Woodley Town Council would like your views on the type of play equipment and features you would like to see in the new play area in Woodford Park behind the Oakwood Centre.
The project is in the planning stages and we are looking for feedback from play area users to help us develop the design brief. Once we have some design proposals we will be carrying out further consultation to choose the final design elements.
If you would like to contribute your views, please click HERE complete the short online survey.
Bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects will be given an easy path through Wokingham borough thanks to a growing network of wildflower planting areas across the borough.
Wokingham Borough Council is supporting charity Buglife with its Berkshire B-lines map, which is being backed with funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The map highlights pre-existing wildflower areas and possible areas for targeted wildflower habitat creation.
B-lines are existing and potential wildflower habitats which link towns to the countryside across the country. By providing these it is easier for insects to move across the area safely.
The council is already working to create new wildflower meadows across the borough, with more than 16,500 sqm, the equivalent of more than two football pitches, planted in 2019, at locations including Kitwood Drive, Lower Earley; Hurricane Way, Woodley; and Woosehill Spine Road, Woosehill.
The B-lines already cover many areas where the council is working to maintain longer grass and meadow areas including Ashenbury Park in Woodley, Winnersh Meadows and Riverside Park in Earley.
Country parks and green spaces are also part of the network, with areas including Dinton Pastures and California Country Park having areas with specialised management to encourage pollinators and attract insects in specific areas.
“Pollinating insects are the lifeblood of our environment so anything we can do to support them as part of this project is fantastic,” said Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment. “We’re already carrying out work to maximise the opportunities for wildflowers across the borough and it’s great we can link these up to be part of Buglife’s plans for the whole country. We look forward to working with them to support their vital work, which is being supported by Government funding.”
The B-lines project aims to connect the county’s best remaining wildlife sites through targeted wildflower habitat creation. Bees and other pollinators are disappearing from the UK’s countryside because of a lack of wildflower-rich habitats.
Creating pollinator habitat along B-Lines will help wildlife move across our countryside, saving threatened species and making sure that there are plenty of pollinators out there to help us grow crops and pollinate wildflowers.
Catherine Jones, pollinator officer from Buglife, said: “B-Lines provide an exciting opportunity for everyone to support our struggling insect pollinators. By working together to create a network of wildflower-rich habitats, we can support healthy populations of bees and other pollinators enabling them respond to threats such as climate change.”
Sam Cartwright, senior biodiversity and planning officer from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, said: “Insect abundance has plummeted in recent years and a step-change is needed in how we target our collective efforts to restore their numbers.
“This network of B-Lines will help to prioritise local action for pollinating insects in the places where it will be most beneficial. Crucially, these B-Lines will also contribute to Berkshire’s wider nature recovery network.”
A full list of areas we maintain with wildflowers and meadows, which are part of the network, are listed below:
Paths and pavements across the Wokingham Borough are getting back to their best following the start of a new street cleansing contract. Residents and neighbourhood groups in Lower Earley have already seen the benefits of the new partnership with Urbaser, with work focused around Hawkedon Primary School.
School and housing estate entrances, as well as along major roads, have all been identified as areas where increased work has been required to brighten up the borough. It’s been part of a raft of improvements introduced by the new contractor to significantly and immediately improve the look and feel of the borough which residents see they are out and about.
Urbaser has been carrying out the work since the contract began on 1 April, working hard to introduce the improvements despite restrictions due to COVID-19. Its work includes a combination of mechanical and manual street and open space cleaning; cleaning public car parks and subways; removing fly tipping; and cleaning up for special events.
The company is subcontracted by VolkerHighways, the council’s highways and transport maintenance and construction contractor. It has been working with the council since April last year and already works in partnership with Urbaser to provide street cleansing services in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
The company, which will have the contract for six years, has received accolades for the quality of its work in the nearby borough following results from the National Highways and Transport Network (NHT), which ranked the borough as second best nationally for the cleanliness of its roads and third best nationally for the cleanliness of its pavements.
“We know how important it is to our residents to see the borough is well looked after, especially in key areas such as around schools and at the entrances to residential areas,” said Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment. “Staff from Urbaser have really hit the ground running with works across our area and I look forward to seeing the high standards sustained for years to come.”
“Providing this service through our existing highways contractor VolkerHighways has helped us transition to the new provider almost seamlessly,” said Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport. “It will also increase efficiency in the years ahead for our roads and pavements, as highway maintenance and highway cleansing are naturally linked services.”
The new contract with Urbaser also includes:
· A new fleet of vehicles
· Grade A standard for sweeping litter & detritus on all adopted roads, footways, traffic islands and cycleways
· Assurance that all litter bins are emptied on time and that flytipping is removed within set timescales
Wokingham Borough Council’s Adult Social Care (ASC) team are still very much at the forefront of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, providing vital health care support to all our vulnerable residents across the borough and have today announced the launch of an eight week online consultation that will help shape its new autism strategy.
The consultation, which is being carried out in partnership with local charity Promise Inclusion, will take place via the council website and aims to ensure that residents with autism are offered same opportunities as other residents across the borough.
“We welcome the council’s consultation which offers a great opportunity to hear directly from local residents with autism across the borough and their carers about how we can continue to best support them to live healthy, active and independent lives” said Mary Durman, Chief Executive Officer at Promise Inclusion.
The council is offering residents living with autism and their families an opportunity to share their thoughts on what is currently available and the improvements they would like the see.
“Throughout the current crisis our Adult Social Care Team have continued to support out most vulnerable residents, enabling them to live healthy, active and independent lives by securing the support they need to live their lives to the fullest. We are looking to deliver a strategy that has vulnerable residents at its heart, connecting people, places and services in the community”, said Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services.
“This is a time of great change in the delivery of health and social care service, both locally and nationally and our in-depth consultations, with key partners and residents, will help us to deliver a co-produced strategy with our residents, leading the way in helping us to bridge the gaps with services that they think are important for them and their carers”.
To take part in the consultation which closes on 31st August, please visit the Council’s website HERE. If you require assistance completing the survey please speak to your service provider or contact Promise Inclusion at Projects@wokinghammencap.org or 0300 777 8539.
Wokingham Borough Council has invited Woodley Town Council to suggest areas to be considered for designation as a Local Green Space in the Local Plan Update. Local Green Space designation is a way to provide special protection against development for green areas of particular importance to local communities.
The Local Green Space designation can only be used where the green space is:
In reasonably close proximity to the community it serves;
Demonstrably special to a local community and holds a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance, recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquillity or richness of its wildlife; and
Local in character and is not an extensive tract of land.
Information on the Local Plan Update and Local Green Space designation can be found HERE.
The Town Council has made the following suggestions:
Dinton Pastures
Ashenbury Park
Aldermoors Nature Reserve
Vauxhall Park
South Lake – including the lily pond and play area
Malone Park
Woodford Park and the Memorial Recreation Ground (also known as Coronation Fields)
Sandford Park, between Hurricane Way and Mohawk
Hearn Road play area
Crescent Park in Southlake Crescent
Mortimer’s Meadow
Redwood play area
The park between Masters Close and Marathon Close
The area between Mohawk Way and the old (closed off) Colemans Moor Road
Land over the river from the Loddon Park estate.
In addition, it should be noted that Bulmershe Site of Urban Landscape Value has already been submitted for designation as a Local Green Space.
If any member of the public has further suggestions to put forward for consideration, please send them to: linda.matthews@woodley.gov.uk saying why you think the area should be considered for designation as a Local Green Space.
Suggestions must be received by Sunday 12 July 2020.
There is no place for racism in our society, and Wokingham Borough Council has a long-standing commitment to tackling the problem and will be increasing its efforts in response to recent global events.
The borough has an active BME Forum that is supported to be a critical friend and advisor to the council and a strong voice for the black, Asian and minority ethnic community. This forum has been in place for about 18 years and is regularly consulted by the authority.
But in the light of the international outcry over the killing of George Floyd and the protests in the UK, the council is strengthening its commitment to tackle racism. The council will be wanting to hear from residents across the community about experiences of race and racism and also asking if there are any monuments, places or road names which cause offence.
Council leader John Halsall said: “We have a proud record of tackling racism through our work with the BME Forum and of celebrating the BAME community’s contribution to our society and history during the annual Black History Month events.
“But we recognise that, like others across the world, we can do even better and we are committed to doing so. We will do this with our established BME Forum and by listening to everybody in our community.”
Ramnik Saund, chair of the BME Forum, said: “The tragic slaying of the unarmed black American George Floyd by police in Minneapolis has once again raised the inequality and injustice that exists in society. This has provoked anger around the world. Wokingham BME Forum has worked in partnership with the Council to encourage the adoption of policies that treat everyone equitably, fairly and without discrimination.
“This sad event has created an urgency to act and the Forum is encouraged by the Council’s commitment to removing racism. It welcomes the initiative to remove such relics in public, which may cause offence to the heritage of BME communities. The Forum supports the Council in its endeavours to promote equality and remove racism. It is committed to working with the Council to achieve this.”
The council will work with the BME Forum to make sure it hears all voices and engages with the community and have created an online portal for people to give their experiences.
The comprehensive survey of black and minority ethnic people’s experiences of life in the borough will be used as a starting point to tackling the blight of racism head on.
The survey invites all people to share their experiences of race and community cohesion in the borough and detail any specific racist incidents.
We will use the information collected, with representatives of the BAME community and the Wokingham Black and Minority Ethnic Forum, to create a comprehensive action plan that will provide real change where necessary.
Cllr Parry Batth, vice-chair of the BME Forum, said: “The BME Forum has been a strong champion for the community for more than a decade and I know we will be able to work with it and other groups in the community to gather a wide range of experiences and views. We are particularly interested to know if there are any monuments, places or road names that cause offence so we can open up a proper debate on this issue.”
With many local retailers set to reopen from Monday (June 15), including Woodley town centre, the Town Council, Wokingham Borough Council and Woodley’s Town Centre Manager Brian Fennelly have been working together to ensure the town centre shops can open safely.
The team have provided a range of activities and resources to support local shops and businesses to open safely whilst still adhering to the latest government guidance such as social distancing and safe queuing.
Cllr Stuart Munro, executive member for business and economic development at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “It’s great to see our local businesses start to reopen again as they are such an important part of our local community. By shopping local, whether in one of our great independent stores or in our local markets, you are helping our businesses to survive and thrive.
“We have been working with our business community throughout the pandemic to support them by distributing £17.3million in grants and £17.5million in business rates relief. Now, that non-essential shops are allowed to open from next week, we are working hard to support our town centre businesses welcome residents back onto our high streets in a safe way.
“But it’s incredibly important that people continue to observe the rules and follow advice on how to shop safely. Everyone must take responsibility, respecting the people around them and the place they are in. We need to make sure we limit the risk of infection spreading as, if a local outbreak occurs, there is a risk that a localised lockdown may return. This is something we can all agree no one wants to see happen.”
Key changes taking place around the main shopping area in Woodley include:
Clear signage across the towns to make sure people remember the importance of requirements such as the social distancing rule, sanitizing hands and queuing safely
Increased marketing and social media campaigns to keep shoppers and businesses up to date with useful information and latest updates
Temporary changes to local roads and footways to help maximise space for pedestrians and manage movement safely
Clearly marked areas for queuing outside shops
Support packs for local retailers and businesses including a range of useful resources, such as posters, signs and floor stickers to help encourage safe distancing.
Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport, said: “Whilst we know some of the changes may seem strange at first, we know from our discussions with residents and businesses that creating safe spaces is incredibly important to everyone. All the changes being made are temporary, and we will continue to monitor them over the coming months and adapt them as required.”
While traffic changes are being implemented in Wokingham town centre, there are currently no plans to change anything in the Woodley precinct, unless there becomes a need.
“We are not currently proposing changes to the roads or footways in Woodley at this time but are continuing to work closely with them to monitor the shopping areas and will take action if required. We will continue to keep resident’s updated if there are any changes.”
Wokingham Borough Council is committed to continue to support all businesses across the borough, whether town centre based or not.
“But it’s not just about our main retail areas as we want to make sure our shops and businesses are supported across the borough. Many of the ideas and improvements agreed for Wokingham town centre, Woodley and Twyford are applicable to all our retail businesses and we’re keen to work with them to offer support where we can,” adds Jorgensen.
Retailers in Wokingham town centre, Woodley and Twyford will be contacted directly to organise access to support packs. Retailers outside of these areas, but interested in finding out more should contact Economicdevelopment@wokingham.gov.uk.
Funding towards these activities is coming from the European Regional Development Fund which helps local areas stimulate their economic development.
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