Wokingham

Louise Beasley, aged 14, who was reported missing from Swindon yesterday (30/12) and thought to be in the Reading or Wokingham area has been found safe and well.

Thames Valley Police ~ Wokingham

Wokingham Police are appealing for the public's help in tracing a teenager missing from Swindon, Wiltshire.

Louise Beasley, aged 14, was last seen on 21 December.

She is white, slim, has long brown hair and brown eyes.

Det Insp Rebecca Mears, from Reading police station, said: "We are concerned for Louise’s welfare and would urge anyone who knows where she is or who believes they have seen her to contact me.

"She has links to the Wokingham area and may be in the local area. There are concerns regarding Louise’s well being and safety."

Anyone with any information should contact Thames Valley Police via 0845 8 505 505 quoting URN 639 of 30/12/08.

Alternatively, if you do not want to speak to police or leave your name, please contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Wokingham

Vulnerable Residents in the Wokingham Borough have some of the best support available in the country to help them live safe, comfortable and independent lives – according to a national home improvement organisation.

Berkshire West Home Improvement Agency, which includes Wokingham Borough Council, scooped a top award from Foundations – the UK body for home improvement agencies – last week after demonstrating that it had some of the best support, care and help available for elderly, disabled, and vulnerable people living in the area.

Staff from the Wokingham council’s environmental health, community care and housing teams, whose roles include supporting Berkshire West Home Improvement Agency, were delighted to hear that the agency had won a prestigious Foundations HIA Award in the Best Approach to Commissioning category last week.

The agency provides, via contractor Ridgeway Care & Repair, a number of services to vulnerable people in the Wokingham Borough including:

• Small home adaptations

• Handyperson facilities

• Falls and accident prevention advice

• Security information and device installation

• Help for people who have just been discharged from hospital to live at home

• Advice on funding, grants and benefits

• Information on choosing a reputable builder

• Advice on scale and cost of any adaptation work

• Monitoring the performance of builders carrying out work

The agency also provides home visits so that Wokingham people can be visited in comfort and privacy to discuss their needs. It is available for people on a low income, who are elderly or disabled that live in privately owned or rented homes.

The accolade was awarded to the agency after it showed how it provided a good quality and value for money service through external contractors Ridgeway Care & Repair, which was appointed in April to provide essential services.

James Burgess, development and commissioning manager of Wokingham community care services, said: “Staff at Wokingham Borough Council have worked hard to provide a quality service for residents who need help living safely, comfortably and independently. We want more people to live in their own environment for as long as possible and by working together with other local authorities in Berkshire we have managed to do that – and we now offer some of the best advice and practical support in the country to vulnerable people.

“I’m pleased that this award recognises that we are putting time, effort and lots of hard work into helping some of our borough’s most vulnerable people live comfortable, warm and independent lives.”

Cllr Bob Wyatt, deputy executive member for Wokingham social care, said: “I’d like to say a big well done to everyone who has worked so hard to provide this invaluable service to our residents. Many vulnerable residents have relied on this support to enable them to live independently and, just as importantly, to live happily.

“This award reflects the hard-work that goes on in the partnership to provide residents in and around the Wokingham Borough with the much-needed care, repair and support work they need to live at home.”

Wokingham Borough Council

In the new year, Wokingham Borough Council will be consulting on proposals to change its school admissions policy for infant and primary schools.

Currently, the Wokingham council has a policy that allows for school places to be offered to children at three points of entry, which means children can go to school from the start of the autumn, spring and summer terms before their fifth birthday. This allows children to go to school on a part-time basis until they are five, which is the statutory school age.

Earlier this year, Wokingham Borough Council consulted with parents, carers, children, schools, as well as nurseries and play groups to ascertain their views on what age children should start school. This review highlighted there was no overall agreement between the different groups as whether one, two or three points of entry are more preferable. However the schools and early years providers said they would be able to work within a policy which had two points of entry to school. Parents had very mixed preferences although the highest percentage supported two points of entry.

As a result of the initial Wokingham review earlier this year, the schools admissions forum, which is a statutory body made up of elected members, headteachers, school governors, early years providers, parents and the diocese, discussed the findings at its meeting this month. They have agreed to consult formally on two points of entry (September and January). This proposal is supported by the borough council’s decision-making executive.

There is a number of advantages for having a policy for two points of entry. These include schools having all children on the school roll at the time of the annual census for pupil numbers which takes place in January; and all children being in reception class for at least two terms before joining in year one.

The consultation will run from January 5, 2009 to March 1, 2009. The results of the consultation will be considered by the council’s decision-making executive in March.

Cllr John Kersley, deputy executive member for Wokingham children’s services and chair of the school admissions forum, said: “The council’s policy for three points of entry was introduced in 2000. We feel it is time to review how this is working as some of the borough’s schools have asked us to look at it and our neighbouring authorities are also in the process of reviewing their own policies.

“We are consulting on changing the council’s admission policy to two points of entry for children approaching their fifth birthday. We believe this is the most beneficial option for everyone but we are keen to hear the views of parents, schools, governors and early years providers. These views will be considered before any final decisions are made.”

Wokingham Borough Council

A Wokingham project to brighten up a currently unloved subway will take place in Earley / Shinfield next week.

Wokingham Borough Council community wardens Zarron Phillips and Rod Mertens have arranged for young people in the area to design street art to decorate the subway and for a professional street artist to turn their art into reality. The artist will be working with young residents on the designs next week.

The subway has been the target of graffiti, vandalism and fly-tipping in the past and residents are keen to see it improved.

Local primary schools, youth clubs and the Shinfield Ride Residents’ Association have been involved in producing the designs, which will feature a countryside scene on one side and an ocean scene on the other, with a space ship scene on the ceiling.

Young people on reparation orders from Wokingham’s Youth Offending Scheme will be white-washing the walls as part of the project.

After completion, the artwork will be given a protective varnish over the designs.

Wokingham Borough Council

Parents of Wokingham three and four-year-olds are being reminded they must apply to Wokingham Borough Council for a school place if their child is due to start at a Wokingham Borough school from September 2009, January 2010 or April 2010.

In November, Wokingham admission guides and application forms were sent to parents of children born between September 1, 2004 and August 31, 2005. Whilst parents may well have registered an interest in attending an infant or primary school, a place will not have been reserved for their child and they must apply for a school place using an application form, by January 23. If you have not received your pack, please contact the School Admissions Team on (0118) 974 6245.

The Wokingham council currently operates a three points of entry system - children will still start in the term in which they are five, in either the autumn, spring or summer term, but there is only one closing date each year for applications.

Parents of children in year 2 at an infant school, who will be transferring to a junior school in September 2009 are also required to apply for a school place. Application forms and guides have been distributed through infant schools and should be completed and returned by January 23.

Parents can express a preference for up to three infant or primary schools or in the case of infant to junior transfer, three junior schools. If parents are applying to an aided or foundation school, they may need to complete the school’s own supplementary information form, in addition to the application form and return it to the council.

The co-ordinated scheme ensures that everyone applying for an infant, primary or junior school place in the Wokingham Borough will receive a single offer on the same day (March 30, 2009). Offer letters will be posted first class on March 30 and for those who apply online, they will be able to view their offer place published on the website on the same day.

All Wokingham preferences are treated on an equal basis taking into account the admissions criteria including living in the designated area of the school and a sibling at the school. Where there is the potential to offer a place at more than one school, parents will be offered the school they have ranked highest. Completed application forms need to be returned by January 23, 2009. Parents can also apply online and the website www.wokingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions opened on December 1.

Cllr Norman Jorgensen, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “It may seem a long way off before your child starts school, but I would urge parents to make sure they allow enough time to apply for a primary school place. If you have not received your admissions pack, please get in touch with the school admission team as soon as possible. It is so important that parents do not miss the deadline in January.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) have today (December 17) in their annual performance assessment (APA) concluded that the overall effectiveness of Wokingham Borough Council’s children’s services is adequate.

In its APA, inspectors reported services supporting Wokingham children and young people to enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being as good. Children and young people achieve well in education and have good opportunities to take part in decisions that affect their lives and make their opinions known.

A number of strengths were recognised by the APA inspectors. The report highlighted that Wokingham care leavers and young people with learning disabilities / difficulties are supported well to lead independent lives. They have opportunities to take part in leisure and recreation activities and their views are taken into account in planning services.

Almost all schools are taking part in the healthy schools programme and good progress has been made in reducing the rate of teenage pregnancies.

Educational achievement is high at all key stages in the Wokingham Borough and this has been maintained over the past year. Those with a learning difficulty / disability also achieve well. Effective behaviour support programmes have been adopted locally and these have helped reduce the number of pupils excluded from school.

Wokingham Children and young people in care are well supported and fully involved in their reviews and these are taken into account in planning services. The inspectors also noted they are supported well at key times of change in their lives. When it is time for a young person to leave care, they are supported well in finding jobs, accommodation and further education and training.

The neighbourhood teams have ensured there is a greater focus on early intervention in order to prevent children and young people’s needs escalating or helping them access more specialist services.

The inspectors said that the area of staying safe had a number of weaknesses and work is needed to address these. A number of improvements have already been carried out recently including building the staffing capacity by appointing interim social care managers for child protection and vulnerable children teams.

Cllr David Lee, leader of Wokingham council, said: “I am clear about the need to address each and every one of the improvement points raised in this annual assessment and actions are already progressing. Protecting vulnerable people is this council’s top priority and as such we will do everything we can to safeguard the most vulnerable children and young people of our community.

Wokingham Borough Council

Parents and guardians dropping off children and picking them up outside Walter Infant School and St Paul’s Junior School in Wokingham are being asked to make an early New Year’s resolution by parking more safely and considerately along Murray Road.

The plea comes after much campaigning by Wokingham Borough Council’s road safety officers, Thames Valley Police officers and school staff to stop parents from parking and dropping off on double yellow lines, zigzags and pedestrian crossing points.

“What we have outside these two schools in the morning and afternoon can only be described as total chaos,” said Julie Pillai the council’s road safety officer.

“Parents park and stop in all the most inappropriate places including on double yellow lines and on zig zag markings, and right by the crossing patroller. The schools are very lucky to have such a dedicated patroller but I don’t know how much longer we can expect her to put up with this behaviour- there is the risk that she may not continue with this incredibly valuable role. Parents expect their children to get out of the car and straight into the road – which has become one of the most dangerous in the borough during school peak times.

“I’m extending a plea to everyone who uses that road in the mornings and afternoons, to be more careful when parking or dropping off children as I dread to think of what could happen if this situation continues,” Julie added.

Murray Road has traffic restrictions and calming measures in place, safety signs, hazard lights, a crossing patroller and has been the subject of many police visits recently – where officers have handed out £30 fines to people parked illegally.

Both Wokingham schools have sent out reminders to parents while the council has organised extra banners to highlight the danger of parking on zig zags – however some cars have continued to be park illegally, risking the safety of children and parents.

Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for Wokingham highways and transport, said: “We’ve put lots of extra measures in place to try and stop people parking dangerously but it drivers are continuing to ignore them resulting in many fines being issued. Handing out fines has been a last resort and has made people think twice, but unfortunately not enough. We will continue to press for maximum enforcement and fines for those drivers who continue to park in a dangerous manner.

“What we want is for people to realise just how much danger they are putting their own children as well as all children crossing the road in. If you do drive your children to St Paul’s Junior School or Walter Infant School please make a New Year’s resolution to drop them off much more safely.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Keen to bring the crucial regeneration of Wokingham Town Centre a step closer, Wokingham Borough Council yesterday (December 15) brought on board development market specialists experienced in all the complex and long-term requirements of a comprehensive town centre regeneration.

Cllr Matthew Deegan, the Wokingham council’s executive member for community regeneration, said: “We are taking an active role in the regeneration which will have an impact on the town for decades to come. We have got to make sure that it is done properly and with the right developer to meet Wokingham’s needs.

“I am delighted therefore that we have appointed London-based DTZ, who are specialists in the development field and can give the vital advice to help ensure we get the right developer in place. They will also advise on how best Wokingham can work from a pedestrian, residential, commercial, leisure and vehicular basis and how to protect the interests of the council and therefore the people of Wokingham.”

Wokingham Council leader Cllr David Lee said: “As the people of Wokingham have made clear, we can’t just look at this as development of isolated sites. We are therefore ensuring that the advice is from those who are objective and not conflicted by having development interests of their own.

“The shortlisting of developers to work jointly with the council to carry out this coordinated redevelopment is going well and will benefit from the knowledge of the industry and market. We are poised to start competitive dialogue with a small number of developers early 2009, with a view to announcing our preferred partner later in the year, most likely in the autumn.”

The immediate job in hand is the creation of a design brief for the potential developers. The Wokingham Town Centre Forum Steering Committee will undertake this task, working with the council and newly appointed specialists DTZ, and taking the work from the town centre workshops.
Cllr Deegan said: “The steering group is going great guns and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their work and commitment, and for all pulling together. It is important to remember that the steering group is not a lobby group but is open-mindedly considering the needs of the whole Wokingham community within the commercial context.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council’s Mayor Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons hosted the evening and all proceeds from the sale of programmes went to the mayor’s chosen charities, which this year are the Link Visiting Scheme and Life Education Centres. Link is a Wokingham borough-based charity which provides much needed support and friendship to elderly people. Life Education Centres visit primary school age children to educate and inform them about making good life choices. Although Life Education is a national charity, there is a local Thames Valley centre that already visits many of the schools within the borough.

Some 21 local Wokingham schools formed the choir after spending many hours over the past few weeks rehearsing for the annual event. The schools involved were:

All Saints CE Primary School, Crazies Hill CE controlled Primary School, Farley Hill Primary School, Finchampstead CE Aided Primary School, Grazeley Parochial Primary School, Hawthorns Primary School, Hillside Primary School, Lambs Lane Primary School, Loddon Primary School, Polehampton CE Junior School, Radstock Primary School, Robert Piggott CE controlled Junior School, Shinfield St Mary's CE Junior School, Sonning CE Aided Primary School, St Dominic Savio RC Aided Primary School, St Paul's CE Controlled Junior School, St Sebastians CE Aided Primary School , St Teresa’s RC Primary School, Winnersh Primary School, Woodley CE Controlled Primary School and The White House School

Berkshire Maestros Corelli Orchestra provided the music for the concert and the children sang a variety of songs including ‘White Christmas’, ‘Star Carol’ and ‘No Room at the Inn’ to name just a few.

Musical director James Baker conducted the choir and the 50-strong orchestra, who also perform instrumental songs including ‘Sleigh Ride’ and ‘Christmas Festival’.

More than 1,000 people, including parents and teachers, made up the audience. They too had a part to play in bringing festive cheer to the centre when they joined in the singing of Christmas favourites such as ‘The First Nowell’ and ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’.

Wokingham Mayor Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons said: “The annual primary schools’ carol concert is one of the highlights of the civic calendar and yet again it hasn’t disappointed.

“I had a fantastic evening and very much enjoyed seeing all the children taking part in the event. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved, including the teachers who have spent a great deal of time preparing the children for this concert, James Baker and the young musicians of the Berkshire Maestros orchestra. Finally a special thank you goes to the children and their parents who each year support this event so enthusiastically.”

Wokingham Borough Council

In the spirit of goodwill and with Christmas fast approaching, Wokingham Borough Council is urging local residents to consider giving a little of their time to make a big difference to the lives of disabled children and their families.

The Wokingham council runs a short break carers scheme and needs carers to look after disabled children and young people for either regular day visits, over night stays or even a few days a month.

Rachel Smith, Wokingham short breaks development co-ordinator, said: “We need all kinds of people to provide regular short breaks for disabled children and we welcome people from all backgrounds as short break carers. What they need is some spare time and willingness to commit to becoming a regular carer for a disabled child. These breaks allow the children to make new friends and take part in a variety of activities within the local community such as swimming or visiting the park. Carers provide help to families in coping with the demands of caring for a disabled child.”

Wokingham Applications are welcome from people of all backgrounds. Applicants could be working, retired or unemployed, with or without children, single or with a partner. Once application forms are completed a number of checks are carried out including police, health and probation. All carers are assessed and approved by the council before they are matched with a child.

They will receive training, support from the borough’s short break carers scheme and an allowance to cover costs.

Cllr John Kersley, deputy executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “It is not always easy being a carer and short break carers offer an invaluable service to disabled children and their families. If you think you have got the skills and time to help support disabled children and their families in the Wokingham Borough, please get in touch. We would love to hear from you.”

For more information call (0118) 974 6999 or (0118) 974 6218 or email short.breaks@wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Young people will be learning how to look after children of all ages when a 10-week babysitting course begins on Tuesday January 13 at Wokingham Youth Centre. Topics covered during the course will include first aid, safety in the home, choosing appropriate toys for different ages, keeping yourself safe, and how to advertise yourself as a babysitter.

At the end of the 10-week Wokingham course, the young people taking part will be able to take their virtual babies home for an overnight stay to help simulate a real-life situation.

The Red Cross course will be run by neighbourhood youth worker Louise Morris, who said: “Many young people earn some extra cash babysitting, but it is important they have a few basic skills before they do. This course will teach these skills in a fun and interactive way, and will give paying parents more confidence that they are leaving their children with a responsible young person.”

This popular programme has been running for a number of years now at various sites around Wokingham borough. It has taught young people taking part a number of different skills, including how to cope in emergency situations.

If you are aged between 14 and 19 and would like to join the babysitting course, please contact Louise on (0118) 934 0891. There is a £10 fee for the course which works

The Mayor of the Wokingham Borough was publicly breathalysed by police officers earlier this week– but was not over the drink drive limit!

Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons wasn’t suspected of being over the limit as she passed through Wokingham town centre but was instead lending her support to this year’s anti drink-drive Christmas campaign when she agreed to be breathalysed in Market Place on Wednesday (December 10).

She passed the test, commonly used by Wokingham police when they suspect a driver’s had one too many, as the device showed there was no alcohol present in her breath.

Cllr Helliar-Symons joined Wokingham Borough Council’s road safety officers and Thames Valley Police officers as part of a campaign to ensure that Wokingham Borough residents and visitors know just how many is too many for the road over the festive season.

Road safety officer, Julie Pillai, spent the day handing out drink drive themed quizzes to find out if the public really knew what would push them over the limit – risking their health and driving licence, not to mention the wellbeing and safety of those around them.

Demonstrations and information was also available from local police officers, while firefighters from the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service were on hand between 10am and noon to outline just how serious drink-drive road accidents can be.

Wokingham Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons, said: “I’ve never been breathalysed before so it was quite a strange experience but I was more than happy to take part because it is such an important message to get across that drinking and driving does ruin lives.

“No one drives as competently when they have had even one drink, even if they think they do. They actually know that when they are sober. It only takes a second to kill somebody but a whole life to regret it. I’d like to make a heart-felt plea to everyone this Christmas which is - please make sure you don’t have any for the road this Christmas.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Providing a framework for the future regeneration and development of sites within Wokingham Town Centre, the draft Wokingham Town Centre Development Guide is set to go for public consultation at the start of January.

A formal six week Wokingham consultation period begins on January 7 on the 60-page draft planning document, which sets out a long-term vision for the town and gives detailed guidance for how the town will develop over the next two decades.

The Wokingham Town Centre Forum - an advisory group set up in response to the public workshops on the town centre held in January and June 2008 - has already given its steer on this important planning document which, once finalised, will be used to inform the production of Development Briefs for specific regeneration sites in Wokingham Town Centre.

It will also help meet the Wokingham council’s overall vision to make the borough ‘a great place to live and work, where residents feel valued and the council promotes economic growth with good quality of life and opportunity for all’.

Proposing five character areas, each aiming to deliver renaissance within Wokingham Town Centre, the Guide’s mission is to help ensure that regeneration of the town centre leads to Wokingham being the centre of choice for shopping and leisure. Whilst the town will be mainly retail and commercial, the scope to provide more housing, small business, community and cultural opportunities will be considered to add to the vitality of the centre.

Based upon consultation, the Wokingham Guide aims:

• To ensure that development occurs in a coordinated way
• To create a high quality network of streets and spaces
• To promote Wokingham Town Centre as a shopping and leisure destination through redevelopment
• To promote pedestrian priority measures within the town centre.

Cllr Gary Cowan, executive member for local and regional planning, said: “My thanks go to the Wokingham Town Centre Forum for helping us to fine-tune the draft Guide and get it ready for public consultation. I am now looking to the general public to have their say and very much hope that as many people as possible let us have their views during the six-week public consultation.”

Cllr Matthew Deegan, executive member for community regeneration, said: “This important planning document will provide a coordinated framework to guide future development within the Wokingham Town Centre and give a degree of certainty to the local community, retailers, landowners and developers as to the intended direction of development within the town centre to help ensure regeneration.

“On the redevelopment front, I am also pleased to report that the shortlisting of developers to work jointly with the council to redevelop several sites in the town in a coordinated way is progressing well. We are poised to start competitive dialogue with a small number of developers in early 2009, with a view to announcing our preferred partner later in the year, most likely in the autumn.”

The draft Wokingham Town Centre Development Guide will be available on the council’s website, at the civic offices in Shute End and at Wokingham Library from January 7. Anyone wanting further information on this process should write to the Development Plans Team, Wokingham Borough Council, PO Box 157, Shute End, Wokingham, or email: policyandplans@wokingham.gov.uk

All comments must be received by the cou

Nearly 90 barn owls have been born in the Wokingham Borough after a project to encourage the feathered friends got off to a flying start.

Wokingham Borough Council’s countryside service started a programme to increase the number of the rare birds in the area six years ago, and 89 have been successful reared since.

In contrast it was thought only five breeding pairs were living in the whole of Berkshire 10 years ago – but thanks to the Wokingham project the owls are now slowly becoming more widespread in the borough.

Since the countryside service started the programme 19 nest boxes have been built, which have become home to barn owl families across the borough. The birds are now living across the whole borough, but the barn owl population is largest in Hurst, Finchampstead and Swallowfield.

The purpose built owl boxes have a life of at least 10 years and it is hoped that they will continue to allow thel birds to flourish in the future and that the local population will continue to increase each year.

Through the project a number of other birds of prey have flourished – this includes 29 kestrels and several tawny owls.

Data from the Wokingham borough’s bird boxes has been submitted to several conservation groups, including the Barn Owl Conservation Network, the British Trust for Ornithology, the Wildlife Conservation Partnership, and the county records centre, to help build a national picture of what the barn owl population is like.

Andy Glencross, Wokingham countryside officer for biodiversity, said: “Before we started this project it was quite clear that barn owls in this area, as well as across the country, were in significant decline and in real danger of dying out. It was shocking to think that across the whole of Berkshire there were such a small number of known breeding pairs of barn owls 10 years ago. This project has brought made a remarkable difference to the local population considering the project has only been running for six years.”

Cllr Simon Weeks, executive member for Wokingham environment, said: “It’s sad to think that just 10 years ago it was extremely rare to see a barn owl in the Wokingham Borough – but I’m pleased that thanks to the hard work of the countryside service and many other volunteers in the area the barn owl population is now flourishing. I hope that this programme continues to be a success and the barn owls’ future is safeguarded in the borough.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Music, drama and testimony from victims’ families will bring the dangers of knife crime to life for young people in the Wokingham Borough in the New Year.

The Wokingham knife crime project is being organised by Wokingham Borough Council’s community wardens and will be launched in February at The Forest School in Winnersh.

At the launch, Wokingham six form students Daniel Dommett and Ryan Kennedy from The Forest School will show a dramatic slide show with a musical background depicting victims of knife crime. This will be followed by a piece of realistic, hard-hitting theatre portraying a knife attack that will be performed by drama students from Henley College, under the guidance of their performing arts tutor Nick Saunders. A representative from St John Ambulance will then give practical advice and a demonstration of what to do if you are a victim of a knife crime or witness knife crime.

These will be followed by a talk from Lynn Costello from Mothers Against Murder and Aggression (a charity that supports the families of murder and manslaughter victims and other victims of violent crime) and then a talk by Brooke Kinsella, sister of murdered teenager Ben Kinsella. These will bring home to the young audience the damage knife crime does to families. The speakers will be recorded to make a DVD that will be part of the project as it is taken to other schools in the Wokingham borough.

The event will end with a second slide presentation, also accompanied by music from Forest School six formers, showing how young people are working together to stop knife crime.

Wokingham Borough Council executive member for corporate services Cllr Rob Stanton (who is responsible for community safety) said: “Tackling knife crime is a major priority across the country and, although the Wokingham Borough is a safe place, it is important to work with young people to make it even safer. The borough council has supported anti-knife initiatives, such as the pledge wall and knife amnesty last year, and will continue to do so to tackle this important issue.”

The project is the brainchild of Wokingham community warden Lesley McCambridge, who together with Emma Leroy, has worked with staff and students at The Forest School to set it up.

Lesley McCambridge said: “We got the feeling that young people are being bombarded with facts and figures that did not bring the reality home to them so we wanted to involve them in the project to make sure it spoke their language. By using music and drama - backed up by real stories from real people – we believe this will give a powerful message.”

The launch will be at The Forest School on Wednesday February 4.

Wokingham Borough Council

Tenants and resident who have made use of the Wokingham Community Flat in Eustace Crescent are holding a party to celebrate the first anniversary of its opening this month.

The flat, at 19 Eustace Crescent, Wokingham was converted into a community centre in December last year and has since then become a focal point for the area. Among other things, it has hosted a community project for children aged five to 13 years, coffee afternoons, English language workshops, a community slimming support club, projects for older children and free adult learner courses. Wokingham Housing officers and the police also hold regular surgeries there and residents wanting information about the area and forthcoming events have found these in the flat.

Wokingham Community development worker Candice Wright was appointed to Eustace Crescent earlier this year and is based at the Community Flat.

She said: “It has been a great first year and the flat has become a really important part of the community. Having a centre like this allows us to do so much more for the community and allows lots more people to get involved and help with projects to make their areas better. The party will be a great way to celebrate the flat’s success and say thank you to the residents who have made it a success.”

There will be Christmas carols, children’s games, a tombola and a visit from Father Christmas at the party, as well as a refreshments.

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough’s young people have elected James Evans as its new Member of Youth Parliament (MYP), and he has pledged to campaign for subsidised local entertainment and affordable transport for young people as well as better job opportunities.

James Evans from Earley, was elected by youngsters aged 11 to 18 years from across the Wokingham Borough during a five-day ballot last week (December 1 to 5) which saw a staggering 4,168 votes being cast – the highest ever in the history of the Wokingham Borough’s youth elections.

James received 1,318 of valid votes cast. Ballot boxes were found across the Wokingham Borough at local schools, youth centres, and some church youth groups as well as the Connexions office in Wokingham. James will take over from current MYP Adam Connell on February 1, 2009.

Subi Wahogo aged 15 from Earley was voted in as deputy MYP after receiving 912 votes. James and Subi learnt of their success at a special ceremony yesterday (December 9), attended by Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons and deputy executive member for community development Cllr Malcolm Bryant.

The 11 Wokingham candidates spent a lot of time campaigning on a range of issues that are close to the hearts of young people. The candidates recorded an election DVD spelling out why they wanted to be elected and this was shown in school assemblies, lessons and at youth clubs. Some of them used other methods to appeal to young people including Facebook groups and their own individual websites outling their election manifestos.

After the results were announced Maiden Erlegh pupil James, who turns 17 on December 16, said: “I’d like to offer my thanks to a few people. To my friends and family for supporting me, to Lindsey McNeil of Maiden Erlegh School and Catriona MacMillan from the youth service for organising the elections, and of course my supporters and voters for putting me in office.

“I have been voted in on a campaign to bring about positive change for young people of the Wokingham Borough, to represent their views on every level and at every opportunity. This is something I will strive to do with the utmost passion, determination and integrity.”

Subi Wahogo said: “I would like to thank all my supporters and my campaign team. Without them I would not have had such a successful campaign. I also had lots of support from the student support centre at The Bulmershe School. I would like to thank my family and friends. I am looking forward to working with James and I am every excited about taking the role of deputy MYP.”

Cllr Malcolm Bryant, deputy executive member for community development, said: “I’d like to congratulate James on being elected the new Member of Youth Parliament for the Wokingham Borough and I look forward to working with him when he takes office in February.

“I am very impressed by the number of young people who this year have put their names forward to be the borough’s Youth MP. It is good to see diversity in the candidates’ age ranges and schools this year. It just goes to show that politics is alive and well in the borough’s schools and some great ideas have been put forward in the candidates’ manifestos. A record number of candidates put themselves forward for the position and we have also seen a record number of young people voting. I am delighted over 4,000 young people voted – that’s more than twice the number who voted last year.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Young people across the Wokingham Borough are being reminded it is not too late to snap up money for their projects under the youth opportunity fund.

The grant system, funded by central government, is used to deliver more things to do and places to go for young people aged between 13 and 19 years. Placing trust in young people from Youth 10 (Y10) - Wokingham Borough Council’s youth forum - they have been given the responsibility to manage the youth opportunity fund and to decide what activities are needed. Y10 is supported by the borough council’s youth service.

Over the past couple of years, Y10 has given grants to a range of Wokingham projects including festivals, skate parks, clear-up campaigns and sports and arts activities. However this year, there has been a fall in the number of applications received from young people.

Member of Youth Parliament Adam Connell, who chairs Y10, said: “This is a real chance for young people aged between 13 and 19 years to apply for money if they have an idea for themselves or other youngsters in the Wokingham Borough. It’s a real shame this year that the numbers of applications has gone down, but it’s not too late to apply. If you have a great idea, why not get in touch. We might be able to help finance it and bring great benefits to local youngsters.”

Nigel Shaw, head of Wokingham youth service, said: “We put a lot of effort into publicising the fund in its first year which culminated in a big event bringing together all those groups who benefited from the scheme. We continued to promote the youth opportunity fund this year but we still have money to allocate. This fund is about empowering young people and giving them more choice and influence facilities in their area.

“This isn’t a grant for individuals needing money - it is for activities or projects for young people who want something to do in their local community. Y10 want to fund even more projects and it’s not too late for youngster to get their bids in. If you think something is lacking in your area, then pick up an application form from your local youth centre and get bidding!”

Cllr Malcolm Bryant, deputy executive member for Wokingham community development, said: “This is a great opportunity to help young people with various projects and activities in the Wokingham Borough that they wouldn’t normally be able to do without this money. Over the past three years, this funding has helped many groups set up projects close to their hearts. I look forward to seeing many more projects develop in the next few months.”

Y10 recently awarded £4,500 to SPUDs, local theatre and arts centre Shinfield Players youth group. It will use the money to develop a play which will be taken to a drama competition in Prague.

The deadline for the next round of Wokingham applications is February 1 and applications will be considered earlier by Y10 if they are seen as urgent. Applications will be welcome from any group of young people aged 13 and 19 which will improve things to do and places to go in the Wokingham Borough. More information on the scheme and applications forms can be downloaded from www.activeyouth.co.uk and www.wokingham.gov.uk/yof or by contacting Sharon Holden, youth opportunity fund support worker, on 0771 422 6728.

Wokingham Borough Council

It is imperative that this municipal organisation advocates the promulgation of simplistic articulation through inter-departmental interface across-the-piece.

It is exactly this type of language that Wokingham Borough Council leader Cllr David Lee aims to outlaw tomorrow on National Plain English Day.

Tuesday December 9 sees Wokingham Cllr Lee embark on a mission to rid the council of jargon, gobbledegook and unnecessary acronyms.

“Plain English should be the law in all walks of life. And although the example above is an exaggeration, too often people talk in acronyms and complicated language just to add an air of secrecy to what they do in a bid to make people like me go away and not bother them!“ said Cllr Lee.

“I would like to see plain English become the norm in the council. We’ve got some way to go but I think it’s really important to be able to communicate simply and effectively – and cutting out the jargon and abbreviations will go a long way towards achieving that goal.”

Included in Cllr Lee’s Wokingham council hit list are: conditionality, worklessness, cross-fertilisation, double devolution, edge-fit, fulcrum, incentivising, lowlights, municipalities, network model, paradigm, predictors of beaconicity, provider vehicles, seedbed and shell developments.

“It’s going to take a while to get rid of this type of rubbish but I’m on the case and the council has already made a step in the right direction by simplifying the reports which are written for the executive’s consideration.

“To speed up this process, I ask residents to let me know if they receive anything incomprehensible from the council in the future. I’m not looking for past examples, as I imagine there could be quite a few, but I would like to know about future letters and publications. Please send your examples to communications@wokingham.gov.uk.”

Wokingham Borough Council

It is getting to that time of year when people are starting to put up their Christmas decorations, and Wokingham Borough Council is no exception, thanks to a generous donation from Balfour Beatty and Alpha Electrics.

Balfour Beatty has provided Wokingham Borough Council with an impressive 18 foot Christmas tree that has taken pride of place on the first floor roof of the civic offices in Shute End, Wokingham, and it is made even more spectacular with beautiful white lights donated by Alpha Electrics.

Wokingham Council leader Cllr David Lee said: “The outside of the building could have really done with some Christmas cheer and the gesture from Balfour Beatty and Alpha Electrics has done just that. Christmas is a time of a year when giving rather than receiving is often the message and the people at both Balfour Beatty and Alpha Electrics have really excelled themselves.

“On behalf of the council I would like to say thank you to both Balfour Beatty and Alpha Electrics for their donation, the tree has taken pride of place at civic offices and looks beautiful when it is all lit up.

“I would also like to thank the council’s building support officers for using their initiative and contacts to secure these kind donations and for getting the tree fixed safely on the roof!”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council and the police are appealing to residents to take care with their Christmas presents this year and avoid giving thieves any easy targets.

Presents left on show in Wokingham parked cars are a gift for thieves and a car full of lost presents could ruin Christmas for any family. Wokingham Borough Council car park attendants will warn drivers if they see any who are leaving themselves at risk and the police have issued ten top tips to avoid car crime this Christmas:

1. Remove all valuables from your vehicle, including satellite navigation units, laptops and mobile phones and leave your glove compartment empty and open.

2. Do not leave anything on show, especially Christmas presents; remove cradles of satellite navigation systems and even the sucker marks they leave on windows.

3. Fit an alarm or immobiliser – and use it.

4. If you don’t have an alarm or immobiliser – consider putting one on your present wish-list.

5. Take care where you park your vehicle and avoid poorly-lit and deserted areas.

6. Make sure you lock your car and take your keys with you, even when you go to a ticket machine or to pay for petrol.

7. Consider parking in a busy place, increasing the deterrent and the chance of an offender being caught.

8. Put valuables in your boot at the start of a journey.

9. Keep your keys on your person not in a handbag or briefcase.

10. However much you are hurrying around for presents, keep an eye on the ones you have already bought.

Wokingham Borough Council executive member for corporate services Rob Stanton, who is responsible for community safety, said: “You do see some cars packed with presents and it is a real worry. I can understand the need to drop some things off in cars while you carry on shopping, but if they are in cars they are an advertisement to thieves – the advice must be to lock anything valuable away in your boot.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Christmas is a time for indulgence but it’s often easy to cook just a little too much – but by carefully planning and using up those leftovers, you can save money and help the Wokingham environment.

In the Wokingham Borough each year around 46,000 tonnes of waste is thrown into landfill – that’s around the same weight as 9,000 adult African elephants! A large amount of that waste is food and it is estimated that 33 per cent of the food that we buy is thrown away. This costs households an average of £420 every year. That rises to £610 for those families with children.

The re3 waste partnership, which includes Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils and waste management company WRG, are working with the national Love Food Hate Waste Campaign to help you reduce the amount of food you throw away. A recent survey showed that a staggering 32 per cent of waste that we put in our rubbish bins, in the central Berkshire area, is food.

Peter Baveystock, Wokingham waste and recycling manager, said: “Budgets are very tight for people at the moment, especially families, and so by reducing food waste not only will it reduce the impact on the environment but it could save each family up to £50 per month on food bills.

“Christmas is traditionally a time for over indulgence and of course we should all celebrate with nice food and drink – but what we’re saying is don’t go overboard, if you’re not going to eat it then why buy it in the first place and if it’s leftover then make a new delicious dish out of it. It could save you a small fortune!”

Not only is throwing food away harming the environment, it is also harming our pockets. With food prices rising, reducing the amount of food we throw away is an easy way to help save money.

Wokingham Borough Council

If you drink and drive you might not survive is the message that will be hitting Wokingham’s town centre next week, as road safety officers and Thames Valley Police warn that one for the road could kill or injure drivers, passengers or innocent bystanders.

As part of a Wokingham drink drive awareness campaign Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons, Mayor of the Wokingham Borough, will be publicly breathalysed to show what happens when police suspect that someone is over the limit.

Cllr Helliar-Symons will be joined by Wokingham Borough Council’s road safety officer, Julie Pillai, who will spend the day handing out drink drive themed quizzes to find out if the public really know how much is too much.

There will also be demonstrations and information available from local Thames Valley Police officers and firefighters from the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service will be on hand from 10am to noon.

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough residents are being warned not to overlook essential safety advice as they plan for the party season – by booking an illegal or risky limo to whisk them off to the party.

“The party season is rapidly approaching and so we want to make sure everyone has a safe ride to and from their special event – whether it’s a party, ball, festive dinner or drinks, we want to make sure you get to and from the venue safe and well,” said Julia O’Brien, principal environmental health officer.

“Unfortunately there are too many rogue companies out there offering limos and novelty vehicles for cut-prices or discounts at this time of year, as they prey of the fact that people like to do something different at Christmas – including making a grand entrance or exit. The problem is that many of these companies are not licensed and so may not have undergone the necessary safety checks and are more than likely to be uninsured,” Julia continued.

New licensing laws came into effect on January 28, 2008, meaning that some limos, chauffeured and novelty vehicles must be licensed to ensure that they are safe for the public to use.

If Wokingham drivers and companies have not licensed their vehicles they are operating illegally, which could render insurance invalid and put passengers’ safety at risk.

The message from the council’s licensing team is that residents should always check the vehicle they are planning to hire is licensed before confirming the booking. If the vehicle is not licensed it could be unsafe and may not be insured in the event of an accident.

In the Wokingham Borough if a vehicle is licensed then drivers will have a standard-issue badge that should be clearly visible while on duty and credit card sized stickers which must be displayed in the limo’s front and rear windows. These must be issued by the same local authority that issues the operator’s licence.

Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member for Wokingham corporate services, said: “The message is clear – if you are considering booking a limo, chauffeured or novelty vehicle for a special event, then you must check with the company that the vehicle is licensed before confirming the booking. If it isn’t then you could be putting your health, safety and possibly even your life at risk.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Long term Wokingham fraudster Ian Wheeler, who falsely claimed almost £150,000 in various benefits and allowances, has been jailed for 18 months.

Wheeler, aged 56 of Blackwater Close, Spencers Wood, had admitted falsely claiming income support, invalidity benefit, incapacity benefit, housing benefit, Wokingham council tax benefit and disability living allowance in August and was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on November 20. His wife, Jacqueline Wheeler, aged 54, admitted two charges relating to false claims and was sentenced to a community order of 100 hours’ community service.

Wheeler was making false claims from 1993 to February 2006, stating that he was not working when he was in fact in full time employment. His wife also claimed to be out of work while she was working.

The Wheelers’ fraud came to light during a joint investigation by the Department for Works and Pensions and Wokingham Borough Council.

The Wokingham council’s revenue and benefits manager Kevin Mercer said: “This was dishonesty on a large scale and I am pleased the council has been able to work with the department of works and pensions to carry out this prosecution. This case shows that even those cheats who have been getting away with it for a long time are not safe from our investigations team. The message to anybody trying to cheat the system is that we will catch you, we will get our money back and you may go to jail.”

Confiscation action again the Wheelers has been launched to recoup the money they defrauded from taxpayers.

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Safety marshals, a new temporary taxi rank and safety information posters and leaflets are among the ways Wokingham Borough Council is trying to ensure Christmas revellers enjoy a night out without any nasty incidents.

The Wokingham council has teamed up with the police to employ safety marshals to patrol in busy areas at peak times for people pouring out of clubs and pubs. They will be able to help people find their way safely to taxi ranks and the make sure the ranks are well-organised and orderly. The marshals will also be able to help taxi drivers who may suffer from abusive behaviour and contact the police to report any trouble-makers.

As well as the four marshals, Wokingham Borough Council will be turning a section of its Wellington House car park in Elms Road into a temporary taxi rank during peak times during the evenings in December. This will provide a well-organised rank away from pedestrians where the marshals will be able to make sure only licensed hackney carriages are operating and drivers and passengers are protected.

Contact numbers for Wokingham private hire vehicles will be provided to bar staff at late night venues in the town for customers who prefer to pre-book their journey home.

Council community safety officers are producing posters to be displayed in bars and clubs warning revellers of the dangers of drinking too much and advising how they can have a fun night out and stay safe.

Executive member for Wokingham Corporate Services Cllr Rob Stanton (who has responsibility for community safety) said: “Many people enjoy an evening out or two in the Christmas period and it is important to help them get home safely. By asking bar staff for private hire vehicle contact numbers, or by taking advice from the marshals, people will be able to ensure they only travel in properly licensed vehicles. Taxis and private hire vehicles provide a particularly important service at this time of year – especially as we really need to make sure people don’t drink and drive.”

The marshals will be on duty in Wokingham town centre on Friday and Saturday evening from Friday December 5 until the new year and on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Wokingham Borough Council community safety officer Stephanie Nagiel said: “We have been working with taxi drivers to find ways to help protect them and help people get home safely. All drivers were invited to a meeting to discuss these initiatives and some good ideas – such as a Cabwatch scheme that could be run along the same lines as the Pubwatch scheme came out of those meetings.

“We just hope that by working with police, drivers, marshals, pubs, bars and clubs we can help people have a good night out and get home safely.”

Inspector Nigel Scarratt, Wokingham Town Centre neighbourhood policing team said: “We are working with our partners to continue to show that Wokingham is a safe place to spend an evening by using safety marshals within the town centre on Friday and Saturday evenings. These provide a visible presence, assisting with the queues, helping people to the taxis to have a safe return home with the reassurance that the police will also be in the town centre to deter and deal with any potential problems. They will be wearing a uniform so they can be identified and also carry a radio to have a link with CCTV. They have not been used in Wokingham before but are used in Reading where positive comments have been received.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Olympic bronze medallist Anna Bebington joined some of Wokingham Borough’s finest sportsmen and women at a special ceremony last Friday (November 21) to mark their recent successes.

Sportsmen and women from across the Wokingham borough attended Wokingham District Sports Council and Wokingham Borough Council’s sports awards ceremony held at Reading Blue Coat School. Helping them celebrate was Anna Bebington, who won a bronze medal in a dramatic finish to the women’s double sculls in the Olympic Games held in Beijing this summer. Anna talked to the packed audience about her time in Beijing and her sporting inspirations. She did have one message for the borough’s sportsmen and women – it’s never too late to take up sport!

The winners of the 18 categories were as follows:

• Leisure Connection Shield (primary school) - Aldryngton Primary School

• Millgate Homes Cup (under 14 girls) – Rebekah Galpin from Bulmershe Gym Club

• MFW Associates Cup (under 14 boys) – Valdy Simeon from The Forest School

• The BJ Cup (under 18 girls) – Julia Henderson from The Bulmershe School

• The Force Components Cup (under 18 boys) – Philip Rushton from Reading Blue Coat School

• Leisure Connection Shield (senior school) – The Forest School

• Electronics Cup 2000 (senior woman) – Beth Storry, GB ladies hockey goal keeper

• Simpson Springs Cup (senior man) – Nicholas Manning, archery

• Shaw Cup (coach of the year) – Alan Dines, Our Lady of Peace Table Tennis Club

• Reading Evening Post Shield (service to sport in the community) - Sylvia Hicks, football

• Times Series Shield (service to sport in the community - club) – Sonning Hockey Club

• Wokingham Schools Sports Partnership (volunteer of the year) – Anna Boniface from The Piggott School

• Electronics Cup 2000 (services to disabled sport) - Marian Blanchard-Gage from The Red Diamonds Club

• Woodley Town Council Cup (excellence in sport) – Abdulai Baggie from The Bulmershe School (football)

• John Cunningham Cup (courage award) – Paul Treadgold, table tennis

• Earley Town Council Rose Bowl (spirit of sport) – Wayne Thomas, cycling

• WDSC Chairman’s Cup (chairman’s award) – Ben White, fencing

• Wokingham Borough Sports Ambassadors Award (Olympic ambassadors) – Hattie Poulter and Gary Stevenson from The Piggott School

Wokingham Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons, Mayor, who presented a number of the awards, said: “The sports award ceremony is a terrific event that recognises and celebrates the achievement and contributions of the borough’s sports people and clubs over the past year. The borough council along with the sports council has picked some of the finest sporting individuals in the borough, many of whom have given their time and effort into producing stars for the future.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Tying in with World Aids Day today (Monday December 1), Wokingham Borough Council’s youth service has organised a number of events during the coming week, which will take place at various youth clubs and schools across the Wokingham Borough. The aim of these sessions is to raise awareness about Aids and educate young people about how to keep themselves safe.

Sessions will be held at Ryeish Green School, The Bulmershe School, The Piggott School and Waingels College over the coming week. A great deal of information will be on offer to the secondary school pupils, including a variety of leaflets and free red ribbons, as well as the opportunity to discuss the topic of HIV and AIDS with professionally-trained health workers. The Wokingham council’s youth service will also be on hand to offer advice and information.

Local youth workers have also organised the following sessions, taking place at youth clubs this week:

• Twyford Youth Club on December 3, 7.30pm to 10pm

• Finchampstead Youth Club on December 3, 7pm to 9pm

• Arborfield Youth Club on December 4, 7pm to 9pm

• Barkham Youth Club on December 5, 7pm to 9pm

During these sessions, youth club members will be able to take part in discussions, quizzes and fact finding exercises; and get information on subjects such as how HIV is contracted and to develop empathy.

Louise Morris, Wokingham youth worker, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for our young people to find out more information about HIV and AIDS. The activities are about raising awareness, as well as understanding the issues that people face when living with being HIV positive. The aim of the entire week is to learn about respecting people and protecting them from discrimination.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Children are being invited to put their thinking caps and Santa hats on and make the jazziest recycled Christmas decorations in the Wokingham Borough next month.

A special workshop for children aged five years and over will be taking place at Wokingham Library in Denmark Street on Saturday December 6, where a host of sparkly and festive decorations can be made out of recycled materials.

Lots of plastic is thrown away every day in the Wokingham Borough and so the children will be taught how to turn this waste into decorative masterpieces by re3 waste minimisation officers, who will be on hand throughout the free session.

Cllr Simon Weeks, executive member for environment, said: “The session promises to be a lot of creative fun for children, who will not only be able to take home their shiny festive decorations, but will also learn a little bit about recycling and how materials can be used for a different purpose.”

Residents will also be able to pop along to the workshop and ask the re3 waste minimisation officers any questions they may have about waste, recycling and composting in the Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham Borough Council

Local residents are invited to join Wokingham Borough Council’s Mayor Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons to sing-in the Christmas season with traditional carols around the tree, on Monday December 22 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 Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy which provides and promotes the skilled use of music with individuals, groups and communities who are challenged by disability, illness or injustice.

Wokingham Borough Council

Christmas is almost upon us and if you would like to give your Wokingham loved one something different this year then why not head down to the Westmead Centre’s Christmas fayre on Tuesday December 9 from 10.30am to 2.30pm.

There will be crafts for sale including: water colour paintings, pottery, hand-made jewellery and bird tables made to order all made by the Wokingham client group at the Westmead Centre. There will also be home-made cakes, and tea and coffee on offer.

The Westmead Centre is run by Wokingham Borough Council and offers a range of services for the rehabilitation and respite care of people with physical disabilities aged 18 years and over who live in Wokingham Borough. The services they provide are flexible and the emphasis is on supporting and enabling people to develop their full potential and maintain their independence.

Mandy Bates, Wokingham assistant unit manager, said: “This fayre is a great chance for residents to buy something different for their loved ones but also the money raised goes towards helping the Westmead Centre provide extra supplies for the art room, soft craft room, and to get extra equipment for the clients to use in the garden such as seeds and bulbs”.

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Shoppers are set to get an early Christmas car parking present from Wokingham Borough Council as it announces free parking in its car parks on the three Saturdays leading up to Christmas. Council-owned town and village centre car parks will be offering free parking all day on Saturday December 6, 13 and 20.

For the last few years, Wokingham car parking on the three Saturdays before Christmas has been free to encourage people to make use of their local shopping areas. The move has proved very popular with both traders and the public.

The Station Road car park in Earley and the Winnersh Triangle station car park are included but the Carnival Pool car park in Wokingham is excluded from the incentive as it is not a shoppers’ car park.

Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for Wokingham highways and transport said: “Once again the council is offering this incentive to encourage people to use the borough’s shopping centres. We have a number of fine shops, both individual traders and large chain stores, in the borough’s towns and villages and we want to encourage as many people to shop locally as possible. Free parking is one more good reason to come to the borough’s towns to buy your Christmas presents.”

Although parking will be free on the three Saturdays before Christmas, maximum stay limits and disabled parking bays will still be enforced and any vehicles breaching these regulations will be subject to the usual excess charges and fees. It should also be noted that the free parking offer applies only to council car parks, and does not apply to privately managed car parks.

Wokingham Borough Council

Households in the Wokingham Borough are being urged to check when they need to put their rubbish out after Santa’s made his special deliveries this Christmas.

Details of when Wokingham waste and recycling should be left out over the festive period are being delivered to every household at the moment, so all residents know exactly when to put out their waste and recycling over Christmas and the New Year.

There will be no collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day so waste calendars for all three of the borough’s recycling areas have been sent out by Wokingham Borough Council to ensure leftover turkey, tinsel and all the trimmings are collected as rubbish or recycling.

Those Wokingham residents that are due a refuse collection on Christmas Day/New Year’s Day will be collected on Friday January 2, and those due for a collection on Boxing Day will be collected on Saturday January 3. Please place your refuse out the night before as collections will be much earlier.

Members of the green waste collection scheme can put real Christmas trees out for recycling with their green bags on the appropriate week after Christmas. Residents who are not part of the scheme can take their tree to free recycling points at Wyevale Garden Centre, Hare Hatch, Wargrave between 8am and 10am and Henry Street Garden Centre, Arborfield between 10am and 11am, and Swallowfield Village Hall, The Street, Swallowfield between 8am and 10am on Saturday January 17. They can also be taken to Longshot Lane civic amenity site in Bracknell or Smallmead in Reading for composting.

Peter Baveystock, Wokingham waste and recycling manager, said: “Finding out when your rubbish is going to be collected is not usually the number one priority on most people’s Christmas lists so to make it easy for everyone we have sent specific refuse and recycling collection details to every household in the borough again this year.

“As Christmas is a time when wastage traditionally goes up I’d urge residents to think about what they buy and to think again before they throw it away so to reduce their waste, which goes to landfill. Recycle as much as you can by placing cans, plastic bottles and paper/card in your black boxes. Glass bottles and jars, old clothes and tetrapak cartons can be recycled at your nearest recycling site too.”

Anyone who wants further information on how to recycle more and waste less can contact waste services by calling (0118) 974 6302/6303 or email waste.services@wokingham.gov.uk

For further information about Christmas waste collections and recycling please visit www.wokingham.gov.uk/xmas-collections

Wokingham Borough Council

At their meeting last night (Thursday November 27), Wokingham Borough councillors agreed unanimously to do all they can to help local small businesses through the current economic downturn.

Wokingham Council leader Cllr David Lee put forward the following motion: “This council notes the current economic difficulties faced by small local businesses and wants to build and strengthen current links with the local business community to develop a clear strategy to assist them through these difficult times. This council calls on the scrutiny committee to urgently consult with local businesses and deliver a plan to the executive to aid small businesses in our community.”

And, after an impassioned debate on both sides of the chamber, Wokingham council agreed that the scrutiny committee would be urged to consider, among others, the following measures:

• Encourage small businesses to apply for small business rates relief if they are eligible
• Encourage larger organisations within the Wokingham Borough to pay small firms promptly, ideally within 20 days
• Review procurement processes to ensure this council uses more local small firms for council contracts
• Use of local authority business growth incentive money to help small firms
• Use the hardship rate relief scheme to protect vital small businesses, promote sustainable communities and keep small firms in town centres.

Wokingham Cllr Lee said: “These are tough times and running a small business is never easy – I know because I run one elsewhere in the Thames Valley. I am delighted that the whole council is on board with this desire to help our local businesses. We will try to help them as much as we are able to.
“That’s why I am pleased we are able to offer shoppers free parking in our car parks on the three Saturdays leading up to Christmas. Council-owned town and village centre car parks will therefore be offering free parking all day on Saturday December 6, 13 and 20.

“I know that many people would like to see free parking all year round but I’m afraid that it is something we simply can’t do as the revenue we generate from parking charges is vital to maintain essential frontline services such as protecting vulnerable children and adults. But I hope the free Christmas parking will be of some comfort, coupled with the fruits of scrutiny’s labour early next year.”

The scrutiny committee, led by Cllr Liz Siggery, will be considering making its recommendations at their meeting in January. Cllr Siggery said: “This is a vital piece of work and I will do my utmost to ensure it is carried out as quickly and as thoroughly as possible.”

Wokingham Borough Council