jordan, who has moved to Wales, and due to ill
health, Jean Kilroy, after over twenty years of office duties. Well done! and
best wishes.
We are all very sad at the passing of Fred Whitby, who was a volunteer driver
for more than twenty years. Fred was a most obliging and caring member of the
Chain team who could be relied upon in an emergency, and is much missed.
We look forward to serving Hungerford, and thank you for your donations, without
which we could not continue.
J.Tubb
Neighbourhood Police Team
Here is the latest neighbourhood update for Hungerford from Neighbourhood Specialist
Officer, PC Claire Drewitt
February:
We hope everybody coped with the weather conditions in the first couple of
weeks of this month; it was certainly difficult at times. For several days
our patrol work consisted of walking very carefully around the town much like
everybody else.
On our drugs priority we have been patrolling our hotspot areas and arrested
a man for possession of cannabis He received a caution.
Our Hare Coursing priority has been worked on with several operations targeting
offenders. We have not made any arrests this month. We have had reports of
night time activity; this consists of criminal damage to perimeter fences where
it has been cut allowing access to the grounds of farming land.
Hungerford neighbourhood team ran an operation until the early hours of the
morning to target those involved. It may be they are poaching rather than hare
coursing but there does appear to be links between day and night activities.
Many of the landowners are aware and have our details to call us to report
any suspicious activity they see.
We have been working on our burglary priority and as the weather warms up,
will be looking to hold some meetings where we can invite the public to come
along and obtain crime reduction advice and meet the local team.
In January we have only received one report of a house burglary in Hungerford
which occurred in Kennedy Meadow where car keys were taken from the hallway,
nothing else was stolen. If you would like a home crime prevention visit in
the mean time please ring Thames Valley Police and one of our Police Community
Support Officers (PCSOs) can arrange to come and visit you.
On Sunday 28 February at 6.30pm we held a public meeting in Sanden Close, Hungerford.
If you missed this and want to raise any concerns please contact Morag McMillan.
Two young people have been arrested and charged with a public order offence
in relation to a fight in the skate park in Hungerford. The new park is being
enjoyed by the local youths and we wish to support this but unacceptable behaviour
will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.
Three Hungerford men were found guilty of causing £225,000 arson damage
to a barn on the Hungerford Park estate in May 2009. The males, who cannot
be named for legal reasons, appeared in court on Monday 4 January. They were
due to re-attend Newbury Youth Court in February for sentencing.
Anti-social behaviour (ASB) continues to remain below last year’s figures
and we are receiving less reports of ASB. Following a rise in burglary in November,
this fell to three reports in December. Vehicle crime has remained static in
December with eight offences recorded and we are looking for two men who have
been seen acting suspiciously in the area of Church Way late in the evening.
They have been seen trying vehicle doors, so please remember to lock your vehicles
and remove any valuables out of sight.
We attended the Hungerford pubwatch meeting last month and we are pleased to
report that there are no issues or concerns. If you are a new licensee in the
Hungerford or Lambourn area and are interested in joining pub watch then please
contact us via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505 for further
information.
If you have any issues or concerns and you would like to speak to a member
of the team, please contact us via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845
8 505 505 or call into Hungerford police station Monday – Friday between
9am – 1pm.
Hungerford Police Station, 31 Park Street, Hungerford, Berks., RG17 0EA
Tel: 0845 8 505 505 Station Opening Times Mon-Fri 9am-1pm
Station Duty Officer Morag McMillan
www.thamesvalley.police.uk