Woodley Town Council’s commitment to Climate Change

At the Full Council Meeting on Tuesday 1 October 2019, the following motion was adopted:

“This Council notes that:

1. The impacts of climate breakdown are already causing serious damage around the world.
2. Limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, October 2018) may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society and the private sector.

This Council therefore:

1. Commits to a declaration of a ‘Climate Emergency’ with the aim of becoming a carbon neutral organization by 2030.
2. Welcomes the declaration by Wokingham Borough Council of a ‘Climate Emergency’ and will actively participate in the creation of the Borough-wide climate change strategy to ensure Woodley Town Council is fully engaged in its creation for the benefit of its residents.
3. Will explore, with all parts of the community, the development of a local action plan in support of, and to compliment, the Borough Council’s climate change strategy plan for those parts relevant to Woodley Town.”

Climate change initiatives

Since declaring a climate emergency in October 2019 Woodley Town Council has embarked on an ambitious plan to become a carbon neutral organisation by 2030.

January 2020 saw the installation of solar panels on the Oakwood Centre as part of a contract with Reading Community Energy Society to provide cheap daytime electricity and return renewable energy to the grid. This followed the installation of a similar system at Woodford Park leisure centre in 2019. In addition to the discounted rate for electricity, the systems will generate renewable energy with the equivalent saving of around 13 tonnes CO2 per year.

We have also worked to replace the lighting in our buildings with low energy LED and introduced rainwater harvesting.

Climate Emergency Plan

To manage our plan we have developed a Climate Emergency Plan, which identifies specific measurable targets and links in with the work being carried out by Wokingham Borough Council and other town and parish councils across the Borough. The latest action plan is available below.

Climate Emergency Action Plan – Latest Update

Please click here to view a full agenda for this meeting.

This meeting can be watched live, or after the event via a recording, on the Council’s YouTube channel.

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A large number of local residents attended the Town Council’s recent Planning & Community Meeting suggesting improvements and alternative routes for the proposed cycleway between Woodley and Reading

Nearly 50 residents attended Woodley Town Council’s Planning & Community Committee meeting on Tuesday 9 August, to express their views on Wokingham Borough Council’s updated proposals for an Active Travel Route between Woodley and Reading.

The scheme, designed by Phil Jones Associates (PJA) on behalf of Wokingham Borough Council, proposes a segregated cycle route running from the eastern end of Woodlands Avenue in Woodley town centre through to Palmer Park in Reading, via Church Road and Palmerstone Road, and follows the award of £500k funding from Active Travel England in November 2020.

A previous design, which proposed converting Woodlands Avenue to a one-way section of road between Lytham Road and Howth Drive, faced strong opposition at an earlier meeting of the Planning & Community Committee in February. Following that earlier consultation, PJA revised the scheme, proposing instead to retain the two directional traffic on the eastern stretch of Woodlands Avenue but reduce the width to 5m in order to implement a two-way stepped cycle track along the north of the carriageway.

Representatives from Wokingham Borough Council and PJA, including Councillor Paul Fishwick, Executive Member for Active Travel, Highways and Transport, attended the Committee Meeting to present on the updated proposals and listen to comments.

A balanced and lengthy discussion took place, during which a variety of views were conveyed regarding a number of sections along the proposed route. The general consensus was that, while there was support for improvements to the cycle route between Woodley and Reading, there was a desire for an alternative route via Beechwood Avenue and Howth Drive to be fully explored and designed, with residents then consulted on both options together.

Draft minutes of the meeting can be found on our website: www.woodley.gov.uk.

There is still time for residents to respond to the consultation, which has been extended to 4th September. While the majority of debate has been around the eastern section of Woodlands Avenue, residents are encouraged to consider the entirety of the route. Details can be found at: engage.wokingham.gov.uk. 

Please click here to view the full agenda for this meeting.

Please click here for a copy of the agenda.

The Duke of Edinburgh 1921 – 2021

We are very sorry to announce the passing of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Woodley Town Council and the Woodley Town Deputy Mayor mourn the passing of the late His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Following the passing of the late His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, we would like to share our sadness at this time with the local residents of Woodley, as we remember with affection and gratitude the lifetime of service given by the Duke of Edinburgh. 

Due to Covid 19 restrictions and guidance, we will not have a Book of Condolence available to sign. However, the Royal Family website is accepting and encouraging members of the public to sign its online Book of Condolence, which can be found on its website: www.royal.uk. 

In accordance with public health advice during the current Covid 19 pandemic, local residents are asked to continue to follow the current Government guidelines, particularly on avoiding meeting in large groups and on minimising travel, to keep themselves and others safe. We therefore please ask not to gather or leave floral tributes locally. Instead, local residents may wish to consider donating to a charity of their choice, or one of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Patronages in memory of His Royal Highness.

The Deputy Town Mayor Cllr Anne Chadwick will send a letter of condolence to the Private Secretary of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh to pass on the town’s condolences to the family. 

“His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh will be remembered with great affection for his support to Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II, Great Britain and the Commonwealth, and for his many public roles. Our thoughts are with the Royal family as they grieve the loss of a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. 

“I would also like to thank the residents of Woodley for continuing to respect the Covid 19 restrictions and guidelines during this period of mourning.”

The funeral of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will be held on Saturday (17 April) at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle and there will be a nationwide minute’s silence observed at the beginning of the service at 3pm. We ask our residents not to travel to any Royal Residences or gather in large crowds, and mark this safely in their homes instead.

Works will commence from 7 April to install a new electricity supply to the Maintenance Yard in the park. This is due to a cable failure in the existing supply cable. The new cable will reinstate power to the yard with increased capacity which is more fit for purpose.

This work will involve digging a trench from the substation next to the tennis court, across the grass to the rear of the leisure centre and 3G pitch to the yard. The trench will be fenced off throughout the work with crossing points installed to allow safe pedestrian access across the park. The new electric cable will be laid by Southern Electric on 15/16 April and the work should be complete by 17th April.

We apologise for any inconvenience during this essential work.

Latest advice and information as at 5 March 2020

Please stay up to date on our dedicated Coronavirus Page

Please use the following links;

Wokingham Borough Council

NHS

Central Government

WHO

The following information and advice has been issued by Wokingham Borough Council.

Follow the Public Health England advice to:

Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently using soap and water – this is the best way to kill the virus.

Catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue, and then throw it away.

If you have questions about coronavirus, Covid-19 and your health – such as what the symptoms are and how to stop it spreading – then you should refer to the NHS website for information.

If you have questions about the situation – such as the number of cases and where they are, and what countries are affected – then you should refer to the Public Health England (PHE) website for information.

We’ve received a number of questions about what it means if you have had contact with someone who is then required to be self-isolating. Here’s an update from David Munday, the lead Public Health Consultant for Berkshire:

“Covid-19 is like most coronaviruses and we think primarily spreads from person to person via respiratory droplets, for example when someone coughs or sneezes. You catch it from someone who is showing symptoms. That’s why the most important advice is to catch your cough or sneeze in a tissue, and to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.”

“Self-isolating is another word for quarantine. It means staying in-doors and away from other people to avoid spreading the virus. You only need to self-isolate if you have been in contact with someone who is confirmed to have Covid-19 and have been told to by Public Health England or the NHS. You don’t need to self-isolate if you have been in contact with someone else who had contact with the confirmed case. For example, Willow Bank Infant School had a confirmed case. Staff and children who were in contact with the person have been asked to self-isolate. But if you visited the school, played with other children or talked to a parent – even if they had contact with the confirmed case – you don’t need to self-isolate.”

Summary

Someone has a confirmed case of Covid-19 – Isolated in hospital and treated

Someone had contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 while that person was having symptoms – PHE will assess how much contact there was and ask the person to self-isolate / monitor closely for symptoms.

Someone had contact with a person who in turn has had contact with a confirmed case (but has no symptoms and is not a confirmed case themselves) – No action needed – no contact with a confirmed case

Rest of population – No action needed – no contact with a confirmed case

Click below to download the 2020 Precept Leaflet. This leaflet provides information on the services provided by the Council.

A404m From M4 J8/9 Roundabout To J9a N, Windsor And Maidenhead, Windsor and Maidenhead

05 March – 06 March

Delays likely – Diversion route

Name: Diversion

Location: A404m From M4 J8/9 Roundabout To J9a N

Description: Streetworks / License – Streetworks

Responsibility for event: Windsor and Maidenhead

A404m From M4 J8/9 Roundabout To J9a N, Windsor And Maidenhead, Windsor and Maidenhead

06 March – 11 March

Delays likely – Diversion route

Name: Diversion

Location: A404m From M4 J8/9 Roundabout To J9a N

DESCRIPTION

Description: Streetworks / License – Streetworks

RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVENT

Responsibility for event: Windsor and Maidenhead

A4 London Road, Earley, Wokingham

04 March — 05 March

Delays likely – Lane closure

Works location: left hand Lane 1 closure

Works description: Bridge bearing inspections

Responsibility for works: Wokingham

Headley Road East, Woodley, Wokingham

06 March — 12 March

Delays likely – Traffic control (two-way signals)

Works location: On Headley Road East outside Hawkehurst House.

Works description: Excavation in path, required to lay and connect the new site main to theparent main. in Carriageway.

Responsibility for works: THAMES WATER

Bingley Grove, Woodley, Wokingham

11 March — 24 March

Delays unlikely – Some carriageway incursion

Works location: O/S BINGLEY GROVE SUBSTATION

Works description: EXCAVATION REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT NETWORK IMPROVEMENTS AND IMPROVE ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES.

Responsibility for works: Scottish and Southern Power Distribution

Bodmin Road, Woodley, Wokingham

10 March — 12 March

Delays unlikely – No carriageway incursion

Works location: 10

Works description: WATER METER INSTALLATION IN THE FOOTWAY

Responsibility for works: THAMES WATER

Crockhamwell Road, Woodley, Wokingham

11 March — 23 March

Delays unlikely – No carriageway incursion

Works location: jcn drovers way

Works description: Replace LV Network Box

Responsibility for works: Scottish and Southern Power Distribution

Donaldson Way, Woodley, Wokingham

03 March — 05 March

Delays unlikely – Some carriageway incursion

Works location: o/s 71 Donaldson Way

Works description: interim to perm

Responsibility for works: VIRGIN MEDIA

A4 Bath Road, Woodley, Wokingham

03 March-04 March

Delays likely: Traffic control (two way signals)

Replace one jointbox

responsibility for works: BT

Loddon Bridge Road, Woodley, Wokingham

01 March-04 March

Traffic control (give and take)

Serv pipe relay

Responsibility for works: Thames Water

Colemans moor Road, Woodley, Wokingham

28 February-05 March

Delays possible: some carrriageway incursion

Boundary box install

Responsibility for works: Thames Water

A4 London road, Earley, Wokingham

13 February-03 April

Delays possible: some carrriageway incursion

Opposite 240 by the roundabout

To allow joint bays to be excavated

Responsibility for works: Scottish and Southern power distribution

B3350 Church road, Earley, Wokingham

27 February-04 March

Delays possible: some carrriageway incursion

Fault locating and excavation

Responsibility for works: Scottish and Southern power distribution