In September, the first Charity and Community Hub will open in Wokingham town centre.  

This is an ambitious project which builds on from the positive partnership developed between Wokingham Borough Council and the voluntary, charity and community sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.  

During the past year, it has become clear residents have really benefitted from the coordinated way the council and the voluntary, charity and community sector have worked together to ensure people get the help and support they need.   The hub will bring a number of voluntary, charity and community organisations under one roof.  The first hub will be based at Waterford House in Wokingham, and it will provide high quality information, advice and support to enable people to access the right services to meet their individual needs and circumstances at the right time. 

This is the first hub of its kind in Wokingham, and there are aspirations to roll out further hubs elsewhere in the borough during the coming years, as identified in Wokingham Borough Council’s voluntary and community sector strategy agreed in 2020.   

Wokingham Borough Council has submitted a planning application to refurbish Waterford House, ready for the Charity and Community Hub to open its doors later this year. Waterford House would be redecorated, and office space reconfigured to make it more appropriate for the voluntary, charity and community organisations moving into the building. Proposals also includes an application for a change of use – details can be found on the council’s website at www.wokingham.gov.uk and search ‘planning applications’ (planning application number: 210797). Subject to planning permission, refurbishment work would start in the summer. 

Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services, said: “The Wokingham Charity and Community Hub is the first of its kind in the borough and I am delighted we are making progress and turning our ambitions into reality.   “Planning for this hub has got off the ground thanks to the partnership approach between the borough council and the voluntary, charity and community organisations. The first hub’s location is at the heart of the town centre. It will allow the voluntary, charity and community sector to work closely together, sharing resources where possible and delivering services as close as possible to people in their own communities, which is great news for our residents.”

Woodley Town Council Members support local residents in the objection of a planning application for the installation of a 20m high telecommunications mast and ancillary equipment on land to the North East of Vauxhall Drive, namely Vauxhall Park. 

At the Town Council’s Planning & Community Meeting on 23^rd March, Members noted there had been in excess of 200 responses to this planning application, the vast majority of which objected to the proposals. Three members of the public attended the virtual meeting to voice their objections. 

Council Members noted these objections related to the siting of the mast in Vauxhall Park, and not the general need to erect a telecommunications mast in the area, which they acknowledged to be a necessity to allow 5G rollout. 

Members also noted the Town Council had previously responded to Wokingham Borough Council’s draft Local Plan consultation recommending Vauxhall Park, amongst other green spaces, be designated as a Local Green Space in the Local Plan update. 

Council Members agreed with the objections cited by residents, both at the meeting and in comments submitted to the planning authority, and fully supported the view locating the mast in Vauxhall Park was not appropriate. 

Woodley Town Council has consequently written to Wokingham Borough Council’s planning authority to recommend refusal of this planning application on the grounds that the proposal will: 

• Lead to the reduction of available green space for recreation and enjoyment
• Impact on local biodiversity and wildlife 
• Compromise the safety of park users during construction 
• Dominate the local skyline and nearby dwarf trees and houses
• Have a negative impact on a vital local amenity for residents
• Be contrary to the Town Council’s recommendation to designate Vauxhall Park as a Local Green Space as part of Wokingham Borough Council’s Local Plan Update. 

The application is 210668, and can be viewed at https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/planning/. The consultation ends on March 26^th.

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for Wokingham Borough

Wokingham Borough Council is developing a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).

The aim is to determine where best to focus future investment in active travel infrastructure to support walking and cycling across the borough. This might include providing new cycle routes, improving footways and crossings, creating ‘school streets’ or reducing the impact of through-traffic in local neighbourhoods.

The Council is at an early stage in the plan development process and would like input from across the local community to help shape the outcome.

This is your opportunity to share your views. The platform provides an interactive map where you can place a ‘pin’ on any location in the borough and leave specific comments.

This engagement platform will remain open for comments until Sunday 18 April. You can access it HERE.