RESIDENTS, businesses and local organisations are invited to give their views on how West Berkshire can tackle the climate crisis at a conference in October. 

The conference will be held at Newbury College from 10am until 4pm on Monday, October 28. It will be hosted by West Berkshire Council and opened by Richard Benyon, the MP for Newbury. 

The free event will consist of speaker-led sessions and ‘information exchanges’, with an agenda published in the coming weeks. Residents can book tickets from noon on September 16 from the council website. 

The conference follows the council declaring a climate emergency in July and is one of the first initiatives to come from the new environment board. 

Councillor Steve Ardagh-Walter (Con, Thatcham Colthrop & Crookham), executive member for the environment, said: “We’re excited to be hosting this event, which will bring together academics, industry figures, local organisations and residents to discuss how we can tackle the climate crisis here in West Berkshire. 

“Climate change is an important issue that affects us all and about which our community feels very passionately. 

“The conference will be a great opportunity for local people to be involved with our work and contribute their views, ideas and experiences as we look at shared solutions we can adopt in the district.”

Cllr Steve Masters (Green, Speen) said: “The council needs to bring the community with them and ensure the conversation is open and transparent. 

“The climate emergency declaration has struck a chord with the public and this conference needs to be one part of the public discourse, not the only element. Talk is cheap, the public require action.” 

Cllr Adrian Abbs (Lib Dem, Wash Common) said: “I think it’s great that it’s happening, and great getting the public involved. West Berkshire as a whole has to achieve carbon-zero.”