Wokingham Borough Council is finalising plans to provide financial support to local businesses impacted by the current national lockdown restrictions, which were in place until 2 December. It is hoped that this will also extend to any businesses affected by Wokingham Borough’s move into the new Tier 2 restrictions.

For businesses required to close as a result of the current lockdown restrictions, and who are registered for business rates (commercial premises), there is the option to apply for a mandatory grant under the Local Restrictions Support Grants (Closed) Addendum. To date, more than £529,000 has been paid out to local businesses, and eligible companies can continue to apply via the form on the council’s website.  

However the Council recognises that there are many businesses who have been impacted by the recent 4 week restrictions, but who do not pay business rates and who aren’t eligible for other financial support. To support these organisations, it is finalising details for Phase 1 of a Discretionary Grants Scheme (also known as Additional Restrictions Grants). 

Subject to final approval from the Council’s Executive this week, it hopes to be able to offer grants of £1,500 to help business whose cash-flow has taken a nosedive in the last four weeks; either because they have been required to stop trading, or because a significant proportion of their income relies on trade with businesses who have been forced to close.

The Council recognises how challenging these current restrictions have been for many businesses and so are actively encouraging early applications from potentially eligible businesses so that we can be ready to pay out that grant as quickly as possible if the scheme is approved.

More details and an application form can be found on the Council’s website.

The Council wants to make sure it helps as many businesses as possible so if you are aware of any companies that may have been impacted, perhaps as part of your own supply chain, then please pass this information on.    

Please note this phase of discretionary grants just covers the recent 4 week restrictions and the Council will be looking at further phases and other support schemes to help local businesses over the next few weeks and months.  

5/1/21

Wokingham Borough Council-owned car parks in towns and village centres across the area will offer free parking on 5, 12 and 19 December.

It’s especially important for communities across the borough to support their local high streets this year, with many independent businesses dealing with disruption due to Covid-19.

Where car parking is free

Car parks included in this festive offer are:

• Polehampton Close, Twyford 
• School Lane, Wargrave 
• Shute End, Wokingham 
• Denmark Street, Wokingham 
• Easthampstead Road (East and West), Wokingham 
• Cockpit Path, Wokingham 
• Headley Road, Woodley 
• Crockhamwell Road, Woodley 
• Lytham Road (East and West), Woodley 
• Former M&S car park/Rose Street car park, Wokingham
• Carnival Pool Multi Storey car park, Wokingham

Supporting local businesses

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport, said: “We’re pleased to be able to offer free Saturday parking again this year in the run up to Christmas, with it being especially important to support local shops and traders this year. 

“We know our residents want to support businesses in the borough in the run up to Christmas and make the most of the fantastic shops we have to offer, providing parking on these days free of charge helps them to do this.”

Further information

Although parking will be free on the three Saturdays before Christmas, maximum stay limits and disabled parking bays will still be enforced and any vehicles breaching these regulations will be subject to the usual Penalty Charge Notices being issued.  

It should also be noted that the free parking offer applies only to council car parks, and does not apply to privately managed car parks.

Many people  across Wokingham Borough  became unpaid carers overnight when lockdown was imposed in March, increasing their responsibilities to look after  older, disabled or seriously ill  loved ones and relatives instantly.   

Some carers found themselves in a particularly challenging position. Healthwatch Wokingham is launching its Caring During Covid-19 campaign to give unpaid carers a voice.  

Healthwatch Wokingham  want to hear what  caring during the pandemic  has been like and how things need to change going forward, particularly with the virus still in circulation.   

Neil Bolton-Heaton, Head of Healthwatch Wokingham, said: “Many unpaid carers have already told us their stories about caring during Covid; these have included issues accessing services, medication and general support but also that their caring responsibilities have increased. Through our project Caring During Covid-19, we want to have a greater understanding of the issues they face and would encourage all those caring for a family member or loved one to come forward and speak with us.”

Carers can take part in the survey in  a number of  ways:   

• Complete the survey online via our website:  www.healthwatchwokingham.co.uk
• Call us:  0118 418 1418  
• Email:  carers@healthwatchwokingham.co.uk 
• Contact via social media channels:  Facebook or  Twitter   . 

Write to:    Healthwatch Wokingham,    Town Hall, Market Place  , Wokingham, RG40 1AS  .

For more information and detailed guidance visit the UK Government’s website HERE.

MEETING FRIENDS AND FAMILY

No mixing of households indoors, apart from support bubbles. Maximum of six outdoors.

BARS, PUBS AND RESTAURANTS

Pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals. Venues must stop taking orders at 10pm and must close by 11pm.

RETAIL

Open.

WORK AND BUSINESS

Everyone who can work from home should do so.

EDUCATION

Early years settings, schools, colleges and universities open. Childcare, other supervised activities for children, and childcare bubbles permitted.

INDOOR LEISURE

Open.

ACCOMMODATION

Open.

PERSONAL CARE

Open.

OVERNIGHT STAYS

Permitted with household or support bubble.

WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS

15 guests for weddings, civil partnerships, wedding receptions and wakes; 30 for funerals.

ENTERTAINMENT

Open.

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Open, but cannot interact with anyone outside household or support bubble.

TRAVELLING

Reduce the number of journeys you make and walk or cycle if possible. Avoid busy times and routes on public transport. Avoid car sharing with those outside of your household or support bubble. Avoid travelling outside your area, or entering a Tier 3 area, other than where necessary such as for work or education. Further exemptions apply.

EXERCISE

Classes and organised adult sport can take place outdoors, but cannot take place indoors if there is any interaction between people from different households. Organised activities for elite athletes, under18s and disabled people can continue.

RESIDENTIAL CARE

COVID-secure arrangements such as substantial screens, visiting pods, and window visits. Outdoor/airtight visits only (rollout of rapid testing will enable indoor visits including contact).

LARGE EVENTS

Sport, live performances and business meetings limited to 50% capacity or 2000 people outdoors (whichever is lower) and 50% capacity or 1000 people indoors (whichever is lower)

Join in with the Christmas spirit while you #StaySafe and #StayHome! 🎁🎄🎅

Woodley Town Centre Management Initiative is providing the residents of Woodley and their nearest and dearest with a virtual Christmas lights & carols celebration!🎁🎄🎅

Details will be revealed soon but make sure to put 28th November at 18.00 in your diaries! 🎁🎄🎅

Take a sneak peek HERE and HERE (YouTube links)!

You can view the report HERE.

Wokingham Borough Council has launched its Recovery College, a new mental health service which gives local people the chance to access workshops and training sessions, designed to help them on their road to recovery.   

The Recovery College provides a range of online educational courses and resources, enabling residents to gain a greater ability to manage their own lives, form stronger social relationships and enhance the skills they need for living and working. The project is a real shift in the delivery of mental health services, from a focus on reducing symptoms to an empowering ethos of rebuilding lives. 

With cognitive health difficulties on the rise, additional help outside of clinical care is necessary. Unlike traditional services which have processes and restrictions on who can access their support, the Recovery College is open to anyone over 18 living in the borough, wishing to improve their wellbeing. Individuals can register themselves without needing any referrals. 

The provision is fluid and responds to the ever evolving needs of its students. Courses include managing anxiety, managing mood, money matters and healthy sleeping habits and are shaped on user’s feedback. Staff are not clinically trained, but are informed by personal experience and their own research of psycho-education.  

“This year in particular caused many of us to feel unsettled, worried and anxious,” said Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services. “Maintaining good mental health and wellbeing has always been important, and more so amid a pandemic. I’m so proud of our officers at Wokingham Borough Council and Public Health colleagues for their commitment and creativity, coming up with ways to enrich and streamline our service offer, breaking barriers and reaching out to everybody. The Recovery College has been a great success in many areas of the country and I’m thrilled to be able to celebrate its launch in our borough too.”  

The November issue of The Herald is now available to read! Click HERE to read this issue and past issues.

SURVEY CLOSES MONDAY 16th NOVEMBER

Financial problems caused by Covid-19 mean that the Town Council is facing a difficult year in 2021/22.  To continue to deliver our services we need to increase the level of Town Council tax (the precept).  

We work for the people of Woodley and pride ourselves in providing good facilities and services for the town.  We want to be able to continue to do this.  If each household pays a little more next year, we should be able to protect the community of the town and keep its services and facilities for years to come.   

Woodley Town Council income comes from an amount you pay as part of your Wokingham Borough Council tax (the precept) and income from our facilities.

This year, our income from facilities was expected to be £763,000.  Due to COVID-19 it could be less than £200,000.  We will have to use a significant amount of our reserves to cover this shortfall.  We need to increase the precept next year to cover the lost income and make sure we have a safe level of reserves.  

If we do this, we can continue to provide services and facilities in Woodley.  The extra amount will be added to your council tax next year. 

The amount you pay will help to fund many local facilities, services and community activities. 

These include: 

• Local parks (including Woodford Park, Malone and Wheble Parks and Bulmershe Open Space)
• Woodford Park Leisure Centre and The Gym on the Park
• The allotments at Reading Road, the Garden of Remembrance and Centre Stage 
• Halls for hire (Coronation and Chapel Halls, the Oakwood Centre) 
• Maintaining designated bus shelters, the public toilet, street lighting, noticeboards, public seating
• Providing detached youth work in the town
• Contributions to the Town Centre and community activities and events.  

For more information please email taxconsultation@woodley.gov.uk .

The survey will ask you to choose one of the following four options and also provide your postcode.

We would like as many people as possible to respond so please share with your Woodley friends, family and neighbours.

The Survey can be accessed HERE.