Wokingham

Consultation under Regulation 25 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004 on Wokingham District's Site Allocations Development Plan Document Initial Options

The Council produces a land use plan (the Local Plan) for the district that says where different buildings, from homes to shops, offices, schools, leisure and health facilities may be built. As the current plan runs until 2006, the Council now needs to produce a new plan to last until 2026. The replacement plan will be in the form of a Local Development Framework as required by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

Wokingham District Council thinks that you or the organisation/company you represent may be interested in helping to develop a land use planning strategy for Wokingham District. I am therefore writing to let you know that the Council is asking for views on its early ideas (Initial Options) for both identifying potential sites where development could take place within the district together with an approach to planning policy.

The Council has now published the Initial Options for the Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) (August 2006). The document lists over 200 sites that have been suggested for development in the district to 2026, together with ideas on how settlement boundaries/development limits, green gaps and Green Belt could be changed. The document also includes a number of questions on how planning policy could be changed.

The documents can be seen on the Council's website at www.wokingham.gov.uk/ldf-siteoptions or any library within Wokingham district together with the one in Crowthorne. To aid the consultation, the Council has produced a response form which can be collected/seen at all the above locations. The documents are also available on DVD-Rom for £8 (plus £0.50 postage and packaging). If you would like to buy a copy, please send a cheque made payable to Wokingham District Council and send it for the attention of Diane McGloin at the address below.

If you have any comments on the Initial Options for the Site Allocations Development Plan Document, these need to be received by the Council before 5 p.m. on Wednesday 11 October 2006. The response form can also be completed online at www.wokingham.gov.uk/ldf-siteoptions

Other research for the Local Development Framework

The Council from 6 September to 11 October 2006 is also consulting upon the Scoping Report for the Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) it is going to produce on Planning Obligations and Village Design Statements. Copies of the Scoping Reports are available at the above locations. The Council is currently due to consult on the draft SPD during November and December 2006.

It is important that you submit your views at the stage of the Council's Initial Options for the Site Allocations DPD since the authority's land use strategy has not been confirmed and your comments will help to influence content. The Council is due to agree the Preferred Options for the Site Allocations DPD in November 2006.

It is important that you inform the Development Plans Team of any changes in your email address, telephone number or postal address so that the Council can keep you up to date with its progress.

If you have any queries regarding the Council's Local Development Framework, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Development Plans Team on (0118) 974 6478 or policyandplans@wokingham.gov.uk.

Development Plans Team
Strategy and Partnerships
Wokingham District Council
PO Box 157, Shute End
Wokingham
Berkshire, RG40 1WR

Tel: 0118 974 6478
Fax: 0118 974 6385
Email: policyandplans@wokingham.gov.uk
www.wokingham.gov.uk/ldf-siteoptions

Wokingham District Council’s sports development unit has seen a big boost to their summer holiday fun schemes this summer – thanks to Rabbits Vehicle Hire.

Kevin Rapson, manager of the Reading-based vehicle hire company, kindly donated a van for the service to use throughout the summer holiday, so that staff could easily visit the sites where they are holding summer courses, and deliver equipment to them.

The sports development unit has been bringing round the bats and balls to their tennis, football, athletics, ‘Kwik’ cricket and multi-sport courses at Wokingham’s Cantley Park and Robert Piggott Junior School, Wargrave, and the playscheme at East Park Farm Pavilion, Charvil.

“This is a real help to the scheme,” said sports development officer Andrea Ford. “I would like to thank Rabbits Vehicle Hire for their generosity. It has meant that we can make much more equipment available to the district’s young people during their holiday time. And as we’ve been able to transport all the equipment quickly and easily, we’ve been able to focus more on delivering good courses and involving children in more sporting activities.”

Cllr Malcolm Bryant, the Wokingham council’s champion for youth and leisure, said: “The summer holiday sport and play schemes are helping young people across the district to make the most of their time away from school – learning new skills, keeping fit and making new friends. It is excellent to see local businesses helping to make this possible and I hope that Rabbits Vehicle Hire will inspire other local companies to join in. Making a contribution to the development of our younger residents is an investment for the future!”

Wokingham District Council

Everyone with an interest in the future of the Wokingham district is being asked for their opinions on over 200 sites that have been suggested as being suitable for future development.

Wokingham District Council is currently developing the Local Development Framework (LDF) – a set of documents that will guide development in the district from 2006 to 2026, replacing the current Local Plan. The process involves extensive public consultation, and this latest round, taking place between August 30 and October 11, 2006, will ask people to consider:

* A list of more than 200 sites submitted to the council as being suitable for future development
* Potential settlement, green gap, wedge and Green Belt boundaries
* Additional information to inform the council’s final preferred option for the LDF.

Wokingham People can make their views known by visiting www.wokingham.gov.uk/ldf-siteoptions and completing the online survey; collecting a paper copy of the questionnaire from the council’s Shute End offices in Wokingham and any library in the district and Crowthorne library; calling (0118) 974 6478 to request a copy of the survey or emailing policyandplans@wokingham.gov.uk.

Under the LDF process everyone in the Wokingham district was invited to submit any ideas they have of land where development might take place during this period. All of these proposals have now been published and local groups, organisations, residents and businesses are being asked for their views on the suitability, or otherwise, of the sites.

Any proposals to develop land will, of course, be subject to the usual planning process. Sites submitted under the process - by anyone, whether the council, other landowners, developers or independent individuals and groups - are not a commitment to development, but an exploration of options for the future that may or may not be realised. Just because a site has been suggested, does not mean it will be accepted for development.

Each of the sites submitted will be tested against national planning policy along with any comments received during public consultations. Only those sites that best meet national policy and the views received will be chosen as part of the final preferred option.

Leader of Wokingham council Cllr Frank Browne said: “The council has been working as hard as it can to limit the amount of development in the district, fighting hard against proposals from government to increase the number of new houses to be built in the district.

“At the same time, however, we have to work to ensure that whatever development we do take is of as high a quality as possible, and in the most suitable locations. This is why it is vital that local people have their say, helping us to try and meet the aspirations of our residents within the framework set by government. I would urge everyone to let us know what they think.”

Anyone submitting comments should do so by 5pm on October 11. Anyone with questions should contact the development plans team on (0118) 974 6478.

Wokingham District Council

School support staff from across the Wokingham district are being invited next month (September 9) to a Wokingham District Council roadshow to learn more about the training opportunities that are available to them.

Wokingham School support staff including administration staff, catering staff, technical support, playground management, site maintenance and teaching assistants will all be able to find out at first hand some of the training opportunities that are available to them, many which are free of charge. Some of the courses on offer include adult key skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT, NVQs, high level teaching assistant status and foundation degrees. And should support staff have aspirations to become a teacher, options on how this can be achieved can also be discussed at the roadshow.

The roadshow is taking place at the council’s Professional Development Centre on Reading Road in Wokingham on Saturday September 9 from 10am to 12.30pm and is open to anyone who is employed by a Wokingham district school. As well as representatives from the district council, local colleges, universities and training providers will be available to answer questions and provide information, advice and guidance on training opportunities.

The Wokingham district council and schools recognise the contribution of everyone who works within the school community. They know the importance of strengthening the whole school team which will ultimately improve standards in schools and children’s well being. However, until now, many staff have not had the opportunity to develop their skills and to have their experience recognised.

Caroline Lyness, support staff development officer said: “ All support staff deserve access to high quality training and development, and to a clear career pathway. They want good advice on the wide range of qualifications available to them and which are also appropriate to their work.

“We hope this roadshow will offer advice to district’s support staff on how they can develop their current roles and, if they want to move to a new career, what qualifications they may need. The roadshow also aims to help them map a clear career progression route.”

Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “Support staff provide a vital service in delivering education and it is right that their training needs are not forgotten. The roadshow will allow everyone from cleaners to teaching assistants to get advice on how to access high quality, professional training and development. I hope many of them will take the time to come along and learn more.”

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham District Council’s community wardens and youth workers made a big splash with young people on Sunday (August 20) when they hosted a family fun day at the Wokingham Waterside Centre.

The family fun day, organised by Wokingham district council’s community wardens, encouraged the young people to learn more about water safety whilst having fun at the same time. After a short induction, they put these new skills to the test in a series of team races in Katakanu boats –a catamaran-style boat, which is almost unsinkable! The boat seats four to six people and each team had to work together to have the best chance of being able to win the competition.

And the winning team was ‘Finch Massive’ comprising Finchampstead and Arborfield residents Martin Kelly aged 16, Oliver Schofield aged 14, James Butler aged 15, Daytona Earley aged 10, Lee Chapman aged 16 and Adam Rafferty aged 18. All the youngsters received a medal for taking part in the day and the winning team was presented with a trophy by Wokingham executive member for community safety Cllr Barrie Patman.

As well as the water activities, there was a bouncy castle and the mobile bike doctor, who was on hand to give advice and guidance on maintenance of bikes. Over 40 children and 40 adults were entertained throughout the afternoon by the mobile youth service before enjoying a delicious barbeque.

The community wardens had an information display offering members of the local community a chance to find out more about the services they provide throughout the Wokingham district. There were also information displays from the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Royal Berkshire Ambulance Trust.

Wokingham Cllr Barrie Patman said: “The family fun day was fantastic and it was great to see so many youngsters as well as their families and friends coming along and enjoying the festivities. The waterside fun day was a huge success and many of the youngsters said they would like to take part in this type of activity more often. We certainly hope to run this event next year.”

“I would like to remind youngsters of the many activities on offer at the district’s youth centres, which promise to keep them entertained in the last few weeks of the summer holidays. Why not go along and see what’s on?”

Roderick Mertens, Wokingham community warden, said: “The council’s community wardens have worked with the youth service and tenant services to organise this fun day. It was a huge success and there was a real sense of team spirit and pride amongst the young people who took part. They all thoroughly enjoyed themselves.”

Nigel Shaw, head of youth services, said: “The event had a real family feel to it and enabled young people to undertake activities with their family and younger siblings. All the young people said they had thoroughly enjoyed the event and I hope next year we can build on the experience.”

Wokingham District Council

The residents of the Wokingham district have been ranked as having the third best quality of life in Britain according to a new survey.

Published on August 12, the Halifax Home Insurance survey gave scores for a number of indicators which influence the quality of life including house prices, crime levels, employment rates, labour market, urban and physical environment such as traffic flows and weather, education and health. Data from over 408 different council areas across the country was analysed and only Elmbridge and Hart pipped the Wokingham district to the top two slots in the quality of life league.

The Wokingham district scored highly on a number of indicators and residents in the Wokingham district showed they were the healthiest in the country by topping the poll of those in good health.

Council leader Cllr Frank Browne said: “Whilst very pleased, I am not surprised with the findings of this latest survey. I think most of our residents would agree that the Wokingham district is a great place to live, work and study.

“The council is committed to ensuring that all of our residents enjoy a high quality of life and it remains a key priority for us. We continue to achieve well in education. We have seen significant increases in standards at key stage 3 which are a product of planned, innovative changes in the way teachers teach and pupils learn. And, the council remains one of the highest achieving education authorities in the country and will continue to work together with all the district’s schools to raise standards further and ensure that all pupils achieve their full potential. Many of the results over the past 12 months have seen the district above the national averages.

“Fighting the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour is also high on our agenda. Over the last few years we have introduced CCTV in three towns in the district and have expanded the number of community wardens to seven. And in recent months we have launched a number of crime-busting initiatives in conjunction with our partners, including ‘operation four wheel’ which aims to combat vehicle-related crime with a wide range of initiatives from advice packs and property marking to mobile CCTV and portable cameras. Whilst we do have low levels of crime in the district, the fear of crime is much higher and this can affect the quality of people’s lives.

“For many years now, the district’s residents have been ranked the healthiest in the country. We work hard with our health partners to ensure it remains this way. We also recently launched a new leisure, sport and recreation strategy to take steps to ensure residents, both young and old, benefit from more physical activity to increase their health and well-being, regardless of their ability.

“We are not complacent and we do know that as a result of affluence in the area we often do not attract high levels of government funding, which can put a burden on all our residents. Not everyone in the district enjoys a high standard of living and there are small pockets of deprivation where not everyone benefits from the general prosperity of the area and we are working hard to ensure that any social divisions do not widen. Everyone at the council is committed to ensuring the district remains one of the best places to live in Britain.”

Wokingham District Council

An updated, more user-friendly guide from Wokingham District Council is set to bring better highway design to new developments in the district.

Wokingham district council has committed to make regular reviews to its highway design guide and is asking for everyone’s views before it publishes a first revision towards the end of this year. The guide, first published in November 2004, has proved invaluable in helping to guide development in the Wokingham district. It has been designed as a ‘live’ document with regular updates to reflect changing design techniques.

The council is consulting people in the Wokingham district who have an interest in the use of the guide, including those who commented on the original guide. Comments from residents or interested groups are invited by email or letter by September 25.The draft document and list of amendments are available for viewing on the council website at www.wokingham.gov.uk/spg/drafthighwaysdesign. Copies are also available for viewing at the environmental services reception desk at the council’s Shute End offices. The document is primarily of interest to developers but may also be of interest to those who wish to understand or comment on planning applications in the district.

The main amendments included in the first revision are:

· Inclusion of design standards for private access roads. Although private access roads are not the responsibility of the council as highway authority, poorly designed accesses can result in additional street parking and congestion. Therefore the updated guide is set to include advice on how to design private accesses.

· Further advice on junction spacing. The revised guide is set to offer clearer advice on the frequency of junctions onto different types of roads.

· More detail on cycleway requirements. The updated guide offers clearer advice on sightline requirements both for vehicles crossing a cycleway and for cyclists.

The updated guide also provides information on how refuse storage should be included in any design as well as a list of contact details for electric, water, gas and telephone companies – known as statutory undertakers.

Those who have purchased a copy of the original design guide will receive a copy of the first revision when it is available.

Executive member for Wokingham highways and transport Cllr Anthony Pollock said: “The highway design guide is something that should evolve with the changing needs of road users, and it is therefore very important that we involve the ideas of our user groups every time we revise it. This is an opportunity for users to help us tailor our service as carefully as possible to their needs.”

Wokingham District Council

It’s your vote, don’t lose it! This is the message from Wokingham District Council as residents are being advised to make sure that they are on the annual register of electors, and this year it’s even easier!

The Wokingham register lists everyone who is eligible to vote at elections. Anyone who is not registered cannot vote and may also have difficulty obtaining credit or making other financial arrangements. This year, residents will have the opportunity to register by telephone, by returning the completed form through the post or via the internet.

The annual registration forms will be delivered week commencing September 1 to the 60,000 households in the Wokingham district, and the forms will be addressed to “The Occupier”. The forms will be used to compile the 2007 electoral register, and only people listed on the register will be entitled to vote in local, general elections and referendums between December 1, 2006 and November 30, 2007.

The automated response systems make replying simple and Wokingham district council is offering the service again this year. If residents do not have any changes to the details given on the form and these will remain the same until October 15, 2006, they can register online or by freephone (if the telephone has a * key), using the security codes given on the form. Both these services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until the end of the canvass period.

If residents have changes to make, for example, because they have moved home, they can cross through the names of the previous occupants and write in the new names on the form and return it to the council in the pre-paid envelope. Wokingham Residents have until November 17, 2006 to register their details, but a quick reply reduces costs and saves a personal visit from a canvasser.

People whose details change after October 15, 2006, can apply to have the register amended when it is updated on January 2, 2007. This is the only time of year that it is possible to remove someone else from the register if they no longer live at the address, so it is important to correct the details on the canvass form.

Alison Wood, Wokingham electoral services manager, said: “No one is automatically registered even if they pay council tax, so with 18 of the 54 seats on Wokingham District Council up for election on May 3, 2007, it is important to ensure that all eligible residents are registered to vote.

“The district council is very keen to ensure that residents can have their say at the ballot box. We have taken steps to make this as easy as possible, including offering our freephone and internet registration services.”

There are two versions of the register. The full register lists everyone who is entitled to vote and is used for electoral purposes, the prevention and detection of crime and checking identity when applying for credit. The edited register, which can be bought by anyone, leaves out the names and addresses of those electors who have ticked on the form to be excluded from it.

Residents who do not receive a form by mid September or who need more information are asked to contact Wokingham District Council’s electoral services on (0118) 974 6522.

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham District Council is sending a clear warning that selling counterfeit DVDs isn’t worth it after trading standards officers successfully prosecuted a trader operating locally.

Mr Teja Singh Basran of Ealing was today (Wednesday August 16) sentenced to a six-month community order and ordered to pay £750 costs after he pleaded guilty at Maidenhead Magistrates’ court to:

· Nine offences under the Video Recordings Act 1984
· Four offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994

In August 2005, Wokingham trading standards officers visited Swallowfield car boot sale (off the A33 Basingstoke Road). Officers carried out a test purchase from Mr Basran of three DVDs which they suspected to be counterfeit. Subsequently, Mr Basran’s stall and vehicle were searched, as was his address in Ealing, London, and further suspected counterfeit DVDs were seized, around 6,000 in total.

Maidenhead Magistrates’ Court today gave permission for the forfeiture of the seized DVDs and Wokingham District Council will now send these for recycling.

Trading standards enforcement officer Alonso Ercilla said: “It is important that both buyers and sellers recognise that trading counterfeit DVDs just isn’t worth it. Members of the public buying the DVDs are likely to end up with poor quality goods and traders could well end up in court!”

“Anyone who thinks that they may have bought counterfeit DVDs locally, or think they know of somewhere selling counterfeit goods is welcome to call for advice from Wokingham District Council’s trading standards on (0118) 974 6400.”

Wokingham District Council

Police are appealing for witnesses to a distraction burglary that took place in Wokingham.

A man and a woman gained entry to secure accommodation in Alderman Willey Close, between 6.30pm and 7.40pm on Wednesday (16/8), via the intercom system.

They then gained access to an elderly lady’s flat, pushing her aside and making claims about working for the ‘water board’ and checking problems in the property.

The offenders then searched the 92-year-old victim’s handbag but they left empty handed after being disturbed by other residents.

Det Con Pete Scott, from Loddon Valley CID, who is leading the Wokingham investigation, said: “The victim in this case is an elderly female and as such a vulnerable member of our community.

“We are focused on tracing the two offenders responsible for this serious incident.

“I would appeal to anyone who has any information about this incident to contact me as soon as possible.”

The man is white, 25 years-old, stocky, with dark coloured hail with a side parting. He was clean shaven and was wearing a yellow jacket.

The woman is white, 20-21 years-old, 5ft 6ins, slim, with dark hair cut close to her skin, a pale complexion and dark eyes. She was wearing a long sleeved white T-shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with any information about this incident should contact Det Con Scott via 0845 8 505 505.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to speak to the police or leave your name, please contact the Crimestoppers charity via 0800 555 111.

Crime prevention and home security advice is available on the Thames Valley Police website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk/reduction/saferhomes/safehome/index.htm

Thames Valley Police ~ Wokingham

This week sees the launch of ‘Head First’ - a dynamic and pro-active group of Wokingham mental health service users looking to develop and expand alternative types of services in addition to those currently provided.

Evolving out of the successful ‘Open Space’ mental health conference held in the Wokingham district last October, the Head First service user group is to be officially launched on Friday August 18 in Wokingham.

Celebrating the launch of Head First will be mental health service users from across the Wokingham district, joined by staff from mental health services.

As well as a barbecue party organised by Head First (where everyone is encouraged to wear a hat), there will also be the first edition of the Head First newsletter hot off the press.

Last October’s Open Space event was held to seek ways of involving mental health service users more in the delivery and development of local services. Participants were asked to inform and contribute to current thinking about developing effective mental health services. And over 70 local Wokingham people attended the workshop, with many of them going on to form Head First.

Anyone wanting to find out more details on Head First and/or to attend its official launch on August 18 should contact ‘Head First’ via Graeme Morrish at Wokingham Community Mental Health Service on (0118) 989 0707.

Wokingham District Council

After four years of static car parking rates, Wokingham District Council has reviewed its car parking charges. As car parking charges for the district’s council-run car parks have not increased for four years, the council is considering increasing charges, generating income which will be ploughed into frontline services, reducing the pressure on the council tax payer.

At a special meeting of the decision-making executive held last night (August 10), members considered a report recommending increases at the Wokingham and Woodley town centre car parks, which could generate an expected £172,000 of income per annum.

It is anticipated that the proposed new charges will be advertised through the local press and at the car parks concerned from August 16. Residents and other interested parties are invited to comment by September 8. The comments will be reviewed and the outcome reported to the September 28 meeting of the executive. Depending on the outcome, the changes could be implemented at the start of October 2006.

“It is this sort of difficult decision that we have to make if the council is to keep future council tax increases as near to the rate of inflation as possible,” said Cllr Anthony Pollock, executive member for highways and transport.

“The council is committed to that difficult balancing act of protecting and enhancing where possible key services, whilst continuing to keep a firm control on the financial pressures. This is not a mean feat when earlier this year we received the lowest government settlement in six years.”

Anyone who would like to comment on the proposal to change car park charges should write to Environment Services at Wokingham District Council, Shute End, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1WL or email environmentalp&h@wokingham.gov.uk by September 8.

Wokingham District Council

Double Olympic Gold medallist and Team B&Q Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes made a special visit to the Wokingham district to launch the district council’s ‘free assistance for national sports people scheme’ at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre.

The countdown for the 2012 Olympic Games in London has started and many of the national athletes live in the Wokingham district. As a result, the district council, in partnership with Leisure Connection, has today (August 8) launched this new scheme. National athletes from the Wokingham district* will now be able to take free advantage of the facilities at any of the council-owned centres – Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley, St Crispin’s and Carnival Pool in Wokingham – as they aspire to become medallists at future Olympic Games.

Cllr Dianne King, executive member for community development, said: “There are many athletes and sportsmen and women living in the Wokingham district who are part of the national squads. Providing them with free access to our leisure centres means they can spend more time training close to where they live. They will enjoy all the benefits on offer and can take advantage of excellent facilities including the gyms, swimming pools, badminton courts and trampolines to name just a few. I would be delighted to see some of our athletes picking up Olympic medals in the 2012 Games in front of a home crowd!”

Dame Kelly Holmes said: “I’m delighted that as part of my work for Team B&Q I’ve been able to visit Loddon Valley Leisure Centre and help to launch the ‘free assistance for national sport people’ scheme. This scheme will provide huge benefits for aspiring Olympians in the Wokingham district and will ensure that the medallists of tomorrow have access to outstanding training facilities and support. It’s great that Wokingham District Council and Team GB sponsor B&Q, with its athlete development programme, are doing such a great job in helping aspiring Olympians to fulfil their potential and hopefully win Olympic medals.”

A number of local schoolchildren from Robert Piggott Infant School in Wargrave took part in a sports hall athletics display for Dame Kelly Holmes, who thoroughly enjoyed watching the efforts of the talented pupils.

Cllr Angus Ross, chairman of Wokingham District Council, who joined Dame Kelly Holmes in launching this scheme, said: “I hope that many youngsters will now be inspired to get active and take up a sport. The pupils of Robert Piggott Infant School had a great day meeting their sporting heroine Dame Kelly Holmes – it was certainly a day to remember!

“The district council is committed to ensuring that our aspiring Olympians have free access to our sports facilities and I am delighted that Dame Kelly Holmes joined us to launch this exciting scheme.”

Wokingham District Council last month (July) approved its new leisure, sport and recreation strategy. The strategy aims to encourage young people to gain a life-long interest in sport and recreation. The district council is committed to opening up new opportunities for all ages to participate in sport and recreational activities on a regular basis in a bid to tackle obesity. The council is embarking on steps to ensure all sporting facilities are first rate and that it supports the district’s sporting stars of the future.

Wokingham District Council

Some 12 teams battled it out on the football pitch on July 27 to become the triumphant winners of the Wokingham Silverdale Cup!

Organised by Wokingham District Council’s Silverdale Youth Centre in Earley, under-13 and under-16 teams took to the field despite the torrential downpours and sweltering heat and their enthusiasm to net the cup was immense. They tested their footballing skills in the tournament, which saw a clean sweep by two Earley teams.

The under-16 winning team was ‘Maiden Massive’ comprising Earley residents: Anthony Coucher, Darian Scott, Ross Crane, Luke Young, Harry Stephenson, Mitch Hoare, Grant Winter and Jamie McKinnon. The triumphant under 13s team was ‘Gypsy FC’ comprising Earley youngsters Riley Williams, Robbie Gray, Peter Baddoo, Zac Jones, James Wyatt, Arron Perrin, Jake Carville and Brett Mattingly.

The trophies and medals were presented by Wokingham District Council’s chairman Cllr Angus Ross, who was also joined by champion for youth and leisure Cllr Malcolm Bryant. After the thrilling final, the players and spectators enjoyed a BBQ to celebrate the successful tournament!

Wokingham Youth worker Elaine Wealleans said: “The tournament was a great success. I was especially impressed that the games were played with a great sense of pride, sportsmanship and fair play. There was also hearty support from all the spectators! Youth centres across the district were represented in this tournament which has gone from strength-to-strength and we look forward to welcoming the teams back next year.”

Cllr Angus Ross, chairman of Wokingham council, said: “It was a pleasure to be invited to watch this tournament and present the medals and trophies to the winning teams. They certainly had tough conditions on the football pitch, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and have fun. I would like to say well done to those who organised the event and refereed and to all the players, their families and friends. I hope they will come back next year to compete in this annual tournament.”

Wokingham District Council

This summer, the Arena for the Arts exhibition, an inspiring collection of children and young people’s art from across the Wokingham district, will be exhibited in partnership with Churches Together in Wokingham at St Paul’s Church until August 18.

Organised by Wokingham District Council, the Arena for the Arts exhibition, also forms a ‘Trail of Belief’ around churches in the Wokingham district during The BIG Idea week from August 20 to 27.

The Arena for the Arts exhibition was officially unveiled in June by Wokingham district council chairman Cllr Angus Ross and launched the district council’s year-long Discover Culture initiative which will see a whole host of events taking place in celebration of cultural activities with something for everyone. The exhibition is free to visit.

Wokingham Cllr Angus Ross said: “I hope that everyone who comes to view this unique collection of art will be inspired by what has been created by talented pupils from across many of the district’s schools. Arena for the Arts goes from strength-to-strength each year and I am impressed with the range and quality of the artistic pieces. I hope many local residents will take advantage of the many opportunities to view the exhibition over the summer at participating churches.”

Arena for the Arts is now in its fourth year, and this year has seen children and young people exploring the theme, ‘Belief: inspiration, vision, faith & trust’ through a variety of media including painting, collage, sculpture, pottery and textiles. Some 30,000 pupils have been involved in the project since it started in 2003 and this year’s participants have been busy for two terms creating their own artistic masterpieces.

Aimed at giving young Wokingham people the chance to develop their artistic skills and enthusiasm for the arts, the Arena for the Arts exhibition was visited by many members of the public who were impressed with the artistic and creative talents of the district’s youngsters.

Schools who took part in this year’s Arena for the Arts project were: Arborfield Newland and Barkham Junior, Hawkedon Primary, Hawthorns Primary, Hillside Primary, Lambs Lane Primary, Loddon Junior, Maiden Erlegh, Nine Mile Ride Primary, Palmer CE (Aided) Junior, St Teresa’s Catholic Primary, Shinfield St Mary’s C of E, The Coombes Infant and Nursery, Waingels College, Walter Infant and Nursery and Whitelocke Infant and Nursery.

For more information on The BIG Idea week, visit www.the-big-idea.org.

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham District Council’s community wardens and youth workers are hoping to make a big splash with young people this summer as they host a family fun day at the Wokingham Waterside Centre on Sunday August 20.

The Wokingham family fun day will encourage young people to learn more about water safety whilst having fun at the same time. After a short induction, they will be asked put these new skills to the test in a series of team races in Katakanu boats –a catamaran-style boat, which is almost unsinkable! The boat seats four to six people and the team has to work together to have the best chance of being able to win the competition.

There will also be many other activities taking place as the Wokingham mobile youth centre will be attending the fun day and families and friends are more than welcome to come along and join in the festivities. After the races, the youngsters will have built up an appetite and they will be able to enjoy the delights of a BBQ for a minimal charge. The district council’s youth service mobile bike doctor will also be on hand to give advice and guidance on maintenance of bikes.

The Wokingham community wardens will have an information display offering members of the local community a chance to find out more about the services they provide throughout the Wokingham district. There will also be information displays from the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Royal Berkshire Ambulance Trust. And, for a small charge of 50 pence per five minutes, youngster can bounce away their summer blues on a bouncy castle all in aid of a youth shelter in Charvil.

The fun day is free to attend and, if young people aged between ten and 16 years old wish to take part in the boat race, they will need to book a place by calling the community wardens on (0118) 974 3798. At the end of the day, there will be an award ceremony and the winning teams will be presented with their medals by executive member for community safety Cllr Barrie Patman.

Wokingham Cllr Barrie Patman said: “We are hoping there will be between 10 and 15 teams taking part and it promises to be a great day out. We hope the waterside fun day, which will include a host of free activities for all the family, will provide a fantastic day out for local people and offer them the chance to find out more about the work of the wardens.”

Roderick Mertens, Wokingham community warden, said: “The council’s community wardens have been working with the youth service and tenant services to promote this fun day and we are hoping it will create a sense of team spirit and pride amongst the young people taking part.”

The fun day has been funded by the district council’s tenant services.

Wokingham District Council

A joint initiative designed to bring state-of-the-art waste and recycling facilities to Berkshire is closer on the horizon after Wokingham District Council’s decision-making executive approved a recommendation to enter into a 25-year agreement with private company Waste Recycling Group (WRG), subject to final negotiations.

A partnership between Wokingham District Council, Bracknell Forest Borough Council and Reading Borough Council (RE3 waste partnership), the multi-million pound contract, if agreed, is set to bring brand-new waste disposal and recycling facilities to residents with a waste management park set for the current civic amenity site at Smallmead in Reading and improved facilities at Bracknell’s Longshot Lane site. Further composting facilities for green waste will also be available through the contract. When it comes to fruition, the project will see Wokingham District Council and its partner councils achieve some of the highest levels of recycling in the country.

The project aims to help the RE3 waste partnership achieve the commitments set out in their waste management strategy statement:

* Achieve a participation rate of 60% or greater in all areas offered a kerbside recycling collection by 2007
* To recycle, compost or reuse 45% of municipal waste by 2010
* Achieve at least 40% recycling/composting across central Berkshire by 2010
* Achieve a high or very high satisfaction level with civic amenity facilities from some 75% of customers surveyed by 2010

In order to achieve high recycling rates, and reduce the amount of waste going to ever-decreasing landfill, a high priority has been placed on informing and involving local Wokingham residents. Therefore the contract will also see an enhanced education schedule with a visitor centre and dedicated staff at the Smallmead site Reading.

The contract will also see the formation of a Joint Waste Committee made up of two councillors from each partner council.

The three councils will now work together to negotiate the final details of the contract, before submitting it to DEFRA for approval.

Cllr Rob Stanton, Wokingham District Council’s executive member for corporate services, said: “This decision makes a successful outcome for this project that bit closer. As chairman of the RE3 joint waste disposal board, I have seen all three councils work closely together to ensure that our residents have a long-term solution to waste management and I’m looking forward to seeing this exciting project come to fruition.”

Steve Waite, Reading Borough Council’s lead councillor for environment, said: “This is another step forward in our policy of a more sustainable approach to waste collection. Working with our partners in Bracknell and Wokingham we are investing in a project that is not only good value for money but is also a more environmentally and responsible solution.”

Cllr Mrs Mary Ballin, Bracknell Forest Borough Council's executive member for planning and the environment, said: "This is an ambitious partnership aimed at improving our waste management through better recycling facilities and new waste disposal arrangements in all three boroughs. I hope all parties can agree this is the best way to minimise the impact of waste on our environment."

Wokingham District Council

With the role of promoting high standards of conduct by councillors, Wokingham District Council’s standards committee plays a key part in local democratic life. And the committee currently has a vacancy for an independent member to take up this important role.

As well as promoting high standards of conduct, Wokingham council’s standards committee advises on and monitors operation of the local code of conduct which all district, town and parish councillors have to sign up to. The committee can also hear and make decisions on allegations of misconduct by councillors.

The six-strong committee comprises two district councillors (one from each political group on the council), one parish/town councillor and three independent members.

The council is inviting applications from individuals who feel they may have the necessary qualities to fulfil the role of an independent member. Previous knowledge of local government and especially ethical and propriety issues would be an advantage. Relatives or close friends of councillors or staff of Wokingham District Council and anyone who has been a councillor or member of staff in the last five years is unable to apply. Travel and subsistence expenses are payable for this position.

Anita Grosz, independent chairman of the standards committee, said: “Independent members are vital to maintaining public perception of the standards committee’s integrity and its ability to promote high standards of conduct.

“We are therefore looking for someone of honesty and integrity to help us maintain and enhance the work we’re doing to uphold ethical standards at WDC, which in turn will build public confidence in local democracy. If you feel you fit the bill then we’re keen to hear from you.”

Wokingham Residents who feel they have the necessary qualities and would like an application form or further information should contact the democratic services unit on (0118) 974 6052, e-mail democratic.services@wokingham.gov.uk. Application forms should be submitted to the council by September 15, 2006.

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham District Council is celebrating with the news today (August 7 2006) that it is to retain its national Investors in People (IiP) status.

First awarded to Wokingham council in 2002, Investors in People is a national quality standard which sets a level of good practice for improving an organisation's performance through its people.

Having won IiP status in 2002, Wokingham council was subject to further assessment in 2003 and more recently in July 2006 in order to hold on to this prestigious standard. After six days of assessment last month involving a random sample of staff from a variety of teams across the council, the external IiP assessor concluded that the council continues to meet the national standard which has been made more exacting since the last review.
The assessor commented on the council’s “very strong public service ethos, with the overwhelming majority of staff describing the contribution they make to the organisation and, through that, to the service users as a prime motivation in their work.”

Wokingham Chief executive Doug Patterson said: "I am delighted that the continuing hard work and commitment of staff at all levels has been recognised in this way. There has been a lot of change in the council over the past three years and this change has involved a great deal of effort from people across the council. The continuation of our IiP status really is an organisation-wide achievement of which we can all be proud. Indeed, it is a firm foundation on which to base our continued pursuit of excellence, ensuring we are high performing, customer focused and provide value for money."

The council attributes its IiP success to providing solid frameworks for good communication, for sharing corporate objectives and for strengthening teamwork throughout the organisation.

The process aims to support service improvement; improve communications across the council; identify, share and celebrate existing good practice; focus attention on staff development issues and improve staff involvement, commitment and the retention of valuable skills. There is also a very positive correlation between achieving IiP and increased customer satisfaction.

An Investor in People is:

* Fully committed to developing its people in order to achieve its aims and objectives.
* Clear about its aims and its objectives and what its people need to do to achieve them.
* Develops its people effectively in order to improve its performance.
* Understands the impact of its investment in people on its performance.

In his assessment report, IIP assessor Mike White congratulated the Wokingham council on continuing to meet the Investors in People standard. He said: “This is a significant achievement given the widespread nature and fast pace of change in the authority over recent years."

Wokingham District Council

In order to assist Wokingham businesses with new food safety legislation requirements, Wokingham District Council has been running a series of free food safety training courses for businesses and organisations. Some 18 businesses have so far attended seminars, and on Thursday July 20 participants were awarded certificates by chairman of Wokingham council Cllr Angus Ross, in a special ceremony.

The new EU food hygiene regulations, introduced in January 2006, set out more clearly the duty of food businesses to produce food safely and to achieve consistency. For the first time the legislation includes most areas of farming, so it covers the whole food chain from 'farm to fork'. The new laws are intended to help reduce the number of cases of food poisoning, with businesses required to document where food safety problems could arise and put steps in place to prevent things going wrong. They also need to have procedures in place to review systems on a regular basis.

Attending the awards ceremony at the Wokingham civic offices, Shute End were:

* Julie and Richard Haycock from the Stable Café, Forest Road, Wokingham
* Terri Pitfield from Hurst Golf Club
* Agustin Garcia from Sorrentos, Wokingham
* Simone Webb from The Buffet Angels, Woodley
* Caroline Golding from Down Lodge,Wokingham
* Pauline Symes from Waingels College, Woodley
* Rabbi Zaiden from Norwood Ravenswood Village, Crowthorne
* Adrian Brunswick from The Bull, Barkham
* Peter Goold from The Henry Street Garden Centre, Arborfield
* Vicky Jones from the Holt School, Wokingham

Rabbi Zaiden from Norwood Ravenswood Village said: “I really enjoyed the course and got a great deal out of it. I have worked in this area for many years but it is always good to keep up to date.”

Vicky Jones, catering manager at the Holt School, Wokingham said: “This was an excellent course. The daily diary will be so useful - it acts as a reminder and it is so good to have as a template to save the work. I am looking forward to the intermediate course.”

Pauline Symes, catering manager at Waingels College, said: “I thought that I would know everything and wasn't really looking forward to the course. But the training went into things a lot deeper than I had expected. The diary is really useful and I have learnt a great deal which I can now pass on to my staff at Waingels.”

Although they were unable to attend the awards ceremony, catering representatives from the following organisations also attended the seminars:

* Reading University Students’ Union
* Rivermead Primary School, Woodley
* Sultan Balti and the Square Bar, Wokingham
* Farley Hill Primary School, Farley Hill
* A Bit of a Do, Winnersh, Wokingham
* Sonning Golf Club, Sonning
* The Swan, Three Mile Cross
* Grovelands Garden Centre, Shinfield

Wokingham District Council’s principal environmental health officer Ros Hale said: “We are now classifying businesses into types, to enable us to tailor the training to their needs. We will be holding a further series of seminars towards the end of the year. A funding bid has also been put in to the Food Standards Agency, as we would like to continue training businesses in 2007 and 2008.

Chairman of Wokingham council Cllr Angus Ross said: “It gives me great pleasure to present these certificates and to see that high standards of food safety are being achieved by businesses in the district. My congratulations go to all who have attended the council’s seminars and I hope more businesses will take part in training in the future.”

Wokingham District Council

The Rainbow Centre in Winnersh, Wokingham hosted a ‘quiz and curry night’ on 20 July. It was the first social evening organised from the Wokingham District Council’s community centre and according to local residents it was a resounding success!

Some 40 local Wokingham people took part in a ‘soap’ quiz, putting their knowledge of soap operas over the past 20 years to the test. The winning team won tickets to see the latest blockbuster, kindly donated by Showcase Cinema in Winnersh. At the interval, residents enjoyed sharing a range of tasty dishes, supplied by the local Indian Tandoori restaurant. A raffle was also held, the first prize being a large BBQ, which was donated by Sainsbury’s.

The evening also offered people a chance to find out more about the plans for a new Wokingham IT suite, which will be installed in September. The Centre has been successful in obtaining a grant from The European Social Fund. The award of £10,000 will provide equipment, which will be available for use by individual residents and local groups, together with any training people might need.

Jacqueline Riddles, the Wokingham community development worker who is based at the Centre, said: “The social evening and especially the food, proved to be a real hit and everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. I have been inundated with requests as to when the next social event is going to be! Some people had never visited the Centre before, so it was a great chance for them to see what was on offer there, as well as being able meet the council’s community wardens and representatives from the police. Thanks to the European Social Fund award, we will now have even more resources for the local community.”

Wokingham District Council

Young Wokingham people looking to get motoring are once again being asked to get in gear for ‘Motorvation’, Wokingham District Council’s annual free pre-driver training event.

There are still places available for the course at Woodley Airfield Youth and Community Centre, Hurricane Way, Woodley, on Wednesday August 23.

The Wokingham day-long course for 16 and 17-year-olds aims to raise road safety awareness before the young people even get behind a steering wheel. The courses will cover all aspects of driving theory, using mock tests and video footage, and will culminate in a driving lesson for all participants.

With four one-hour, hands-on, intensive workshops, the day will teach participants about:

Road safety - This session will ask what factors cause road traffic accidents and why do so many young drivers, and in particular young men, make up increasing statistics regarding serious injury and death on roads? Discussions will cover drink driving, speed, driving whilst tired, using mobile phones, seat belts, driving without insurance and obtaining and keeping a driving licence.

‘Honest Arry’s’ - Buying a second hand car. This workshop is divided into halves, the first looking at what types of car to purchase and the second inspecting a vehicle offered for sale. It covers finding the vehicle identification number, spotting cut ‘n’ shuts, recognising when a vehicle has been involved in an accident and recognising heavy use.

First at the scene of a crash - This workshop is delivered in partnership with the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service and aims to raise awareness of how an accident can affect the lives of not just those involved, but those of friends, family and the wider community. The session looks at how it is for the emergency services and what it is like for them to drag bodies from wrecked cars and how they cope with informing relatives. The session also offers basic first aid skills and essential knowledge on raising the alarm to get help to victims as soon as possible.

Drink awareness – This workshop covers a number of issues related to drink driving. PC Les Eke runs a session on peer pressure and driving under the influence, both alcohol and drugs. Special goggles are used to simulate the effects of being over the limit and illustrate why it is a good idea to stick to soft drinks or leave the car at home.

The final part of the day - and, at previous events, the most popular - is a driving practical in which every participant will have the chance to drive a dual-control vehicle in a controlled environment.

Maureen Lockwood, road safety officer from Wokingham council consultants Mouchel Parkman, said: “With limited places available on the course, I urge young people to sign up now. The day aims to start people off with good habits at an early stage and hopefully encourages a generation of well-informed and safe road users.”

Motorvation is just one part of Wokingham District Council’s ongoing programme of road safety education, through consultants Mouchel Parkman. One in three newly qualified drivers are involved in an accident during their first two years of driving. Since the New Drivers’ Act 1997, over 41,000 new drivers have had their licences revoked. In the Wokingham district, 24% of speed related injury collisions involved drivers between the ages of 17 and 21.

The courses run from 9am to 4pm and places are free, but need to be booked in advance and are limited in numbers. For more information or to book a place, contact Mouchel Parkman’s road safety officer Maureen Lockwood on (0118) 936 7307 or email maureen.lockwood@mouchelparkman.com

Wokingham District Council

Last week (July 25) saw some 40 Wokingham children and young people enjoying the end of term and beginning of the summer holidays by joining in the fun at a BBQ organised by Wokingham District Council’s ListenUp! project.

As well as the BBQ there were team building exercises and a tug of war contest. Before the tug of war started, the Wokingham children and young people made the rope from toilet roll before they challenged each other to a contest! And if that wasn’t enough to keep them entertained, there was a creative workshop where the young people were asked to design a poster for the ListenUp! project to use.

Fire fighters from Wokingham Fire Station also joined in the activities and children and young people had a tour of the fire engine – proving to be a real hit with the younger guests.

Last year, Wokingham district council set up a new project called ListenUp! The project works with children and young people across the district to find out what they think about the area in which they live, and to make sure their ideas are being listened to when the council makes decisions about the area in which they live, work and study. And to say thank you for all their hard work over the past year, a BBQ was held in their honour on one of the hottest days of the year!

Tina Gayle, development manager in Wokingham children’s services, said: “It was a fantastic day for everyone who attended the BBQ – they had so much fun and it was a great way to start the school holidays! There was so much involvement from them and I hope this will continue through the work of the ListenUp! project. It was an opportunity not only for the children and young people to participate in activities, but it was a chance for Wokingham council officers to join in too. With activities such as these, we hope to really build on our opportunities for children and young people to help us make the right decisions on services that affect them.”

Wokingham District Council

Forestry and tree surgery can be dangerous work. But the threat of falls and fractures among arboricultural workers is tackled each year by Wokingham District Council’s Environment Service – with a special first aid course designed for the forest.

The Arboricultural Emergency Aid (Appointed Person’s Certificate) - is recognised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and is specifically designed to focus on the types of injuries most likely to occur while working in the arboricultural profession. The certificate is valid for three years and ensures that workers in the woods are aware of how to guard against injury and what to do if an accident occurs.

This year’s Wokingham two day course, held at Dinton Pastures Country Park, Winnersh on July 19 and 20, was attended by 26 tree surgery operatives, including officers from the council’s environment service, countryside rangers and arboricultural contractors from local companies including Boswell and Co, Fernoak, Cedardale Arboricultural Specialists, Bee Tree Services, T&S Tree Surgeons, Calibra Tree Services and Arborfield Tree Care.

Training was given by instructors from ABC Response Training, a company that specialises in this area of concern. The course covered unconsciousness, bleeding, fractures, crush injuries, suspension trauma, amputation, choking, eye injuries, falls from height and burns. Instructors used simulated wounds to make the scenarios as real as possible.

“This is the fourth year we have run this course,” said Anne Ballard from the council’s tree and landscape team. “It has been growing in popularity each year and feedback is very positive.”
Simon Weeks, Wokingham council’s executive member for environment services, said: “We are lucky to have beautiful country parks and wooded areas in the Wokingham district. Our countryside workers provide an excellent service and it can be easy to forget the difficulties and dangers that can be involved. This course provides an important safety update each year and I am glad to see more arboricultural workers taking advantage of it.”

Wokingham District Council

Peter Nice is always working hard. He is a keen charity fundraiser and is involved in several committees at the Wokingham Resource and Opportunity Centre (WROC) in Woosehill Lane. But Peter's learning disabilities have made it difficult for him to secure permanent employment – until now.

Peter joined the 'It's Working' supported employment scheme for people with learning disabilities in 2003. Since that time he has gained skills on temporary contracts, first in Wokingham District Council's Terrace restaurant and then in the council's strategy and partnerships service.

'It's Working' is a supported employment scheme based at WROC, enabling job seekers with a disability, who need extra assistance, to succeed in work. All service users are matched with a district council job coach, who provides them with support during the search for a job. Once paid employment is secured, the job coach will work with the individual in their job until they are able to work independently. There is no time limit for this and it is very much a service that is based on a person's individual needs.

After gaining confidence in his duties as an administrative assistant at the Wokingham council, which have included opening and distributing post, photocopying, shredding, filing, scanning and doing mail shots, Peter recently put in an application for a permanent post. After a successful interview, he was offered a permanent contract.

Sarah Griffiths from 'It's Working' at WROC is Peter's job coach. She said: “Peter always shows care and interest in his job. Working at Shute End has given him the opportunity to learn new skills and develop good relationships with his colleagues. He has become a lot more confident in the time he has been there. Everyone at 'It's Working' is really pleased for Peter. He really deserves the success!”

When asked what he enjoys about his job, Peter replied: “Everything! I am really, really happy about my new contract.”

Management support assistant Kirsty Foster, Peter's manager at Wokingham council, said: “Peter is a pleasure to work with and always takes care with his tasks. I am very pleased to have him working with us in the strategy and partnerships service.”

Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons, Wokingham council's executive member for social care services and housing, said: “Searching for a job can be a daunting task for anyone, even without the additional difficulty of a disability. The 'It's Working Scheme' is providing invaluable support to many people who are extremely capable but who perhaps lack the confidence and experience that most employers want to see. I would like to congratulate Peter on his new job and wish him every success. I also hope that other employers will see the value of the scheme and contact the council to get involved.”

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham District Council’s library service is holding a whole host of sessions to keep children and young people entertained this summer – so why not come along and see what’s on offer!

Author Joe Craig will be visiting Wokingham and Lower Earley libraries on August 7 and he will be talking about his series of books on teenager Jimmy Coates. Joe said: “Jimmy is an ordinary 11-year-old, fighting with his sister, grumbling over his homework, until some people turn up at his house and try to take him away. He escapes from them with astonishing ease and goes on the run, performing astonishing feats in a bid to outrun them. He eventually discovers the truth about himself: that he's ‘only 38% human’; the rest is technology”. Youngsters can find out more about Joe’s books by attending one of the sessions. A book signing will take place after the talk and there will also be an opportunity to buy his books.

The talks take place at Wokingham Library between 10.30am and 11.30am and Lower Earley Library between 2pm and 3pm.

All library branches are hosting a fairy and wizard party for five to nine year olds. This is a chance for them to come dressed as their favourite fairy or wizard, hear some funny stories and make a magical wand to take home!

The parties are taking place as follows:

Twyford Library		August 8 between 3pm and 4pm
Spencers Wood Library		August 14 between 3pm and 4pm
Wokingham Library		August 3 between 10.30am and 11.30am
Maiden Erlegh Library		August 21 between 3pm and 4pm
Woodley Library		August 31 between 2.30pm and 3.30pm
Lower Earley Library		August 17 between 2pm and 3pm
Wargrave Library		August 14 between 10am and 11am
Winnersh Library		August 4 between 2.30pm and 3.30pm

Woodley Library will be having a book debrief session on Friday August 4 between 2pm and 3pm. Young people can come along to hear spy and detective stories and discuss favourite book characters. This ties in with the film release of the Anthony Horowitz film Stormbreaker and is suitable for nine to 12 year olds. There will be cryptic puzzles and games and Stormbreaker cards will be available which will give youngsters exclusive access to secret sections on the Stormbreaker website.

All events are free to attend but places must be booked in advance by contacting the appropriate library. For more information including details of dates, times and how to book, please check out the council’s website at: www.wokingham.gov.uk/arts-leisure--libraries/libraries/childrens-zone/events

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham district council’s libraries are teaming up the physics department at Reading University to offer Science of Slime workshops at Wokingham and Winnersh libraries.

Dr Averil MacDonald will be showing the Wokingham children how to make slime, and then they will be given a chance to put the chemistry to work to make some slime themselves. This workshop is suitable for 8-11 year olds.

Dr Averil MacDonald said: “A great way to find out exactly what makes slime slimey and balls bouncy is to make your own to take home.” Elizabeth Mcdonald, community librarian, added: “It promises to be a fun workshop and I hope many local youngsters will come along and learn something new!”

There are many events taking place at Wokingham district’s libraries this summer. They are free to attend but places must be booked in advance by contacting the appropriate library. For more information including details of dates, times and how to book, please check out the council’s website at: www.wokingham.gov.uk/arts-leisure--libraries/libraries/childrens-zone/events

Wokingham District Council

In recent weeks, there has been speculation about the redevelopment of Cantley Park in Wokingham and in order to inform local residents and users of the park of future proposals, Wokingham District Council is holding a meeting on Monday August 14 to update interested parties on the current situation.

There are concerns from many local Wokingham residents that a stadium will be built on this site. As the proposals currently stand, initial work has started with a feasibility study on some modest redevelopment of Cantley Park having been commissioned. The feasibility study has been carried out by an expert consultant and will provide the basis for the more detailed design stage of the project. Under these initial proposals, a stadium will not be built but either a 250-seater stand or a 100-seater stand could be erected to enable Wokingham and Emmbrook FC to play Hellenic League football. Railings could be constructed around the premier pitch to comply with Hellenic League standards.

Also under these proposals, the Wokingham council would maintain the same number of pitches whilst improving their quality through better drainage and maintaining access for all current users.

Before the feasibility study proposals are submitted for planning consent, the council will commission a traffic impact assessment taking into account issues such as the impact of the move on traffic, parking, access and any landscape features or obstacles. The council will also be reviewing the timing of matches to avoid conflicts at peak times.

The outcomes of the work carried out so far will be discussed at the public meeting, which is taking place in the council chamber, civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham.

Paul Turrell, Wokingham deputy chief executive, said: “Last week, the council approved the new leisure, sport and recreation strategy and we will now be looking at how we can develop key leisure sites and amenities around the district, including Cantley Park.

“As the opportunities arise over the coming years, we will look to develop centres of excellence and provide more outdoor and indoor recreational facilities in places that are accessible to our local community. However, we will do this only in full consultation with local residents, both in terms of holding public meetings if there are any concerns or through the formal planning process.

“No immediate changes will occur at Cantley Park until there has been a thorough evaluation of options. Members will consider the proposals in September and details of the proposals will be published and full public consultation will be undertaken as part of the normal planning process, should the scheme get that far. The public meeting being held on August 14 will not be the final chance for local people to have their say.”

Wokingham district council is committed to ensuring that Cantley Park is enjoyed by local residents and clubs.

Paul added: “We do not wish to alienate local residents or cause alarm that there will be a build up of traffic and substantial crowds at Cantley Park. The proposals are modest and will be tightly controlled. The public meeting is a chance for local residents to learn the facts about the proposed development. Plans for a stadium have been grossly exaggerated.”

Wokingham District Council

This summer, a competition is being held to create a logo for Wokingham District Council’s new family information service, and children and young people across the Wokingham district are being invited to put their creative skills to the test to come up with a winning design!

Wokingham district council’s children’s information service (CIS) is changing its name in the autumn and aims to appeal more to families with children and young people aged from birth to 19 years. With this in mind, the service will be renamed the family information service (Wokingham district) and they are looking for a logo that represents the ethos of the family as well as giving the service an identity of its own.

Desni Ennis, Wokingham children’s information service manager, said: “The current logo is aimed more at families with young children, but does not reflect all of the age ranges that our services cover. We also need a logo that depicts the purpose of the new family information service. The competition is open to any child or young person aged up to 19 years, living within the Wokingham district. The logo needs to be clear and concise, and the winning entry will appear on all publicity and merchandise used by the service.

“I hope many children and young people will take on the challenge and put their creative artistic skills to the test.”

The closing date for the competition is Monday September 18. For more details on the competition, contact the children’s information service on (0118) 935 2255 or email: cis@wokingham.gov.uk.

This summer, the children’s information service has also put together an activities newsletter which is packed full of information on courses, workshops and activities that are running throughout the Wokingham district and surrounding area. There is also information available on local parks and playgrounds, as well as a ‘days out’ guide for places to visit, such as theme parks and leisure attractions.

For those parents who need childcare during the summer holidays, the CIS can provide information on all registered childcare in the Wokingham district, including holiday schemes and childminders who are willing to provide holiday care.

The Wokingham children’s information service provides free and confidential information and guidance to parents and carers on a full range of childcare, early years education and play, leisure and recreational facilities for children from birth to 19 years. Although they will be changing their name in the autumn, they can still be contacted on (0118) 935 2255 or by email: cis@wokingham.gov.uk. You can also visit them at the Ambleside Centre, Ambleside Close in Woodley (located behind Woodley Library).

Wokingham District Council

Wokingham District Council has once again paid tribute to the contribution that teaching assistants make to the education of pupils across the district by hosting the annual specialist teaching assistant certificate (STAC) graduation ceremony on July 13.

The Wokingham district council has been working in partnership with the Open University for many years to offer teaching assistants in primary schools the chance to study for a qualification to develop their classroom skills. This is a national certificate and 11 teaching assistants from the Wokingham district have been successful this year.

The specialist teacher assistant certificate course enhances professional expertise in literacy, numeracy, science and information and communications technology and develops high level skills for supporting all children including those with special educational needs or English as an additional language.

The Wokingham teaching assistants receiving their qualifications were:

Samantha Baldwin - Coombes Infant and Nursery
Joanna Beresford - Hawkedon Primary
Lynda Flanders - Farley Hill Primary
Samantha Mansfield - Coombes Infant and Nursery
Angela McNally - Hillside Primary
Laura Mulligan - St Dominic Savio RC Aided Primary
Anne Pipe - Hillside Primary
Jill Risk - Farley Hill Primary
Julia Roberts - Hawkedon Primary
Debra Shaw - The Palmer CE Controlled Junior
Anne White - Walter Infant School & Nursery

To gain the certificate, each Wokingham teaching assistant has to build up a portfolio of project work carried out both in their own school and another paired school in the area, as well as completing a course of home study, writing assessed assignments and attending tutorials, all under the guidance of an experienced teacher appointed as their mentor. They also have to study for 600 hours over the school year.

David Hawthorne, corporate head of Wokingham children’s services (education), said: “This course is a recognition of the key role that teaching assistants play in the classroom. By sheer commitment and dedication, these teaching assistants have achieved a recognised qualification, which can count towards an Open University teaching degree if they choose to. I was pleased to present them with their certificates and join in the celebrations.”

Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “Teaching assistants make a real difference to pupils’ learning and development in the classroom and also provide much needed support to teachers. I would like to extend my congratulations to those who have achieved this highly-regarded qualification.”

Over the past seven years, some 70 teaching assistants have achieved this qualification, with almost 100 percent pass rate.

Wokingham District Council

School meals in the Wokingham district are set to get a boost in the autumn term as Wokingham District Council this week (August 1) enters into a new school meal contract which will bring fresh, healthy and tasty food to school dining rooms across the district.

Tunbridge Wells based company Edwards & Ward will take over the Wokingham school meal contract and pupils will benefit from fresh, healthy and nutritionally balanced meals and will be given a daily choice of hot or cold food. The menus already meet the Caroline Walker Trust guidelines - core guidelines adhered to by all local authorities, which provide nutrient-based standards for school food.

Wokingham District Council is committed to ensuring continued ongoing improvements to the school meal service. Under these new arrangements, the council will also exceed the new government guidelines, by providing fresh food, which will be freshly cooked by the catering staff in 38 school kitchens across the district. Pupils are set to reap the benefits from fresh meat, vegetables and organic produce from local suppliers across the south of England including Berkshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire.

Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member for corporate services, said: “Pupils and their families demand a high standard, which is why the council will ensure that they receive excellent school meals of a high quality. It’s important that the council, along with the contractors, increase the numbers of children receiving a quality meal at school.

“The council is keen to encourage good dining and social skills and a well-balanced nutritional meal goes a long way to increase attention levels in the class room. This in turn increases brain function and energy, making our children much healthier.

“By ensuring that all food and drink in schools is healthy and nutritious, the council is making it even easier for children to stick to the healthy options and to enjoy the long-term health benefits that come with that.”

Wokingham council, in partnership with Edwards & Ward, will deliver a fresh flexible school meal, based on the needs of the school, to ensure all of its pupils enjoy their midday lunch break

Wokingham District Council

For the eighth year running Wokingham district’s green-fingered gardeners got involved in Wokingham District Council’s ‘Colour and Cheer’ competition making it a blooming success once again!

Organised by Wokingham district council chairman Cllr Angus Ross, gardeners of every age – from children to older people and community groups to pub landlords – spent many weeks working hard in their gardens. The competition sponsored by the Times’ Series and supported by Sainsbury’s, Foster Wheeler Ltd and Millgate Homes rewards residents, pubs and schools for bringing cheer to neighbours and visitors with dazzling displays of flowers and shrubs.

Winner of the Best Summer Display Front Garden was Jill Tattam of London Road in Wokingham and coming a close second was Patricia and Leslie Mcnab of Little Glebe in Sonning.

For the second year running, Wokingham residents Fred and Nina Preston collected the winning prize for Best Year Round Interest category, with Tim and Valerie Downes of Barkham Road securing second prize.

Pupils took up the challenge and Wargrave’s Robert Piggott C of E Infant School won top prize in the Best Primary School category, closely followed by The Coombes Infant and Nursery School in Wokingham in second place. Wokingham’s Westende Junior School were highly commended.

Secondary schools were also in bloom with The Holt School in Wokingham winning the competition, with The Piggott C of E School being rewarded for keeping the whole school site clean and tidy.

Triumphing for the third year running, The Swan at Three Mile Cross clinched top prize for the Best Pub Frontage, with Ye Olde Leathern Bottel in Wokingham as runner-up.

The Best in Show category was awarded to The Holt School for its creation of a series of gardens created as part of the school’s 75th anniversary celebrations. Winners will be presented with their prizes at a special ceremony at the civic offices in September.

Wokingham Cllr Angus Ross said: “It’s exciting to see so many people engaged in improving their environment for not only for themselves to enjoy but the wider community too. The standard this year was incredibly high and a lot of hard work has gone into their magnificent gardens. I only wish my garden was as colourful and that the entrants could work their magic on my plants!

“Of all the categories, the one I found most rewarding was the schools’ categories. The enthusiasm and knowledge that the pupils showed was very impressive, as was their perseverance in watering their gardens this summer without the benefits of hosepipes! Behind each pupil team was at least one dedicated teacher or parent who must also be congratulated. I would like to extend my thanks to all those who took part and my congratulations to the winners this year!”

Wokingham District Council

Residents of Finchampstead are being asked to suggest replacement trees as Wokingham District Council carries out work to remove some potentially unsafe trees at the junction of Church Lane/Jubilee Road.

Five Grey Poplar trees on the Wokingham highway verge will be removed next week (Monday July 31 to Friday August 4) because of significant decay and the potential risk to public safety. Whilst the trees appear to be outwardly healthy, they are decaying within their bases and trunks and could collapse during high winds.

Wokingham Council tree officers have been monitoring the trees’ condition over the past 18 months, undertaking several inspections, more particularly in May when a crown of one of the trees began to break up. A recent inspection by an independent tree consultant confirmed the poor condition of the trees and the risk they pose to public safety.

The trees will be felled in a safe and controlled manner by council contractors with road closures in place to protect people and vehicles during the work. Church Lane will be closed to vehicles throughout the work from Monday July 31 to Friday August 4, whilst Jubilee Road will be subject to closure on Thursday August 3 and Friday August 4. Access for Wokingham residents will be maintained but diversion routes will be in place for all other traffic.

Wokingham council intends to plant new trees in the next planting season (November to March) and is asking local residents for suggestions for suitable replacements. Anyone wishing to suggest a particular species of tree is invited to email treesandlandscape@wokingham.gov.uk or write to Tree and Landscape Team, Environment Services, Wokingham District Council, PO Box 153, RG40 1WL.

Executive member for environment Wokingham Cllr Simon Weeks said: “It is always with considerable regret that we have to remove established trees, but public safety has to be of paramount importance.

“I hope that Finchampstead residents will take up this opportunity to suggest trees that they would like to see planted to replace the decayed Poplars and look forward to later in the year when we can see the new trees in situ.”

Local residents and Finchampstead Parish Council have been informed of the work and site notices are also in place.

Wokingham District Council

After discussions with senior education officers and carefully considering a report on the future of Ryeish Green School, Wokingham District Council’s decision-making executive has decided to consult on the closure of the school.

The main reason for the decision to go-ahead with the consultation is the falling number of pupils at the school in Spencers Wood. For several years, the school, with the support of Wokingham local authority, has been working to raise standards, improve its reputation in the community and attract more pupils. And, although there has been progress, pupil numbers have continued to fall over recent years, particularly in the last two years when there has been a significant decline.

At their meeting on July 27, the ten-strong executive considered how the school’s pupil numbers have fallen over the last five years (from 904 in September 2002 to an anticipated 740 in September 2006), creating a question mark over the future viability of the school.

The school’s official admission number is for 210 pupils every September but the school has a planned intake for September 2006 of only 101. The outcome of this is that the school now has in excess of 25% surplus capacity / places. The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) requires local education authorities to take action if schools get into a position where there is 25% or more surplus capacity.

The fall in pupil numbers at the school is also currently putting extreme pressure on the school’s finances.

Nearly 60% of the pupils who live in the catchment area of the school choose to go to other schools. Consequently, places are taken up by pupils from outside the district, mainly from south Reading, where the new Madejski Academy School opens in September 2006. It is anticipated that many of the Reading pupils will in future be going to the Academy, thus reducing the numbers at Ryeish Green even further.

Cllr Frank Browne, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “Education officers submitted a report to the executive members who considered the details very carefully. Members agreed that at this stage, it is difficult to see how the school can continue to be viable when fewer and fewer parents are choosing to send their children there. That is why we are going out to consult on our reasons for considering the closure of the school.

“We want to test whether there is a case for retaining the school or for closing it and to make sure that we have all the pertinent facts and stakeholders’ views before we make a final decision. It won’t therefore simply be a referendum on whether or not to close the school. It will be a comprehensive consultation and our education officers will now start putting the consultation document together, with a view to beginning the official consultation process in October with governors, staff, pupils, parents, prospective parents and the wider community.”

Tim Dutfield, vice chairman of governors, said: “We welcome the decision to go to consultation as this will provide the opportunity to finally secure the school's future. The governors and staff consider that the school is still viable and we look forward to presenting a case that will show unequivocally that the future of Ryeish Green School must be that it remains to supply high quality education to an ever growing community.”

Any final decision about the future of the school would not be taken until June 2007. Throughout the whole process, the needs of pupils and their continuity of education, as well as the well-being of staff, will be paramount.

Wokingham District Council

Four schools in the Wokingham district have recently achieved the new national healthy schools status, and have received their new certificates. The schools are:

* St Paul’s Church of England Junior School, Wokingham (on June 30)
* Westende Junior School, Wokingham (on July 6)
* Grazeley Parochial Primary School, Grazeley (on July 11)
* Willowbank Infant School (on July 14)

On Monday July 17, Wokingham council chairman Cllr Angus Ross visited Grazeley Parochial Primary School and Willowbank Infant School to present them with their awards. These schools, and others who achieve the standard during the autumn term, will further celebrate their success next term in a special celebration event. Cllr Ross will be there to present all the successful schools with new national healthy schools plaques.

The new national Healthy School Standard, introduced in September 2005, replaces the original Berkshire Programme which involved bronze, silver and gold healthy school awards . Grazeley Parochial Primary School and Willow Bank Infant School had both achieved Gold in the Berkshire programme, Westende Junior School had achieved silver and St Paul’s Church of England Junior School were at the bronze level. The foundations placed by the Berkshire programme enabled these schools to take the next step to the new national standard.

Validation visits (inspections) for the healthy schools programme are carried out by a team of experienced validators and each of the Wokingham schools received excellent reports. Validators are able to see at first hand the impact the healthy schools programme has made across many areas of school life. They meet with staff, parents and governors, to discuss the school and the part healthy schools targets play in its success. Finally, there are meetings with pupils from the school council and any peer mediation teams or task groups.

At St Paul’s Church of England Junior School, Wokingham the validators Lynne Blackshaw and Trisha Holmes said: “All members of the St Paul’s Junior School community have worked together to create a friendly, safe and welcoming environment in which the children can thrive and learn. The team of peer mediators is outstanding.”

At Westende Junior School, validators Julian Bushell and Bev Revie said: ”We were very impressed with the strong inclusive ethos pervading the school, which all members of the community were able to articulate. Everyone we talked with was fully engaged with all aspects of Healthy Schools.”

After their visit to Grazeley Parochial Primary School, Wokingham validators Julian Bushell and Susan Moore said: “The school has developed an ethos and environment that supports learning and promotes health and well being. It consults and encourages participation of the whole school community.
The active support of parents, governors and other representatives of the wider community for all aspects of the Healthy Schools Programme has helped ensure its success.”

“All the children spoke with confidence and were a credit to the school,” said head teacher Jean Bateman. “We were delighted that the validators were able to confirm that Grazeley is a healthy school and meets the high requirements of the national standard. And it was lovely to be presented with our certificate by the chairman of the council.”

Speaking about Willowbank Infant School, Wokingham District Council’s curriculum development advisor Jill Godfrey said: “Excellent practice was observed during the validation visit at the school. Bev Revie, the validator, said she thoroughly enjoyed her visit and was impressed with the healthy schools work at Willow Bank. As always, the children were a credit to the school.”

Presenting the award certificates, Wokingham District Council chairman Cllr Angus Ross said: “These two schools have taken the Healthy Schools initiative very seriously and they thoroughly deserve this recognition. My congratulations go to the staff and pupils who have worked hard to provide such an integrated and impressive healthy schools programme, and I am looking forward to meeting all the successful schools next term.”

Wokingham District Council

Hot off the Wokingham printing press this summer is a special summer edition of TxT magazine - a magazine from Wokingham District Council which is written by young people for young people.

Wokingham Txt is aimed at keeping young people aged between 11 and 18 years old in the district up-to-date with activities that are going on and providing them with lots of information about how they might get involved with some of the many activities taking place.

The latest Wokingham summer special issue includes articles from Waingels College’s Jade Smith who tells her peers about her school’s charity work and how they work hard to give something back to their community. Her aim is to tackle the stereotype of young people and show that they do care! Wokingham district’s youth MP Michael Burgess is interviewed by fellow pupil Forest School pupil Jack Brooks, who gives an insight into Michael’s work representing the views of the district’s young people. Michael talks about his plans for the future and what he hopes to achieve during his time in office.

Adam Arnold, a member of the Tribute group in Wokingham – a group formed following the tragic death of two friends – talks about a fundraising concert the group organised to raise funds for a memorial bench. While fellow Tribute member Stephanie Dier talks candidly about a recent knife amnesty she helped launch.

Txt shows young people that there is a lot going on to keep them busy this summer. A pull-out section in the centre pages has been designed to be displayed on a wall or notice board, highlighting all the information they need to know about what is happening at the district’s youth centres. Many of the youth centres are running summer schemes including residential trips, football competitions, motorwise events, canoeing, BBQs and much, much more. Check out the details at www.wokingham.gov.uk/youthservice or drop into your local youth centre to see what is happening this month.

Cllr Malcolm Bryant, champion for Wokingham youth and leisure, said: “This summer edition of Txt sees some great articles written by the district’s young people and it is good to see their involvement in the magazine. I would urge all young people to get themselves to a local youth centre this summer – you may be surprised to see how much is going on!”

Copies of Txt are sent to every secondary school pupil in the district and will also available from youth centres, leisure centres and libraries in the district by the end of this week (July 28). Copies can also be downloaded from the Wokingham District Council website at www.wokingham.gov.uk/youthservice

Wokingham District Council

A specially arranged Wokingham sports day at Dingley Family and Play Therapy Group brought sport and games to under-fives with additional needs on Thursday July 19. Wokingham District Council chairman Cllr Angus Ross and Wokingham town mayor Cllr Dianne King joined in the fun.

Dingley Family and Play Therapy Group, based at Wokingham Hospital, provides a place where children up to five years old with additional needs and disabilities can come to develop skills through therapeutic play. The service is provided free of charge and is the only setting of its kind in the Wokingham district. It is also a place where parents and carers are welcomed, where they can make friends, share experiences and learn parenting skills.

Unlike most under-five groups, the children are at widely differing levels of development. They require more personal attention and show very specific needs which require individual help and encouragement from staff.

Wokingham Cllr Ross said: “It was lovely to see the children enjoying themselves so much. And days like this are valuable opportunities for learning the sporting skills that all children benefit so much from.”

Wokingham District Council