Can't that be said for most councils though?
Anyone live in Newbury?
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Soldato
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I used to date a student from Newbury, she was well posh too.
No idea. I have to say, I've lived under at least six councils and never even noticed any of them so I'm sure some must be fit for purpose. WBC has made many decisions that have directly affected me negatively, and many that I disagree with. I could give you a hilarious example of their incompetence, if necessary!
I wouldn't mind knowing, so I can be more vigilant!
There are so many stories I could relate but I have recently enjoyed the Council's removal of 50% of our primary school lollipop ladies due to austerity cuts, with the other 50% possibly to go too. This, at the same time as the Council employs hugely (and inexplicably) expensive temporary workers for years:
What's £900 per day in yearly terms? Well over £300,000 I'm sure. Those decadent minimum-wage lollipop ladies keeping children safe clearly needed to go!
What's £900 per day in yearly terms? Well over £300,000 I'm sure. Those decadent minimum-wage lollipop ladies keeping children safe clearly needed to go!
£234k/yr if assuming from the first Google search there is 260 working days in 2017. So actually, for a bunch of public sector pen pushers none of those salaries seem totally "out there". £550/day is £134k/yr which isn't crazy for someone who has "head of" in their title.
Slightly playing devil's advocate there as I'm sure none of them are worth more than £30k/yr to the taxpayer but hey...
Hey, I grew up near Farnborough (the nicer part of Hawley) and I now live in Newbury so might be able to help!
Moved here due to convenience of getting to work for me and my wife. I've lived in Reading, Oxford, and Crowthorne and although there was more to do in the former two, I do like Newbury. Nice location, quite rural yet great trains to Reading and London. If I ever have to work the odd day in London, I always get a seat on the train.
I like Newbury's independent pubs and restaurants (great places to eat), markets which are regular and have decent stalls, and the cultural stuff on offer at the Corn Exchange and Watermill. There are things I don't like, e.g. our MP Richard Benyon, but those things don't make me want to move.
I'm bringing up a family here and it's great for that - good schools, but seems like plenty of things available to keep kids occupied.
Let me know if you want more info. I'm usually the guy at my work that promotes the positives of Newbury, and I like acting as a local guide for foreign colleagues who are moving here.
Didn't realise there were so many West Berks forum members! Interesting Newbs fact - Insomnia started as a LAN event at the racecourse.
Moved here due to convenience of getting to work for me and my wife. I've lived in Reading, Oxford, and Crowthorne and although there was more to do in the former two, I do like Newbury. Nice location, quite rural yet great trains to Reading and London. If I ever have to work the odd day in London, I always get a seat on the train.
I like Newbury's independent pubs and restaurants (great places to eat), markets which are regular and have decent stalls, and the cultural stuff on offer at the Corn Exchange and Watermill. There are things I don't like, e.g. our MP Richard Benyon, but those things don't make me want to move.
I'm bringing up a family here and it's great for that - good schools, but seems like plenty of things available to keep kids occupied.
Let me know if you want more info. I'm usually the guy at my work that promotes the positives of Newbury, and I like acting as a local guide for foreign colleagues who are moving here.
Didn't realise there were so many West Berks forum members! Interesting Newbs fact - Insomnia started as a LAN event at the racecourse.
Before I moved to London I lived in Newbury for 20 years. Went to st barts school - great place.
I had a great childhood - it’s a lovely place. Lived towards donnington so a very nice part of Newbury.
I miss it - walk to Donnington castle and go for a drink on the river afterwards. It’s lovely
I had a great childhood - it’s a lovely place. Lived towards donnington so a very nice part of Newbury.
I miss it - walk to Donnington castle and go for a drink on the river afterwards. It’s lovely
I can see Donnington castle in the distance from my house, very nice part of Newbury that.
Soldato
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Come to Bracknell! we have a new town centre and more importantly I'm here! 
Soldato
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Only reason I can think of for going to Bracknell is the Biltong Emporium... and even then, they're not that good!Come to Bracknell! we have a new town centre and more importantly I'm here!
Soldato
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Don't forget the massive forestOnly reason I can think of for going to Bracknell is the Biltong Emporium... and even then, they're not that good!
Genuinely the best thing about Bracknell.
Soldato
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Immediately spoiled by the overcrowded car park and stacks of screaming kids... along with all the fitness freaks with their hundreds of quids in running lycra and running shoes and their running iPods iStrapped to their iArms... the cyclists who behave like they're London couriers... the loitering Go-Ape crowds littering the pathways in the hour-long queue for the next obstacle, who don't understand what No Smoking means... the idiot who thinks it's a good idea to have one person walking three excited doggies and - Oh, wait, that one's me.Don't forget the massive forest
Nah, can't see the wood for the people. Get less crowds at the beach in Summer!
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You are referring to the Look Out activity centre and the immediate area around it. I also completely agree with your description of it.
But you can actually access the Forest from loads of places and walk for miles without seeing anyone. I can walk two minutes from my house, cross a road and suddenly I'm in the middle of nowhere. Genuinely really lucky to have that
But you can actually access the Forest from loads of places and walk for miles without seeing anyone. I can walk two minutes from my house, cross a road and suddenly I'm in the middle of nowhere. Genuinely really lucky to have that
Soldato
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I have that outside my back garden gate....But you can actually access the Forest from loads of places and walk for miles without seeing anyone. I can walk two minutes from my house, cross a road and suddenly I'm in the middle of nowhere. Genuinely really lucky to have that
Might have summat to do with living near AWE, but I don't mind glowing green - Blends in with the landscape and makes Fallout games more immersive!!
Don
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I lived in Thatcham for a bit, was pleasant enough, and the train station had direct links to Reading.
Live North of Basingstoke now, in one of the villages around Tadley. Has it's own station on the Reading to Basingstoke line.
Very good for commute to reading, although I like it because I have two separate train routes to London to avoid any slow downs
Would never live in Basingstoke itself, but the areas north of it are surprisingly rural and comfy.
Live North of Basingstoke now, in one of the villages around Tadley. Has it's own station on the Reading to Basingstoke line.
Very good for commute to reading, although I like it because I have two separate train routes to London to avoid any slow downs
Would never live in Basingstoke itself, but the areas north of it are surprisingly rural and comfy.
Soldato
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Not for long.....
They're planning to bulldoze a large part of it and put up a 15,000 home estate, 1.5 times the size of Lower Earley... you know, because of this housing shortage thing.... despite having a stack of unoccupied houses and office buildings that could be used as flats.