Bracknell

Bracknell Environmental health officers have issued a warning to fly-tippers, and residents using unregulated people to dispose of waste, following the prosecution of a Camberley man

Billy Shaw, of Hearsey Gardens, was fined £200 and ordered to pay costs of £120 and a £15 victim surcharge, after he was found guilty of offences in relation to the disposal of waste.

Household waste and builders’ waste, including car parts, half empty cement bags, paint pots and timber, were found dumped in Edgbarrow School, Crowthorne.

The waste was found by environmental health officers from Bracknell Forest Council on March 6, 2011.

A subsequent investigation led the Bracknell officers to Mr Shaw of Camberley. The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to knowingly causing the waste to be [illegally] deposited and failing in his duty of care when transferring waste to someone else (an unauthorised person) for disposal, when he appeared at Slough Magistrates’ Court on January 20.

David Steeds, Bracknell Forest Council’s head of environmental health, said: “I am very pleased with the result, our third prosecution for fly-tipping and waste duty of care in the last 18 months.

“A lot of work has gone into this case which should be a reminder to residents to be responsible for the waste they produce and to make sure that they dispose of it correctly.

“It is the duty of any person who produces controlled waste to take all reasonable steps to prevent fly tipping occurring.

“Cases of fly-tipping should be reported on the council’s website or on 01344 352000.”

Bracknell Forest Council

Four drug warrants were executed in a road in Bracknell last week following concerns raised by local people.

The warrants were executed simultaneously in Chadwick Mews, Bracknell, on the morning of Friday 27 January, leading to the arrest of four individuals.

At one of the addresses, a 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of cannabis after six suspected ‘deal bags’ were found and seized by officers.

A 47-year-old man was arrested from another address on suspicion of being in possession of class A drugs with intent to supply. At this Bracknell address, officers seized white powder from a freezer.

At a third address, a 24-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of class B drugs after police found suspected drugs in the premise.

A 30-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of class B drugs with intent to supply from a fourth address, after suspected cannabis was found.

All four have been released on police bail until 27 March pending further police inquiries.

Insp Michael Squire, Bracknell neighbourhood inspector, said: “Working in liaison with various partner agencies, we executed the four warrants on the back of local concerns.

“I would like to thank everyone who took part in Friday’s operation and I hope the activity goes someway to reassure local people that we take their concerns very seriously and will always, where possible, act on any information given.

“Friday’s warrants should also send out a clear warning to criminals that drugs will not be tolerated in Bracknell Forest.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

Celebrate National Libraries Day in Bracknell on Saturday, February 4.

Youngsters aged four to 10 can drop into a free craft event at the central Bracknell library in Town Square between 10am and 2pm and enjoy puzzles and games.

Children can also pick up an entry form for a competition to draw their favourite book characters. The competition runs until February 28 and will be split into two age groups: four to seven and eight to 11. A £10 book token is up for grabs for the winners and a game for runners-up.

Older visitors who want to get online are invited to take a first click on a Bracknell beginner’s computer course, which runs on the day between 10am and 11.30am. Call 01344 423149 to book a place.

Cllr Iain McCracken, executive member for culture, corporate services and public protection, said: “We’ll be encouraging people who normally borrow books to try our online resources and residents who are usually online to borrow a book.

“We’re inviting people who have never used a library to come along, join in and find out what we have to offer.

“And Twitter users are being asked to tweet ‘I love my library because…’”

All the Bracknell borough’s libraries are offering two for the price of one on DVDs, music CDs, games and books on CD on National Libraries Day.

The following week, Friday, February, 10, Bracknell Library is hosting a visit by Ascot writer Nicola May between 2pm and 3pm.

Nicola is a self-published author whose latest novel, Star Fish, is the perfect Valentine’s Day read. To book a place at this free event call the number above.

Bracknell Forest Council

Bracknell Thames Valley Police is appealing for the public’s help in tracing a woman from Bracknell who has gone missing from Oxford.

Eileen Gilbert, aged 70, from Lochinver, Hanworth, Bracknell, was last seen at 3.30pm on Wednesday (25/1), at O’Hanlon House in Luther Street, Oxford.

When she was last seen she was wearing beige trousers, a three-quarter length dark coat, black boots, and was carrying a black shopping trolley. She often visits the post office in Bracknell town centre and officers believe she has headed back to Bracknell.

Eileen may have some mental health issues and Bracknell officers are keen to trace her to check she is okay.

Anyone with any information about Eileen’s whereabouts should contact Thames Valley Police via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101, quoting reference MP/00625.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

Almost 30 Bracknell Forest residents gathered at Bracknell Lily Hill Park on Tuesday evening to take part in a traditional orchard Wassail.

The event had a family friendly atmosphere with Bracknell people from all age groups joining in the old English custom of protecting fruit trees to ensure a good harvest.

They were treated to lively melodeon music courtesy of Richard Menhinick and there was apple cake and cider to be enjoyed while gathering around a roaring camp fire.

Stephen Chown, manager at Bracknell Lily Hill Park, said: “We are delighted to add a traditional Wassail to the range of community events at Lily Hill Park.

“Lily Hill Park is the perfect location to keep the Wassail tradition alive as we know from the auction records of 1901 that a much larger area all around Lily Hill Lodge was used for apple trees in the past.

“Our first Wassail at Lily Hill Park has been such a success that we are already planning improvements for next year to make this a permanent feature on our event programme.”

Bracknell Forest Council