Re3 plans to start a reuse revolution with its first recycling pop-up shop this weekend

Smallmead Recycling Centre, Island Road Reading RG2 0RP
Saturday 23rd October – 9.30am – 5.00pm
 Sunday 24th October – 10.00am – 4.00pm
 

Re3 is offering local residents a novel way to pick up a pre-loved bargain with its first ever pop-up reuse shop.

Visitors can expect to find a range of kids toys and games including electronic games, board games and books just in time for half term. The recycling centre expects to be selling sporting goods from bicycles and golf clubs to exercise equipment, racquets and bats. For the gardeners out there, there will be garden tools, pots and planters; and for the budding interior designer, there will be a selection of furniture perfect for upcycling. 

The pop-up shop will give residents an opportunity to buy good quality pre-loved items that have been previously donated by residents for reuse at the both sites. Doing so, they can support a good cause, as profits raised by the re3 Councils (Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Boroughs) will be donated to Sue Ryder charity, which already operates as a reuse function at the site.

All items will be available for sale at bargain prices and there is no need to book a slot at the Recycling Centre if residents just want to visit the shop.

If you wish to drop off items for donation, please ensure to book a slot  and then drive around, park up and pop into the shop to see what bargains are on offer.

Please note that the sale is at the Reading branch of Re3.

Resurfacing and roadworks scheduled for Woodley

Resurfacing work is due to take place during the day on Lytham Road, Woodley, on Monday 18 October.

This full resurfacing work will be between Beechwood Avenue and Woodlands Avenue, with a road closure in place, from 8am to 6pm.

The micro-asphalt programme continues next week with work scheduled on residential roads in Woodley and Winnersh. Residents on impacted roads have been sent letters with further information.

Both these programmes are subject to weather. If work is postponed or disrupted, signs displayed in the area will be updated. You can see the programmes and get more information on Wokingham Borough Council’s road repairs webpages.

Roadworks

Two-way lights – Bath Road

Two-way lights will be in place between Holmemoor Drive and Warren Road from 18 October to 22 October. This is to allow SSE to excavate a trench within the footway. https://one.network/?GB123446461

Road closure – Lytham Road

A closure will be in place on 18 October so that resurfacing works can be carried out. https://one.network/?GB123667193

Road closure – Denmark Avenue

A closure will be in place from 9.30am until 3pm on 20 October so that resurfacing works can be carried out. https://one.network/?GB122162700

Woodley Town Mayor Cllr Janet Sartorel attended the Judicial Service at invitation from the High Sheriff of Berkshire

The Judicial Service was held on Friday 8th October at St James’ Church in Reading.

This year marks the 900th anniversary of the foundation of Reading Abbey by Henry I in 1121 and the High Sheriff, as a Catholic, decided to hold his service at St James’ Church which is situated in the former grounds of Reading Abbey.

Judicial services are held every year by High Sheriffs in the principal Minsters and Cathedrals of every county in England and Wales. They have a single purpose: to honour before God that diverse group of people who keep our society just and merciful.

Cllr Sartorel was delighted to be part of the event, which started with a reception in the the Waterhouse Chamber of Reading Town Hall. She then joined a Civic Procession walking past the Crown Court to James’s Church.

“The Church service was quite a grand affair with readings and rousing hymns, accompanied by a magnificent choir and musicians situated high up in the gallery. I am very proud to have taken part and it was a highlight of my Mayoral year so far,” comments Cll Sartorel.

The service can be watched HERE.

More information about the High Sheriff can be found here: https://berkshirehighsheriff.com.

If you would like to invite the Town Mayor or Deputy Town Mayor to an event, please email: Matthew.Filmore@woodley.gov.uk.

Woodford Park flies the flag as one of the country’s best parks

As the Green Flag Award scheme marks its Silver Jubilee, Woodford Park in Woodley celebrates for the third year running

Woodley Town Council is delighted to announce that Woodford Park has again been awarded Green Flag status, retaining its title for the third year running. It also remains the only park in the Wokingham Borough area to receive Green Flag status.

After 18 months that have seen our parks and green spaces play a vital role for people through lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely, the news that Woodford Park has achieved the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the grounds team and volunteers that make the green space a great space that everyone can enjoy.

Commenting on the news that Woodford Park has achieved the Green Flag Award standard, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making Woodford Park worthy of a Green Flag Award.”

Woodley Town Council leader, Cllr Keith Baker concurs: “To meet the requirements demanded by the Green Flag scheme is testament to the hard work of the Council’s staff and the volunteers of the Friends of Woodford Park who do so much to ensure that Woodford Park has high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and is a place that supports people to live healthy lives.” 

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the UK and around the world.

Due to the national shortage of HGV drivers, Wokingham Borough Council has suspended its garden waste service until Friday 29 October.
The Borough Council is working closely with Veolia to minimise disruption as much as possible and is prioritising the collection of food waste, rubbish and recycling for the next month.

The service will be automatically extended by four weeks at the end of the current contract from 1 May to 29 May 2022, to make up for the next two collections.

For more information about how your service will be affected, please visit www.wokingham.gov.uk or contact its Customer Service Centre 0118 9746000.

*** This is a Wokingham Borough Council service and not a Woodley Town Council service ***

We will be holding our annual Remembrance Day event on 11th November at 11am at the War Memorial in Woodford Park. If you would like to lay a wreath, please email Matthew.filmore@woodley.gov.uk by 1st November. Thank you.

Please click HERE for our Covid 19 News Page

Woodley Town Council

Opening hours:

Mon – Thu: 9.00am – 4.30pm

Friday: 9.00am – 4.00pm

Closed 12.00 – 1.00pm each week day

Closed Saturday to Sunday

Oakwood Centre

The Oakwood Centre will be open in line with Brown Bag’s opening hours:

Monday – Saturday: 08.00 – 17.00

Sunday: 09.00 – 16.00

Woodley Town Council objects to proposed changes to Borough car parks in Woodley

At the Full Council meeting held on 28 September 2021, Woodley Town Councillors unanimously voted to object to Wokingham Borough Council’s (WBC) proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which will potentially affect all four of Woodley’s borough-run car parks.

WBC car parks in Woodley

Crockhamwell Road

Lytham Road (East)

Lytham Road (West)

Headley Road

The TRO is in response to complaints of anti-social behaviour in borough-run car parks and proposes changes to operating hours to ‘all times’ and ‘Mondays to Sundays’, car park management, car park controls and car park charges. 

While Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways at Wokingham Borough Council has stated that there will be no current changes to car park charges, Woodley Town Councillors are concerned that the proposed TRO will potentially allow WBC to introduce charges without consultation as a TRO will no longer be required. 

Councillors also questioned why the TRO was required when CCTV footage should suffice. 

Objection

Therefore, Woodley Town Councillors unanimously objected to the TRO for the following reasons:

• It is not needed for action to be taken on anti-social behaviour as the CCTV already provides that facility 
• It removes the requirement to publicise any potential change to car park charges ahead of implementation 
• It removes the legal need for any resident’s consultation in the future which is anti-democratic.

Woodley Town Council will be submitting an official objection to the TRO and encourages local residents to do the same by 12^thOctober.

Have your say

Objections can be sent to: TM.consultations@wokingham.gov.uk.

We are delighted to be selling A History of Woodley from the Town Council offices. The book was researched and written by members of Woodley and District U3A, Reading U3A and Wokingham U3A.

Copies are available priced at £10.00 (cash only).

The book can also be bought at Woodley News in Crockhamwell Road and Fourbears bookshop in Caversham.

Many of the articles from the book can also be read on our website. Please click HERE.

Be prepared for some Halloween spookery in Woodley Town Centre on Saturday 30th October from 3pm.

There will be a competition for the best dressed witch and wizard, as well as music, a witch hunt and a painting competition.

Look out for the Town Mayor and Deputy Town Mayor too!

For more information, please email the Town Centre Manager Brian Fennelly tcm@woodley.gov.uk.

From Monday 1 November, recycling will no longer be collected from the old black boxes. Wokingham Borough Council and its contractor Veolia will only be collecting recycling from the sealed green waterproof recycling bags after this date.

The new waterproof recycling bags have replaced the old open black boxes so that the recycling materials will stay dry, which means that more of the materials can be recycled. The new bags should be fully sealed to keep the contents dry.

Residents using the black boxes from Monday 4 October will have a sticker placed on their boxes notifying them of the change, to ensure no one has their collection missed following a four week grace period.

Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure, said: “We are grateful to residents for their exceptional efforts in keeping their recyclables dry, as this has helped us recycle more and have less going to be incinerated.”

“We made the switch to the green bags for practical reasons, but we know they have been well received by our residents as well. We have heard from many residents that they really like the green waterproof bags as they are easier to use and more convenient than the black boxes.”

Residents are now able to get up to four more green recycling bags if needed. Residents can visit any of the council’s hubs during opening hours. To find collection hub locations and hours, visit WBC’s recycling webpage.

For residents who cannot collect the bags or arrange someone to collect them on their behalf, they can be ordered for delivery but please note due to the national shortage of HGV drivers, this may take over 14 days.

What to do with the black boxes

Repurpose: The council has heard from many residents repurposing their black boxes in unique and practical ways such as: storage for items, growing plants or vegetables, shelter for wildlife or donating to family, friends, neighbours, or anyone who wants it.

Find someone else who wants to repurpose them: Another alternative is rehoming the black boxes to people that may like more. If you haven’t found a use for yours, join the Facebook group ‘Wokingham Borough black box rehoming hub’ and connect with schools, companies, nurseries, or anyone else that may need some. This way those who want to reuse them can have access to more.

Recycle them: If residents can’t find a way to reuse or repurpose their black boxes, the re3 recycling centres are now able to recycle rigid plastic. All the materials are recycled in European and UK markets in pipelines, cars, construction and furniture materials. You can book your click & tip slot via the re3 webpage.