Shaw-cum-Donnington Parish Councillors are delighted that West Berkshire Council has agreed to reduce the speed limits on two of our busiest roads: Oxford Road in Donnington from 40mph to 30mph in the residential area south of the Donnington Valley Hotel, and B4009 Long Lane extending the 30mph limit by 80 metres in the residential area by Shaw Cemetery. This is one of a number of measures the Parish Council is taking to reduce speeding in the parish, following wishes of our residents.

Reduction in speed limits announced on two of our busiest roads

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West Berkshire Council has announced it will be reducing the speed limits on two of the roads in the parish, following a request from the Parish Council.

the two roads are:

  • Oxford Road in Donnington – the current 40mph limit north will become an extension to the existing 30mph up to the Donnington Valley Hotel
  • B4009 Long Lane – an 80 metre extension to the 30mph taking it beyond Shaw Cemetery

Both are in response to requests from residents due to the large number of speeding vehicles.  This is just one way the Parish Council are acting to reduce speeding in the parish.  We also organise regular Community Speedwatch sessions around the parish; rotate our two Speed Indicator Devices, and report statistics of speeding motorists to West Berkshire Council and Thames Valley Police.

Village School

Good Ofsted for Shaw-cum-Donnington Primary School

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The Governors of Shaw-cum-Donnington C.E. Primary School are delighted with the findings of their recent Ofsted inspection, which praises the school as “the heart of the community” where pupils are happy, safe and eager to learn.

Inspectors commended the school’s nurturing environment, high expectations and ambitious curriculum. They highlighted pupils’ excellent behaviour, strong      friendships and the staff’s “unwavering belief that every pupil can and will succeed.”

The report also recognised the school’s  strong reading culture and effective leadership, noting that staff and Governors have “steered the school through a period of change very successfully.”  Chair of Governors, Louis Thatcher, said: “We are extremely proud of this report, which reflects the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our pupils and the support of our wonderful community.”

 

Parish Council objects to David Wilson Homes application to avoid transferring the land for our new primary school

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Shaw-cum-Donnington Parish Council is objecting to the developer David Wilson Homes (DWH) planning application to avoid the obligation to provide land and finance for the much needed new primary school on Love Lane.

When DWH won permission to build a large housing estate on land to the North of Love Lane in Donnington, they agreed to transfer land and money to West Berkshire Council to enable a new school to be built.  The current school building is Victorian, and has only three classrooms and no school hall or playing fields. The new school was to have more classrooms, a school hall and playing fields, but this much needed community asset is now in question.

The full objection to planning application 25/02302/MDOPO can be found here.

people litter picking on a sunny day

Litter Picker Wanted!

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We are recruiting a new litter picker to keep Donnington Recreation Ground clean and tidy.

Just a couple of hours a week, £12.60 per hour.  More information on our website:

Please contact clerk@shawcumdonningtonparish.gov.uk

Closing date 6 October 2025

Donnington Village Fête – Bring a picnic!

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Donnington

Village Fête

Sunday 22rd June 2025

12.00 Noon to 4.00pm
at Donnington Recreation Ground

Bring a picnic!

Free Bouncy Castle and children’s activities Vintage cars, garden show*, fun dog show from 2.30pm*,

South Berks Concert Band 12.20-2.10pm

Scout BBQ, WI cake stall, ice cream van and more!

Tea, coffee and squash provided free of charge

Relax and enjoy an afternoon of traditional fun with the community of Shaw-cum-Donnington!
* competition entry details will be available nearer the time

Limited car parking on Recreation Ground
(accessed from Castle Lane)

Please walk if you can

Organised by Shaw-cum-Donnington Parish Council

www.shawcumdonningtonparish.gov.uk

Fête 2025 Dog Show poster

Donnington Village Fête – Fun Dog Show

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Donnington Village Fête

Sunday 22nd June 2025

12.00 Noon to 4.00pm

at Donnington Recreation Ground

Fun Dog Show

Sponsored by Doggy Daze Treats

£2 per entry (proceeds to Forever Hounds Trust)

Goody bags for all entrants and prizes for winners!

Categories are ‘Waggiest Tail’, ‘Most Handsome Boy’, ‘Prettiest Lady’, ‘Best Rescue Dog’, ‘Veteran’ (7+ years old), ‘Best Pedigree Dog’ and ‘Best Crossbreed’

Entries on the day only from Noon to 2.30pm

Judging commences at 2.30pm

Dogs to be kept on a lead at all times

Limited car parking, please walk if you can!

Organised by Shaw-cum-Donnington Parish Council

www.shawcumdonningtonparish.gov.uk

Garden Show poster 2025

Donnington Village Fête – Garden Show

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Donnington Village Fête

Sunday 22nd June 2025

12.00 Noon to 4.00pm

at Donnington Recreation Ground

Garden Show
Calling all gardeners and handicrafters!

Bring something you have made or grown:

Flowers, Fruit, Vegetables, Handicrafts, Produce Children-make an animal from Vegetables

Bring your lovely items to the Garden Show tent from 12noon to 2pm

Judging takes place from 2pm Come along and see the entries

Limited car parking on the rec, walk if you can!

For more details: contact the Parish Clerk Gillian Durrant clerk@shawcumdonningtonparish.gov.uk or 07419 323252

Organised by Shaw-cum-Donnington Parish Council

www.shawcumdonnington parish.gov.uk

Review of the Year 2024

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January

  • Welcome packs have been reprinted and distributed by GT
  • Benches purchased to commemorate Bill Graham and the ScD Gardening Club
  • Asked WBC to sort out Long Lane flooding
  • New internal auditor appointed
  • Another batch of ‘Welcome packs’ printed and delivered to residents and show homes on the new estates

February

  • Start of levelling of Owen Road Field
  • Community Speed Watch sessions, manned by councillors and members of the public are organised and held throughout the year
  • Comprehensive repairs carried out to playground equipment
  • First survey of pedestrians crossing by the Castle Pub undertaken by councillors
  • Second Speed Indicator Device purchased for the parish
  • Community Speedwatch signs attached to Village Gateways in Long Lane and B4494

March

  • Community Litter Pick took place
  • New kitchen installed in the pavilion
  • New-look four page newsletter printed and delivered by councillors to all 900+ homes in the parish
  • Meeting with Action for River Kennet to see if any community work could be done to improve the local section of the River Lambourn
  • Four trees planted in the green at Lamp Acres
  • New Parish Council website goes live
  • A new litter bin and new lids for the dog bins in the recreation ground are installed
  • Second survey of pedestrians crossing by the Castle Pub undertaken by councillors
  • Liaising with WBC regarding delays to infrastructure promised by developers, e.g. ANPR cameras on Bastion Street, new bus service and new primary school
  • New Parish Emergency Plan approved
  • Council attends the WBC Speed Limit Review panel, who agree to consult on reductions to speed limits on Oxford Road and Long Lane

April

  • New gov.uk email addresses adopted
  • Parish Flood Warden Cllr Glyn Thomas liaising with WBC over the swales on new development
  • New car parking area in the recreation ground completed, including new height barrier

May

  • New larger dog bin ordered for Love Lane
  • Newly levelled Owen Road Field re-seeded
  • New defibrillator installed in Kingsley Close, fundraised for buy local residents
  • Councillors clean the pavilion’s exterior prior to it being repainted by Community Payback

June

  • Successful beacon lighting event held at Donnington Castle on 6 June to celebrate 80 years since D-Day
  • New benches installed in the pavilion changing rooms
  • Very successful village fete took place on 23 June, organised by councillors and members of the community. A dog show, concert band and produce show were included for the first time.

September

  • ‘Have your Say’ meeting arranged with TV Police following the shooting of a pet cat in Shaw Valley
  • 5 new streetlight lanterns installed in Church Car park
  • New playground surfacing installed at recreation ground
  • Council responded to the Local Plan Review
  • Petition presented to WBC for a crossing on the B4494 by The Castle Pub
  • New bus service is launched in the parish, and it is publicised in the Autumn newsletter

October

  • Autumn Litter Pick took place
  • New toddler swings installed in playground
  • Three councillors attend the Local Plan Review hearing and make the case to exclude land either side of Long Lane for housing development
  • Council agrees new designs for identity signs for the villages in the parish, and progresses with plans for I  installation
  • Faulty shower in pavilion replaced
  • New lampposts are installed on Shaw Hill footpath

November

  • Grant applications made for a disabled toilet to be installed in the pavilion
  • The Government Inspector announces that the sites for development in the parish have been removed from the Local Plan Review
  • Councillors and others remove concrete plinths from back of pavilion and create a soakaway
  • A donated bench is installed at the recreation ground
  • Replacement hedging is planted by the car parking area by councillors
  • Dog bins and post boxes have been requested for the two new estates

December

  • The Christmas newsletter has been produced, and delivered by councillors with the Church newsletter and new bus timetable, to all homes in the parish

Fun Dog Show at the Village Fete on Sunday 23 June

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Donnington Village Fete - save the date poster

Donnington Village Fête 23 June 2024

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Donnington Village Fête Sunday 23 June 12 noon to 4pm.

Free activities for children, garden show and dog show.