Wokingham Borough Council is aiming to improve the borough’s routes to make walking and cycling the natural choice for local journeys – and parts of longer ones where possible.

Increasing cycling and walking can help tackle some of society’s most challenging issues – improving air quality, combating climate change, improving people’s health and wellbeing, addressing inequality and tackling congestion on roads. 

With the increasing cost of fuel, walking and cycling is likely to become a more attractive option so the Council wants to make sure it is providing facilities that are safe, comfortable and inclusive for everyone.

Funding from Department for Transport

As part of the Government’s Active Travel Fund tranches 2 and 3, the Council has secured funding to improve the cycling and walking connection between Woodley town centre and the Reading borough boundary at Palmer Park.

This is one of the key routes which have been identified in its emerging Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, a borough-wide strategic document.

This will be funded by the Department for Transport via Active Travel England.

Woodley to Reading link

The link between Woodley and Reading will create a safe, inclusive and direct access to Woodley town centre while connecting it to several schools and leisure facilities.

This will be completed in phases, connecting the precinct to Palmer Park via Woodlands Avenue, Church Road, Palmerstone Road and Culver Lane.

Wokingham Borough Council is planning for work to start at Palmer Park and progress towards Woodley. Take a look at the detailed plans and a summary of the route.

The Council is still finalising parts of the plans with Reading Borough Council, as the route connects into its area, and will update once these details are confirmed.

The Council has consulted residents several times and removed less popular aspects of the original proposals, like making part of Woodlands Avenue one-way.

Changes for the final designs include:

• Widening the road on Woodlands Avenue, between Howth Drive and Crockhamwell Road, to 5.5m
• Keeping the Woodlands Avenue laybys next to the park and green space
• The shared use path on Woodlands Avenue, between the leisure centre and Church Road, will not change as residents told us it works well
• Shared use under the railway bridge to Palmer Park entrance on Culver Lane

You can read more about it on the Council’s Engage Platform.

We have partnered with The Feed Ducks Initiative to install a Solar Powered Duck Feed Dispenser at Woodford Park Lake

A duck feed dispenser is now available at Woodford Park Lake. It is located at the beginning of the boardwalk.

The feeder takes contactless payments (no cash) and costs £1 per use. No cash is ever taken or stored. Feed dispenses into the tray that the user can then scoop out. This reduces littering or wasting containers and bags that are often not recyclable. It is operational from 7am to 10pm each day.

Healthy feed

It dispenses small quantities of healthy seed (60 grams per use) that is suitable for the diet of ducks and other wildfowl, reducing the amount of foreign feed such as bread, which can make them unwell as it does not contain the right nutrition or calories they need to grow and keep warm. Unlike bread and other food brought from home which often sinks to the bottom of the lake, the healthy seed floats. This also gives the waterfowl enough time to eat it.

Promoting healthy ecosystems

The set amount of dispensed feed controls the amount that is fed to the ducks and wildfowl. Excess rotting food can lead to silt build-up in the ecosystem, pollutes waterways, and increases algae growth, which can attract vermin and create prime conditions for disease outbreaks that can threaten biodiversity and wildfowl.

A sustainable feeder

The sustainable solar powered feeder is in line with our climate commitment, as each one is made from recycled plastics, equivalent to 20,000 plastic bottles. The feeder also reduces plastic litter waste because the feed is dispensed to hand. 

Investing in the park

It has been provided for free and is fully maintained by The Feed Ducks Initiative. Ten percent of the proceeds will be donated back to us to invest in our parks and green spaces.

If there are any issues with the feeder, please let us know.

Switch to renewable energy to help address climate emergency

An initiative that aims to help residents to move to renewable energy and save money on their energy bills is returning following a successful start last year.

Big Community Switch, run by iChoosr in association with Wokingham Borough Council, helps residents switch energy suppliers and move to a renewable electricity tariff. It uses the bargaining power of a large group to help secure lower prices, with all of the energy companies involved offering renewable electricity. 

Registration is open from Monday 17 February and closes Thursday 1 May. To register and learn more, visit the ​​Wokingham Borough page on the Big Community Switch website. 

Have your say on Wokingham Borough Council’s Nature Recovery Strategy

Please share your views on Wokingham Borough Council’s strategy, which will set out the actions to protect biodiversity in local areas, reduce the impact of climate change and boost the benefits of local nature.

The Council is working with its partners across Berkshire, and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is leading the project.

Berkshire has a beautifully diverse landscape and feedback from residents, landowners and communities will help to create the right strategy to assist nature recovery across our county.

Taking the survey

Leave your comments and add your pins to the Local Habitat Map for Berkshire by Monday 24 March. You can access the Survey HERE.

Wokingham Borough Council would like to hear how you access and use pharmacy services in Wokingham borough to help it develop services in the future. 

Your views will help inform its Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA), which will look at health needs in the borough, the level and accessibility of pharmacy services, and how these will be maintained and developed in the future.

Your experiences & views

The questionnaire should take no longer than five minutes to complete. The information you provide is confidential. Please be honest with your answers so the Council can accurately assess areas where pharmacies are already fulfilling your needs well and areas that need improvement.

WBC has asked Soar Beyond Limited to help it with this process and provide expertise on the assessment.

Tell the Council what you think by completing the online survey.

Wokingham Borough Council has set new visions and priorities to support the town centres in Wokingham Borough, ensuring they meet the needs of residents and businesses both now and in the future.

At the Council’s Executive meeting on 30 January, a new strategic framework was approved, which outlines key principles to help towns and districts in the borough adapt and thrive in an unpredictable economic climate. 

The council’s decision-making Executive also agreed to specific development strategies proposed for Wokingham and Woodley town centres, and Twyford village centre. These strategies set out priorities and opportunities for growth for each of the three areas.

Commitment to support and partnership

Cllr Mark Ashwell, executive member for economic development, sport, leisure and the arts, said: “The Town Centre Strategic Framework sets out our vision for the future of our town centres and our commitment to working in partnership to ensure their success.

“We recognise that our town centres, like many others across the country, have faced challenges in recent years due to the rise of online shopping, flexible working, the cost-of-living crisis, and other economic shifts.

“We hope the new framework and the individual town centre strategies will help local businesses thrive, while supporting our broader goals for the borough, such as sustainability, inclusion and equality.

“We’d like to thank town and parish councils, residents and businesses for their valuable input to the framework and strategies. It’s just the beginning of our partnership, and we look forward to working closely together to drive future growth.”

Framework and strategies

The Town Centre Strategic Framework is built around four overarching principles to guide the support and development of all town and district centres in the borough:

• Healthy, thriving towns where everyone feels they belong
• Support businesses and create ecosystems for sustainable growth
• Work towards carbon neutral town centres
• Work in partnership to celebrate the individuality of our town centres

Woodley Town Centre

Individual strategies for Wokingham and Woodley town centres, and Twyford village centre have been tailored to reflect these principles while addressing the specific strengths and challenges each centre faces. Plans are also in hand to look at all other district and town centres to identify needs and opportunities.

The framework and the strategies were shaped through extensive engagement and consultation with residents, local businesses, town and parish councils and other stakeholders including the police. In addition, research and data analysis have been conducted to incorporate national trends and best practices.

The documents will be regularly reviewed and assessed to ensure they remain relevant and aligned with evolving needs.

Next steps

The Town Centre Strategic Framework and the strategies for three town and village centres will launch in February, with the full version of the documents available and accessible to the public.

The Council plans to set up a Wokingham Borough Town Centre Steering Group this year, with representatives from a wide range of stakeholders and businesses. The group will play a key role in shaping and delivering an action plan focused on the agreed principles and priorities, and in monitoring the progress of the plan.

Furthermore, subject to funding availability, the Council intends to appoint a dedicated town centre officer to help move the work forward.

Economic Development Strategy

The Council’s Executive has also approved a new Economic Development Strategy aimed at ensuring the continued economic success of the borough. 

The strategy outlines an economic vision for 2035, with Wokingham Borough becoming a ‘growing and greener economy for everyone’. It also establishes a number of strategic objectives to guide how it achieves this vision.

Following the approval of the strategy, the council will work with internal and external stakeholders and partners to develop a range of short, medium, and long-term actions that deliver growth and success benefiting everyone.

Funding from the government

The council has set aside £60,000 for the research and production of the Town Centre Strategic Framework and the individual strategies, as well as the Economic Development Strategy. The work is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

For more information, visit the UK Shared Prosperity Fund website.

Wokingham Borough Council has a formal consultation on its Council Plan. This is an official strategic document that outlines the goals and priorities, which it aims to deliver over the next five years (2025-2030).

Have your Say

This survey is to consolidate and help finalise the future of Wokingham Borough and will allow the Council to understand your priorities and help shape the final council plan. Following the consultation, the Council will continue to work with you to help deliver its priorities.

For a quick and easy way to contribute, the Council invites you to complete this brief survey. It will only take a few minutes but will provide the Council with valuable insights to help it gain a deeper understanding of your priorities and the services the Council provides for our collective future.

This survey will remain open until Monday 3 March.

If you need help taking the survey, please contact Wokingham Borough Council’s customer services on (0118) 9746000 or drop in to your local library.