New measures are being put in place to help reduce visitor numbers at Dinton Pastures Country Park and ensure that social distancing rules can be followed. 

Amongst these measures will be an online booking system for the play area between 10am and 4pm on weekends and during school holidays. From 30 January, visitors will need to book a one-hour time slot online, prior to their visit. Staff members will be onsite to monitor usage and clear the play area once the hour is up. 

In addition, the overflow carpark was closed on 23 January and will remain closed until lockdown ends, at the earliest. A formal Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) is being put in place and will be enforceable from this week to prevent visitors from parking in the surrounding areas. Traffic cones have been put in place in the meantime.

Other measures include increased and more prominent signage, as well as additional presence from the Council’s Covid Support Officers to observe visitor behaviour and help promote best practice.

Stop the spread of Covid-19

Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure says: “We are aware that local parks and play areas have been extremely busy in recent weeks, especially Dinton Pastures. 

“This is of course a testament to how wonderful these outdoor spaces are; however, we do need to ensure that they remain safe places to visit. As such, we are investing in the necessary actions to help reduce visitor numbers and stop the spread of Covid-19 in our communities. 

“Regular exercise is integral to our physical and mental health and we do not want to stop people from being able to access these outdoor spaces. However, it is imperative that we listen to feedback and act accordingly. We also need our residents to play their part. 

“Outdoor exercise should be done locally wherever possible, but you can travel a short distance within your area to do so if necessary. Please only visit Dinton if you are a Wokingham Borough resident who lives nearby – ideally in Winnersh, Woodley or Hurst.”

Play area information

The play area will have capacity for 150 people in each one-hour time slot, which is less than 50% of its usual capacity. Double bookings will not be permitted, and it is asked that people only book if they know they will show up, to save disappointing other families. 

Alongside this, all children should be under the supervision of an adult at all times – this will not be the responsibility of staff members as they will be focusing on safety numbers and marshalling entry and exit points.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive at, or just after, the time of their booking slot to avoid over-crowding and prevent any queuing for the session. At the end of each session a whistle will be blown, and visitors will be encouraged to leave the site. There is a 15-minute period before the next slot begins.

“We appreciate all the feedback that our residents have given on our parks and play areas and feel that the decision to limit visitor numbers at Dinton in this way is the right one,” says Cllr Parry Batth. 

“We do not want to have to our close our parks, though we may need to take further action if social distancing rules aren’t followed. Please continue to follow the national guidance and help bring infection rates down.”

To book a slot in the play area at Dinton Pastures, please visit its website.

Hurst and Woodley residential parking

The following roads fall under the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO): Davis Street, Lea Heath Way, Davis Way (leading to Douglas Grange and Little Hill Road), Sanford Lane, Mohawk Way and Colemansmoor Road. Any residents living on these roads should park on their driveway. 

If they are unable to do so, or have no off-street parking, they should email parking.services@wokingham.gov.uk with vehicle details and proof of residency (such as a council tax letter, V5C vehicle logbook or utility bill). 

Their details will be added to the system and they will be given a dispensation to park whilst these temporary restrictions are in place.

Action Fraud is raising awareness of another coronavirus vaccine scam, after it received a high volume of reports relating to a phishing email this week (w/c 25 January).

The email, which attempts to trick people into handing over their bank details, was reported more than 1,000 times in 24 hours. It appears to come from the NHS and asks the recipient to click on a link to accept or decline an invitation to receive the coronavirus vaccine. If they click accept, they are asked to input personal information and their bank card details.
The national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime has previously warned about coronavirus vaccine scams, with many people reporting receiving fake text messages purporting to be from the NHS.

Head of Action Fraud, Pauline Smith, is warning the public to remain vigilant as fraudsters continue to act:
“It’s despicable that fraudsters will take advantage of such an important tool in the fight against this evil and deadly disease. Not only are the people being targeted with this email at risk of losing money, or having their identity stolen, but they are also at risk of not receiving the real vaccine.
“The public have been fantastic at reporting these scams to us and raising awareness in their local community as well. But unfortunately, as this latest phishing campaign shows, we still have to remain cautious and alert. Remember: anything purporting to be from the NHS asking you to pay for the vaccine, or provide your bank account or card details, is a scam.”

How to protect yourself

In the UK, coronavirus vaccines will only be available via the National Health Services of England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. You can be contacted by the NHS, your employer, a GP surgery or pharmacy local to you, to receive your vaccine. Remember, the vaccine is free of charge. At no point will you be asked to pay.

The NHS will never:

• ask you for your bank account or card details.
• ask you for your PIN or banking password.
• arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine.
• ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips. 

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726 which is free of charge.

If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.

Garden waste collections have restarted following the temporary suspension last week due to #Covid19 staff shortages.

Staff from waste collection contractor Veolia have now begun to return to work after self-isolation periods and additional staff have been drafted in to allow garden waste to be picked up as normal.

There will be no catch up collections for residents missed last week. Please put your bin out on your next normal collection day.

For any issues or further information please contact Wokingham Borough Council directly. Thank you.

Wokingham Borough Council’s decision-making executive is set to review and approve plans to increase funding into a new domestic abuse support service. The £1.5million contract would cover a five year period with the option to extend for a further two years. 

Additional funding of £115,000 for 2021/22 has been requested to help manage the increased demand for services and additional statutory duties which are expected to be placed on Wokingham Borough Council. 

The council plans to procure a new contract ahead of June 2021, when the current contract expires. At present the domestic abuse service is provided by Berkshire Women’s Aid (BWA). 

“Domestic abuse can happen against anyone and anybody can be an abuser. The council recognises that the effects are wide-ranging and have a serious impact on both adults and children, including their health and wellbeing,” said Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure.

“Ensuring easy access to information, specialist services, and multi-agency support is a vital part of keeping our residents safe. The council is responsible for providing domestic abuse support for victims seeking help and advice and individuals who are identified as being at high or medium risk of serious harm.” 

Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexuality, or background.  Domestic abuse does not only occur between couples. It can also involve wider family members, including parental abuse by an adolescent or grown child. It can exist between older siblings, or the wider extended family in elder or honour-based abuse.

Investing in the domestic abuse support service is vital to ensuring effective support options are in place and available to protect vulnerable residents in line with the council’s aims to enabling safe, strong communities and changing the way Wokingham Borough Council works for its residents.  

The new service would be available to all residents including a focus on increasing accessibility for BAME, male, LGBTQ+, and victims who have a disability.

The services set to be commissioned would include: 

1. a helpline
2. access to specialist independent domestic abuse advocates (IDVA’s)
3. outreach, children and young people support, group-based programmes 
4. refuge support

The council has recently employed a dedicated domestic abuse coordinator to increase coordination across the organisation. Work is already underway with current Domestic Abuse Subgroup members and wider key stakeholders to establish a multi-agency Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board by April 2021 to support delivery of the new Domestic Abuse Bill 2021.