Woodford Park play area closed 5-11 June
We are pleased to be supporting the following local community organisations through our Community Grant funding:
Dylan Harman, Captain of 1st Woodley’s Boys Brigade said: “Thank you from all of us at the Brigade for the grant. This will go towards new camping and sports equipment. It is important to be able to take the boys camping and give them the opportunity to try new sports, which helps them to build friendships, improve their wellbeing and develop lifelong life skills.”
Stephen Treeves, Treasurer of Woodley Bowling Club said: “Thank you for this generous grant. As a self-funded club, this will help us to continue to run, providing local residents with the opportunity to play in a social environment.” Next year is the club’s 60th anniversary.
Karen Smith, founder and managing director of Community Hopeline CIC, said: “This grant is very important and will help our volunteers to bring the Youthscope project to Woodley and help resource our parent support group to help them cope with children with mental health issues. Thank you very much for your generosity.”
Fiona Fisher and Angela Roberts from Woodley Festival of Music & Arts, said: “This generous grant is important to help us financially to put on the festival, which we are delighted is held at the Oakwood Centre each year, but also is a nod that we are doing something good for the local community. We hope to reach more children across Woodley.”
Separate to the Annual Meeting, Ronnie Goodberry, one of the founders of Woodley Volunteers for our Community, said: “I’d like to thank the Council for its generous grant, which helped us to celebrate our 1 millionth item collected. Thank you to the Council and all those in Woodley who volunteer and donate so that we can continue to support Woodley residents.”
Voted at the Annual Meeting on 16 May, Cllr Janet Sartorel was re-elected to Woodley Town Mayor for an unprecedented third year running.
“Thank you for the nomination and I am delighted to continue to promote this wonderful town of Woodley and serve as Mayor,” she said.
The Town Mayor has chosen Woodley Lunch Bunch as her charity for the municipal year 2023-2024.
“I have chosen Woodley Lunch Bunch for its generous and continued support for local families, especially in these financially challenging times.”
Meanwhile, Cllr Juliet Anderson was elected as Woodley Town Deputy Mayor.
To invite the Mayor or Deputy Mayor to an event, please email: Matthew.Filmore
LAX – for excellent sound and staging
Leader – for entertaining the crowd with fabulous music
Circus Scene – for entertaining the crowds and bringing the tallest Beefeater
Magic Moments – for magical entertainment and balloon modelling
Your Face or Mine – for amazing face painting
Roros Coffee – for supplying hot drinks and cakes
Homeshake Bar – for supplying cocktails and other drinks
Sir Whippy – for supplying ice creams
St John’s Ambulance – for first aid provision
Mammoth – for supplying the toilets
Anthony Skuse, Labour
Alison Swaddle, Conservative
Abdul Loyes, Conservative
Michael Firmager, Conservative
Laura Blumenthal, Conservative
Kester Charles Bey, Labour
Yvonne Edwards, Labour
Mike Kennedy, Conservative
June Taylor, Labour
Juliet Anderson, Conservative
David Bragg, Conservative
Keith Baker, Conservative
Robert Horskins, Conservative
Darren Smith, Conservative
Anne Chadwick, Conservative
Majid Nagra, Labour
Alison Swaddle, Conservative
Greg Bello, Labour
Janet Sartorel, Conservative
Bill Soane, Conservative
Linda Gutteridge, Conservative
Parvinder Singh, Labour (stood as an Independent Councillor at the election)
Jenny Cheng, Conservative
Danny Errawalla, Conservative
Mary Holmes, Conservative
Kay Gilder, Conservative
Beth Rowland, Liberal Democrat
Carol Jewell, Liberal Democrat
Michael Firmager, Conservative
Vin Lewis, Conservative
Nada Al-Sanjari (2019-23)
Shadi Brindley (2015-23)
Martin Doyle (2019-23)
Michael Forrer (2015-23)
Mark Green (2015-23)
Alex Heap (2019-23)
Richard Skegg (2019-23)
Philip Wicks (2015-23)
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm and it is important you are ready to take part and have your say in who represents you.
Your poll card tells you when and where to vote and you must go to your allocated polling station. You do not need to take your polling card with you to vote, but you must take suitable photo ID.
This is the first time you will have to show photo ID to be able to vote as part of new legislation introduced by the Government last year. If you fail to turn up with suitable ID, you will not be issued with a ballot paper.
There are many forms of ID that are accepted, including:
Expired ID will also be accepted, as long as you still look like the photograph on the document. Bringing your poll card by itself will not entitle you to vote.
A full list of accepted forms of ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website, along with more information about the new requirement.
As part of the changes, those who do not have a suitable form of ID have had the opportunity to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate to show on polling day. However, the deadline to apply for one of these has now expired.
If you lose your poll card, you can still vote, but you need to give your name and address to the staff on duty.
If you have lost your polling card and do not know where your polling station is, you can check your polling station out on Wokingham Borough Council’s website.
Plan what time you will cast your vote at the polling station, leaving plenty of time before the 10pm deadline. If you are in a queue at 10pm, you will still be able to vote.
If you arrive at the polling station after 10pm, then the poll will be closed and you will have missed your chance to take part.
Once you have shown your photo ID, the staff at the polling station will give you a ballot paper listing the candidates you can vote for and they are on hand to provide advice on the voting process.
Take your ballot paper into a polling booth so that nobody can see how you vote. Read the ballot paper carefully, as it will tell you how to cast your vote. Do not write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted.
Mark your ballot paper according to the instructions – a pencil will be provided for you to do this. Finally, fold your completed ballot paper in half and pop it in the ballot box.
The count starts at 9am on Friday (5 May) and Wokingham Borough Council will be sharing updates on the results as they are announced. Follow Wokingham Borough Council on Twitter for the latest information.
Join us for a FREE afternoon of music and entertainment to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III! 🥳
Everyone is welcome!
📅 Sunday 7th May, 2-5pm
🌳 Woodford Park Memorial Ground, Woodley
🍦 FREE Ice Cream
🎤 Live band
🤹♀️ Entertainment – circus skills, giant bubbles, stilt walkers
🥳 Face painters
✨ Magician
🎈 Balloon modelling
☕ Coffee bar
🍹 Cocktail bar
Bring a picnic, your friends and family for FREE afternoon of fun! 🤩