Wokingham Borough Council continues to tackle fuel poverty across the borough with the launch of the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery scheme (GHG LAD2).

The scheme provides free grants to help residents on low incomes and who are living in low energy efficient properties to carry out a range of works to their home aimed at improving energy efficiency and lowering their fuel bills. 

The improvements will also help lower local carbon emissions and support the council’s vision for a carbon net zero Wokingham borough by 2030.

“The impact of Covid-19, along with the spiralling worldwide cost for energy and living, has had a massive impact on many of our residents,” said Cllr Gregor Murray, executive member for resident services, communications and emissions. “And it’s often those who are most vulnerable, or on the lowest incomes who get hardest hit through no fault of their own.

“Schemes like the Green Homes Grant can make a massive difference for people who are struggling to make ends meet, with homes taking part often seeing an immediate reduction in the amount of energy they need to use to keep their homes safe and warm and, as such, lower costs.  

“The grant covers a range of home improvements such as installing solid wall insulation, solar panels, or even air source heat pumps. It could also help cover the costs of double or triple glazing in homes which currently only have single glazing installed. This makes it the perfect counterpart to our Help to Heat scheme which has already helped more than 1,300 residents benefit from free or low cost loft and cavity wall insulation in their homes, with many more to come as the scheme continues to run into this year.”  

Letters are being sent out to households the council believes may qualify for the scheme to encourage them to apply, although other households are able to apply direct if they believe they may be eligible for GHG LAD2 support. 

In order to qualify for the GHG grant, resident’s need to have a household income of below £30,000 and live in a property with a current energy performance rating (EPC) of E, F or G. Some D rated properties may also qualify depending on the work required. 

Private landlords may also be able to qualify for partial grants if their property has an EPC of E, F or G and the resident living in the home meets the income criteria above and consents to a grant application being made. However, private landlords will need to fund at least a third of the costs themselves with total grant funding available capped at £5,000.

Residents and landlords who believe they might qualify need to apply via the Energy Trust’s green homes grant scheme application form on their website at: https://surveys.est.org.uk/s/GreenHomesGrantSchemeLAD 

Alternatively they can contact Warmworks, the council’s managing agent for the scheme, on 0808 196 8255 for more information.

If eligible Warmworks will get in touch to discuss the next steps and arrange a survey of their home and recommend a package of improvements to make the home more energy efficient. Installation will be completed by an approved and trusted sub-contractor at no cost to householders for owner occupied property, provided all conditions are met.

Residents who do not meet the criteria for the GHG LAD2 scheme, may still be eligible for support with free or low-cost home insulation under the council’s Help to Heat scheme. You can find out more information about this and how to apply on the council’s website (www.wokingham.gov.uk and search ‘energy saving’).

Help is also available through the Household Support Fund, which the council is distributing through the local voluntary sector to help families and individuals who may be struggling to pay for basic living costs such as energy bills this winter. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, please contact One Front Door so the team can assess your needs and help you find a way forward. You can use the form on their website, email: contact@citizensadvicewokingham.org.uk, or phone 0808 278 7958. The phone lines are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

At the recent Full Council meeting, it was decided to change the Town Elector’s Meeting from Tuesday 8 March to Thursday 26 May.

Details of this and other items at the meeting can be read in the Draft Minutes.

Would you like to learn how to maintain your bike or change an inner tube?

My Journey Wokingham is running a basic bike maintenance workshop at Coronation Hall tomorrow (Wednesday 9 February).

The course costs £10.00 and needs to be booked directly with My Journey Wokingham HERE.

Citizens Advice Wokingham will begin offering face-to-face appointments at its Woodley and Wokingham town centre offices from 14th February, initially on a case-by-case basis following a triage via its One Front Door (0808 278 7958).

Blue bag and food waste bag deliveries begin

New green food caddy liners and blue general waste bags are now being delivered by Wokingham Borough Council. These will be delivered over a six-week period, with all residents receiving them by mid-March.

More than five million blue bags will be rolling out across the borough over the next six weeks. These are for general waste, with each household receiving 80 bags in two rolls of 40 to cover the period between April 2022 and March 2023.

You can check when yours are due to be delivered HERE; just enter your street name.

All households will also receive an allocation of 75 food waste bags. Food waste put into the blue general rubbish bags gets disposed of, rots and releases methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. When recycled, food waste can generate energy to power our homes. If you need a any food waste caddies check WBC’s recycling webpages to find out where to get one.

Last year, residents in Wokingham borough threw away a massive 36,000 tonnes of rubbish – half of which could have been recycled. Recycling saves the council taxpayer money as it costs less to recycle waste than it does to dispose of it. It also conserves natural resources and saves energy by using recycled instead of raw materials to create new products.

The fencing at Malone Park is now complete.

We’d like to thank Safe Site Fencing for completing the work so quickly and so efficiently.

As of Wednesday 19 January, the government no longer asked people to work from home.

As of today, 27 January, the lifting of Plan B means:

• mandatory COVID-19 certification will end, but venues may choose to use the NHS COVID Pass voluntarily;
• face coverings will not be required by law in indoor venues;
• local directors of public health are still able to recommend face coverings in communal areas only in education settings within their area, but only where the department and public health experts judge the measures to be proportionate – this is a temporary measure;
• infection prevention control guidance continues to require face coverings be worn in health and care settings, including primary care and pharmacies;
• it is suggested that people wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces where they might come into contact with people they do not normally meet; and
• it is still a legal requirement for those with COVID-19 to self-isolate for 10 days with the option to end self-isolation after 5 full days following two negative LFD tests.

For more information, please visit the UK Government website.

Please note that we will continue to encourage visitors to wear a mask if they can. Thank you.

Wokingham Borough Active Travel Fund – Woodley to Reading Active Travel Route

Wokingham Borough Council is working to improve the cycle and walking connection between Woodley town centre and Reading borough boundary at Palmer Park. 

The Council has launched a consultation to help them make the decision about whether to progress the project. An independent executive member decision (IEMD) earlier agreed the Council should continue work on the project to develop the detailed designs. 

The scheme includes local measures that prioritise active travel and provide facilities that are safe, attractive and inclusive for all. ​The Council’s aim is to provide a transport system that connects people and places and supports a sustainable, inclusive and carbon neutral Borough.

The second public consultation begins today on 24 January 2022 and close on Monday 21 February 2022.

Please click HERE for more information and to participate in the consultation.

Deputy Town Mayor, Cllr Kay Gilder, was delighted to open a new supermarket in Woodley town centre yesterday. 

HK Superstore, managed by Suyashi Prrasad and owned by Harbal Singh and Kashif Asghar, has a huge range of fresh and exotic produce, such as miniature pineapples, okra and a large selection of fresh chillies. Not to mention an extensive range of spices, meats, sweets and many other traditional Indian foods. 

Cllr Gilder was given an extensive tour of the shop, as well as information on how some of the ingredients are used in traditional Indian cooking across different regions. 

“It was fascinating to see so many different fruits and vegetables, many of which I have never seen before. The staff were so helpful and told us about the different regions across India and how the ingredients were used in different ways. 

“It’s wonderful to welcome a new shop to the precinct and bring more variety to our wonderful town,” commented Cllr Gilder. 

Let’s Talk Climate

Wokingham Borough Council is launching its Let’s Talk Climate project, inviting interested parties across the area to take part in peer groups and e-panels on climate change.

Let’s Talk Climate is a community deliberative process, bringing together groups of people and presenting evidence and ideas on climate change, which are then discussed by the group and a consensus reached. 

Peer groups will take place from February, led by experienced facilitators, to discuss the council’s climate emergency action plan and come up with new ways to reduce the borough’s carbon footprint.

How to get involved

Expressions of interest to join a peer group open on 6 January, and interested people can find out more and sign up via Engage Wokingham Borough. Sign up now and as a thank you for your time, the Council will enter you in a draw for a voucher.

Once the recommendations have been reviewed, in May e-panels will take place where a wider number of community members can discuss the recommendations and share further thoughts and ideas. Information on how to join these will be released nearer the time.

Councillor Gregory Murray, executive member for resident services, communications and emissions, said: “Let’s Talk Climate is the next stage in developing our climate emergency action plan, ensuring that people with an interest in the borough, through work, school, home or other interest, are able to have their say on our plans. 

“We want to hear from lots of different voices, whether you are already engaged in climate emergency or not yet sure. It’s important for us to understand the thoughts and feelings of a cross-section of community members across the borough.” 

New ‘Destination’ play area for Woodford Park coming in 2022

Woodley Town Council is delighted to announce the long awaited ‘destination’ play area project for Woodford Park, which will be delivered in 2022. 

Following a successful public consultation with over 700 responses, Proludic were selected from seven tendering contractors to deliver this exciting project. 

Multiple facilities

The new play area will replace the old one to the rear of the Oakwood Centre. It has been designed specifically with ‘inclusivity’ in mind, and will offer a stimulating, exciting play experience for children of all abilities. 

It will include a double cableway, a sensory area, a wheelchair accessible play mound, an agility trail, a 7m tall canopy trail, seven types of swings and much more. Please see the artist’s impression of the design for more information. 

This first class play area is being funded from £200,000 developers’ contributions via Wokingham Borough Council, with £57,000 additional funding from Woodley Town Council. 

We’ll be updating you soon with a date for the work to start and of course, the grand opening date.

Old park closing 10th January

The old, existing play area will be closed from today, 10^th January, in preparation for removal of the old equipment, fencing and tarmac. The play area near the leisure centre will remain open.

Watch this space for more information…