Kintbury Parish Council

30/10/2026

PLEASE FIND SOME UPDATES BELOW FROM BEDWYN TRAINS PASSENGER GROUP
Meeting with Danny Kruger MP and Mark Hopwood, MD of GWR

On September 25th, Bill Wells and I met with Danny Kruger, Mark Hopwood and other members of the GWR team.

Mark stated that the aspiration is to reinstate our three IETs, which would provide us with an hourly Paddington service. There has been a significant shift in the position, as reinstatement is now dependent only on the Class 175s entering service, thereby releasing our IETs, and approval being granted by the DfT.

The earliest this could happen is May 2027.

As Danny’s constituency also covers Pewsey, we discussed concerns raised by Pewsey passengers. These included the current two-hourly train service and the lack of a late-evening service back from Paddington.

Regarding the two-hourly service, Mark explained that the aspiration, once the Bedwyn service is reinstated, is to extend it through to Westbury. This would require an additional IET, and potentially a new platform at Westbury, to operate alongside the three trains needed to provide an hourly service between Paddington and Bedwyn. GWR is currently developing a business case for this proposal.

Regarding the lack of late-evening service, the seemingly straightforward solution would be to extend the existing 22:30 service from Paddington, which arrives at Bedwyn at 23:49, through to Westbury. The train operating this service would normally then run empty westwards to the Stoke Gifford depot via Westbury.

However, when Network Rail is carrying out late-evening maintenance work, the train instead has to run empty back eastwards. This means it is not possible to extend the passenger service through to Westbury every evening.

Mark plans to speak with Network Rail to see whether anything can be done to overcome this issue.

We then discussed our report, which sets out a number of interim improvements we are requesting ahead of the reinstatement of our full off-peak service. A copy of the report can be read here: https://tinyurl.com/BTPGInterim

The following is a summary of the discussion and the actions agreed:

The four 90-minute gaps in the Paddington–Bedwyn service will be resolved with the reinstatement of our IET services.
As an interim measure, GWR will investigate providing a direct Paddington–Kintbury–Bedwyn service on Saturday evenings.
GWR will not extend the staffing hours at Newbury.
GWR will improve the signage directing passengers to the help points at Newbury.
GWR has already improved access to taxis at Newbury. If you are stranded, please ask station staff for assistance. When the station is unstaffed, use the help point.
Our request for an additional CIS screen on Platform 1, at the foot of the overbridge, will be considered when the CIS is next replaced.
GWR will investigate whether the hold time for the 20:49 Newbury–Bedwyn service can be improved.
GWR will investigate introducing a Saturday and Sunday holding policy.
GWR will investigate our requests to improve journey planners so that they provide passengers with the best available advice.
Danny Kruger has subsequently posted the following: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1630716391979480

Local Transport Forum for the London Thames Valley & North Downs Region

On October 26th Bill attended this GWR meeting. There will be very few changes in the December 2026 timetable, but likely to be a lot more in May 2027. This could be positive for us.

There are going to be two phases of potential work to introduce some partial electrification, combined with battery/electric operation. The first phase will involve the Thames Valley branches and Reading - Basingstoke. Funding for initial technical design work is now in place.

The second phase includes North Downs, some wiring around Bristol and a stretch from Didcot to around Culham in Oxfordshire. A positive spin on this is the long term plan is for IETs on Paddington - Bedwyn and any extension to Westbury. Funding for the technical work is subject to further DfT approvals.

Once the technical designs are in place a Strategic Outline Business Case will be prepared in late 2027.

The other interesting point was that they are planning to roll out Pay as you go (tap in - tap out with a GWR smartcard) as far west as Bedwyn and Pewsey by next autumn.

Engineering Works

Saturday 31 October to Friday 6 November 2026
Sunday - The 0806 Reading to Newbury will not run. The 0833 Reading to Bedwyn will start from Newbury and will run slightly later than usual. A replacement bus will run EARLIER from Reading at 0751 to Newbury. The 0804 (departing 0753) London Paddington to Penzance will be diverted after Reading and will no longer call at Newbury or Pewsey. The 0844 (departing 0834) London Paddington to Penzance will call additionally at Newbury and Pewsey.
Monday to Thursday - The 2230 London Paddington to Bedwyn will start from Reading and will be slightly retimed. An alternative rail connection will be available from London Paddington to Reading.
Tuesday to Friday - The 0531 Bedwyn to London Paddington will be slightly retimed and will finish its journey at Reading. An alternative rail connection will be available from Reading to London Paddington.
Saturday 7 to Friday 13 November 2026
Saturday until approximately 0730 - Some early morning trains between Reading, Newbury and Bedwyn will be replaced by buses which, in some cases, will depart EARLIER than usual. A few other trains will be subject to minor retimings.
Sunday - The 2323 Newbury to Reading will not run and will be replaced by a bus.
Saturday 14 to Friday 20 November 2026
Monday to Thursday - The 2230 London Paddington to Bedwyn will start from Reading and will be slightly retimed. An alternative rail connection will be available from London Paddington to Reading.
Tuesday to Friday - The 0531 Bedwyn to London Paddington will be slightly retimed and will finish its journey at Reading. An alternative rail connection will be available from Reading to London Paddington.
Saturday 21 to Friday 27 November 2026
Sunday - The 0806 Reading to Newbury will not run. 0833 Reading to Bedwyn will start from Newbury and will run slightly later than usual. A replacement bus will run EARLIER from Reading at 0751 to Newbury. The 0804 (departing 0751) London Paddington to Penzance will be diverted after Reading and will no longer call at Newbury or Pewsey. 0844 (departing 0834) London Paddington to Penzance will call additionally at Newbury and Pewsey.
Monday to Thursday from approximately 2145 until end of service - Buses will replace trains between Newbury and Bedwyn. The 2230 London Paddington to Bedwyn will start from Reading, will be slightly retimed and will finish its journey at Newbury. An alternative rail connection will be available from London Paddington to Reading.
Tuesday to Friday - The 0531 Bedwyn to London Paddington will be slightly retimed and will finish its journey at Reading. An alternative rail connection will be available from Reading to London Paddington.
Saturday 28 November to Friday 4 December 2026
Saturday and Sunday - All weekend, all High Speed services from / to London Paddington will be subject to alteration. Most services from London Paddington to the West of England will start from Reading and most services from the West of England to London Paddington will finish their journeys at Reading. A few services will not run at all, with other services making additional stops as a result. On Saturday, services between London Paddington and Newbury will only run between Reading and Newbury and will be retimed. On Sunday, the 2350 London Paddington to Penzance will be diverted to start from London Euston EARLIER at 2315 (normal timings from Reading onwards) (The 2115 Penzance to London Paddington will run normally into London Paddington). Passengers are strongly advised to check their journey before travelling, especially when travelling later in the day, to ensure that their whole journey is still possible.
Saturday 5 to Friday 11 December 2026
Saturday and Sunday - All weekend, High Speed services to and from London Paddington will be revised. Most services FROM London Paddington will depart slightly EARLIER than usual, and many will then be subject to later retimings from Reading onwards. Most services TO London Paddington will arrive a few minutes later at London Paddington. Some services will either not run at all, or will only run for part of their journey. Most services between London Paddington and Cheltenham Spa will only run between Swindon and Cheltenham Spa. On Saturday, some services between London Paddington and Newbury will only run between Reading and Newbury, and most local stopping services between London Paddington, Reading and Didcot Parkway will only run between Reading and Didcot Parkway. Passengers should use Elizabeth line services, which will also be reduced in frequency. On Sunday, most services between London Paddington and Oxford will not call at Slough. Passengers are strongly advised to check their journey before travelling.
Monday to Thursday from approximately 2145 until end of service - Buses will replace train services between Reading, Newbury and Bedwyn.
Tuesday to Friday - The 0531 Bedwyn to London Paddington will be slightly retimed and will finish its journey at Reading. An alternative rail connection will be available from Reading to London Paddington.
Saturday 12 to Friday 18 December 2026
Monday to Thursday - The 2230 London Paddington to Bedwyn will start from Reading and will be slightly retimed. An alternative rail connection will be available from London Paddington to Reading.
Tuesday to Friday - The 0531 Bedwyn to London Paddington will be slightly retimed and will finish its journey at Reading. An alternative rail connection will be available from Reading to London Paddington.
Saturday 19 to Friday 25 December 2026
Sunday - The 0806 Reading to Newbury will not run. The 0833 Reading to Bedwyn will start from Newbury and will run slightly later than usual. A replacement bus will run EARLIER from Reading at 0751 to Newbury. The 0804 (departing 0751) London Paddington to Penzance will be diverted after Reading and will no longer call at Newbury or Pewsey. The 0844 (departing 0834) London Paddington to Penzance will call additionally at Newbury and Pewsey.
Saturday and Sunday - All weekend, High Speed services to and from London Paddington will be revised. Most services FROM London Paddington will depart slightly EARLIER than usual, and many will then be subject to later retimings from Reading onwards. Most services TO London Paddington will arrive a few minutes later at London Paddington. Some services will either not run at all, or will only run for part of their journey. Most services between London Paddington and Cheltenham Spa will only run between Swindon and Cheltenham Spa. On Saturday, some services between London Paddington and Newbury will only run between Reading and Newbury. Some local stopping services between London Paddington, Reading and Didcot Parkway will only run between Reading and Didcot Parkway. Passengers should use Elizabeth line services, which will also be reduced in frequency. Passengers are strongly advised to check their journey before travelling.
Christmas Day – no service.
Saturday 26 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027
Boxing Day – no service. Check journey planners on other days.
Best wishes
Steve Smith
Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group

30/10/2026

COUNCIL WELCOMES CONFIRMATION THAT A NEW RIDGEWAY COUNCIL WILL GO AHEAD

West Berkshire Council has welcomed confirmation from the Government that its minded to proceed with local government reorganisation (LGR) across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.

The proposal - including the creation of a new Ridgeway Council for West Berkshire, and most of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse - was paused last month while the Government reviewed its wider programme of local government reorganisation. The outcome of that review, published today, explains the government has taken a fresh decision to introduce three new unitary councils for the area.

The Minister has indicated that it will be putting in place a short period to enable councils to make any representations on this new decision before a firm decision is made by the end of the year.

Under the plans, the seven existing county, unitary and district councils across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire will be replaced by three new unitary authorities, including:

Ridgeway Council covering West Berkshire, and most of the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts

Northern Oxfordshire Council covering Cherwell and West Oxfordshire

Greater Oxford Council covering Oxford and its immediate surroundings

West Berkshire Council has consistently supported the creation of a Ridgeway Council and has worked closely with South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse councils throughout the reorganisation process.

Elections for the new unitary councils will take place in May 2028, after which shadow authorities will be created to plan the new councils, but will not deliver services.

On 1 April 2029, the seven existing councils in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire will end and the three new unitary councils will be created. Serving councillors' terms of office will continue until the existing councils come to an end on vesting day.

Welcoming the Government's announcement,Councillor Jeff Brooks, the Leader for West Berkshire Council, said:

"We're very pleased that the Government has reiterated its support for the three-council model and we're keen to get on with delivering it for local residents. The new Ridgeway Council will bring together communities with strong existing links while creating a larger, stronger, and more resilient organisation that is well placed to protect and enhance the services local people rely on.

"This is good news notwithstanding that we didn't quite get the Ridgeway Council we wanted. However, whilst we are sorry about the loss of some important wards to a new Greater Oxford council, we are committed to working with colleagues across Oxfordshire to deliver local government reorganisation.

"The delay means we will hold ordinary elections to West Berkshire Council next year, and elections will also take place a year after that to Ridgeway Council, which will operate as a shadow authority until 1 April 2029.

"We look forward to delivering local government reorganisation with our partners across Oxfordshire, and to providing essential services for the communities that we serve."

The councils involved will continue working together on detailed transition planning ahead of the establishment of the new authorities. Residents will continue to receive services from their existing councils throughout the transition period and further updates will be provided as plans progress.

The district council elections in South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire and West Berkshire will go ahead in May 2027 on the existing council boundaries.

Find out which new council will serve your community and what this means for your area:

Local government is changing. Learn more about the 3Councils proposal for Oxfordshire and West Berkshire.

30/10/2026

PROJECTS AROUND THE VILLAGE.
Here are the latest projects that the Parish Council have completed around the village, including a new noticeboard and an upgrade on the bins outside the Village Store and Church, An upgrade on the dogwaste bin behind the Blue Ball and a Letters to Heaven postbox at the Cemetery.
Most of the projects were funded by community members bids from West Berkshire Council.

18/10/2026

Kintbury Village Autumn Litter Pick Sunday 18th Oct 2026

Fourteen (14) hardy souls took part in the Village Litter Pick on 18th Oct.

A fine, sunny Autumn day, ideal for a walk around the Village.

We collected 17 bags of litter and the encouraging aspect is that there seems to be a reducing level of litter within the village itself. However the main routes into the village still suffer from heavy littering, and it is not just take away food containers and drinks cans.

Many thanks

Mike Stapley

Councillor , Kintbury Parish Council.

17/09/2026

The Parish Council is pleased to confirm that the Public Conveniences have reopened after undergoing a recent deep clean.

17/09/2026

Bus Service

Due to this road closure and the Hampstead Marshall closure also our service will divert via A4 to kintbury then inkpen rd then Blandy’s hill onto Pebble hill then we will divert via Kintbury road
So, we are not serving rooksnest lane, Great common rd and post office road.

Newbury Buses

17/09/2026

11/09/2026

The glass on the Inpost locker at the Jubilee Centre has been smashed, meaning you have to input the code manually. It has been reported and should be repaired soon.

11/09/2026

Unfortunately we have had to close the gents toilets until further notice as there has been further vandalism to them.

The Parish Council will be discussing the ongoing issues at the next meeting on 1st October.