Wokingham

Hard-hitting posters have been given out to pubs and clubs in the Wokingham borough to help people stay safe on a night out.

The Wokingham posters come in two styles, one set comes under the headline Fancy a Cocktail and feature a nasty mix that nobody would wish for when hitting the town. These include the Harvey Headbanger: take eight lagers, mix with three shots, one dodgy look and a fight outside the pub. Price: broken nose, night in the cell and possible charge of GBH. Other unappetising cocktails detailed are the Between the Hospital Sheets and The Screwed Driver.

The other series of Wokingham posters come under the heading Weekend Checklist and again highlight some of the less appealing options on a night out. One such checklist, warning of the danger of unsafe sex, reads: New dress, Killer heels, Lip gloss…. Chlamydia? Other checklists warn of the danger of getting caught up in violence, of falling victim to accidents - 40 per cent of accident and emergency admissions are alcohol related and the risk of having a drink spiked.

Wokingham Borough Council executive member for community safety Cllr Barrie Patman said: “These posters are a bit hard-hitting for the Wokingham borough, but we feel they need to be to get some strong, important messages across. The people we are trying to reach with these posters may not respond to a more conventional local authority approach. Getting these eye-catching posters into pubs and clubs will get to those people who are most at risk from these serious problems.”

The posters have been distributed and will be appearing around the Wokingham borough in the run up to Christmas.

Wokingham Borough Council

Following Joe Calzaghe’s victory in the prestigious BBC Sports Personality and the hype surrounding Ricky Hatton’s fight against Floyd Mayweather, boxing is big news in the UK – and boys in Winnersh can find out what the fuss is about at a club set up especially for them.

The Wokingham Rainbow Park Boxing Club has been set up to offer boys on the estate a chance to learn the self-control and skills that the sport can teach. It is being run by fully-qualified professional coach George Coston, who runs Bulmershe Boxing Club.

The club is for boys only as, Mr Coston is only qualified to coach boys, but if girls are keen to take part, the organisers will find an alternative. Anybody qualified to coach girls and keen to get involved in the Rainbow Park Boxing Club can contact Wokingham Borough Council’s community development officer Jacqueline Riddles on 0118 989 4280.

Wokingham Borough Council executive member for community development Cllr Dianne King said: “It is vital that young boys have a chance to acquire self-control and self-respect and learning a skill such as boxing is one way in which they can do this. Boxing is not for everybody, but it is important to try to reach out to all young people and to offer a wide range of opportunities. Rainbow Park Boxing Club could provide the perfect place for some young boys to learn some important lessons and have fun – regardless of whether they turn out to be the Calzaghes and Hattons of the future.”

The club is for those aged nine and older and runs at the Rainbow Park Centre in Rainbow Park on Wednesday evenings from 5pm to 6.30pm and each session costs £2. Anybody interested in going can contact community development worker Jacqueline Riddles on 0118 989 4280.

Wokingham Borough Council

Police officers may only seem to get younger and younger, but Community Wardens in the Wokingham Borough really are thanks to the launch of the council’s Junior Warden scheme.

Children in three areas of the Wokingham borough, Finchampstead, Woodley and Winnersh have been recruited as Junior Wardens to help improve their communities and set a great example to other young people.

And the Wokingham Junior Wardens celebrated their launch with a Christmas party at Rainbow Community Centre in Rainbow Park, Winnersh this week, which was supported by Waitrose in Woodley and Tesco in Wokingham.

The junior wardens have three basic rules:

1. Junior warden will have respect for themselves and will show this through their behaviour
2. Junior Wardens will have respect for others
3. Junior Wardens will have respect for their environment.

Working with the Wokingham borough council’s Community Wardens, the new recruits will get involved in practical projects, such as litter picks, as well as having the chance to meet other members of their communities to better understand and appreciate how people get along. They will also be able to act as extra eyes and ears for the Community Wardens – spotting where graffiti or fly-tipping has appeared, reporting broken streetlamps and spreading safety messages among their peers.

All the Junior Wardens are Year 6 pupils, 10 and 11 year olds, at Gorse Ride Primary School in Finchampstead, Bearwood Junior School in Winnersh and South Lake Primary School and Highwood Primary School both in Woodley. They have all received their own uniforms and will remain Junior Wardens for one year, and each group is helped by their area’s Community Wardens. The Junior Wardens have also been on environmental field trips such as to GreenPark to see the wind turbine.

Executive member for Wokingham community safety Councillor Barrie Patman said: “This is a great scheme to encourage community involvement at a very young age. It is important to counteract the negative image many people have about children today and the Junior Wardens are living proof of how they can play a positive role in their communities.”

As well as the Christmas party, which all the Wokingham Junior Wardens attended, the Junior Wardens from Bearwood School also helped organise a Cinema Morning at Winnersh Community Centre in November. This was the brainchild of Community Wardens in Winnersh, Lesley McCambridge and Emma LeRoy who were inspired by their own childhood experiences of Saturday morning trips to the cinema to organise a community cinema event for children. Winnersh Parish Council lent the Community Centre hall free of charge and the borough council’s Tenant Services lent a projector and screen. The Junior Wardens chose the film - Flushed Away - and sold all the 60 available seats at 50p per ticket, which covered the cost of popcorn, a drink and ice lolly for each child. The Junior Wardens also acted as ushers and gave out the refreshments.

Community safety officer Jenny Bennett, who coordinates the Junior Warden scheme, said: “The Cinema Morning was great fun and all the feedback we have had from it has been excellent. It was another example of how the Junior Wardens can help make a real difference in their communities. All the Community Wardens are keen to encourage the good traits in these young people that make them want to be community wardens – the desire to make their area they live in safer and more pleasant for all.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Creative youngsters from the Wokingham Borough have been helping spread the word that bullying is unacceptable and they need to stick together to keep bullying at bay.

To mark anti-bullying week in November, Wokingham Borough Council set a challenge to all young people across the borough to create a poster that represents the themed week’s key message of Safer Together; Safer Wherever.

The 10 competition finalists were praised for their efforts during a special ceremony on Tuesday (December 18) by Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Annette Drake. They all received a special certificate and will have their posters printed as postcard with the important anti-bullying information printed on the reverse – which will be distributed to schools, youth centres and other venues in the borough in the new year.

More than 500 posters were submitted via Wokingham primary and secondary schools and the youth service. Some 70 youngsters, who took part in an anti-bullying event at Twyford Youth and Community Centre on Friday November 23, narrowed down the short-listed entries by voting for their favourite posters.

The 10 finalists who will have their posters transformed into important anti-bulling postcards are:
· Jack Bray from Radstock Primary School, who won the primary school age section
· Isabel Green from The Hawthorns Primary School
· Adam Hunter from Willow Bank Junior School
· Chelsea New from Lambs Lane Primary School
· Charlie Spinks from St Dominic Savio Catholic Primary School
· Klara Wisniewska from St Dominic Savio Catholic Primary School
· Helen Puddy from The Piggott School, who won the secondary school age section
· Jamie Polston from The Piggott School
· Ben Tanner from St Crispin’s School
· And Eleanor Taylor from The Barkham Youth Project

Cllr Annette Drake, Mayor of the Wokingham Borough, said: “ I was really impressed by the creativity of the posters and the imagination and the artistic talent that the young people used to get this very serious message across.

“The entries showed a lot of time and effort went in to getting the important message across that bullying is not acceptable and I’m pleased so many of our young people in the Wokingham Borough adhere to that message and respect one another.”

Wokingham Borough Council

A high profile Wokingham operation to ensure revellers are left with nothing more than a hangover this Christmas has taken place in pubs across the Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham Borough Council’s licensing and trading standards teams visited various pubs across the borough to make sure that they were complying with their licence conditions and selling authentic branded spirits in the run up to Christmas and New Year celebrations.

During the campaign, licensing and trading standards officers were joined by officers from Thames Valley Police to spread the word about how to keep safe and on the right side of the law.

To ensure the Wokingham public are not mislead, an officer from trading standards checked branded spirits on sale to make sure they were genuine. A licensing officer made sure the pubs were complying with health and safety requirements and were not selling alcohol to under 18s– which is a direct breach of the conditions of all licensed premises.

The tests and checks were carried out randomly in pubs in Wokingham town centre, Woodley Town centre and pubs near to both towns on the evening and night of Friday December 7.

Wokingham Trading standards officers also handed out free beer mats promoting their anti counterfeiting message “Don’t be a Fake” which is currently urging people to think twice before buying or selling something that is not genuine and report anyone thought to be selling fakes.

All the pubs that were checked were found to be carrying out the terms and conditions of their licences, none of them were found to be selling alcohol to minors and there were no problems with the alcohol tested.

Alonso Ercilla, trading standards officer, said: “As part of the operation, beer mats were handed out to publicans promoting the “Don’t be a fake!” message. The message is part of a campaign by trading standards to highlight the detrimental effects of both selling and buying fakes and to encourage people to report sellers of fakes to us.

“Fakes are wrong for various reasons, from the lack of safety testing to the substitution of genuine substances with potentially harmful ones. Furthermore, selling fakes can amount to a criminal offence punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.”

Cllr Barrie Patman, executive member for Wokingham community safety, added: “I’m pleased the licensees in the Wokingham Borough, who were subject to these random tests were able to show licensing and trading standards officers that they take their responsibilities and licensing conditions very seriously.

“These visits by the licensing and safety teams and Thames Valley Police, were aimed at ensuring all is safe and legal in pubs across the Wokingham Borough and I’m very pleased that they provided public reassurance at the same time.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham borough’s young people have elected a new Member of Youth Parliament (MYP), who has pledged to get their voices heard on a bigger stage.

Adam Connell from Wokingham, was elected by youngsters aged 11 to 18 from across the Wokingham borough during a five-day ballot earlier this month, after receiving 593 of the 1,976 votes cast. He will take over from current MYP Yan Couper-Harris on February 1, 2008.

Shabana Karim aged 15 from Earley was voted in as deputy MYP after receiving 516 votes.

It was revealed at a special ceremony on Thursday (December 13), attended by Wokingham Borough Mayor, Cllr Annette Drake; Cllr Malcolm Bryant, champion for youth and leisure; and Cllr Frank Browne, leader of the council and executive member for children’s services, that Adam had been elected.

The overall results were:
· Adam Connell, 16 from Wokingham – 593 votes
· Shabana Karim aged 15 from Earley – 516 votes
· Carlie Norwell aged 15 from Wokingham - 401 votes
· Salah Elnour aged 15 from Lower Earley - 257 votes
· Paula Frost aged 15 from Wokingham - 209 votes.

After the results were announced the 16-year-old, who attends The Emmbrook School, said: “It is with great pleasure that I accept the role of being Wokingham Borough’s MYP and I can assure you that it is not something I take lightly.

“The chance to represent the views of Wokingham’s young people, who every single day defy the status quo set by the tabloid press, is a privilege. I aim to serve my contemporaries as best I can and get their views heard on a larger stage.”

Ballots were cast between December 3 and 7 in the borough’s schools and youth centres to decide who would represent the young people of the borough on the South East regional sector of the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP).

Adam will also attend meetings with Wokingham borough council officers and elected members and other local decision makers, once current Youth MP Yan Couper-Harris stands down in February after a year in office.
Throughout his campaign Adam pledged to look into ways of subsidising transport costs for sixth formers, increase sporting opportunities and green spaces and gain more representation for young people in the UK.

Piggott School pupil, Shabana Karim, 15, said she would address bullying through a video diary room at her school and would champion a project called Loose Change, aimed at getting leisure and entertainment at affordable prices. She also pledged to campaign for a chill-out pad for students and young people.

The UKYP aims to give the young people of the UK between the ages of 11 and 18 a voice, which will be heard and listened to by local and national government, providers of services for young people and other agencies that have an interest in the views and needs of young people.

Cllr Frank Browne, leader of the Wokingham council and executive member for children’s services, said: “I’d like to congratulate Adam on being elected the new Member of Youth Parliament for the Wokingham borough and I look forward to working with him much more closely when he takes office in February.

“Listening to the aspirations and suggestions of the young people of the borough is extremely important and I’m pleased to see that there are so many young people in the borough who are interested in how we tackle issues affecting them on a day-to-day basis.”

Paul Blount, area youth work manager, who organised the elections, said: “The elections are a great way of getting the young people of the Wokingham borough involved in having a say on issues that impact on them as they get to pick a young person from the area to represent their views locally and regionally.

“I’m sure Adam will grip the challenge of being Wokingham borough’s new MYP with both hands in February as his predecessors have done and I want to wish him all the best for his year in office.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Make sure you’re not taken for a ride this year as you get into the festive spirit is the message that Wokingham Borough Council’s licensing officers are sending out as the party season gets into full swing.

The Wokingham council’s licensing team is urging everyone using taxis or private hire vehicles to be extra vigilant over the next few weeks to ensure they get home safely.

The key message the team is stressing is that people must use licensed vehicles, which have undergone strict roadworthiness tests, this festive period. Licensed drivers are also checked through the Criminal Record Bureau and have passed knowledge tests on the local area.

Taking just a few simple steps could reduce the risk of Wokingham revellers getting into illegal or unfit taxis and private hire cars this yuletide.

Advice offered by the Wokingham council’s licensing officers includes:

· Pre-booking a private hire vehicle in advance by phoning a licensed operator. It is advisable to use a reliable company that you have used before and agree a price at the time of booking.
· Do not hail private hire vehicles in the street – any private hire vehicle that pulls over will not be insured. Always pre-book.
· Check the private hire vehicle is from the company you pre-booked with before getting in.
· Vehicles with a “Taxi” roof sign can be hailed in the street or approached at a taxi rank.
· Check the vehicle and driver are licensed before the journey starts.
· Licensed vehicles must display a licence plate on the rear of the exterior showing the registration, make and model, maximum number of passengers and expiry date of the licence.
· Check for the driver’s identity badge, which must show their name, photograph, driver’s number, and expiry of licence.
· Make a note of the driver’s number plate and licence number and text them to a friend as an extra precaution.
· Females should not be afraid to ask for a woman driver if it would make you feel safer.

It is important to remember that Hackney Carriages which carry an illuminated “taxi” sign can be hailed on the street or at a taxi rank and must show white licence plates on the rear of the vehicle.

While private hire cars, like mini-cabs, must be booked before hand and cannot be hailed on the street. They have yellow licence plates on the rear and drivers must wear a photo identity badge.

Cllr Barrie Patman, executive member for Wokingham community safety, said: “It’s important to check that you are travelling in a licensed vehicle what ever time of year it is but we are appealing to people to be extra cautious over the festive period.

“Using a licensed vehicle means that it is safe, roadworthy and fully insured and the driver has been checked. Using one that’s not licensed could quite simply put your health and safety at risk and leave you out of pocket.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Comments on how one of the Wokingham borough’s most treasured country parks should develop over the next 25 years can still be submitted by residents, ramblers and nature-lovers.

Three suggested visions for the future of Dinton Pastures Country Park in Hurst have been developed by Wokingham Borough Council after a summer-long consultation with residents and stakeholders including walkers, environmental groups, golfers from nearby Hurst Golf Club, anglers and people who use the lakes for water sports.

The three broad options have been on display at the Dragonfly Café in Dinton Pastures and are now available to everyone on the council’s website at www.wokingham.gov.uk/dinton-pastures

Feedback is needed to ensure the Wokingham countryside service can develop the park and make it what the

The first option is to build a new visitor centre on the site of the existing watersports area and golf club on Sandford Lane.

This option includes:
· Having a golf clubhouse and watersports facilities in a visitor centre providing a view of the lake
· Creating a two-storey visitor centre building with a glazed front, terrace and first floor balcony, and the opportunity for outside seating linking with the café and restaurant areas
· Storing indoor boats and equipment in the centre and providing outdoor boat storage and a new jetty and slipway.
· Having the countryside service provide reception staff at the centre but keeping its main offices at the revamped farmhouse.

The second option available is to build a new visitor centre on the edge of Black Swan Lake.
This option includes:
· Having all the facilities under one roof as in option one and creating a centre at the heart of the park
· Ensuring the visitor centre is near to the children’s play area
· This option would require using currently unused parts of the park for buildings – which is within the designated flood plain.

The third option is to build a new visitor centre and golf clubhouse on the site of the existing country park café and information centre, with access from Davis Street.

This option includes:
· Retaining the exiting building for the new golf clubhouse and linking it to a visitor centre
· Creating an outdoor café area and courtyard area to welcome visitors
· Building a visitor centre with a single storey entrance hall and two storey glazed building for the café and restaurant
· Creating a separate building for watersports off Sandford Lane, which would be near the existing watersports building and also building a new jetty, slipway and beach area.

The Wokingham borough council is committed to providing enhanced facilities at the park – which is why a vision for the next 25 years of the park is being drawn up. Ways of financing it, including looking for investments from the private sector as well as using the council’s own funds, will be decided upon once a vision is adopted.

Feedback on the three concepts is needed by Monday December 24. The council’s executive committee will make a decision on its future based on what residents and park users want in spring 2008.

Cllr Simon Weeks, executive member for Wokingham environment, said: “There’s still one week left to tell us how Dinton Pastures country park should develop in the future. We really need everyone who uses the park to tell us what they think so that we get it right and provide them with the park they want.

“There is a full display at the Dragonfly Café in Dinton Pastures but there’s also the chance to have a look at the proposals online on the council’s website.

“The ideas are purposely very broad at the moment so that we can take on board the comments of people who use the park and make it a place they are proud of.”

Wokingham Borough Council

The space available for burials at Wokingham Borough Council’s two cemeteries was increased this week, when some extra areas of ground were consecrated by the Bishop of Reading.

Although burial provision is not a statutory duty, the council provides discretionary burial services to residents in two cemeteries - Shinfield Cemetery in Grovelands Road, Spencers Wood and St Sebastian’s Cemetery on Nine Mile Ride in Wokingham Without.

These cemeteries each have areas of consecrated ground for Christian burials, and also areas for different faiths and for non-religious burials. The Rt. Revd Stephen Cottrell, the Bishop of Reading, consecrated some extra pieces of land for Christian burials at both the cemeteries in two special ceremonies on December 12.

With the new areas consecrated, the two cemeteries in Wokingham Without and Shinfield are predicted to reach full capacity in eight years and 12 years respectively.

Executive member for Wokingham local and regional planning Gary Cowan said: “Although burial provision is not a statutory obligation the council is keen to continue to offer this very important service. Making maximum use of the existing burial space, by consecrating these new areas, will help ensure that we can continue to provide burial space in the future that meets the needs of our residents.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Over 400 schoolchildren brought the Loddon Valley Leisure Centre to life with festive cheer at the annual Wokingham borough primary schools’ carol concert on Sunday December 9 which was hosted by Wokingham Borough Council’s Mayor, Cllr. Annette Drake.

Programme sales and a collection after the concert raised over £4000 for the Wokingham mayor’s chosen charity, which this year is Building for the Future. This is an umbrella group of five charities that already work with disabled children and their families locally: Peapods, Friends of Ryeish Green Bungalow, Mencap, Wokingham Autism Spectrum Partnership and Friends of Bridges. The charity’s vision is to provide a state-of-the-art building to cater for children’s individual needs as well as for community groups.

Some 22 local Wokingham schools formed the choir and they have spent many hours over the past few weeks rehearsing for the annual event. The schools involved were: Arborfield, Newland and Barkham CE Junior, Bearwood Primary, Crazies Hill CE Primary, Farley Hill Primary, Grazeley Parochial Primary, Hawthorns Primary, Keephatch Primary, Lambs Lane Primary, Loddon Primary, Nine Mile Ride Primary, Palmer CE Junior, Radstock Primary, Rivermead Primary, Robert Piggott Junior, Shinfield St.Mary’s CE Junior, St. Pauls CE Primary,
St Sebastian’s CE Primary, St Teresa’s RC Primary, Westende Junior, The White House, Winnersh Primary, Woodley CE Primary.

Berkshire Maestros Corelli Orchestra provided the music for the concert and the children sang a variety of songs including ‘White Christmas’, ‘Angel’s Carol’ and ‘Away In A Manger’ to name just a few. Musical director James Baker conducted the choir and the 50 strong orchestra, who also performed instrumentals including ‘Sleigh Ride’ and ‘Christmas Festival’.

Over 1,000 people watched including parents and teachers. They joined in the singing of Christmas favourites such as ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Hark The Herald Angels Sing’.

Wokingham Mayor Cllr Annette Drake said: “There certainly is no better way to start the Christmas festivities than at the annual primary schools’ carol concert. It is always one of the biggest civic events of the year and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

“The annual carol concert is a time to celebrate the musical talents of the young people of the Wokingham borough. It has been fantastic to see the children’s enthusiasm and hear their wonderful voices. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the teachers who have spent a great deal of time preparing the children for this concert, the conductor and the young musicians of the orchestra.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Here is the latest Neighbourhood Policing update for the Norreys and Wescott areas of Wokingham from Neighbourhood Specialist Officer (NSO) PC Julie Susel and Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Mike Neave:

PCSO Nellie Williams is now fully independent on the area and is enjoying her new role. We have had positive feedback from the Wokingham residents of Norreys and Wescott in the increased high visibility patrols from both Mike and Nellie.

This month we have the opening of the community flat in Eustace Crescent, Wokingham – an exciting initiative which will benefit the community, both young and old.

We are due to hold our second Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) in the flat on Friday 11 January 2008 between noon and 2pm. At this meeting, we are hoping to elect a chair person and secretary. Any local residents are more than welcome to attend.

Mike and Nellie attended the Halloween Party at the same venue. A good time was had by all. A big thanks to all the residents for the warm welcome.

On a more worrying note, there has been an increase in theft from motor vehicles and burglaries on our area. This increase is affecting the area from Froghall Drive and Priesta Avenue to Eustace Crescent, Norreys Avenue. Please be vigilant and call the police if you see anything suspicious.

We are increasing our high visibility Wokingham patrols and are undertaking various initiatives to try to tackle this increase. Please do not leave your Christmas presents on show under the tree and always dispose of boxes that have had high valuable goods in them. Do not leave these boxes on show, awaiting the bin men.

Within the Thames Valley area, it would appear that we have had an increase in the theft of metal. This has affected some residents on our area and again, I would ask you to be vigilant and report anything suspicious.

The whole team has been able to get out on foot recently and meet the residents. We are in the process of buying some mountain bikes, so we will be able to cover the whole area on a daily basis. Please feel free to stop for a chat.

May we wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas - with best wishes from the Norreys and Wescott Team.

Thames Valley Police ~ Wokingham

Producers in the developing world get a fair deal from shoppers in the Wokingham borough – that’s the message from Wokingham Borough Council and the Wokingham Fair Trade Campaign (WFTC). The council passed a motion in its meeting on November 29 supporting the work of the WFTC and congratulating the voluntary group on achieving good results without spending taxpayers’ money.

By buying products that carry the FAIRTRADE Mark, consumers know that developing-world producers receive a fair and stable price for their produce. The WFTC aims to raise local awareness of Fairtrade and to encourage shops to stock more Fairtrade items for local people to buy.

Deputy leader of the council Cllr Simon Weeks said: “The Wokingham Fair Trade Campaign is doing tremendous work to raise the profile of Fairtrade products locally. I applaud the efforts of these volunteers and I am glad to see them approaching our town councils as part of their work to achieve Fairtrade town status for as many parts of the borough as possible.”

Chairman of Wokingham Fair Trade Campaign Colin Weedon said: “The approval of the council is a great step forward in our work promoting Fairtrade goods to local people and I am pleased that the council recognises the importance of Fairtrade.

“Schools come to the WFTC requesting Fairtrade presentations in their citizenship lessons, and around 300 people per month search the Wokingham Borough Fair Trade Directory on our website to help them with their shopping for Fairtrade goods. We are also starting to see local businesses recognising the extra publicity that our work can bring them.

“I look forward to working with the council further in the future to extend more help to these schools, local businesses and residents who are keen to shop ethically.”

Wokingham Borough Council

It was top marks for The Wokingham Ambleside Centre in Woodley following the publication of a report by Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted).

The inspectors focused on the Wokingham nursery for three to five-year-olds, The Meadows, which scored outstanding for all categories including overall effectiveness, achievements and standards, personal development and well-being, teaching and learning, care, guidance and support, curriculum and leadership and management.

Inspectors praised the outstanding quality of the nursery education and said the aim ‘to develop independent learners who have high self-esteem, self-confidence and care for others’ is ‘met extremely successfully’.

Also highlighted in the report was the overwhelming support of parents. One commented: ‘I cannot sing the school’s praises enough’ whilst another said: ‘I am continually impressed with the care and attention given to my son.’ Achievements are outstanding at the centre and this has resulted in exceptionally high standards. There are excellent relationships between the centre’s staff and children, which has helped their personal, social and emotional development.

Inspectors were impressed with the children’s exemplary behaviour and stated ‘they have remarkable levels of independence’. This is demonstrated by many of the children negotiating and solving problems without adult support. From the earliest of ages, children share responsibility, select resources to use and put things away in their allotted places. It was clear to the inspectors that the children love learning new things and are very good at sharing, taking turns, talking and being kind to one another.

Wokingham Borough Council

More than one year on since the new school meal contract was introduced in the Wokingham borough, a growing number of pupils are still enjoying fresh, healthy and tasty food!

Recent national headlines have been highlighting that the number of pupils choosing school dinners across the country is still in decline. Yet in the past 12 months, all primary schools within Wokingham Borough Council’s school meal contract have seen a six per cent increase in meal uptake. A recent survey conducted by the School Food Trust and Local Authority Catering Association (LACA ) highlighted nationally an overall decrease in primary school meal uptake in 2006. The results of this survey show the Wokingham Borough really is bucking the national trend.

Matt Gooderham, senior Wokingham contracts officer, said: “Whilst the rest of the country is seeing a decrease in the number of pupils enjoying a school meal, more and more of Wokingham borough’s pupils than ever before are choosing school dinners at lunchtime.

“We are very satisfied with the performance of our catering contractor, Edwards and Ward and the quality of food being produced is exceptional. We are continuing to work with all stakeholders, including the whole school community, our contractors, kitchen staff and parents, to meet the intrinsic challenges of improving the dining room environments, reduce queues at lunchtimes and increase the time currently allocated to eating school meals. All of these factors will help us to encourage more pupils to have a school meal at lunchtimes.

“With over 68,500 school meals being served in our primary schools every month, it goes to show our pupils have an appetite for healthy and tasty food!”

Caroline Lyons, from Edwards and Ward, said: “It is encouraging for our onsite teams to see the food they work so hard to produce being so well received, using best quality ingredients with excellent nutritional backup an support really is making a huge difference to school meals in Wokingham Borough.”

Sally Ann Akers, headteacher at Robert Piggott Infant School, added “Lunchtime is very important part of the school day when a great deal of informal learning takes place and attitudes towards food and eating are formed.

“We are fortunate to have an excellent cook who also shows an interest in the children. Together with the lunchtime staff she supports the children, encouraging them to try new foods and use good table manners. The children have been involved in improving our lunch facilities and as a result have bought table clothes, vases of flowers, jugs and beakers. The improved ambiance together with wholesome and appetising food makes lunchtime a real pleasure. We are delighted with the increased number of children opting for school lunches.”

Under the contract arrangements, the Wokingham council exceeds new government nutritional guidelines by providing fresh food that is cooked by the catering staff in 38 school kitchens across the district. Pupils are reaping the benefit of fresh meat, vegetables and organic produce from local suppliers across the south of England including Berkshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire.

Wokingham Borough Council

Getting a decision on a planning application has never been so quick and efficient according to new statistics, which reveal Wokingham Borough Council’s development control team is beating all its targets.

Developers, home-builders and residents have been enjoying a more speedy service over the past few months as the waiting time on decisions to refuse or grant permission for planning applications has dramatically decreased.

Figures released last week show between April and November 2007 the Wokingham borough council’s development control team ensured more applications for minor and major developments were decided upon than at any other time in the past three years.

The figures show 88 per cent of ‘minor’ applications, for example developments with one to nine houses proposed, are decided on in less than eight weeks. This is significantly better than the 67 per cent it was deciding upon three years ago.

Figures show 79.5 per cent of major planning applications, which are typically large scale developments with more than 10 homes proposed or big business complexes, are decided upon in less than 13 weeks. It is also a marked improvement from three years ago when 39.8 per cent were being determined in the same time frame.

Nearly all other types of applications, which include extensions to homes and applying to change a building’s use, are given the go ahead or are refused in less than eight weeks as the council is currently giving decisions on 96 per cent of them within that time.

The improvements to the service mean Wokingham developers, homebuilders and residents wanting to build, demolish or change properties in the Wokingham borough can get a decision on whether to go ahead with their plans much more speedily.

The development control team have made steady performance progress since a blueprint for raising standards was drawn up by the then new development control manager, Mark Cupit.

The action plan stressed the need for stricter guidelines and performance monitoring so the service offered to everyone using development control was as efficient as possible. It also made changes to staff structures so that planning offices and managers could give each application their full attention.

Mark Cupit, Wokingham development control manager, said: “We are processing applications and making decisions at a much more efficient pace so that residents, developers and businesses know exactly what to expect within a few weeks of planning applications being received.

“The service the borough council is now offering in development control is much quicker than several years ago and we are maintaining a good quality service that demands high standards so that the Wokingham borough remains a good place to live, work and visit.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Residents and motorists who may have seen two articulated lorry trailers full of tyres being dumped on the A33 are being urged to come forward so Wokingham Borough Council can track down the people responsible.

A massive Wokingham clear-up operation, costing an estimated £10,000, has taken place over the past few days to remove the two unroadworthy trailers from lay-bys on the road, after they were dumped sometime over the weekend, and to dispose of the tyres.

As the illegally dumped trailers were causing an obstruction and safety hazard to motorists the borough council removed both of them as quickly as possible on Wednesday (December 5).

The fly-tipping of these trailers must have been quite noisy and Wokingham borough council believes a passing motorist or resident may have noticed what happened and so it is keen to hear from any witnesses who may have seen something suspicious over the weekend of December 1 and 2.

If the people responsible for this illegal and dangerous act can be tracked down then the borough council will prosecute as it has caused thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money to be spent on removing this potential hazard.

The trailers are quite distinctive because of their size and the road they were dumped on is a major route through Swallowfield. One trailer was left in the southbound lay-by while the other was dumped on the northbound lay-by. Both trailers were full of tyres, it is estimated that there could have been anywhere between 500 to 1,000 tyres in each trailer.

One trailer was blue with the word “dumped” scrawled in red on the back, while the other trailer was red. Both were in an unroadworthy condition.

Peter Baveystock, waste and recycling manager for Wokingham Borough Council, who is also responsible for ensuring abandoned vehicles are removed, said: “This was a completely pre-meditated and irresponsible act.

“The illegal dumping of these trailers left motorists at risk and left the taxpayer out of pocket. To just dump two huge articulated lorry trailers by the side of the road and expect someone else to dispose of them is disgraceful.

“I’m appealing to the public to come forward and let the borough council know if they happened to spot anyone near or in these trailers over the weekend so that we can track down the people responsible and prosecute them.”

Anyone who noticed anything unusual or spotted the trailers being dumped should call Wokingham Borough Council’s waste and recycling team on (0118) 974 6302/6303.

The cost of removing the trailers from the highway was approximately £2,000. The disposal of each tyre costs at least £4 and so based on 1,000 tyres in each trailer it cost and additional £8,000 on top of the removal fee.

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham’s town centre manager says despite a year of success, which has seen continental markets, fun fairs and the circus come to town, he still has more plans up his sleeve to make the heart of Wokingham even better.

Brian Newman, who took on the role of Wokingham town centre manager on December 5, 2006 has been reflecting on his first successful year in post – which has seen a flurry of new markets tempt shoppers to the town and entertainment provided for youngsters.

Since he first took over at the helm Mr Newman’s achievements have included organising three successful continental and two Italian markets in the town centre, where shoppers were treated to goodies such as fancy cheese and luxury leather goods from Europe.

He also organised a monthly craft and produce market, which ran from May to December this year, which enticed more people to Wokingham town centre and will return in 2008. The Food and Trade Show in September was also a crowd puller and is set to become an annual feature.

Since Mr Newman took post, children have continued to enjoy three funfairs at Elms Field over the summer and the magical mystery of a circus that came to town in October.

Access to the town centre and its narrow streets has also been a challenge that Mr Newman has tackled, especially with the monitoring of A-boards, which have decreased by 25 per cent in recent months, achieved through his work with the Wokingham Area Access Group.

Mr Newman’s been involved in promoting the town so people from the Wokingham borough and surrounding areas know what’s going on. The Wokingham Shoppers Guide, available in 40 offices, gives information on what’s on offer in the town centre while the shopwokingham website makes it easier for residents and businesses to see what Wokingham’s historic market town is all about.

Re-launching Wokingham town centre’s security radio scheme, a joint initiative with the police, has been part of Mr Newman’s strategy to provide additional security to businesses including retailers, restaurants, pubs and bars and has so far attracted 50 members since November.

Since Mr Newman took post he’s introduced a monthly newsletter for all businesses and a bi- monthly retail forum to provide retailers with the chance to have their say on how Mr Newman and everyone else can work together to make Wokingham town centre even better.

Mr Newman organised the Wokingham Town Spring Clean earlier this year and, with the help of councillors, schoolchildren and 30 residents, he was able to get the town centre to look fresh and bright in preparation for a buoyant summer.

Wokingham Borough Council

The dangers of drink driving will be fresh in everyone’s minds this Christmas in Wokingham borough –thanks to a joint campaign between Wokingham Borough Council and Thames Valley Police. An exhibition in Wokingham town centre, organised by road safety constable PC Julian Weal and road safety officer Katie Webb from Mouchel, the council’s highways consultants.

Wokingham Town Council has kindly allowed the police exhibition trailer to be set up in the market area on Thursday December 13, 10.30am where members of the public can get advice on the dangers of consuming even a small amount of alcohol before driving, and learn about the legal implications of being caught driving over the drink drive limit. There will also an opportunity for volunteers to be breathalysed.

Wokingham Borough Council

A new puffin Wokingham Borough Councilcrossing will be helping residents and shoppers cross the road more easily outside a superstore in Earley – as the new safety feature is expected to become fully operational on Wednesday (December 5).

Wokingham Borough Council has been installing a puffin crossing on Chalfont Way over the past few weeks so that residents, shoppers using Asda, and people crossing the busy road to get to Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in nearby Chalfont Close can cross much more safely. It is due to be fully operational and in use by the public by the end of Wednesday.

Currently there is no formal crossing on the 30mph road leaving many pedestrians to rely on road islands near the entrance to the supermarket to get across Chalfont Way.

The crossing is a puffin crossing so it will feature sensors detecting when people are waiting to cross and gauge how long they need to make it safely to the other side. This means people with mobility problems will be able to cross safely in their own time and traffic flow will not be stopped if a pedestrian pushes the button and decides not to cross over.

It also features guard railing, which runs from a footpath that goes directly into the supermarket complex to the crossing.

The road does not have a high accident record, two accidents causing three “slight injuries” were recorded between September 2003 and August 2006, but crossing the road has proved difficult because of the reliance on road islands. It is hoped the new crossing will make it easier for everyone.

Vikki Roberts, Wokingham roads manager, said: “The new puffin crossing in Chalfont Way will make it much more safe for pedestrians to cross the road.

“Previously there has been no formal crossing over the road and so at times it proved quite difficult for people to get across during busy periods, especially people with mobility problems or those with small children and prams.

“Once it’s in use I’m sure the crossing will be a welcomed improvement for all motorists and pedestrians using Chalfont Way.”

Philip Truppin, Earley Town Council clerk, said: “A pedestrian crossing in Chalfont Way is exactly what’s needed to make the area safer for drivers and pedestrians.

“It will make it much easier to get across the road and if used properly it will reduce the risk of accidents happening.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Christmas is usually a time of excessive eating, drinking and merriment but this year Wokingham Borough Council is urging residents not to make it a time of excessive waste and rubbish.

Residents in Wokingham borough are currently recycling around 37 per cent of all household waste and, with turkey, tinsel and all the trimmings making their annual appearance in less than four weeks, the council is asking residents to think before they buy and think before they throw things away.

There are more than 40 recycling points across the Wokingham borough where empty wine bottles, cranberry sauce jars and horseradish pots made from glass can be recycled as well as any other glass containers that featured food and drink delights over the festive period. All the borough’s recycling points accept glass.

Additionally anyone who receives new clothes or shoes from Father Christmas this yuletide can drop off old clothing or footwear at various recycling points. A full list of recycling points and what can be recycled at each one is available at www.wokingham.gov.uk/recycling

With thousands of real Christmas trees being decorated with tinsel and baubles in the borough alone, the Wokingham council’s recycling team is urging everyone who decorates their homes with real pines this year to cut their tree up and put it out with their green waste collection bag.

Anyone who is not part of the Green Waste Collection Scheme can drop their tree off at either Wyevale Garden Centre in Hare Hatch, Wargrave or Swallowfield Village Hall in The Street, Swallowfield on Saturday January 19 between 8am and 11am. They can also be taken to civic amenity sites in Longshot Lane, Bracknell or Smallmead, Island Road, Reading, for composting. Both sites are open seven days a week.

Once residents are finished stealing a quick kiss under the mistletoe they can also put it out with their green waste or recycle it at the civic amenity sites, alongside holly, wreaths and other festive foliage.

All Wokingham Christmas wrapping paper and cards can be put out for collection in the black kerbside recycling boxes as can cans and plastic bottles. If residents have too much recycling for their boxes they can either order more by calling by calling the borough council on (0118) 974 6302 or they can use the boxes for cans and plastic bottles and bundle up paper and card in an alternative box, which should be no bigger than the black boxes.

As well as recycling the waste that is generated over the Christmas and New Year period the council is asking residents to think of ways to limit the waste that cannot be recycled including plastic wrapping and packaging, unused decorations, and plastic carrier bags.

Simple steps to reduce waste can be taken this year with top waste reduction tips including:

· Buying loose instead of pre-packaged vegetables,
·Reusing last year’s Christmas decorations instead of buying new ones or, for the creative, using home-made decorations,
·Taking reusable shopping bags to the supermarket,
·Composting vegetable waste, including Brussels sprouts and potato peelings in a garden composter,
·Using glass or china plates, bowls and glasses at Christmas parties, which can be reused unlike disposable ones.

Peter Baveystock, Wokingham waste and recycling manager, said: “Christmas is a time of giving so we’re asking residents to give a little bit back to the environment this year. By buying a little less and recycling a lot more we will landfill less.

“For the arty there’s always the opportunity to make decorations and cards out of recycled or natural materials that can in turn be re-used or recycled but of course just reusing the ones from last year is contributing to a greener Christmas.

“I’d urge everyone to keep their fingers crossed for a white Christmas but do all they can to ensure it’s a green Christmas too.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Dinton Pastures Country Park has suspended its day fishing scheme at White Swan Lake as a preventative step to protect carp from the killer disease Koi Herpesvirus (KHV).

KHV was detected at a fishery in the Berkshire area in late October and the Department for Environment, Rural Affairs (DEFRA) ordered a restriction of fish movement into and out of a number of fisheries in the immediate area.

While Dinton Pastures was not included in the movement ban, Wokingham Borough Council’s countryside service, which runs fishing at the country park’s lakes and rivers, has taken the step of stopping all day-fishing passes at White Swan Lake to ensure that carp do not contract the deadly disease.

KHV has not been detected in the Wokingham borough but with the closure of other lakes in Berkshire the borough council is mindful that anglers whose regular lake is closed, and whose equipment may have come into contact with the virus, may use Dinton Pastures on an ad-hoc daily basis instead.

Fishing in the River Loddon at Dinton Pastures is still permitted and day season ticket holders will still be able to enjoy fishing at White Swan Lake. It is only day tickets that are suspended.

KHV is a highly contagious disease that affects common carp and other carp varieties like Koi carp. It can cause carp to bleed from the gills, become very lethargic, suffer from extreme skin complications and can cause excess mucus in the fish. It has a high mortality rate and there is no known treatment for it.

The disease poses no risk to humans or other animals, it only affects carp, but because it is highly contagious it can be spread easily including through fishing lines and nets that have not been cleaned thoroughly.

Fishing at Longmoor Lake in California Country Park is also unaffected by the DEFRA ban and, because it is less frequently visited, day tickets will continue to be in use.

Chris Buggy, countryside service manager, said: “While there is absolutely no indication that KHV has spread to any of the lakes in the Wokingham borough, it is extremely important we take all the preventative steps possible to ensure carp at White Swan Lake remain healthy.

“KHV is a killer disease that could quite easily wipe out our entire carp stock at the lake if contaminated equipment makes it way into the water – which is why we have taken this preventative step.

“I apologise to anyone who has been inconvenienced by the suspension of day tickets at the lake but it is an essential measure, which has been made to safeguard the future enjoyment of the lake. We will revise the situation over the coming weeks in accordance with the DEFRA restrictions.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Young people in the Wokingham Borough are set to head to the polls next month (December) in the forthcoming Youth Parliament elections. And with five candidates standing, young people will have a tough decision to make on who to vote for.

Voting in the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) elections is set to take place in the Wokingham Borough between December 3 and 7. Hundreds of young people aged between 11 and 18 years will cast their votes at the annual elections, and polling stations will be found at local schools and youth centres across the borough during that week.

Casts will be made to determine who is going to represent the young people of the Wokingham borough on the South East regional sector of the UK Youth Parliament. They will also attend meetings with borough council officers and elected members and other local decision makers. Current Youth MP Yan Couper-Harris will stand down in February after one year in office. Before the elections take place, the five candidates Shabana Karim, Adam Connell, Salah Elnour, Paula Frost and Carlie Norwell have been busy canvassing in the bid to become the borough’s eighth youth MP (MYP).

The five Wokingham candidates are:

· Shabana Karim aged 15 from Earley
Wargrave Piggott School pupil Shabana aims to address bullying through a video diary room at her school and is also championing a project called Loose Change aimed to get leisure and entertainment at affordable prices. She is also campaigning for a chill-out pad for students and young people to hang out at.

· Adam Connell aged 16 from Wokingham
Adam attends The Emmbrook School and is campaigning for subsidised transport costs for sixth formers, increased sporting opportunities and green space and more representation for young people in the UK.

· Salah Elnour aged 15 from Lower Earley
Salah attends Bearwood School and he would like to see more rehearsal space to practice and create music, have more affordable sporting opportunities for all and have more activities between youth clubs including tournaments and events.

· Paula Frost aged 15 from Wokingham
Fifteen-year-old Paula wants to give more young people of the borough a greater say. St Crispin’s pupil Paula will also be campaigning for more funding for local youth clubs and new or improved park facilities for young people.

· Carlie Norwell aged 15 from Wokingham
St Crispin’s pupil Carlie is campaigning for reduced costs and/or travel cards for under 18s. She is also aiming to increase awareness around sexual health and wants more places for young people to go and meet their friends.


The UKYP aims to give the young people of the UK between the ages of 11 and 18 a voice, which will be heard and listened to by local and national government, providers of services for young people and other agencies that have an interest in the views and needs of young people.

When the Wokingham voting finishes on the December 7, ballot boxes will be collected and the counting will begin. The results will be announced at a special declaration ceremony taking place on Thursday December 13, at Wokingham Borough Council’s civic offices. The new MYP will then take over from the current MYP, Yan Couper-Harris, on February 1, 2008.

Area Wokingham youth work manager Paul Blount, who is organising the elections, said: “Last year we had a turn out of over 2,200 young people voting. This year, with the help and support of the borough’s schools, youth centres and youth projects we are hoping for an increase in numbers of young people casting a vote. This is a great initiative for young people of the Wokingham Borough and I am delighted that the council’s elected members value the views and opinions of the youth MP and involve them in many of the decisions that effect young people.”

Young people can vote at various schools and any of the council’s youth centres during regular opening hours. Young people can find out more by going to: http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/vote.

Wokingham Borough Council

We need local homes for Wokingham local children. That’s the message from Wokingham Borough Council as the campaign continues to recruit more foster carers in the borough.

Following on from the successful information session held this month in Woodley and to further help the recruitment drive, the council is holding another information session on Tuesday December 11 starting at 6.30pm until 8.30pm in the Children and Young People’s Resource Centre, 50 Reading Road, Wokingham.

The Wokingham council offers a comprehensive training and 24-hour support package and actively welcomes foster carers from all walks of life. All that is asked is that foster carers have patience, understanding and a genuine desire to help a child who, for that particular time in their life, needs a family. This will help them to return back to their own family or to a permanent suitable home.

Full training support is given and generous fostering allowances up to £450 paid per week per child. All foster carers are subject to criminal record bureau checks.

Suzanne Fallon, head of Wokingham specialist services, said: “We want to hear from anyone who thinks they have got what it takes to be a foster carer. If you would like to find out more about fostering opportunities, then why not come along to our information evening on December 11 and have a chat to some of our existing carers? This will give you a better idea of what being a foster carer is all about.

“We are looking for special people to become foster carers. It's challenging but rewarding in every sense of the word and you would make a real difference to a child's life. We need local families for our local looked-after children. Their lives can be significantly improved if they are able to be cared for closer to their family home. They are able to stay at the same school and maintain the continuity of their education and friendships.”

Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer, can simply turn up on the evening to find out more – there is no need to book. Alternatively, potential foster carers can contact the fostering team on 0118 944 5468 or by email: fostering@wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham Borough Council

Local residents are invited to join Wokingham Borough Council’s mayor Cllr Annette Drake to sing-in the Christmas season with traditional carols around the tree, on Friday December 21 in the Mall at the Civic Offices, Shute End in Wokingham.

Carols hosted by the Wokingham mayor are held each year and local residents are welcome to join in the festive fun where they can enjoy a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie, and sing along to favourite Christmas carols between 2pm and 3.30pm.

Berkshire Maestros South Berkshire youth brass group will be providing the music, and the mayor will be joined by Wokingham councillors and officers. There will also be a collection for the mayor’s charity, Building for the Future. This is an umbrella group of five charities that already work with disabled children and their families locally: Peapods, Friends of Ryeish Green Bungalow, Mencap, Wokingham Autism Spectrum Partnership and Friends of Bridges. The charity’s vision is to provide a state-of-the-art building to cater for children’s individual needs as well as for community groups.

Wokingham Borough Council