Wokingham

More than 880 Wokingham children will be pedalling their way to cycling success this year through the borough’s cycling scheme for primary school children – that’s 100 more than last year!

Currently 853 Wokingham children have passed their cycling test, provided by the borough council to ensure that they have the basic skills and knowledge to ride safely on the road. An additional 30 children will receive cycle training over the summer holiday before taking their test. This means that a record-breaking 883 children will take the test in the academic year 2008/09 – an increase from last year’s 779 passes.

The courses are run around the borough and are aimed at 10 and 11 year olds who are moving on to secondary school in September. They are all given lessons in awareness and essential skills to help them travel to school with confidence and in safety should they chose to cycle.

Many of the courses are run by volunteers from the Wokingham borough’s school community who give up their time to teach the youngsters.

Jill Bissell, the Wokingham council’s cycle-training co-coordinator, said: “This year we trained 115 new volunteer instructors to give cycle training in our schools. The majority of these were parents, but we also had help from teachers, teaching assistants, school governors, caretakers and some police community support officers. I would like to thank all these people for giving up their time and doing such a great job to train children in the Wokingham Borough. Many congratulations to all those children who passed their tests this year.”

Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for Wokingham highways and transport, added: “It’s been a bumper year for cycle training in the borough and what a fantastic achievement for all the 853 children who have already passed their tests – congratulations to them all. I wish all the youngsters taking their test this summer the best of luck and would like to thank all the volunteer instructors for their time in helping children achieve this goal.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Residents, shoppers, traders and retailers are this week being invited to have their say on proposals to stop motorists clogging up vital quick stop bays around Wokingham Town Centre under a consultation starting on July 30.

Wokingham Borough Council is inviting everyone to put forward their thoughts on the possible introduction of a quick-stop fee for on-street parking spaces dotted around Wokingham Town Centre. Many of these 240 plus spaces, which currently have a 30 minute time limit, are often abused by long-stay motorists – clogging them up so that they are not available for people wanting to use them to go to the bank, pick up some shopping or run a small errand.

Therefore, the Wokingham council has suggested that a charge to park in the bays could be introduced to discourage people from parking in them for hours on end. This could then help people looking for a short-stay space to find a parking spot more easily and, if there are more readily available quick stop spaces, it could encourage people passing through the town to stop off and make use of local retailers.

To find out whether businesses think this is a good idea, and to look into issues around it like enforcement, the Wokingham council’s scrutiny committee has already started researching the idea. However, a statutory consultation, which will run for 21 days, will start on July 30 and is open to everyone who lives and works in the borough.

The council is inviting as many people as possible to submit their ideas regardless of whether they are supportive or critical of the proposal, so that it can asses whether or not it should go ahead and introduce the charge or not.

Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for Wokingham highways and transport, said: “It’s really important that we hear everybody’s views on this and so I’d like to encourage as many people as possible to let us know what they think about it.

“Whether you love the idea and think it could bolster trade and free up parking spaces or hate the idea and think it would have a detrimental impact on the town the council wants to hear from you.”

The notice of intent, which forms part of the statutory consultation will be advertised in The Wokingham Times on July 29. Anyone wanting to find out more should log on to www.wokingham.gov.uk/on-street where a comment form can be found. Alternatively residents can write to Traffic Management, Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1WL.

Residents and businesses in Wokingham Town Centre directly affected by the proposal will be written to individually this week to ask for their comments.

The overview and management scrutiny committee is also researching the proposal further and is speaking to businesses, traders and other organisations like the town council and chamber of commerce to seek their opinion.

Wokingham Borough Council

An ace time is guaranteed this summer as Wokingham tennis coaching sessions for the whole family will be starting today (July 27) at Cantley Park in Wokingham.

Wimbledon may be over but tennis is still very much on the mind of the Wokingham borough’s residents. Many local residents made use of the free tennis courts at Cantley Park at the two sessions held during Wimbledon fortnight and to build on this interest - Wokingham Borough Council’s sports development unit is offering more families the chance to brush up on their tennis skills for just £5 a session.

The Wokingham sessions will run every weekday throughout the school holidays* between 1pm and 2pm and 2pm and 3pm. Coaches will be on hand to give beginners and improvers top tips on serving up aces to practising their backhand, drop-shots and serves. Each session costs £5 per family (up to four people) and £1.25 per additional person. There is no need to book the coaching session, families can simply turn up at one of the dedicated sessions.

Cllr Liz Siggery, executive member for Wokingham corporate services, said: “We can’t guarantee the sun that we had during Wimbledon but we hope that we can provide the fun. To be able to offer the whole family the chance to enjoy tennis coaching at a reasonable price is part of the commitment the council has to getting families fit and healthy and provide them with greater access to a range of leisure facilities. And, what better way to get active than a game of tennis. I hope many families will join us this summer.”

Equipment can be supplied to those families who need it. Further information is available by calling the sports development unit on (0118) 974 6264 or emailing: sportsdevelopment@wokingham.gov.uk

And if these sessions prove to be game, set and match for families, they can purchase a borough council tennis season ticket which allows users to play at Cantley Park, Chestnut Park in Wokingham and East Park Farm in Charvil. Family tickets cost £76.90, individual season tickets cost from £14.80 for a child aged under 18 and £39 for an individual adult. For more information call (0118) 974 6341.

Wokingham Borough Council

The Local Loo scheme is on a roll this summer as Wokingham Borough Council’s community toilet project officially launches in Wokingham Town this month.

Wokingham People wanting to spend a penny in the town now have access to a wider range of toilets as part of the council’s Local Loo scheme, which are gradually replacing the borough’s public conveniences, which are run-down and frequently vandalised.

The Wokingham toilets are cleaner, brighter, in better locations and open for longer hours than the council-run public conveniences – which have been subject to bouts of vandalism in recent years – and they are completely free to use!

Wokingham Residents, shoppers and visitors to the town centre can use any of the following toilets for free at any of the times listed:

• The Red Lion, Denmark Street – Monday to Thursday from 11am to 3pm and from 5pm to 11pm; Friday from 11am to 1am; Saturday from 11am to midnight and Sunday from noon to 3pm and from 5pm to 11pm

• The Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street – Monday to Saturday from noon until 11pm and Sunday from noon until 10.30pm

• Wokingham Borough Council civic offices, Shute End - Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm

• Wokingham Library, Denmark Street – Monday 9.30am to 7pm; Tuesday 9.30am to 5pm; Wednesday 9.30am to 1pm; Thursday 9.30am to 8pm; Friday 9.30am to 5pm and Saturday 9.30am to 4pm

Wokingham Toilets for disabled people, as well as separate male and female cubicles, are available at all the above locations. All the toilets are free to use for the public and there is no expectation that people using them will purchase a product/ service from any of the Local Loo partners.

Cllr Simon Weeks, executive member for Wokingham environment, said: “I’m grateful to all the Local Loo partners who have come forward and agreed to take part in this scheme and I’d like to thank them for coming on board and providing a great community facility.

“Not only will the Local Loo scheme improve toilets across the town in terms of providing cleaner and brighter facilities, it will also mean that residents, shoppers and visitors have access to a toilet for greater lengths of time as many of these businesses are open for much longer than the current council-run public conveniences.

“Also, these much better facilities are completely free for residents and visitors to use as the council has already compensated all the businesses, and there’s no expectation that anyone using the Local Loos will have to purchase something in return.”

Shoppers, residents and visitors have been able to use any of Wokingham Town Local Loos from the start of this month. The council run public conveniences in Wokingham Town will still be running until the scheme has fully bedded in - to give people the opportunity to find out more about the Local Loos scheme.

All businesses that are taking part in the Local Loo scheme will display a sticker to inform shoppers, residents and visitors to the fact that they are part of the scheme. Full details are also available at www.wokingham.gov.uk/local-loos.

Schemes in Woodley and Twyford will be rolled out shortly. Café chain Costa Coffee in Woodley has signed up to take part and Sebastian's Cafe and Catering will be joining the scheme in Twyford. Details on opening times and roll outs in these two parishes will be made available in the next few weeks.

Wokingham Borough Council

A splashing good time can be had by Wokingham families who hot-foot it down to California Country Park for a dip in the paddling pool - which is now open for the 2009 summer season.

The paddling pool at the country park in Finchampstead, Wokingham is one of the biggest summer-time attractions in the Wokingham Borough and has opened this year just in time for the school holidays.

The pool will now be open from 9.30am to 6pm each day. Families wishing to use the paddling pool should purchase a ticket from the car park area of the country park and swap it for armbands with the pool attendants before taking the first dip.

The Wokingham paddling pool is set among 40 hectares of heathland with a children’s play area, café and lake all within walking distance from the pool. It also has areas perfect for picnics, games and dog walking.

Wokingham Cllr Simon Weeks, executive member for environment, said: “If you’re feeling the heat this summer with bored youngsters then why not pop along to the paddling pool at California Country Park – which guarantees to provide hours of fun and laughter!

“We know that due to the economic downturn many parents are struggling to afford expensive treats for their children this summer and so the paddling pool and play area at California Country Park could be the perfect answer as it offers a full day of family fun for a small price.”

Wokingham Borough Council

The Wokingham final Summer Season evening of late night shopping and street entertainment will bring more music, dancing and family entertainment to Wokingham Town Centre at 6.30pm on Thursday August 6.

The Wokingham Summer Season has been organised to attract people into the town and showcase what it has to offer. The previous two evenings have seen people dancing in the street and enjoying family entertainment and music as well as having the opportunity to visit the town’s shops and restaurants.

The final Wokingham evening will feature more salsa dancing in the town centre from Red Hat Salsa, who will be demonstrating the salsa and meringue, as well as music by Fair Faith Band, who will be performing their original acoustic songs.

Wokingham Children will be able to have their faces painted and their hair braided by face painter Jamie Weatherburn and street entertainer Oojamaflip will be on hand with magic tricks and balloon models.

Wokingham Borough Council area manager for Wokingham Town Centre Wendy Crosson-Smith said: “The previous two evenings have been great fun and people who have come along and got involved have had a good time and we expect the third and final event will be even more popular. I see the Summer Season as a good start to boosting the town centre’s profile because it has led to the council, shops and businesses working together and more ideas for future promotions and events will be forthcoming. As long as we all keep a positive attitude and look for opportunities not problems, I believe Wokingham Town Centre can become an even more vibrant place.”

Wokingham Borough Council

A local Wokingham centre for disabled children has once again been classed as outstanding in every category in a report published by Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted).

Wokingham Borough Council’s Bridges Resource Centre in Woodley is a specialist centre offering services for disabled children and young people and their families, including short break care, day care, after-school care, weekend clubs, activity trips and a range of other activities.

Wokingham Bridges recently received an inspection from Ofsted and in their report, inspectors praised the centre for helping children to be healthy and for keeping them safe from harm or neglect. Inspectors were also impressed with how well children achieve and enjoy what they do and staff also help children make a positive contribution to their care and well-being. Inspectors noted ‘the home is managed to a high standard.’

This follows on from earlier this year, when the joint area review highlighted that the Wokingham council provides good services to children with learning difficulties and /or disabilities.

Lynne Pitt, head of Wokingham learning difficulties and disabilities, said: "I am delighted with this latest Ofsted report. Nearly two years ago we received an outstanding report and we have not been complacent. We have continued to work hard and this hugely successful report is down to continued commitment of our staff and is thoroughly deserved by everyone.”

Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone at Bridges for their hard work and commitment which has resulted in an outstanding inspection. I am delighted that the centre was praised for its high quality service and that inspectors made some extremely positive findings. To have received an outstanding judgement in every single area is a huge credit and achievement for the centre and one of which everyone should be immensely proud.”

Inspectors were impressed with how the Wokingham centre consults with children and young people, which is done through a range of forums to ensure their views and opinions are listened to. The children and young people are given the chance to make choices on a daily basis. Building work has been carried out at the centre recently and has included making the doorways wider to make it easier for wheelchairs to access. The inspectors noted ‘the home is decorated and furnished to a high standard and is very well maintained’.

The Wokingham centre has complaints and anti-bullying policies and procedures and a pictorial version of both are available for children and young people. Inspectors were also impressed that the centre ‘provides a caring, supporting and nurturing environment in which children can mature and develop to their full potential.’ The centre was praised for its ‘good order and discipline’ which enables children to live in a bullying free and non-threatening environment. Inspectors noted ‘the warm and homely atmosphere at the home, coupled with the close support and supervision afforded to the children help reduce the likelihood of bullying occurring.’

Wokingham Staff were also praised for their ‘excellent relationships with the children’ and that there is a high level of individual support for each child. The centre has also recently started to involve parents in staff recruitment process by involving them in discussions and interviews.

Each Wokingham child has a link worker who ‘provides excellent support to children’ and they also prepare and maintain children’s care plans which are monitored and reviewed on a regular basis. The inspectors praised the link workers by saying they ‘carry out their duties in committed, caring and competent manner and are observed to supervise children closely, having full regard for any special needs, treating children with dignity and respect at all times.’

The centre was praised for having a guide for parents and also its own children’s guide to services. In addition to the pictorial children’s guide, a DVD has been produced, that enables young people to see all the facilities the centre provides.

Wokingham Children and young people have ‘review packs’ which list their achievements and progress. These packs were also endorsed by the Ofsted inspectors.

Wokingham Borough Council

Monday July 20 saw Wokingham Borough Council’s Community Cohesion Conference discuss how to keep the Wokingham borough a place where people all feel welcome and supported.

Some 100 people attended the Wokingham conference at Woodley Baptist Church in Hurricane Way, where they heard from a representative from Berkshire Women’s Aid – a group that provides refuge for victims of domestic abuse as well as support, advice and counselling and runs a helpline for anybody suffering domestic abuse. Art Beyond Belief, a charity that organises artistic faith projects to help bring communities together, also gave a presentation entitled, Interfaith and Art.

Those attending also saw a challenging drama, One Extreme to the Other, that dramatically highlighted the temptation of extremism to some young people and highlighted its dangers. The play dealt with hard-hitting issues and provoked strong feelings in the audience. The play has been developed with Government support and funding and is being performed around the country as part of a national initiative to combat extremism.

Wokingham Borough Council community partnership manager Mark Redfearn said: “It was great to see so many people from different communities and cultures come together to discuss serious issues in this way. This was the third Community Cohesion Conference held in the Wokingham Borough and we are now getting a lot of people attending and talking about ways to make sure we remain one of the safest and strongest communities in the country. The drama was provocative and got a lively debate going which the audience found stimulating and interesting.”

The Community Cohesion Conference has been developed by the council with the Wokingham Borough Black and Minority Ethnic Forum to highlight and celebrate diversity in the borough and provide an opportunity to discuss issues that affect all residents as well as to let people know about new initiatives. It also provides an opportunity for local residents to directly question key police and council staff about services and issues.

Wokingham Borough Council executive member for community development Cllr John Kersley, said: “In the recent Place Survey (a consultation on local services and attitudes that all local authorities are required to carry out every two years) 85 per cent of residents said they believe the borough is a place where people of different backgrounds get on well together, and events such as the Community Cohesion Conference work to ensure that percentage figure remains high.”

Wokingham Borough Council

A successful Wokingham partnership, which has secured millions of pounds of extra grant money to improve the lives of Wokingham Borough residents, could be changing the way it does business so it has even more clear and measurable outcomes, if the council’s decision-making executive gives its restructure the go-ahead.

The Wokingham Borough Strategic Partnership, or WBSP, is hoping to secure £3million worth of funding from central government later this year after meeting targets set out on the borough’s Local Area Agreement (LAA).* However, the WBSP has recognised that it now needs to progress further and provide residents and the community with clear and measurable outcomes and must restructure in order to achieve this.

The Wokingham executive will be looking at the structure of the WBSP at its meeting on July 30 to examine whether it can be organised in a more effective way. If it is given the go-ahead the WBSP, which includes the borough council, police, health service, fire service, voluntary groups, businesses and community groups, will become easier for residents to understand and have an input into because it will have to make its targets, work and achievements much clearer and transparent.

The Wokingham WBSP has already strengthened the way all the key organisations in the borough work together, but the executive will be looking at whether it can be improved to help people understand how vital it is in creating a great place to live and work, while ensuring that limited public money can be stretched as far as possible to benefit the local community as much as possible.

Cllr Simon Weeks, executive member for Wokingham strategic partnerships, said: “For many years now the key organisations within the Wokingham Borough have been working together to make a difference to residents’ lives through the WBSP. We know we can achieve a lot when we work together as it cuts duplication, saves money and improves services and, while we recognise this work has been successful in the past, we’re not complacent and know we need to make improvements.

“If the executive agrees with the restructure proposals of the WBSP it will separate the strategic group from the people who take responsibility for achieving community targets – ensuring that its outcomes are clear and measurable and that our residents understand what the WBSP is actually doing for them.”

Ian Saxton, chief officer for Voluntary Action Wokingham Borough, said: “WBSP has ensured some very effective partnership working in the Wokingham Borough. We in the voluntary sector are hopeful that the new structure will build upon what has already been achieved to ensure good quality services for residents, regardless of whether these are provided by the statutory, voluntary or commercial sector.”

Denise Blackburn, Thames Valley Police local police area commander, said: “The current structure of the Wokingham Borough Strategic Partnership has been tested over time and requires a restructure in order to be able to cope with the future demand which the partnership will face.”

The Wokingham WBSP organisations work together to achieve targets set out in a Local Area Agreement – which is a concrete guide showing what targets need to be achieved to make a real difference to the community. A new LAA was started last year and a new Community Strategy is being developed which will guide the work of the partnership. Local needs and opinions underpin the work of the partnership and everything it does is focussed around these objectives.

The new partnership is due to hold its first meeting on the September 24 and all of the board meetings will be in public. Notification of the meeting and agenda items will be given in advance and there will be an opportunity for public questions.

Wokingham Borough Council

The Wokingham Safeguarding Children Board has appointed Stephen Barber as its new independent chair and he will take up his position on August 1.

Local safeguarding boards have been set up across the country in order for all organisations in a local area to work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. The Wokingham Safeguarding Children Board is made up of organisations and professionals from across the borough including Wokingham Borough Council, the police, the probation service, the health service, Connexions and the voluntary sector.

Wokingham Borough Council worked with West Berkshire and Reading Borough Councils to secure the appointment of Stephen as a single chairperson for all three local safeguarding children boards to ensure a consistent approach to child protection policies and procedures and to avoid duplication of work for those partners who sit on all boards across the west of Berkshire.

Stephen spent nearly 30 years working in children’s social care in several London Boroughs before retiring in 2000. Since then, he has been an inspector for joint area reviews into children’s services and is currently a safeguarding children’s advisor for the Diocese of Oxford advising on cases where children may be at risk and dealing with any allegations made. Stephen is also a member of the registration and conduct committee for the General Social Care Council, which judges cases where social workers are alleged to have breached professional guidelines.

He has also held a number of positions at various voluntary bodies including Oxford Brookes University, Making Children Count project, Oxfordshire Council for Voluntary Children’s Service, Parents and Children Together (Reading) and Hampshire and Thames Valley Circles of Support and Accountability.

The Wokingham Safeguarding Children Board will develop a wide range of policies and procedures that govern how all organisations in the Wokingham Borough work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The board will monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the work carried out in the Wokingham Borough by all organisations around safeguarding practice and advising on how they can improve.

They will also listen to the voices of Wokingham children and young people and their families and ensure their views are represented in the work of the safeguarding children board.

Speaking on his appointment, Stephen said: “I am looking forward to making my contribution to protecting children by chairing the safeguarding boards from an independent position. I intend to take a fresh look at how we do things, see where we can improve, and help put improvements in place.”

Cllr Rob Stanton, Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for children’s services, said: “The borough council is committed to protecting its children and young people from harm and to promote their welfare.

“Stephen brings a wealth of experience of working with agencies to protect children and young people and he will add real value as an independent chair of Wokingham Safeguarding Children Board. There is a real benefit to chairing all three safeguarding boards in the west of Berkshire. It will offer potential for sharing best practice and the boards will have a consistent approach to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Stephen will also join the borough council’s children’s trust board and will act as our safeguarding champion. Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility and I look forward to working with him.”

On the appointment of Stephen, Cllr John Ennis, lead councillor for children’s services at Reading Borough Council added: "We have no more important responsibility than making sure our children are safe and have good life prospects. Stephen brings the depth of experience and achievement that are vital to this crucially important post of chair of our local safeguarding children board (LSCBs), and I very much welcome his appointment. The fact that Stephen will also chair Wokingham's and West Berkshire's LSCBs will help us share good practice in our work to ensure the safety and welfare of children across the whole area."

Wokingham Borough Council

This summer, the Wokingham borough’s under fives are guaranteed a fun time at dedicated play sessions being organised in easy-to-reach community locations by Wokingham Borough Council’s children’s centres.

Throughout August, a range of Wokingham drop-in and play sessions are taking place in Finchampstead, Crowthorne and Sindlesham. Children aged under five can enjoy arts and crafts, messy play, song and story times plus try out a range of toys.

The drop-in sessions are taking place at Bearwood School, on Bearwood Road in Sindlesham between 10am and 3pm on: Tuesday August 4, Friday August 7, Tuesday August 11, Friday August 14, Tuesday August 18, and Friday August 21.

There are also Wokingham drop-in sessions taking place in Finchampstead and Crowthorne. The sessions are running between 10am to 12.30pm on:

• Monday August 3 and Thursday August 6 at Gorse Ride Infant School, Gorse Ride South, Finchampstead
• Tuesday August 4 and Tuesday August 18 at The Memorial Hall, The Village, Finchampstead Village
• Monday August 17 and Thursday August 20 at Hatch Ride School, Hatch Ride, Crowthorne

The events are free to attend, although places are limited and families are encouraged to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member for Wokingham children’s services, said: “Parents can often wonder what to do with their children during the long summer holidays, so why not join in the fun at one of the play sessions being organised by the children’s centre team?

“These sessions are a great chance for families to play together and I hope that many families will join in one of the sessions during the summer holiday period. Not only will everyone enjoy playing and taking part in learning experiences, it is a great place for parents to make new friends! And the good news is, the sessions are free to attend!”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council is this month set to agree the way forward for the creation of a new country park for residents across the borough to enjoy – perfect for dog walking, picnics and enjoying the countryside.

The Wokingham council is looking at converting some farmland off Barkham Ride into the new park – which would feature open green space with ponds and trees, so that residents in the area have an open recreation space to enjoy.

The Wokingham council’s decision-making executive is to consider the proposal at its July 30 meeting, which, if approved, would see the borough’s already high ratio of open space per person increase still further, bringing new facilities to the borough for everyone to enjoy, including residents from future new developments, set to be built over the next 20 years.

Cllr Gary Cowan, executive member for Wokingham local and regional planning, said: “The council is looking at turning some unused farmland in Barkham into a place that the community can enjoy. If the scheme gets the green light from the executive on July 30 - and then goes on to secure planning permission for change of use, access to the new park and car-parking - we will look at creating a welcoming green area that residents from across the borough can use for a variety of recreational activities.”

If given the go-ahead, the new Barkham Ride recreation area would feature enhanced countryside areas including ponds, woodland and new plants and trees such as English oak, crab apple, ash, and maple trees as well as rose bushes and other shrubs. It will also have its own car park so that Wokingham people living a bit farther away can use the park.

Wokingham Cllr Cowan added: “We realise that it is important for people to have access to parks and green space for leisure activities – whether it’s walking, jogging or having a picnic, which is why we are proposing additional green space in Barkham for the public to enjoy.”

The green park would also have the added benefit of helping safeguard the Dartford warbler, the nightjar and the woodlark – which are considered to be vulnerable species and at risk from extinction. The birds are at risk because their natural habitats have been disturbed or developed upon over many years. One of the biggest threats is people accidentally trampling on their nests – which are usually at a low level within heathland – and dogs disturbing their habitat. The new park would reduce this threat as residents would be able to enjoy leisure activities in an area that isn’t within the birds’ heathland home.

There are certain rules about what can be built in or around the Thames Basin’s Heath Special Protection Area (SPA) – which covers southern parts of the Wokingham Borough such as Crowthorne/ Wokingham Without and Finchampstead. However, to meet strict government house-building targets under the South East Plan, the council needs to consider development within the SPA zone, but it must also ensure that there is enough green space for leisure activities.

In fact, through its core strategy – the blueprint for development in the Wokingham borough over the next two decades - the council will ensure that there is even more recreation ground available to local residents than there is proportionately at the moment.

Cllr Cowan added: “In light of the housing number targets set by the government, we have had to identify sites that could accommodate extra homes over the next 20 years – but it is also crucial that we have adequate parks and leisure areas available for all our residents. Therefore, we are already starting to look at where these much-needed alternative recreation sites can be created for people living in these new houses as well as people already living in the borough. They won’t all be to the same scale as the area proposed for Barkham but we will ensure that there is even more recreation ground available to local residents than there is proportionately at the moment.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Child road deaths in the Wokingham Borough are down 83 per cent since 1998 but the drive is still on to push this down to zero and so, during the school holidays, special courses for teenagers on how to drive carefully and responsibly will take place.

In addition to Wokingham road safety education and awareness advice, the Motorvation course will offer teenagers the chance to take their first taste of life behind the wheel with a free driving lesson on the day. They will also get guidance on how to buy a used car and make sure it is roadworthy.

Motorvation has been running for the past four years in the Wokingham Borough and has given more than 480 young people the skills necessary for a safe motoring life.

The one day workshops will run on Wednesday August 5 and Wednesday August 19 from 9.15am to 4pm and are free to all Wokingham Borough youngsters aged between 15 and 19.

Both sessions will take place at Woodley Airfield Youth and Community Centre and will cover a range of topics including:

• Hazards facing new drivers

• The legal requirements of driving a vehicle on public roads

• The impact on family, friends and the community when a young person is involved in a road accident

• Issues that can arise when buying a second-hand vehicle

The event has been organised by Wokingham Borough Council and will be presented by the Berkshire Association of Clubs for Young People, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Thames Valley Police, the Highways Agency and several qualified driving instructors.

Julie Pillai, Wokingham road safety officer said: “The workshops offer participants a lot of valuable help, including the opportunity to experience what it’s like to drive a vehicle in a controlled and safe surrounding – the first chance that many of the youngsters will have to drive a real car!

“There are also photographs and video footage of road traffic accidents in the workshops, which can be a little shocking. Life is precious and needs taking seriously, it’s even more fragile when there is a car involved but I’m not sure many young people realise just how dangerous a car can be.

“On average a car weighs about a tonne and can kill a whole family in one fatal hit, road users need to appreciate that to drive a motor vehicle is a huge responsibility.”

Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for Wokingham transport and highways, said: “Driving a car or motor vehicle is a privilege that many people take for granted – but our young people need to be educated right from the start that driving badly can wipe out someone’s life instantly.

“If you are thinking about applying for your provisional licence soon please do come along to the Movorvation workshop – it could one day mean the difference between life and death.”

Although mainly for 16 and 17 year olds, anyone between 15 and 19 can attend the workshop at the Hurricane Way youth and community centre, by booking a free place. Places can be reserved by calling (0118) 974 6387.

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council’s new More Arts e-Bulletin is there for anyone and everyone with an interest in arts and culture to find out what’s on in their area and beyond.

The Wokingham More Arts e-Bulletin provides monthly updates for all those interested in forthcoming events and activities. It doesn’t just include details of what Wokingham Borough Council is doing; the main focus is on the huge range of artistic events and activities that residents might be interested in, within the borough and beyond. These will range from concerts, plays, workshops, exhibitions, pub gigs, community events and many other arts events and activities.

The Wokingham bulletin will be produced by the borough council and will welcome contributions promoting arts events or activities of interest to Wokingham Borough residents. It will not be restricted to Wokingham Borough as many residents will travel out of the borough for such activities.

Wokingham Borough Council executive member for corporate services Cllr Liz Siggery said: “Wokingham Borough Council has a history of encouraging arts and culture within the community, helping to build stronger communities by bringing people together in positive ways.

“We hope this emailed bulletin will be useful to residents, keeping them informed, and helping them find out about the exciting opportunities on offer locally. It is important to point out that we are not just talking about the opera or ballet, but keeping residents informed about different types of community events.”

To sign up to receive the More Arts e-Bulletin email david.allen@wokingham.gov.uk with your request.

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council will this month looking at the best way to deal with landfill waste and minerals in the area and across Berkshire over the next 20 years.

The Wokingham county-wide Minerals and Waste Development Plan, which was consulted upon in 2008, was submitted to the government for consideration and an examination in public started earlier this year to make sure it fitted all the needs and requirements of the county and government.

However, new information has just come to light suggesting there may not be enough capacity to deal with landfill waste. The Wokingham council along with the other Berkshire Unitary Authorities will need to look closely at this new evidence and to decide if the submitted plan is still the best way forward for all its residents.

The minerals and waste plan has already considered some big issues including:

• Every four months, the people of Berkshire generate enough waste to fill Trafalgar Square to the top of Nelson’s Column. Sticking most of it in holes in the ground is no longer an option, environmentally or from a cost point of view. Therefore we have to do something proactive to deal with this waste.

Cllr Gary Cowan, executive member for Wokingham local and regional planning, said: “Getting the strategy for minerals and waste across Berkshire right is extremely important because it sets out the future for landfill waste and mineral sites for the next 20 years. This has a has a knock-on effect for planning and guides what can and cannot be developed on specific sites within the Wokingham Borough for the next two decades.

“In light of this new information, which couldn’t have been foreseen when the strategy was prepared, we are looking over the plan again to make sure it still meets the needs of our local residents. Getting it right for the Wokingham Borough is of paramount importance and the council will ensure that any changes to the strategy, or any new strategy, fully meets its residents’ needs. And, if a new strategy is created we will of course make sure all our residents have the chance to comment on any proposed plan.”

The Berkshire Joint Strategic Planning Unit, which includes representatives from all six Berkshire unitary authorities, will be meeting with the government inspector on July 28 to discuss the strategy further.

Wokingham Borough Council

In the wake of National Poop Scoop Week where thousands of responsible pet owners across the country pledged to continue to clear up after their dogs, Wokingham Borough Council is reminding all dog walkers on how they can still dispose of dog waste responsibly in the borough.

Dog owners across the Wokingham borough can now deposit bagged dog waste into any of the 1,100 general waste bins across the borough. Previously, there were just 247 specific dog waste bins available for dog-walkers to put their bagged dogs’ waste in. So with more than four times as many litter bins now available, it’s even easier to be a responsible pet owner.

Additionally, they can also take bagged dog waste home and put it in their general rubbish for collection with their Wokingham domestic household waste, which is exactly how many thousands of used disposable babies’ nappies are disposed of weekly across the borough.

The facts around the new Wokingham system are as follows:

• There are 1,100 bins available to all dog walkers for bagged dog waste and general litter waste. This is an increase of 102 new general waste bins since April 2009.

• Collection cost for Wokingham general waste bins is £62,012 a year for 2009/10. The council will save £60,000 of taxpayers’ money in waste collection charges for dog bins each year.

• The one-off cost of installing the 102 new all-purpose litter bins was £12,750; the cost of the removal of the 247 dog bins was £2,850; the cost of affixing advisory notices on the new bins was £400.

The Department for Environment, Health and Rural Affairs states that disposing of bagged dog waste in general waste bins - whether they are general waste bins put out for household collection or bins found in parks or in residential areas - does not pose a health hazard.

National Poop Scoop Week ran from June 23 to 28 this year and urged pet owners to think about their responsibility to clean up after their pets.

Cllr Simon Weeks, executive member for Wokingham environment, said: “Many people in the Wokingham Borough are very responsible pet owners and do put their animals’ bagged waste into one of the 1,100 waste bins provided, or take it home for normal domestic refuse collection.

“The simple fact is that, compared with this time last year, there are more bins available for dog waste – as, since April, the council has made it possible for all dog walkers to put their bagged dog waste in general waste bins. This time last year there were only 247 bins available for dog waste – now there are 1,100 bins available, which residents can use to dispose of bagged dog waste and general litter as well.”

The Wokingham council is still keen to hear from residents who believe that there is inadequate coverage of bins in a specific area. The council will visit any such sites to evaluate whether extra bins should be installed.

Wokingham Borough Council

A cWokingham amping expedition, kayaking, barbecues, bike rides, fishing days and horse riding are just some of the fun-filled treats ready for youngsters to delve into this summer holiday.

A full programme of events for Wokingham young people aged 12 to 19-years will start at the end of July to provide a variety of fun-filled outdoor pursuits to keep boredom levels at bay during the school holidays.

The activities are organised by the Wokingham council’s youth service team, together with local police and the Just Around the Corner a voluntary youth organisation, and feature physical activities like football championships and kayaking to social events like barbecues.

The programme of events, which require advance booking, are as follows:

• Kayaking – July 30 and 31 at the Waterside Centre for 14 to19-year-olds. Cost £10

• Silverdale Cup – August 6. There is an under-14s and under-16s tournament. Cost 50p per player

• Outdoor Pursuits Day – August 13 for 12 to 19-year-olds at the Oakwood Centre. Cost £5

• It’s a Knockout – August 15 for 12 to 19-year-olds. Cost £10 a team – proceeds go to charity

• Camping – August 21 and 22 at Horseshoe Lake for 13 to 19-year-olds. Cost £10.

• Barbecue and live music – August 26 for 13 to 19-year-olds. Cost 50p

• Day at the stables – August 27 for 13 to 19-year-old girls. Cost £5

• Band rehearsal/ recording studio – various dates for 12 to 19-year-olds. No charge

• Bike Ride – August 8 for 12 to 19-year-olds at Wellington Country Park. No charge.

Sports and music in the park events for 13 to 19-year-olds run every Tuesday at Sol Joel Park and every Thursday at Lower Earley Events Field from 10am to 2pm. There’s no need to book, just turn up.

Similarly, there’s no need to book for the Wokingham Fishing Day event on August 5, which takes place at Maiden Erlegh Lake from 9am to 4pm for 13 to 19-year-olds.

Details on the borough’s other youth events can be found in the latest editions of Wokingham Borough News and Txt magazine.

Rachael Holmes, Wokingham youth worker, said: “There is no reason for young people to get bored this summer with all the activities that are going on. Whether fishing is your thing or your fancy putting your vocal chords to the test in a recording studio there’s bound to be something for you to try out during the summer break. Best of all several of these events are free or cost as little as 50p to join in!”

Wokingham Youth Centre will also be serving up the answer to boredom when the very first youth café opens its doors at the Reading Road centre this summer. It will be used as a pilot scheme and to train the young people involved – honing their culinary skills, before a permanent youth café is set up in Wokingham town centre in the autumn. It will be funded by the Youth Opportunity Fund.

This follows on from a successful Wokingham weekend of splashing fun at the Waterside Centre, where young people from Wokingham Youth Centre took part in a variety activities organised by the youth service and community wardens.

Youth clubs across the borough, including in Earley, Wokingham, Woodley, Twyford and Barkham provide a range of activities on Friday evenings, some are even open on Saturday evenings too! For full details check out www.activeyouth.co.uk

Wokingham Borough Council

Council taxpayers in the Wokingham Borough are benefitting from the most efficient collection system in the country.

Wokingham Borough Council collected 99.2 per cent of the council tax it was owed for 2008/9 – meaning that those who pay up honestly are not forced to subsidise those who do not pay.

The national average collection rate for 2008/9 was 97 per cent and each percentage point for Wokingham Borough Council equates to about £700,000 of council tax – meaning that the efficiency of the council’s collection systems effectively generated in excess of £1.5million more than if it had been an average performing authority.

Cllr Anthony Pollock, executive member for Wokingham council budgets, said: “I would like to thank all those residents who pay their council tax on time. We get a very poor financial deal from central government and so it is important that we handle our resources efficiently in order to have money to spend on vital services. The officers should be complemented for their work in this area and their diligent follow up of those residents who need to be reminded to pay their council tax.”

“I realise that paying your council tax is not the highlight of people’s month, but it is important to stress the link between paying it and the services the council provides – your money is vital to a huge range of services – from caring for people with physical disabilities and learning difficulties to emptying bins and cleaning streets.”

Wokingham Borough Council

At the meeting on Wednesday July 15 of Wokingham Borough Council, councillors decided to accept the recommendations of an independent review of members’ allowances.

The Independent Wokingham Review Panel, who reviews councillors’ allowances annually, had become increasingly concerned that Wokingham Borough Council was falling behind other authorities in the level of allowances and support given to members and therefore carried out an extensive benchmarking and survey exercise.

Among the recommendations made by the panel and accepted by Wokingham councillors last night are:

• To increase the annual basic allowance of all Wokingham members from £6,750 to £7,360. Part of the current increase is due to the higher costs for IT, communication and office equipment, which members have to provide for themselves

• To increase the special responsibility allowance paid to Wokingham councillors who have exceptional responsibilities - such as being a chairman of a committee -from £4,000 to £5,000. This allowance has not been adjusted for at least eight years.

• To bring the Wokingham leader’s allowance more in line with the unitary authority average of £22,000 by increasing it from £16,000 to £20,000.

Chairman of the Independent Remuneration Panel Robin Cops said: “Our recommendations recognise and compensate Wokingham Borough councillors for the responsibility of being a councillor and the time and expenses they spend on their duties representing, being responsible to and communicating with the residents of the borough.

“In recalculating these allowances, we have still assumed that they give half their time freely and voluntarily for the good of the community. They also need more support on the IT and communication front to be able to carry out their roles effectively.

“I’m pleased that councillors have accepted our recommendations. Last year, they voted against a very modest increase to the basic allowance (from £6,750 to £7,000) and the panel was concerned that if they continued to vote against rises whilst the period of economic difficulties continued, it would be difficult to catch up in the future. Their allowances are now much more in line with those paid in other authorities, although they still remain less than the average,” added Mr Cops.

Council leader Cllr David Lee commented: “Wokingham Borough councillors provide the leadership and watchful eye for the delivery of the whole spectrum of local government services, from social services to schools, road maintenance to waste disposal and planning to environmental health – to name just a few of the many important issues they get involved in on a day-to-day basis. It’s important that they are compensated fairly for their time and expenses incurred.”

The Independent Remuneration Panel is looking at recruiting more members for next year’s review. Anyone who is interested in this voluntary position should contact Ella Hutchings from the council’s democratic services on (0118) 974 6052.

Wokingham Borough Council

The much-needed regeneration of Wokingham Town centre is a step closer as Wokingham Borough Council shortlists three top quality developers to work in partnership with on developing key ideas to revitalise the town.

The three developers short-listed for the next stage of the Wokingham project are:

• Development Securities (London)

• Gladedale Special Projects (Epsom)

• Wilson Bowden (Bardon Hill, Leicestershire)

Speaking at the a meeting of the Wokingham council last night (Wednesday July 15), deputy executive member for community regeneration Cllr David Chopping said: “The council is currently going through a competitive dialogue process to appoint a development partner for the long-term regeneration of key sites of Wokingham Town centre. And I’m delighted that we have these three highly regarded developers shortlisted for the next stage of the process.

“The council is totally committed to appointing the right partner and ensuring that the relevant resources are in place throughout, making sure that the project is a success and gives the town the vital boost it needs. We’re past the point of no return now – the regeneration is really going to happen!”

In order to ensure the right partner is selected, the Wokingham council issued the developers with a detailed brief in May 2009, asking them to submit outline solutions with their ideas for regenerating the town centre and how it would improve areas such as leisure and retail.

The next step is for key Wokingham council officers from areas such as planning, property and transport to work closely with the shortlisted developers over the next six months to develop their original ideas into practical schemes for regenerating the town centre.

The developers will be invited to submit their revised schemes at the end of January 2010. The best scheme will then be selected and the council will appoint their new development partner in spring 2010.

Cllr Matt Deegan, executive member for Wokingham community regeneration, said: “Spring 2010 may seem some way off but it goes without saying that the regeneration needs to be well-planned and comprehensive in order to help the town’s growth and renaissance. It’s crucial we get it right as it will be with us for decades to come. The next few months are going to be intensive but once we get to appoint our regeneration partner, everyone and everything will be committed, including the outline timetable for delivery.”

Wokingham Chief executive Susan Law said: “We are very clear about what we want the town to be, without being prescriptive on how this should be delivered, as it will be our partner’s expertise, commercial nous and innovation that will give us the best possible scheme. And the council will make sure this happens because it is driving the agenda.

“My thanks go to everyone in the town who has helped us to get this far, particularly the representatives on the Town Centre Forum and Steering Committee, whose feedback has been, and will continue to be, invaluable.”

Wokingham Borough Council

“I would like to urge more local people to take up the opportunity to have a say in the development of the borough’s future new communities,” said Cllr Gary Cowan, executive member for local and regional planning, as the final arrangements are made for Wokingham Borough Council’s second set of planning workshops, which are taking place on Saturday July 25.

If the government’s planning inspector approves the borough’s core strategy - the blueprint for development for the next 20 years - 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 the 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 output from the July 25 workshops, along with those held in June, will help shape the plans being prepared by the council for each site. The workshops are therefore aimed at people who attended the previous workshops or who made representations to the planning inspector in respect of the core strategy as well as those who have yet to become involved but would be interested in helping to shape the future of our community.

Subject to what the inspector says about the core strategy, it is anticipated that the plans for each site will be adopted by the council as supplementary planning documents early in 2010. And any planning applications submitted within the four sites will be expected to conform to these plans.

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.

Two workshops are to be held on Saturday July 25 at the civic offices, Shute End, Wokingham:

• 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

The workshops will provide an opportunity to review the output of the workshops held in June as well as move the process forward. It is also intended that a public exhibition will be held in the autumn where there will be a further opportunity for the community to engage in this process. The dates of this will be announced in the press as well as on the council’s website.

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 20 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

Wokingham Borough has some of the most hygienic and well managed food businesses around – with latest statistics showing that 84 per cent are rated as ‘good’ or better under a food safety scheme.

As a direct result of the Wokingham Scores on the Doors scheme, launched in June 2008, a range of food businesses have improved their star rating, with 85 per cent of all eateries and food outlets rated now rated as good, very good, excellent or exceeding the excellent benchmark. This is an increase of 18 per cent from when the scheme was launched.

Businesses in the Wokingham Borough that deal with food preparation, like restaurants, pubs, cafés, supermarkets and take aways are all checked by the borough council’s environmental health team for hygiene, structure and confidence in management. These inspections are then turned into a star rating as part of the Scores on the Doors initiative.

All Wokingham food businesses are rated in the following star categories:

• Five stars – excellent; 21 per cent of all food businesses were classed as five star in June 2009 compared to seven per cent in June 2008

• Four stars – very good; 23 per cent of all food businesses were classed as four star in June 2009 compared to 21 per cent in June 2008

• Three stars – good; 19 per cent of all food businesses were classes as three star in June 2009 compared to 21 per cent in June 2008

• Two stars – broadly compliant; 11 per cent were classed as two star in June 2009 compared to 20 per cent in June 2008

• One star - poor; three per cent were classed as one star in June 2009 compared to six per cent in June 2008

• Zero stars – major improvement needed; two per cent were classes as zero star in June 2009 compared to five per cent in June 2009.

An additional category is the alternative enforcement strategy (AES), which is reserved for food businesses that are so well maintained they surpass the five star ‘excellent’ benchmark or are very. The borough has 138 of these premises according to the latest statistic, making up 21 per cent of all food businesses, compared to 103 in June 2008, which made up 18 per cent of all food businesses.

Rosalynd Hale, principal Wokingham environmental health officer, said: “We launched the Scores on the Doors scheme a year ago to give food businesses struggling to offer good hygiene and management a very clear goal so they were encouraged to improve. We have worked intensively with those businesses who needed major improvements over the past year and most have made great improvements.

“Out of all the food businesses that operate in the borough only 5 per cent are now rated as poor or needing improvement in terms of management and hygiene – this is a great improvement from last year when 11 per cent of food businesses were in these categories, and goes to show just how hard many businesses have been working to improve their standards. We will continue to closely monitor these businesses to ensure they maintain their improved standards.”

The Scores on the Doors scheme does look at basic things like if businesses have the right cleaning procedures in place, if fridges are kept at the right temperature and if there is clear and consistent management where food safety is concerned. It does not seek to inform residents and visitors about the quality of the food or recommend the menu in terms of choice.

Cllr Liz Siggery, executive member for Wokingham corporate services, said: “It’s reassuring that so many food businesses in the borough have high standards of hygiene and management practices in place. It’s also encouraging that our local businesses are getting more top star ratings than last year – we now have 84 per cent of all businesses rated as good, very good, excellent or better than excellent, which is really good news for all our residents and visitors.

“Scores on the Doors is not about the menu on offer at cafés, restaurants, pubs, or other food outlets, it simply gives people information on how well each premises is run in terms of food safety so they can make an informed choice on where to eat or buy their food. I hope that as this scheme progresses more food businesses raise their standards and we are one day in a position to have 100 per cent of them classed as good or above.”

All the star ratings are available online at www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk and each food business is supplied with a sticker for its window stating its star rating.

Wokingham Borough Council

People with physical disabilities in the Wokingham Borough are enjoying more and more opportunities to get out and about in their communities thanks to changes in the way adult social care is being provided.

Wokingham Adults with physical disabilities, along with other people who are eligible for care support from the council, are increasingly enjoying the chance to take control of their own care budgets (as part of the Putting People First project) and using them in imaginative ways away from traditional council-run institutions.

And the Wokingham council is determined to support them in this through increasing use of self-directed support, which is the part of the Putting People First project that is giving people these opportunities by allowing them to take control of their care budgets. There are already inspirational examples of how this is being done. Numerous sports and leisure activities such as sailing, therapeutic gardening and pilates are being offered as well as one-to-one help to use community facilities.

And now Wokingham council is to look at whether the Westmead Resource Centre in Rances Lane, Wokingham, provides the type of flexible and mainstream services that people with physical disabilities need and want. The council is to work in partnership with the people who currently use the 1960s-built centre to explore the best ways of providing services that give them real choice and opportunities to improve their quality of life.

Council leader Cllr David Lee said: “Providing social care is not about buildings and institutions, it is about enhancing people’s lives and opportunities. That is why Wokingham Borough Council is looking to bring activities offered to people with physical disabilities out into the mainstream community, giving them a greater choice on how they live their lives.

“There are more and more opportunities for people with physical disabilities – as well as other people eligible for support form the council – to take part in the sort of things that everybody else takes for granted, such as going out with friends or taking part in sports and leisure activities, and we want to encourage and enhance those opportunities even further,” stressed Cllr Lee.

Stuart Rowbotham, general manager Wokingham community care, said: “We will be working with the 52 people with physical disabilities who use the Westmead Resource Centre to explore the new possibilities opened up by self-directed support.

“The closure of Westmead is a possibility as the centre is not attracting new, young clients because they are seeking activities outside the traditional social care institutions. In addition, the centre is not in a good state of repair and, more importantly, we are now in a position to offer the same services and support that have been provided there in better, mainstream locations such as leisure centres, coffee shops and even pubs.

“At the moment, it is not unusual for a group of people to meet at Westmead and then go off to other activities such as a pub lunch or an exercise class. So we need to ask ourselves whether we need to have an actual bricks and mortar Westmead building when more and more activities are being provided outside – activities that clients can access by using their personalised budgets and enjoy with their friends, both from Westmead and wider afield.

“But this is what we will be discussing with the people who use Westmead over the coming weeks. There will be a special consultation event on Tuesday September 15 where all these ideas and issues will be explored to ensure we provide a better service.”

In addition to greater control and choice being made available to Wokingham people eligible for social care for the council, Putting People First is increasingly the focus on helping people stay healthy and active and thus prevent them from needing intervention from the council or health services.

Among the new initiatives to help prevent problems rather than react to them are exercise clubs set up for people with physical disabilities on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings at the borough’s leisure centres, emergency cover for carers and befriending services. A database providing contact details of approved charities, voluntary organisations and companies that offer services for people with care needs has been set up and is available online at www.wokingham.gov.uk/health-social-care/linkup.

Wokingham Borough Council

Hot weather and summer holidays can give Wokingham criminals easy opportunities – burglars love open windows and empty homes so don’t give them a chance to sting you.

Ten Top Wokingham Tips To keep safe this summer

• Always fully close and lock all of your windows when you go out, even first floor windows and even if it is only for a minute.
• When you go to bed, shut and lock all downstairs windows and doors.
• Double lock front and back doors with a key and then remove the key.
• Keep keys hidden away from the front door but easily accessible in case of fire – otherwise thieves can reach them through the letterbox, window or cat flap.
• Ensure that all garden tools are put away and secured after use – they could be used to gain access to your home.
• Always lock your Wokingham side / back gate with a secure padlock.
• Use prickly plants in the garden to deter intruders. Defensive planting can be used to protect vulnerable windows.
• Good outdoor lighting can deter burglars. Fit dusk to dawn lights around perimeter of home.
• Make sure that all of your valuables are photographed and property marked.
• Use timer switches to make your house look occupied and consider joining your local Wokingham Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.

We also have Roadshows from 10.00am until 2.00pm on the following days for you to obtain more information:

Wednesday July 22: Market Place, Wokingham
Tuesday July 28: Hare Hatch Garden Centre, Twyford.
Thursday August 20: Asda, Lower Earley.
Tuesday August 25: Winnersh Country Gardens.

For more advice see www.thamesvalley.police.uk/reduction. Or call 0845 8 505 505 and ask for a crime reduction advisor.

Stephanie Meyrick; Community Safety Officer; Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to putting vulnerable people first and, as part of national Dementia Awareness Week, is delighted to announce its intention to embark on a scheme to bring much needed specialist housing for older people to Wokingham.

The Wokingham council has identified a lack of suitable accommodation, and choice, for older people in the borough particularly for those with dementia. And, as a result, the council is set to embark on an exciting project that will help meet the changing housing and care needs of its older population.

The council-owned Beeches Manor site, off Reading Road, in Wokingham, has been identified as having potential for development to provide specialist housing for people with dementia. If there is sufficient space on the site, it might also be possible to provide accommodation for people with a learning disability and some much-needed homes for key workers as part of the development.

Council leader Wokingham Cllr David Lee said: “The Beeches Manor site is an ideal location as it is close to the town’s facilities and will help ensure people there do not feel isolated and are able to be included in the town’s activities and vibrant life.”

The proposed specialist housing project will be discussed at the meeting of the council’s decision-making executive on July 30.

Specialist housing for people with dementia is a comprehensive and more economic alternative to residential care. It caters for a wide range of needs and individual circumstances, while also providing communal facilities together with on site 24-hour care and support. The housing tends to provide larger and more comfortable homes than available in residential care and also allows and encourages residents to maintain as much independence as possible.

Executive member for Wokingham social care Cllr Chris Edmunds said: “I very much hope that the executive gives the Beeches Manor scheme the green light on July 30 as it is an exciting scheme that promises to bring much-needed specialist care to Wokingham for the most of people.

“Dementia housing is a very special way of helping people to retain their quality of life and independence when dealing with the issues that dementia causes. And the Beeches Manor site is ideal as its proximity to Wokingham town centre will help ensure that people feel involved in the town and the many things it has to offer.”

Initial survey work has been carried out and if the executive gives the scheme the green light on July 30, full ecological and topographical surveys would be completed before any work begins on the planning front.

Wokingham Borough Council

Young people from across Wokingham Borough had fun on the river while learning about water safety at the Big Splash on Sunday July 5.

The Big Splash, which was organised by Wokingham Borough Council’s community wardens, included races for youngsters in unsinkable katakanu boats, as well as face-painting, a barbecue and sports organised by the Council’s sports development team.

Circus Scene, which runs circus workshops, was on hand to teach some tricks and representatives from the fire service and Just Around the Corner (a group that provides mobile youth activities in Woodley) also joined in the fun.

At the end of the day, Wokingham Borough Council executive member for community development Cllr John Kersley handed out prizes to the race winners.

Wokingham Cllr Kersley said: “It was obvious that the young people had a great time at the Big Splash and if they learnt some valuable lessons on water safety that is an added bonus. It was nice to see youngsters enjoying the water in a safe way and I was delighted to present the prizes to the race winners.”

The safety advice was provided by the staff of the Wokingham Waterside Centre.

Wokingham Borough Council

The Wokingham Clothes Talk project to bring the vintage clothing and costumes of the Berkshire Costume Service to life is on show in the Mall Gallery in the council’s offices in Shute End, Wokingham.

Wokingham Clothes Talk, which was funded with a £25,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant, has given young people from across the Wokingham Borough the chance to create their own films based on vintage items from the Berkshire Costume Service.

The Wokingham young people have created videos using clothing and accessories from the costume service – and now their films can be seen in the Mall Gallery.

Patricia Steinhardt, Wokingham council’s cultural development manager, said: “The project begun with a young person visiting the costume service and writing about how the hats and dresses can inspire stories about the past and it has enabled young people to imagine a past way of life and bring that to life in film.”

Young people who took part in project, were supported by Real Time Video, an educational charity specialising in participatory arts projects. The Berkshire Record Office supplied additional expertise in seeking out historical information such as maps or old photographs of shop fronts or fashions and all the projects will be brought together as an exhibition and DVD.

Costumes from the Berkshire Costume Service, at 3 Hogwood Lane Industrial Estate in Weller Drive, Finchampstead, are available for hire by schools, drama groups and individuals who need something for a fancy dress party. The service is open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9.30am to 5pm and Thursday from 9.30am to 6pm and visits are by appointment only. To arrange a time call the service on (0118) 973 4796.

The Clothes Talk display will be in the Mall Gallery until August 3.

Wokingham Borough Council

More than 100 Wokingham people and 40 of their canine chums popped along to the grand finale of Wokingham Borough’s first Dog Days Out roadshow last month.

As part of the final Wokingham event, pets were treated to a range of goodies from sponsors, were given a free health check and their owners were offered a range of information on how to keep their pooch in tip-top condition – from neutering advice to pet nutrition, to exercise and training programmes.

Mandy Dorman, Wokingham animal warden, said: “We were really pleased by the number of people who came along and were interested in getting advice on how to keep their pets healthy, happy and well behaved. It was great to see so many dogs at the event too and I’m sure they all enjoyed the treats on offer!”

The Wokingham Dog Days Out roadshow started with information events at Cantley Park on June 24, Ashenbury Park on June 25, Laurel Park on June 26 and Dinton Pastures on June 27 – expert advice from the PDSA was available at all the sites. The finale took place on June 28 at the Norreys Barn pub car park – where a range of sponsors and supporters gave out free advice to improve the care and health of dogs across the borough.

Mandy, who is the current national dog warden of the year, added: “Having a pet is a big responsibility and I hope that many dog owners got some helpful tips on how to take care of their animals at the event. I’d like to thank all our sponsors and supporters and everyone who came along for making the first ever Dog Days Out roadshow a great success.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Keen to promote the wonderful music festivals taking place in the Wokingham Borough, the council has joined forces with the Cantley Proms organisers who have kindly offered two free tickets for this month’s musical extravaganza which takes place on Sunday July 19.

Hoping to strike the right note with music lovers across the Wokingham borough, the Cantley Proms’ free ticket competition is open to all and simply asks people to send their suggestions of what they’d like to read about in the council’s soon-to-be-launched Arts e-bulletin – a free monthly arts newsletter that can be emailed direct to residents’ email in-boxes.

All local Wokingham music lovers have to do to win the free proms tickets is to email their ideas for articles to be included in the council’s monthly Arts e-bulletin to communications@wokingham.gov.uk by noon on Friday July 17. The winning entry will be pulled out of the hat and the tickets delivered to the winner’s home by Saturday evening.

Held annually, the Cantley Proms take place at Cantley House Hotel in Wokingham and sees hundreds of people enjoying a fun afternoon of picnicking and music for all the family, followed by a programme of musical favourites performed by The Lewisham Concert Band under the guest conductor Tom Higgins. The proms take place in the beautiful gardens of the hotel raising money for local charities, and culminate in a magnificent finale of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’.

Cantley Proms’ organiser Chris Monk said: “The Cantley Proms play a large role in the cultural life of the borough but no event exists in isolation and the council does a great job bringing all of the events and groups together so we are really happy to have them on board!”

Anyone wanting more details on the Cantley Proms should contact Cantley House Hotel on (0118) 978 9912 or www.cantleyproms.co.uk.

Cllr David Lee, leader of the Wokingham council, said: “As well as the rousing and highly entertaining Cantley Proms, the Wokingham Borough is the host borough for a whole range of arts events, from the internationally renowned Henley Music Festival taking place this week to the hands-on arts pavilion at the Swallowfield Family Fun Day on Saturday July 18. There’s something for everyone and you can find out more by reading the council’s very own newspaper Wokingham Borough News, which features a four-page pull-out highlighting ‘What’s on this Summer’.”

All households in the Wokingham borough should receive their copy of the council’s newspaper by Friday July 17. In the meantime, here are some event details to whet residents’ arty appetites, plus contact details of where they can find out more information.

Wokingham Borough Council

There will be no slacking in the summer fun for children under five and their families at the Wokingham borough’s libraries.

Libraries across the Wokingham borough have lined up a range of exciting events for the under fives, including the popular storytimes and rhymetimes.

Among the new Wokingham events this summer will be Speedy goes on Holiday, a story session that will introduce fantastic exotic creatures to the children.

Young library members can take part in the Quest Seekers’ book crawl. Those who sign up will get a book crawl card that they can fill up with Quest Seekers’ stickers. Quest Seeker storytimes for under-fives, which include adventure stories and mystery crafts will be held through the summer.

Reader development officer for young Wokingham people and families Elizabeth McDonald said: “Toddlers and young children get so much pleasure from stories and books and we are really excited about seeing lots of them through the summer. We have events across the borough so there is no need for anybody to miss out – and they are all free so check out the schedules and come along.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Hot off the Wokingham printing press this month is a summer edition of Txt magazine - a magazine from Wokingham Borough Council which is written by young people for young people.

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

The latest summer edition covers issues and information that matter to young people in the Wokingham Borough. Articles featured include top tips on joining university, a forthcoming trip to Africa, fundraising events, a music project, and performing arts group and much, much more.

Wokingham Borough youth MP James Evans gives an insight into his work representing the views of the borough’s young people and there are also details of how other young people can get involved if they want to be the next youth MP.

Txt also caught up with Sondos Alagha who took part in a youth exchange in Palestine, who described it as ‘the best experience of their lives’ The magazine also highlights how much talent there is the Wokingham Borough with articles by Naomi Blake on a film project she was involved with and Emma Layton who organised the successful Bands Against Cancer event.

Txt shows young people that there is a lot going on to keep them busy this summer. A pull-out section in the centre pages has been designed to be displayed on a wall or notice board, highlighting all the information they need to know about what is happening at local youth centres as well as in many local sporting areas.

Many of the youth centres are running summer schemes including residential trips, football competitions, quad biking, moped training, water sports, archery, barbeques and much, much more. Check out the details at www.wokingham.gov.uk/youthservice or www.activeyouth.co.uk or drop into your local youth centre to see what is happening during the summer. The council’s sports development unit is also running a whole range of events over the summer months.

Copies of Txt are sent to every secondary school pupil in the borough and will also be available from youth centres and libraries. Copies can be downloaded from the Wokingham Borough Council website at www.wokingham.gov.uk/txt

Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member of Wokingham children’s services, said: “This edition of Txt sees some great articles written by young people. It allows them to have a say on the issues that matter to them and they have also take the chance to tell us about projects they have been working on. They should be immensely proud of all their achievements. Young people can also find out what’s happening in the Wokingham Borough over the summer months and beyond. If you have not visited a youth centre, why not give it a go this summer? There is something for everyone and it promises to be a summer to remember! Don’t miss out.

“If there are any young people who would like to submit articles for the next edition, please get in touch. We are keen to know what they think about the magazine and we would love to hear from young people, whether it’s on a topical issue they feel strongly about or if they would like to interview people or review projects. Now is the time for budding journalists to get in touch!”

Anyone who would like to submit articles for the next edition of Wokingham Txt can do so by emailing: txt@wokingham.gov.uk or by calling senior communications officer Andrea Jenkins on (0118) 974 6010 or talking to their local youth worker.

Wokingham Borough Council

The annual Wokingham Summer Reading Challenge will be launched this month to inspire children and young people to get reading during their summer holiday.

Each year, Wokingham Borough Council takes part in the reading challenge to encourage children to read six books of their choice through the summer, gaining stickers for every book they read. On completion of the challenge, children will be rewarded with a certificate, medal and magic pen.

This year’s Wokingham challenge, called Quest Seekers, has a fantasy theme and will take the young readers into a wondrous land where they can discover the joy of reading and nurture a life-long love of books. As well as the book reading challenge, Quest Seekers is an interactive website where young people can take part in games and activities related to top authors and illustrators. Quest Seekers also promotes local libraries as places of wonder for children, where librarians can offer invaluable advice and guidance through their quests.

The Wokingham Summer Reading Challenge is for any child aged five to 12 and is free to join. It will run from July 11 to September 12.

Wokingham Reader development officer for young people and families Elizabeth McDonald said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is always great fun and a brilliant way for children to spend some of their summer holidays. This year’s challenge has something extra thanks to the Quest Seekers’ website that will make it even more entertaining for children.”

A series of holiday events are being organised in the borough’s libraries to tie in with the Summer Reading Challenge. These will include Quest Seekers’ storytimes for under-fives and fantasy story telling for five to 11 year olds as well as a puppet theatre performance, a talk on dinosaurs and rainforest-themed tales for those aged seven to 11.

Wokingham Borough Council

Last week saw Wokingham Borough Council host a visit from a 25-strong delegation of young people from China. The theme of their visit to the Wokingham Borough was 'youth and community leadership'.

Speaking on the international youth work visit to the Wokingham Borough, which was held at the request of the British Council and took place from June 30 to July 3, Wokingham Borough Council area youth work manager Detta Regan said:“The visit was part of the 'China 400 agreement' between our two countries, which was initiated by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabo and Prime Minister Gordon Brown during the PM’s visit to China in 2008. The agreement was signed by UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang.

“The Chinese participants were all provincial level leaders and this was the first visit of its kind to the UK. Selected from diverse backgrounds - from professional youth workers and youth leaders in schools and universities to social workers and volunteers - they were well placed to talk about the lives and aspirations of Chinese youth as they work with young people every day. They were aged from 18 to 35, as people in China are declared to be a youth up to the age of 35.”

The group visiting Wokingham were part of a 100-strong delegation travelling to different parts of Great Britain to find out more about UK social and economic development, environmental projects, council level structures and youth and community work.

Welcomed to the Wokingham Borough by the Mayor Cllr Barrie Patman and Susan Law, chief executive of Wokingham Borough Council, the group stayed at Easthampstead Park conference centre and visited youth centres in Wokingham and Woodley to experience local youth services at first hand.

They also went to the Microsoft UK headquarters to find out more about the company’s Citizenship Project before attending presentations on the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, the work of Youth MPs, the youth offending service, neighbourhood police unit and the international ‘Follow the Women’ charity.

Cllr Barrie Patman, Mayor of the Wokingham Borough, said: “The Chinese young people gave the many people they met in the borough a first hand opportunity of being involved in this international youth work event. As well as their whistle-stop tour of the Wokingham Borough, they also attended receptions held at the British Council and at the Chinese Embassy. They provided a brilliant insight into a culture completely different from ours and some of our lucky youngsters in the Wokingham Borough are looking forward to the return trip later this year.”

Wokingham Borough Council

Wokingham Borough Council is set to cut its carbon footprint and reduce its energy bills by joining the latest phase of the Carbon Trust’s Local Authorities Carbon Management (LACM) programme.

The Wokingham borough council is one of 68 local authorities from across England, Scotland and Wales to participate in the seventh phase of the programme, which aims to see participants collectively cut their annual carbon footprint by 395,000 tonnes and energy costs by £60million.

The Carbon Trust is now working with 268 of the UK’s 468 local authorities - some 55 per cent - to assess the risks and opportunities posed by climate change and develop a robust strategy to drastically reduce their carbon footprints over a five to ten year period.

Through the previous six years of the LACM programme, the Carbon Trust has worked with 200 local authorities, identifying annual savings of more than £120 million and 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide across all sites involved. Many of the new participants can expect to reduce their energy bills by up to 25 per cent.

Tom Cumberlege, public sector manager at the Carbon Trust, said: “The financial and environmental incentives to cut carbon are clear. Local authorities in the UK are responsible for spending in the region of £1.4billion every year on energy and, through their own operations alone, collectively emit nearly seven million tonnes of carbon dioxide. When it comes to taking action on climate change, local authorities are in a unique position to be clear leaders and work together with local businesses and residents. The Carbon Trust is delighted to be supporting 68 more local authorities in these efforts.

“The good news is that energy is one of the largest controllable overheads for councils and implementing good carbon management can lead to significant cash savings on bills. As well as releasing funds which can be better spent on resources and services for local residents, this will also enable councils to cut carbon emissions and improve their reputation in the community.”

Ian Gough, Wokingham Borough Council’s energy officer, said: “Through working in close partnership with the Carbon Trust, Wokingham Borough Council will establish a carbon management strategy and identify a set of practical actions that will help us to save cash and carbon. We are committed to taking action on carbon emissions and as a result make savings on our energy costs, which will all help to reduce our impact on climate change.

“The council’s first action will be to carry out obvious, low cost and no cost energy efficiency improvements, including briefing all staff to lead more energy efficient lifestyles whilst at work. We will then look at a series of initiatives to ensure that our properties are as energy efficient as they can be. This will include updating insulation, lighting and machinery. In the long-term, we will look to implement cleaner and greener technologies which will allow us to make energy from natural resources, dramatically reduce our energy usage and help us to reduce carbon emissions as well as costs.”

Cllr Simon Weeks, executive member for Wokingham environment, said: “Getting an appropriate focus on minimising the council’s energy usage will definitely yield worthwhile economic and environmental benefits.”

Wokingham Borough Council

The Wokingham Community Cohesion Conference, which is taking this month, will bring people together to discuss how to ensure Wokingham remains one of the safest places to live in the country.

The annual conference is a chance for people from across the Wokingham borough to discuss issues and find ways to further strengthen communities.

The year’s Wokingham conference will feature a play by GW Theatre titled One Extreme to the Other which looks at the temptation of extremism to young people and the dangers it creates. The play follows two young men, former friends who have got involved with extremist groups – one Islamic and the other far right, and examines the temptations of such groups and the moral choices people are faced with.

There will also be a speech from a representative from Berkshire Women’s Aid, a group that provides refuge for victims of domestic abuse, as well as support, advice and counselling and runs a helpline for anybody suffering domestic abuse.

A presentation by Art Beyond Belief Slough, a charity that organise artistic faith projects to help bring communities together, on Interfaith and Art will also be given.

Wokingham Borough Council executive member for community development Cllr John Kersley said: “The Wokingham borough is a safe place with strong communities, but we cannot be complacent and events such as this are good ways to bring people together and prevent problems developing. GW Theatre’s involvement is an interesting addition as they should be able to bring some of the issues to life.”

A buffet dinner provided to those attending.

For more information and the reserve a place contact Wokingham Borough Council social inclusion officer Ashwani Gupta on (0118) 974 6790 or community safety officer Carol-Anne Bidwell on (0118) 974 3798.

The conference will be at Woodley Baptist Church in Hurricane Way from 4pm to 8.30pm on Monday July 20.

Wokingham Borough Council

Scandalous tales of scarlet women and historical affairs will be revealed at a talk being given at Wokingham Library this month.

Best-selling historical writers the History Girls (Alison Weir, Tracy Borman, Sarah Gristwood and Kate Williams) will present Scarlet Women: Famous Mistresses at the Wokingham library at 7.15pm on Thursday July 30.

Between them, the History Girls have written biographies of some of the most famous – and infamous - mistresses in British history, including Lord Nelson’s lover Emma Hamilton as well as Henrietta Howard, mistress of George II and Mary Robinson, mistress of George II.

Refreshments will be available and all four writers will sign copies of their books.

Wokingham Borough Council executive member for community development Cllr John Kersley said: “Wokingham borough’s libraries have a great range of events for people of all ages and interests and a talk on the scarlet women of history is another fascinating idea.”

There is a £5 charge for the evening and places must be booked from Wokingham Library on (0118) 978 1368.

Wokingham Borough Council

A sculpture celebrating ten years of Wokingham Borough Council’s Health Walk was unveiled by executive member for environment – and volunteer health walk leader Cllr Simon Weeks on Friday June 26.

The sculpture, by Oxfordshire artist David Gosling, was commissioned last year as part of the scheme’s tenth anniversary and is now in pride of place in the orchard near the Dragonfly Café at Dinton Pastures Country Park. More than 100 health walkers came to see it unveiled at the schemes annual barbecue and hog roast.

The Wokingham Health Walks are free and are designed to improve fitness. Regular brisk walks can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes, osteoporosis, stress, bowel cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. The walks can also help weight loss.

Cllr Weeks, who is one of the Wokingham Health Walks’ 80 volunteer leaders, said: “It is wonderful that the Health Walks are still going strong in the Wokingham Borough as they provide a lovely way to keep active and to appreciate the borough’s countryside. I certainly enjoy them and I know many others do as well. The sculpture of a walking man is a fitting way to celebrate the walks’ success and I am confident that success will continue.”

The Wokingham scheme now has a mailing list of 850 walkers and organises 17 walks each week around the borough.

As part of the anniversary celebrations last year, it was calculated that Wokingham health walkers had walked 245,960 miles combined – ten times around the world – and had drunk 52,000 cups of tea and burnt off 18,304,000 calories. In addition volunteer walk leaders had given up a total of 4,754 day (the equivalent of 13 years of volunteering).

Wokingham Borough Council

Anybody who feels left behind by mobile phone technology can catch up thanks to workshops being run by volunteer pupils from The Holt School held at Wokingham Library this month.

Mobile phones are being used by an increasing number of Wokingham people but not everybody is familiar or comfortable with the technology and may not be getting the most out of it.

The Wokingham workshops will show people how to use the more advanced options on their phones as well as explaining the basics, such as how to make and answer calls, send texts and create address books to those who need more guidance..

Heather Dyson, reader development officer for adults, said: “Many of us take using a mobile phone for granted but not everybody finds it easy to get to grips with technology – and some of the people who may struggle with mobiles are the same people who could really benefit from them. For example; a mobile phone could be a lifeline for an older person or somebody with care needs but they may not be confident using one. The workshops are for those people as well as those who may just feel they haven’t quite got the hang of their phone yet.

”It is also great that young people from The Holt School are giving up their time to run these workshops that should really help some people.”

Wokingham Workshops will run from 10am to 11.20am and from 11.30am to 1pm on July 9 and 16.

Places are £2 and can be booked from Wokingham Library on (0118) 978 1368.

Wokingham Borough Council

A new Wokingham cardio-vascular workout programme is coming soon to a leisure centre near you thanks to an investment of £8,400 from Wokingham Borough Council.

The Wokingham cardio-vascular workout programme, known as ‘Urban Rebounding’, comes in the form of mini-trampolines and these will be in use at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley and St Crispin’s Sports Centre in Wokingham from Monday (June 29). Some of the mini-trampolines will also be used by the borough council’s sports development unit in other community venues from August.

‘Urban Rebounding’ is on offer to youngsters as well as adults across the borough to improve general fitness but the programme can also be aimed specifically for sporting fitness in a range of sports including tennis, football, hockey, athletics and ski-ing.

Beverley Thompson, Wokingham sports development and leisure co-ordinator, said: “The council is committed to getting its residents fit and active. ‘Urban Rebounding’ workouts are great fun and help develop cardiovascular endurance, all over body conditioning and general fitness.

“It’s a great way to get fit and active. We recognise it’s important to offer our residents a range of diverse sports and physical activities that are fun, challenging and capture their interest in fitness and encourages everyone in getting more active. ‘Urban Rebounding’ is something different and promises to be an exciting workout that appeals to all age groups.”

Wokingham Borough Council