BROOKVALE in Bloom Tea Party: Coming up on Saturday, July 26, at 2.30pm in Brookvale Village Hall.

Everyone is welcome to come along to what promises to be a fitting celebration of the skill and dedication of local gardeners.

NEW recycling banks: Good news for our local environment, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has installed new recycling banks for cartons and mixed plastics.

Adding to the plastic bottles collected in our doorstep green bins, banks at Brighton Hill shopping centre and the car park of the Civic Offices, in London Road, can now be used for food and drink cartons, Tetrapaks and plastics such as yoghurt pots, food tubs and trays and fruit and vegetable punnets.

INTERESTED in the town centre conservation area?: The council is currently consulting on changes to the area’s boundary and a further proposal for additional controls on changes to the front elevations of buildings.

Details about what’s involved are available to look at on the borough’s website with consultation continuing until August 4.