Compilations Article December 2025

Here’s a summary of recent council activity and developments affecting our community:

🏘️ Baxter Site Planning Application

The Parish Council continues to object to the proposed development of 40 dwellings on the former Baxter Healthcare site (24/02809/FULMAJ). Key concerns include:

• Loss of Play Area and Pavement: The removal of a previously proposed play area and a key pedestrian route reduces accessibility and amenity for families, children, and those with mobility needs.
• Drainage and Flood Risk: The revised drainage strategy relies solely on infiltration and mechanical pumps, with no confirmed adoption or maintenance arrangements. The site lies within a Source Protection Zone and is known to experience groundwater flooding.
• Foul Water Infrastructure: Thames Water previously confirmed Compton’s sewer network could only support 20 dwellings without upgrades. That capacity has already been allocated to the Institute site, and no upgrades or phasing plans have been confirmed.

The Council has requested that:

• No dwellings be occupied until Thames Water confirms capacity or a phasing plan is agreed.
• The cumulative impact of both developments be assessed together.
• The planning authority corrects an error in the previous Pirbright decision notice to avoid compounding infrastructure risks.

These concerns reflect longstanding issues with groundwater, infiltration, and sewer network resilience in Compton.

⚖️ Institute Site: Legal Advice Sought Over Planning Condition Error

The Parish Council has formally engaged Thrings LLP to assist with a planning matter concerning the Institute for Animal Health site (application 20/01336/OUTMAJ). The issue centres on a discrepancy between the planning conditions agreed by the Western Area Planning Committee and those issued in the final decision notice.

Elected members had resolved that all foul and water network upgrades must be completed before any dwellings are occupied. However, the decision notice reintroduced discretionary wording – allowing occupation beyond the 20th and 49th dwellings subject to either upgrades or a phasing plan with Thames Water.

West Berkshire Council has acknowledged the error in its complaint responses but declined to correct it, citing cost and expediency. The Council has the power to issue a Modification Order under Section 97 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, but has chosen not to exercise it.

Thrings LLP advised requesting the Council’s expediency report to understand why s97 powers weren’t used. At the time of writing, no response has been received.

🚌 New Bus Shelter for the High Street

We’re pleased to confirm that a new bus shelter is being installed on Compton High Street, funded by a grant from West Berkshire Council, who approved both the location and contractor. This long-requested improvement responds to many resident calls over the years for better shelter at this well-used stop.

To enable installation, the Remembrance bench previously located at the site had to be temporarily removed. Unfortunately, during the move, the installation team identified that some remedial work is needed to ensure the bench can be safely reinstalled nearby. There will be a short delay while this work is carried out, but we want to reassure residents that the bench will be reinstated as soon as possible.

📚 Pop-Up Library: A Local Success

The Compton pop-up library has been a successful pilot, with 398 loans, 74 reservations, and 130 visitors between April and September. The service, which coincides with the Family Hub, can also offer access to council officers who can advise on topics such as pension credits and winter fuel allowances.

The Council is exploring options to support the continuation of the service in 2026. Discussions are underway to review costs and explore the potential for extended hours or additional services. Residents are encouraged to make use of the library.

🚸 Road Safety: Yellow Line Review

The Council will be writing to West Berkshire Highways to request a review of the termination point of the yellow lines on Newbury Road (southbound), and to raise concerns about verge parking near the school bus entrance. These issues have been flagged as potential safety risks.

👋 Welcome to Our New Councillor

We’re pleased to welcome David Sheppard to Compton Parish Council, who was co-opted at our November meeting. We look forward to working with him as we continue to serve the community.

There are still two vacancies on the Parish Council, and we’d love to hear from residents who are interested in getting involved. If you care about your community and want to help shape its future, please visit our Vacancies page to find out more.

💷 Budget Planning for 2026/27

The Parish Council will be reviewing its draft budget for the 2026/27 financial year at the December meeting. This forms part of the annual process to assess priorities, allocate resources, and plan for the year ahead. The final budget and precept (the parish’s share of council tax) are expected to be set at the January meeting.

🗓️ Next Meeting
Join us for our upcoming Parish Council meetings on Monday 1^st December and Monday 12^th January at 7pm in the Wilkins Centre. All residents are welcome.