Completion works planned for Thatcham Memorial Playing Fields

West Berkshire Council is committed to fully re-opening the Thatcham Memorial Playing Fields with work continuing on the site over the coming months.

We know that residents are keen to see the space fully open to the public again following work on a flood alleviation scheme which will protect more than 70 homes in the area from flooding. Construction of the scheme has finished ahead of the winter and plans are in place to complete the landscaping and reinstate a dog exercise area.

New fencing is due to be installed in the next three weeks but unfortunately the particularly hot summer has delayed the landscaping of the area. It needs to be re-seeded but this cannot now be done until early autumn when the growing conditions are better. At this point the re-seeding and last of the landscaping will be completed. This has had other knock-on consequences for the project including the re-provision of equipment for ball games.

A new location on the playing fields has been found for the dog exercise area, but the weather is delaying the preparation of the area as that too needs seeding and time to grow so this is likely to be open in the spring 2026.

The work to restore the playing fields follows the creation of a flood alleviation scheme on the site. Part of a broader scheme to protect Thatcham from flooding the scheme will protect more than 70 houses from flooding by helping to manage surface water - with a water detention basin and swale storing water during extreme storms and releasing it slowly back into the Thames Water surface water sewer.

Since the significant flooding in 2007 where more than 1,200 homes were flooded a comprehensive programme of flood alleviation schemes built in Cold Ash Hill, Tull Way, Floral Way and South East Thatcham are protecting 913 properties from the impact of surface water flooding.

Councillor Iain Cottingham, who is a Trustee on the Thatcham Memorial Playing Fields Trust on behalf of West Berkshire Council, said: 

"We know this is a popular outdoor space for Thatcham residents and have been asked when the area will be fully open again. We're working hard to have this open as soon as we can but unfortunately the weather means that some of this is out of our hands. We'll get it done as soon as we can we appreciate residents patience while we complete this work. In the meantime, we are looking into whether the temporary fencing currently on the site can be removed to open some of the space for use sooner."