Has anyone else been disturbed once again by the clay pigeon shooting up by the Castle.

They have erected a tent and shooting was taking place yesterday well into the evening dusk.

I have never discovered whether permission was granted for the shooting, if not it should be stopped.

Footpath 13 and 16 Shaw incorporating Rupp 14 Shaw

The 20 year dispute in relation to the above rights of way can be proven immediately by direct comparisons of the 1961 First Definitive Map and Statement for South and East Berkshire (relevant date 3rd May 1954) housed at the Berkshire Records Office in Reading the the First Consolidated Definitive Map 1991 (Relevant date 1st May 1991)also housed in Reading and Newbury Library. The 'changes' between the two particularly in the Statements have been made without ANY requisite Statutory Orders. First complaints were made by the landowner in 1993 but ignored and misdirected.

Hi Dave
Thanks for visiting our website and for your message - it certainly must have been strange and exciting to return after all those years! The pub nearest the Church is The Cock, on Shaw Road. There are also two pubs in Donnington Village - The Three Horseshoes and The Castle.
Vicky

My mother and her sisters were all born in Shaw and they used to live at 2 Hunt's Cottages and
I think it was 1 Ivy Cottages in the 1930's.
Two weeks ago I went to Shaw and had a quick look round then on to St Mary's Church to visit my nan and grandad's grave.
The question I would like to ask is what was the name of the pub near these houses as I stoppedmin there to ask directions to the church?
It was really strange going to Donnington after at least thirty years and imagine that none of the residents there today have many roots in the village.
Thank you for your reply in advance.
kind regards
DAve Bennett

A huge cloud of smoke from a garden bonfire is wafting across the village and entering windows. Is this legal? Should people be more considerate? Why not use the green bins??

There is an illegal and monstrous electric gate blocking the entrance to Footpath 20 Shaw at the junction with Footpath 18. It has cameras and other associated equipment which are entirely intimidating to walkers.

Dear Donnington resident/Parish Council, we're sorry once again that you think Footpath 13/16 "disgraceful" despite monies having been spent but perhaps any residual temporary conditions are outside the control of any landowners as they are climatic and too relate to the nature of the land. The name 'Bottom' does in fact denote a basin or dip, therefore, as you will note here rainwater drains from the higher land. This cannot be prevented unless the respective Councils wish to provide massive funds to create dams and perhaps it should have been a consideration when the original cul-de-sacced path was 'stolen' and trespassed by various members of the public to try to force a public right of way. In 1955/57 when the route was thoroughly researched and the cul-de-sac decision reinforced from earlier maps to be entered on the First official 1961 Definitive Map its geographical makeup may well too have been a consideration. It is a fault of the Councils that correct rights of way procedures were not followed in 1991 when a more suitable alternative route should and would have been taken into consideration.

Dear PARISH COUNCIL,
I too walk Footpath 13/16 now known as B0G BOTTOM and can see no evidence of any expenditure there what-so ever!

Perhaps the residents in the preceeding note are referring to their private road and not the public footpath 13/16 (Bog Bottom) the condition of which is disgraceful at all times of the year thanks to lack of attention from the landowner.

Dear London Walker and Donnington Resident, we do not know which honeybottom footpath(s) you are referring to but as we cannot see any hippo baths or mud wallows in the immediate vicinity, we would suggest that perhaps you need your eyes testing(!) or you could always find somewhere else to walk especially since 3 Honeybottom landowners have grouped together at the top and paid £3,500+ to resurface part of Rupp 14 and top end of Footpath 18 in the last year alone which would be in addition to any other rerouted costs and too as already mentioned, Rupp 14 running N/S to Bagnor, not owned by any Honeybottom landowner(s) has sections of slippery mud which have been totally impassable since November.

I much enjoy the many walks in the area surrounding Shaw cum Donnington; alas I too have encountered the *MUDBATH* of the Honeybottom Footpath on several occasions.

In order to prepare the wary walker for the obstacle he is about to encounter, could I suggest a name change for this footpath?

BOG BOTTOM OR HIPPO WALLOW both would be suitable, and entirely appropriate.

HONEYBOTTOM FOOTPATH. Once again despite the best efforts of the Parish Council the state of this footpath is atrocious; I always understood that the maintenance of this path was the responsibility of the landowner who barracked for it to be moved to its present position against much local opposition.

Perhaps if the landowner did his civic duty and ensured the path was mud and water free the general public could enjoy a pleasant walk rather than a boggy obstacle course.

Following on from the comments regarding the perceived obsessions with Footpath 13 and 16 Shaw, someone is proposing wooden steps. There are far more pressing matters within the parish which include the repair of potholes on the Winterbourne Road in particular. We're sure the the public purse would be far better spent on the repair of the holes which must be causing considerable damage to parishioners' cars. Footpath matters for the past year have referred only to this footpath and one other namely Footpath 8.

Having read the minutes of the past year's comments regarding 'the state of Footpath 13 and 16 Shaw', it would appear that certain members of the Parish Council and/or certain few members of the public have an obsession with this route and your comments could even be construed as prejudiced or descriminatory against either this route or its owners. This is because in our view the route is no worse than any other route in the immediate vicinity especially at this time of year following rain. In fact, Restricted Byway 14 running N/S to Bagnor has exhibited even worse muddy slippery conditions and has been impassable on some sections at least since November. Also too, the bridge spanning the small stream at the entrance from the Winterborne Road to Honeybottom which is a public footpath is now dipping down towards the stream in such a way that water collects on the top and it is also muddy. This could potentially be far more dangerous. There has been no mention at all about either of these two routes in this immediate area alone.

I would like to bring to the notice of the Clerk with regard to the June minutes, Members Reports and Questions, item 4. The RSPB web site gives the following information on the legal status of Lapwings - "The lapwing is fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; it an offence to kill, injure or take an adult lapwing, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents. The only exception is legitimate farming practices that cannot be reasonably delayed, although farming methods can often be modified to reduce the impact on the lapwings.

Well done Sally!

And... Not sure I have ever seen the playground area so well utilised by families with children. Would it not be possible to persuade the Castle Pub, as a goodwill gesture, to allocate a few marked spaces to visitors (an aid for grandparents accompanying children) who want to visit the park but who are from outside the area?

I just wanted to say how lovely it is to see all the children enjoying themselves in the new playground on the recreation ground.