parking woodley wokingham

Wokingham Borough Council to crack down on unsafe parking

 

 

parking woodley wokingham

 

Wokingham Borough Council is increasing the number of parking wardens in response to complaints of unsafe parking around schools across the borough

 

The council will expand the team of parking enforcement officers due to the recent increase in the number of residents raising concerns about drivers parking unsafely and illegally outside schools and other areas with high levels of unsafe parking around the borough.

Although parking restrictions are in place, the council continues to receive requests from residents for more frequent enforcement, especially in specific towns and villages, such as Twyford, Earley, Shinfield and Finchampstead around schools, shops and train stations.

“The majority of parking complaints we receive from our residents are about the school run,” said Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport.

“Due to the sheer volume of complaints, we don’t currently have the capacity to visit the trouble spots regularly enough for our patrols to have a significant enough impact on changing this negative behaviour.

“We are trying to change dangerous behaviour and decrease congestion caused by parking violations. We have listened to the concerns of our residents and increased visible patrol presence across the borough to ensure the safety of our residents.”

 

New pilot scheme

 

We will increase our civil parking enforcement team by 75% which will provide more effective enforcement across the borough as well as increase the number of schools we are able to visit per day. The extra resource will be flexibly targeted across the Borough to give us the maximum ability to deal with problem areas.

The additional resource within the parking department will also play a vital role in the council’s new pilot scheme announced by Cllr Jorgensen at the full council meeting last week.

We will be piloting a new initiative to introduce parking infringement notices (PIN) that will see council parking wardens issue warnings to those causing unnecessary and wilful obstruction of the highway.

“There are a number of parking violations that we receive complaints about but are unable to enforce, such as parking on pavements and at the corners of roads.These remain the responsibility of the police, ” continued Cllr Jorgensen.

“There may be some drivers who are unaware that they are parking illegally as our parking wardens have not previously issued them with a ticket. By issuing PIN notices we can educate those residents that are parked illegally as well as gather evidence of persistent offenders that can be passed onto Thames Valley Police (TVP). This is something we were previously not allowed to do and we are grateful to TVP for allowing us to trial this new initiative.”

PINs will be issued to vehicles by trained parking wardens and the details of vehicles recorded in a database, which will be used to evaluate the impact of the pilot upon specific locations and vehicles involved.  The information will be made available to Thames Valley Police for consideration of further action, as deemed necessary.

The pilot PIN initiative will begin in October and run until the end of the year. An interim review will then be carried out and any amendments to the process made in order for the project to run until the end March 2020.

 

For further details of parking restrictions around the borough visit the council website at www.wokingham.gov.uk and search ‘parking restrictions’.

 

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Weekend M4 Closure

From Friday 27 October 8pm (Information from Highways England)

There is a full closure of the M4 this weekend in both directions between junctions 5 (Langley) and 6 (Slough/Windsor).

The closure will start Friday 27th September at approximately 8pm and this section of the motorway will be closed all weekend for the demolition of Recreation Ground bridge, a pedestrian/cycle bridge that links Datchet to Upton Court Park in Slough. The motorway will reopen on Monday 30th September by 6am.

The demolition work will begin overnight on the Friday and continue all weekend at all hours until it is complete. Motorway traffic will be diverted to the A4 and A355 through Slough for the duration of the closure. Recreation Ground bridge will be replaced in late Summer 2020 and re-open as soon as possible after then.

There is also a wider regional diversion plan that will advise drivers on the M25 heading west to use the M3 or M40 and then re-join the M4 further along – the westbound slip roads linking from the M25 junction 15 to the M4 junctions 4b will be closed over the weekend to help manage traffic. Similarly, drivers heading east on the M4 towards London will be advised to leave the M4 and redirect to the M3 and M40 to join the M25, or to reach destinations in Berkshire. Clear signs and signals will be in place on the network over the weekend.

There are two further closures between junctions 6 and 8/9 of the M4 in mid and late November to allow for the demolition and construction of bridges – with more to come in 2020 and 2021.  You can find out more in the attached bulletin or at our websites: http://www.highwaysengland.co.uk/m4j3to12 and https://m4j3to12smartmotorway.commonplace.is.

Regular updates will be posted on the Commonplace website news page over the weekend: https://m4j3to12smartmotorway.commonplace.is/news – you can also sign up to receive weekly updates on the project via the news page.

 

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Wokingham Borough Libraries

Wokingham Borough Libraries competition

 

 

Get your budding artists to enter the super hero competition as part of the Wokingham Children’s Book Festival to win WHSmith goodies!

 

Wokingham Borough Libraries

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Weekly scheduled roadworks – 24th September

Woodley roadworks

A4 London Road, Earley, Wokingham

28 September — 27 October

Delays likely – Traffic control (multi-way signals)

Works location: Near junction of Shepperds House Lane to near junction of Suttons Park Avenue 

Works description: TO INSTALL A NEW 132KV AND 33KV DUCT ROUTE AND ASSOICATED WORKS MULTIWAY LIGHTS AND A LANE CLOSURE BEING USED.

Responsibility for works: Scottish and Southern Power Distribution

 

B3350 Church Road, Earley, Wokingham

26 September — 26 September

 Delays likely – Traffic control (give & take)

Works location: OS 66

Works description: Footway Patching

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

Kingfisher Drive, Woodley, Wokingham

24 September — 25 September

Delays likely – Road closure

Works location: Outside 33-135

Works description: Advance road pace booking for Micro asphalt works

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Suttons Park Avenue, Earley, Wokingham

28 September — 29 November

Delays possible – Traffic control (multi-way signals)

Works location: FROM JUNCTION OF LONDON ROAD TO OUTSIDE 50

Works description: TO EXCAVATE A NEW 132KV DUCT ROUTE AND ALL ASSOCIATED WORKS

Responsibility for works: Scottish and Southern Power Distribution

 

Tippings Lane, Woodley, Wokingham

01 October — 03 October 

Delays possible – Some carriageway incursion

Works location: 44 -44A

Works description: Boundary Box Exchange Fway in Footway.

Responsibility for works: Thames Water

 

Selsdon Avenue, Woodley, Wokingham

02 October — 04 October

Delays unlikely – Some carriageway incursion

Works location: 40

Works description: B Box Exchange <33mm Fway in Footway.

Responsibility for works: Thames Water

 

 

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foster care wokingham borough

Could you foster a child in Wokingham borough?

 

foster care wokingham borough

 

Could you offer a room to a local foster child?

 

With many young people starting new jobs and moving away from the family home this autumn, now may be perfect time to make use of an empty bedroom in Wokingham Borough by offering a home to a child in need. Currently there are more than 100 children in the borough council’s care.

 

Wokingham Borough Council is always looking new foster carers for children and young people who want to be fostered close to family in the area. A spare bedroom all year round is one of the key requirements for someone who wants to put themselves forward to possibly be the right family for one of our children.

 

Becoming a foster carer, means assisting a young person in need by offering a safe, secure and happy family life for the period of time they need.

 

Find out more

 

Those wanting to find out more may want to attend Wokingham Fostering’s next drop-in information event at the Oakwood Centre, in Woodley, 17.30-19.45 on Wednesday 25 September.

 

As well as a chance to make a difference with a young person in need, fostering through the council offers an attractive remuneration package, council tax exemption, excellent training including a specialist therapeutic programme, as well as one-to-one and out-of-hours support.

 

Fees increase with experience often resulting in the equivalent of a good salary, which could provide a complete change of career. For example, an experienced foster carer at Level 2, who cares for two children all year, could earn more than £25,000 p.a. excluding generous allowances for the child.

 

The council has almost 50 fostering homes in the Borough already but is always looking for more. The more foster homes the council has available, the more able it will be to help young people in its care find a family home.

 

“We can change more lives for the better if we have an increased number of foster carers in the Wokingham Borough, as we would be able offer homes to even more children close to their families,” said Cllr UllaKarin Clark, executive member for children’s services.

 

“This time of year often sees a period of change in families’ homes, with children moving away, but it presents a fantastic opportunity to make use of a bedroom, taking advantage of the benefits on offer, while potentially providing a loving home for a young person who needs one.

 

“If you are excited by this opportunity and have life experience, as well as the time and capacity to potentially look after a child, or have even had a fleeting thought about potentially fostering, talk to our fostering team at one of our events, or give them a call.”

 

Contact Jackie Ross in the fostering team on (0118) 974 6204, emailfostering@wokingham.gov.uk, visit ‘Wokingham Fostering’ Facebook or go to www.fostering.wokingham.gov.uk

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bikes with kids

Borough summer cycling success

A record number of local children have thrown away their stabilisers this summer after pedalling their way to success, completing Wokingham Borough Council’s Bikeability Learn to Ride course at Woodford Park and other locations

Wokingham Borough Council’s My Journey team have successfully helped a massive 168 of our school age children master the skill of riding a pedal bike.

The My Journey team hosted regular weekly sessions at the FBC centre in Finchampstead and at Woodford Park Leisure Centre in Woodley, where children were invited to attend two consecutive sessions to learn to ride.

Due to its continued success, demand for the sessions have increased. To help accommodate as many enthusiastic wannabe cyclists as possible this summer, the My Journey team worked in partnership with Cycle Experience to run a number of additional sessions throughout the summer holidays at Floreat Montague Park primary school in Wokingham.

Over two weeks in August, 86 children attended the courses, bringing the total number of children trained this Summer to 168.

Congratulations

“I would like to congratulate all our young children who have mastered this fantastic skill over the summer, a skill that will stay with them for the rest of their lives”, said Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport.

“I would encourage any parent wanting some help with teaching their child to ride a bike to get in contact with the My Journey team and get signed up to one of their weekly sessions.”

The key to success for the Bikeability Learn to Ride course is partly down to the number of instructors, with the team able to offer one instructor for every two or three children.

During the sessions the team use bikes without pedals (balance bikes) and teach children to balance, glide, steer and stop. Once they have mastered balancing, they move on to learning how to pedal.

The My Journey Wokingham team will be running more Bikeability Learn to Ride sessions this term on Thursdays from 4 to 5pm. There is a £5 charge per session and booking is essential, via the My Journey Wokingham website at www.myjourneywokingham.com/events

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Canine award RSPCA Wokingham borough

Wokingham borough canine initiative wins international award

Canine award RSPCA Wokingham borough

Gold national award for Wokingham top canine carers 

 

The Public Protection Partnership’s canine carers have won a top national award for the gold standard way they look after stray dogs. For the tenth successive year the Animal Warden service has won the RSPCA’s Footprint Award in its Community Animal Welfare Footprint (CAWF) Awards

 

This award recognises public sector organisations going above and beyond basic and statutory animal welfare standards. Established in 2008, the annual Footprint awards are supported by the Local Government Association, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. Gold standard is the highest achievement.

 

Cllr Hilary Cole, Chairman of the Joint Public Protection Committee, said: “We are delighted that for the tenth year in a row our excellent Animal Warden service has received a top RSPCA award. Our aim is to reunite a dog and owner and get it home, or find it a new home, as quickly as possible. If there is a delay we take the dog to our kennels that are staffed by trained professionals and manned 24/7. All the dogs are assessed by a vet whether sick or not. We keep the dog for up to seven days to give the owner a chance to claim the animal. If the dog is not claimed we find a space in a rescue centre and we only use rescue centres that vaccinate, microchip, neuter and home check.”

Help

If you have lost or found an animal within Wokingham Borough we can be found online at https://publicprotectionpartnership.org.uk/environmental-health/animal-warden/and https://www.facebook.com/Animal-Warden-West-Berkshire-and-Wokingham-Borough-councils-421065871394741/.

Alternatively you can contact us:
• During office hours (9am – 5pm, Monday to Thursday or 9am – 4:30pm Friday) on 01635 519171 or
• Outside of these times (including Bank Holidays) on 0844 499 6063

 

Public Protection Partnership

Wokingham Borough’s Animal Warden Service comes under Environmental Health and Licensing which is part of the Public Protection Partnership, a shared service provided by Wokingham Borough Council, Bracknell Forest Council and West Berkshire Council.

 

The Public Protection Partnership – publicprotectionpartnership.org.uk – is a shared service delivering Environmental Health, Licensing and Trading Standards to over 450,000 people and 10,000 businesses on behalf of three authorities, Wokingham Borough Council, West Berkshire Council and Bracknell Forest Council. The Joint Public Protection Committee oversees the work of the Public Protection Partnership.

 

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Woodley Town Council

Woodley Town Council external Auditor Report 2018/19

 

Woodley Town Council

 

We are pleased to report that Woodley Town Council has received the External Auditor Report on its 2018/19 Annual Governance and Accountability Return stating that in their opinion the information in sections 1 and 2 of the Return is in accordance with proper practices and no other matters have come to their attention giving cause for concern that relevant legislation and regulatory requirements have not been met.

To view the notice of the conclusion of audit and the relevant sections of the Council’s Annual Governance and Accountability Return for 2018/19 click HERE.

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Woodley roadworks

Woodley roadworks

Kingfisher Drive, Woodley

17 September — 21 September

Delays likely – Road closure

Works description: Advance road space booking for Micro asphalt works. Please click link above for more information on these works or contact Wokingham Borough Council – 0118 974 6000

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Colemans Moor Road, Woodley

17 September — 17 September

Delays possible – Traffic control (give & take)

Works location: Outside 72

Works description: Carriageway patching

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Crockhamwell Road, Woodley

17 September — 17 September

Delays possible – Traffic control (give & take)

Works location: Outside 7

Works description: Carriageway patching

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Tippings Lane, Woodley

18 September — 20 September

Delays possible – Some carriageway incursion

Works location: 44 -44A

Works description: Boundary Box Exchange Fway in Footway.

Responsibility for works: Thames Water

 

Woodlands Avenue, Woodley

17 September — 17 September

Delays possible – Traffic control (give & take)

Works location: Outside 23

Works description: Carriageway patching

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Antrim Road, Woodley

18 September — 18 September

Delays unlikely – Traffic control (give & take)

Works location: Outside 110

Works description: Footway patching

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Dundela Close, Woodley

18 September — 18 September

Delays unlikely – Traffic control (give & take)

Works location: Outside 5

Works description: Footway patching

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Highgate Road, Woodley

17 September — 19 September

Delays unlikely – Some carriageway incursion

Works location: Junction Fairwater Drive – c/w f/wv verge

Works description: For remedial works

Responsibility for works: SGN

 

Martin Close, Woodley

18 September — 18 September

Delays unlikely – Traffic control (give & take)

Works location: Outside 20-22

Works description: Footway patching

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Penrose Avenue, Woodley

18 September — 18 September

Delays unlikely – Traffic control (give & take)

Works location: Outside 13

Works description: Footway patching

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Selsdon Avenue, Woodley

17 September — 19 September

Delays unlikely – Some carriageway incursion

Works location: 40

Works description: B Box Exchange <33mm Fway in Footway.

Responsibility for works: Thames Water

 

Woodyer Close, Woodley

17 September — 17 September

Delays unlikely – Traffic control (give & take)

Works location: Junction with Drovers Way

Works description: Carriageway patching

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

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homelessness woodley

Have your say on homelessness in Woodley

homelessness woodley

Helping the local homeless

 

Wokingham Borough Council, in its commitment to support those at risk of homelessness and people who sleep rough, has a new draft strategy to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in the borough and wants to know what you think.

 

Consultation

The consultation is available on the council’s website from 9 to 27 September by visiting www.wokingham.gov.uk and searching ‘consultations’.

 

The strategy has four key priorities: early intervention and prevention; working towards ending rough sleeping and tackling hidden homelessness (people who become homeless but are staying with friends or family); building more affordable homes; and supporting our vulnerable residents.

 

To address these priorities, the council is proposing to work with long-term rough sleepers, look closely at the hidden homeless in the borough and reduce its use of emergency and temporary accommodation for the homeless.

 

“The impacts of homelessness can be devastating for individuals and families. Homelessness can affect everything — health, education and employment,” said John Kaiser, executive member for finance and housing. “Homelessness can have long term consequences for those affected. As a result, reducing homelessness and rough sleeping is a key priority for the council.

Homelessness is an important issue and we want to hear what you think of our priorities and aims. Visit our website to tell us how you think we should tackle this difficult issue.”

 

Help

For information on how to get advice if you or someone you know is or may become homeless, visit our website at www.wokingham.gov.uk and search ‘homelessness’.

 

To contact the council for help on homelessness, phone 0118 974 6000 during office hours or 01344 786 543 after hours, via email at housing.needs@wokingham.gov.uk or by visiting the council offices at Shute End, Wokingham.

 

If you are aware of someone sleeping rough in the borough, let the council know by sending an alert to StreetLink. The details you provide will be sent to the council, who will use the information to find the individual, offer them support, and explore ways to find them accommodation.

 

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comic books wokingham woodley libraries

e-comic books available at Wokingham Borough libraries

 

comic books wokingham woodley libraries

e-comic book classics hit Wokingham libraries

Whether you’re Fantastic Four fanatic or a X-Men enthusiast , Wokingham Borough Libraries are jam-packed with superheroes and villains, now available to you free of charge at just the touch of a button.

 

Comic book enthusiasts can now access a huge variety of e-Comics through the library’s digital service website. They are now able to login via their PC, smartphone or tablet and go to a whole new world of adventure.

 

With more than 60 new graphic novel titles, including popular characters Spider Man, the X-Men, Captain America, the Fantastic Four and Iron Man, as well as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, Transformers and X-Files, there is something for everyone.

 

“We are thrilled to add e-comics to our already extensive digital library service which now boasts more than 2,000 e-books and 1,000 audiobooks, now with no limit to the number of audiobooks or comics you can borrow,” said Cllr Parry Batth, executive member of environment and leisure.

 

“We also have most of the daily and weekly national newspapers available, some local newspapers and hundreds of magazines”.

 

For further details and to create a free account with your library card number visit www.wokingham.gov.uk and search e-books.

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IMG_3163

Woodford Park lake pathway resurfacing

Woodford Park lake Woodley

 

The path around the lake has been repaired and resurfaced as part of the lake regeneration project. The old path surface was in very poor condition due to wear and tear and tree root damage.

The new surface has loose stones at present, which will compact over time with pedestrian traffic. The loose stones will become less and less as this happens.

For more information please call Woodley Town Council on 0118 9690356 or email admin@woodley.gov.uk

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