Wokingham

Following Wokingham hands-on planning workshops held last weekend (June 19 and 20), Wokingham Borough Council is asking more local people whether they would like to take up the opportunity to have a say in the development of the borough’s future new communities.

Four main new communities are set to be built in the Wokingham Borough over the next two decades – one south of Wokingham (2,500 homes), one north of the town (1,500 homes), one at Arborfield Garrison (3,500 homes) and one south of M4 (2,500 homes). And the council is keen for local people to get involved and help decide how each community will look and what facilities are needed to make them good, safe places in which people will want to live, relax, work and play.

The results of Wokingham workshops held last weekend (June 19 and 20) and coming up on July 25 will help shape the plans being prepared by the council for each site.

Wokingham Council leader Cllr David Lee said: “Wokingham’s residents have already been involved in agreeing the strategy for housing development in our borough for the next 20 years and we would like them to continue to play a major role in influencing this important ongoing work.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to shape places of the future. We are looking to our residents to help us to make these communities an integral and vibrant part of the borough, which is currently one of the best places in the country to live. And we want to keep it that way. Help us to build real communities and not just buildings,” he added.

Next month’s workshops are to be held on Saturday July 25:

• North and South Wokingham: Saturday July 25 from 9.30am to 1pm

• Arborfield and South of the M4: Saturday July 25 from 1.30pm to 5pm

Venue: Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham

Cllr Gary Cowan, executive member for Wokingham local and regional planning, said:
“This is a unique opportunity for residents to have a real say in how Wokingham Borough evolves over the next twenty years. I welcome all resident involvement and I will ensure that any comment submitted during this process will be properly considered.

“If we have to accommodate these houses, then we must think now about how we want our borough to be in the future, maintaining and enhancing what we currently appreciate about it as well ensuring we have what we need for the lives of our communities in the future. This will involve all manner of new infrastructure as well as quality design and all the factors required to improve our communities that will also benefit our existing residents.

“Anyone or any organisation interested in having their say that cannot make the July 25 workshop should contact me as I genuinely do want to hear what local people have to say on this important issue. I am happy to visit residents’ associations or other organisations to explain the process and to receive feedback. Please contact me to arrange a meeting via (0118) 974 6005.”

Anyone wanting to register their interest in taking part in the July 25 workshops, should go to: www2.wokingham.gov.uk/planning-news to complete an application form by July 20. Alternatively, they can contact masterplanner Cris Lancaster at: cris.lancaster@wokingham.gov.uk

Wokingham Borough Council