ALMOST 47,000 RESIDENTS SAY GOVERNMENT-IMPOSED HOUSING TARGET IS TOO HIGH

Wokingham Borough Council has been overwhelmed by the number of responses to the Housing Target Consultation, with just under 50,000 individual responses received of which 46,807 (94%) said no to the government-imposed target.

“Firstly I want to thank all those thousands of people who took the time to take part in this consultation. I always believed that residents shared our opposition to the government-imposed target but even I was surprised by the response,”  said John Halsall, leader of the council.

“This will strengthen our hand as we argue that the current system for allocating housing is arbitrary and unfair and that our targets are always too high. We will use this overwhelming response in our future lobbying on the subject and, whether we are successful this time or not, this is a line in the sand for the borough.”

Under the government’s methodology, the borough will need to accommodate about 800 to 900 homes a year in the years up to 2036. The homes already planned in the borough will help meet this target over the next few years but, without a major policy change from government, the rest will have to be accommodated through new housing.

HAVE YOUR SAY ON ADOPTION OF NEW INFRASTRUCTURE

The procedure for adopting new roads, open spaces, landscaping and play areas once housing developments have been completed is now the focus of special group set up specifically to examine it.

The aim of the new task and finish group set up by Wokingham Borough Council is to see if the adoption process for new infrastructure can be speeded up to avoid delays and unnecessary angst for residents living in or near these new homes and estates.

Residents, community groups, town and parish councils and stakeholders are invited as part of this investigation to provide written evidence detailing their experiences of being involved in the adoption process. The deadline to submit this evidence is 30 September.

The task and finish group will also look closely at the legal, planning and technical frameworks for infrastructure adoption, as well as examples of best practice. It will examine the ways residents are informed and updated, and how to improve people’s understanding of the council’s, developers’ and individual homeowner’s different roles in the whole process.

“The procedure and timeframe for adopting new estate infrastructure can be confusing and frustrating for residents,” said Andrew Moulton, assistant director for governance at the council. “So we want to see if things can be done differently to help everyone involved.”

Evidence can be emailed to the council’s scrutiny officer, Neil Carr, at: neil.carr@wokingham.gov.uk or by post to: Democratic Services, Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1BN. The deadline is 30 September.

French market in Woodley town centre today!

WOODLEY LIBRARY IMPROVEMENTS AND TEMPORARY CLOSURE

After more than 30 years serving local residents, Wokingham Borough Council’s Woodley Library is getting a face-lift. The library, based in Headley Road, is due to undergo building works this autumn as part of the council’s commitment to providing quality community services for its residents.

The work includes relocating and replacing the entrance doors, replacing the glass frontage of the building, improving the heating system and replacing some of the furniture.  Following the renovations, there will be more flexibility in how the space in the library can be used, allowing a wider range of activities and improved comfort to those using the space.

It will not be possible to keep the library open whilst the works are being carried out.  It is expected that it will be closed from mid-September for approximately six weeks.

During the closure, people will still be able to access online library services such as e-books and e-audios.  For those who would like to visit in person, the council’s other locations are open. Details can be found on the council’s website at: www.wokingham.gov.uk/libraries/.  For customers who wish to use the library on Sunday, Lower Earley site will be open whilst the works are ongoing.

Woodley residents will also be able to return library books to the Oakwood Centre during the refurbishments. A table will be set up in reception from 16 September to 25 October. Monday: 09.00-13.00 Tuesday-Friday: 09.00-16.30. Please note this is a returns only service.

“I’m pleased the Council is able to continue its programme of investment in our libraries as a clear demonstration of the value they provide our residents. We are very lucky to have such great library services across the borough and this is something we will continue to improve.” said Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure.

“The Woodley Library is over 30 years old, so it is expected that from time to time we will need to give it a bit of a facelift and where possible make some improvements. It’s our intention to make this process as painless as possible for users and I would urge anyone who has any questions or concerns about the temporary closure to contact the library staff so they can advise.”

CONVENIENCE FEE TO BE REMOVED FROM CAR PARK MOBILE PAYMENTS

Drivers using Wokingham Borough Council car parks will no longer have to pay the 20p charge when using RingGo to pay for parking.

The council is removing the convenience fee applied to mobile device payments through the system at all of its car parks from 26 August. The change will be rolled out across all borough council car parks, including Dinton Pastures and California Country Park. This will apply to payments using both the phone number and the smartphone app.

The move follows a major upgrade of all council operated car park payment machines this summer, with more than 50 new machines installed, offering more flexible ways to pay. As well as mobile payments, standard coin and card payments are still available, alongside an innovative check in-check out system, which allows drivers to pay for the parking they’ve used instead of paying in advance.

The retention of the RingGo payment option but without the convenience fee means even more choice for drivers at lower cost. Smartphone users can also extend their stay while they are out through the RingGo app, as well as having the chance to set up text reminders when their ticket is due to expire. They are also able to see how busy a car park is when they are planning their journey ahead, by using the app’s features.

“Removing the convenience fee charge for mobile payments gives our residents more flexibility when parking in our car parks,” said Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport.

“Now the charge is the same for everyone using our parking facilities, no matter whether they choose to check in-check out, pay by coin or by mobile using RingGo. Removing this charge means anyone using the car park can quickly pay over the phone or through a few taps on their smartphone, without having to worry about having to pay extra for it.”

“The adoption, and preference, for mobile payments is growing rapidly across the country. Wokingham Borough Council’s decision to remove the convenience fee for RingGo shows an understanding of this trend and a wish to offer those parking in the area their preferred method of payment – without extra cost,” said Peter O’Driscoll, UK Country Manager, RingGo.

“By putting use of RingGo on par with cash and card payments, the Council is providing drivers with the flexibility to locate spaces, pay for parking without visiting machines and extend their stay wherever they are via their phones – a capability that lines up with the fast paced world we live in today.”

RingGo is a separately operated private company. To register for a RingGo account, visitwww.myringgo.co.uk/register

Woodley Town Council would like to thank everyone for attending its Community Fun Day and picnic to celebrate the centenary of Woodley’s Memorial Ground

We have a selection of photos from the day but would love to see yours too to add to our gallery!

Please send them to: admin@woodley.gov.uk

Fresh produce ready to be donated to local food banks

Woodley Town Council works with local charity Launchpad to provide fresh produce for locals affected by homelessness

Woodley Town Council, in association with the Reading Road Tenant’s Association, has allocated three community plots at its Reading Road Allotment site for local charity Launchpad to engagecorporate volunteers to grow crops to supply fresh garden produce to disadvantaged and vulnerable families via foodbanks, soup kitchens and community fridges.

Launchpad, a Reading-based homelessness prevention charity, workswith teams of regular corporate volunteers to create and nurture these working allotments to cultivate, make good and grow fresh produce seasonally and once picked, washed and packed, to make it available to the local community in need.

The plots

The designated plots were originally overgrown and a lot of work has gone into cultivating them from both Launchpad volunteers and Reading Road tenant volunteers.

Carolyn Davies, a Committee Member of the Reading Road Tenant’s Association, is delighted that the plots have been so well cultivated and able to produce fresh produce in a relatively short space of time.

“I would just like to say how proud I am of what we have achieved in a relatively short time on the Launchpad plots. It doesn’t seem that long ago when we started on the mammoth task of clearing an overgrown area, and we warned Launchpad not to expect anything this year because the ground was so poor!”

In addition to the Launchpad volunteers, many tenants have volunteered to provide expertise to assist on the volunteering days, filling in the gaps between sessions, watering in the evenings, providing tools, seeds, plants and seedlings and more.

Donations

Many local companies have also donated several items to get the project up and running. These include: Hammerson, which donated money for the poly tunnel, Balfour Beatty which provided a container for storage and University College of Estate Management which donated money that will be used to fit out the container and Shinfield Parish Council which provided a water tank.

Donations have also been received following a plea on Woodley focused group pages on Facebook, including tables and chairs, donations of money to buy seeds and compost and two wheelbarrows and watering cans.

The project has been so successful that it was able to deliver fresh produce to Reading FoodBank Readifood and 2kg of broad beans to Sadaka, another local food charity based in Reading, which provides free meals every Saturday.

During the first delivery to Readifood, threepeople were able to take bags of courgettes, onions, kale, borlotto and French beans, resulting in plot to customer in less than two hours.

The Reading Road Tenants Association is looking for more volunteers to help run the project, including some expertise knowledge to supervise tending and cultivating the crops. Please contact  readingrdallotments@hotmail.co.uk for more information.

Food donations at Readifood

 

 

Wokingham Borough Council ahead of schedule with the Lower Earley Way road restructure

 

Wokingham Borough Council has announced another step forward in its fight against congestion as phase two of the Lower Earley Way Dualling, Major Highways Project, is expected to finish two months ahead of schedule.

 

Phase two of the project, which involves widening the northbound carriageway, was originally due to be complete in November but is now on track to be completed before the end of the summer holidays. Phase three, which was scheduled to start in November, will now begin on 2 September.

The scheme

The Lower Earley Way Dualling scheme, which is part of the Council’s £124million Major Highways Project, widens the road to provide two lanes in each direction, between the Loddon Roundabout near Showcase Cinema and the new junction with the Winnersh Relief Road. 

The project is intended to accommodate additional traffic which is expected following the completion of phase two of the Winnersh Relief Road (WRR).

“We are very pleased that this Major Highways Project is progressing ahead of schedule. The Lower Earley Way Dualling scheme—the whole project–is due to be completed in February 2020 but we are hopeful, given our current status, that we will be able to finish before this date,” said Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport. “We would like to thank our residents and local businesses for their patience while these vital works are taking place to help us reduce congestion.”

The next phase of the project beginning in September will see the team finish the diversion of a gas main under the road in its new location before final resurfacing works later in Autumn. The works will involve the installation of narrow lanes on both the northbound and southbound carriageways which will require barriers to be in place.

To allow these works to be carried out safely, overnight road closures will be in place along Lower Earley Way between the Showcase roundabout and the junction with Winnersh Relief Road 8.30pm to 6am from Monday 2 September for up to 6 nights.

Minor delays can be expected during peak periods and road users are encouraged to use alternative routes.

Additional information

·         Cyclists will have access to a cycle path which will be signposted. There will also be a marshal to guide cyclists

·         Further overnight works, mainly for resurfacing and road marking, are planned for late October. Traffic will be diverted down Winnersh Relief Road and Reading Road.

·         Information on public transport and other alternatives can be found on Wokingham Borough Council’s My Journey web-page: https://www.myjourneywokingham.com/discover-wokingham/lower-earley-way-dualling/

·         Lower Earley Way Dualling is a section of the Winnersh Relief Road scheme being delivered for Wokingham Borough Council by Balfour Beatty through the SCAPE Framework. As well as improving reliability for drivers on this busy stretch of road, the additional capacity this scheme provides will support the Council in meeting its targets towards economic growth.

·         To see the full list of phases and for further information on this scheme visit: https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/roadworks-and-outdoor-maintenance/major-new-roads/winnersh-relief-road/lower-earley-way-dualling/

 For further information please contact Cllr Pauline Jorgensen at pauline.jorgensen@wokingham.gov.uk

Further information regarding the Lower Earley Way Dualling Major Highways Project can be found by visiting the council website