Twelve key travel routes across Wokingham Borough will see major investment this autumn as we begin our second phase of resurfacing schemes.
Thousands of residents will see the benefits of improved road surfaces on main travel routes throughout the borough thanks to a £800,000 programme, starting on 19 October.
This is part of the council’s £8million investment in road improvements during 2020-21 and follows an extensive programme earlier this year.
Almost 100 roads across the area were resurfaced earlier this year, with many of the most disruptive locations being completed during the lockdown months when roads were quieter.
This round of resurfacing works will take place between October and December and will all be full resurfacing works.
This is an extensive treatment which involves removing the top layers of a worn out road surface and replacing this with new material. More information on the different types of road treatments can be found on the council’s website.
The works this autumn will focus on some of the most used roads across the borough and include Rushey Way in Earley, Headley Road and Crockhamwell Road in Woodley, Nine Mile Ride in Finchampstead and Baskingstoke Road in Spencers Wood/Swallowfield.
Roads have been selected by the council’s highways team by identifying the roads most in need of attention thanks to continual surveying and inspection producing a condition scoring system.
“Improving road surfaces is something we know is a top priority for our residents and our extensive programme for this year continues through the autumn,” said Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport.
“Ensuring residents can have smooth journeys on safe roads, whether in their vehicles, on public transport or by cycling, means keeping surfaces in a good condition.
“Officers continue to inspect and monitor all roads across Wokingham Borough and this shapes where the work is taking place. Roads such as Nine, Mile Ride, Rushey Way and Crockhamwell Road are vital for being able to get around the borough easily, but also reflect where work is most needed based on our information.”
To reduce disruption at key strategic locations we will work overnight from 8pm to 6am. Where necessary daytime works at important locations will be off-peak, between 9.30am and 4pm.
Residents who live on streets where works are taking place will receive letters notifying them in advance and signs will be placed on streets where work is happening.
Full details of this year’s programme, including which roads will be resurfaced or redressed and when, can be found by visiting www.wokingham.gov.uk/roadworks-and-outdoor-maintenance/roadworks-and-road-maintenance/pothole-and-road-repairs-schedule. Details of road closures will also be available on www.one.network.
The work is part of a series of highway investments in Wokingham Borough including the council’s £124million major highways programme, new or improved park and ride car parks, and other services across the area.
The council is also beginning its work to invest £20million in tackling congestion over the next five years.
Full list of places where works are taking place:
Please note the upcoming safety barrier replacement work at various locations between Woodley and Charvil. The majority of the work will be undertaken under partial lane closures or 2-way traffic signals.
Wokingham Borough Council aims to undertake the works as quickly as possible to minimise disruption. The team will take all possible measures to minimise any noise from the site and react immediately to try and resolve any concerns or complaints received during the works.
These safety barriers have been identified to require replacement following assessment.
Works will commence from 7 October for eleven weeks. During this time, various sections along London Road, Bath Road and New Bath Road will have traffic management in the form of either lane closures or 2-way traffic light.
The safety barriers will be replaced.
A road closure is required for the date mentioned above to ensure the safety of the workforce and also to protect the drivers as there will be periods where the safety barriers will be removed completely for foundation construction.
Where can I find out more information?
Wokingham Borough Council’s executive has approved the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and local ECO Flex ‘Help to Heat’ scheme.
This new green initiative aims to help eligible residents improve the energy efficiency of low performing homes with a range of works such as loft or cavity wall insulation.
And the best part is that the improvements are usually either free or heavily subsidised as they are funded through a national levy on major energy suppliers such as British Gas, EDF Energy, EON, Npower, Scottish Power and SSE.
“Currently almost 1800 homes in Wokingham Borough are believed to have the worst energy performance rating of E, F or G, with almost half of this figure made up of council homes and social housing stock. This low rating means these homes are performing very inefficiently with occupiers paying much higher heating bills than they should.
“We already know that fuel poverty, caused by continually increasing energy costs, is affecting 1 in 10 households across the UK, and is having a massive impact on some of the eldest, most vulnerable and most at risk residents of the borough. We don’t believe anybody should be forced to decide between ‘heating and eating’ which is why initiatives like the ECO scheme, and the new Green Homes Grant, are so important for our local residents. By improving the energy efficiency of local homes we can help occupiers reduce their bills and enjoy warmer, more comfortable homes.
“Improving the energy efficiency of local homes will also help tackle the wider climate emergency by lowering carbon emissions across the borough.”
In addition to helping local home owners access the scheme the council intends to use ECO funding to improve low performing council homes to help benefit local tenants as well.
To qualify for support resident’s will need to meet certain eligibility criteria and have their homes current energy performance surveyed by the council’s ECO scheme partner, Insta Group Ltd, to assess whether improvements can be made in line with the scheme requirements.
National ECO eligibility criteria includes those in receipt of a range of benefits such as Universal Credit or the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). However, by adopting the local ECO Flex ‘Help to Heat’ element alongside this, the council will also be able to increase eligibility criteria to include a wider range of residents.
Details of the wider eligibility criteria, the types of improvements available and how to apply for support, will be shared when the council ECO Help to Heat scheme launches later in October.
You can find out more about the ECO scheme on the Ofgem website at:
A plague of illegal bonfires is blighting parts of the borough – with a quarter of all nuisance complaints received since the beginning of September linked to 18 locations – but the council is taking immediate action to put the problem out.
Acrid smoke from sites burning what is believed to be commercial waste is polluting homes and gardens in various parts of the borough and WBC enforcement officers are out hunting the culprits to put a stop to the problem.
Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment said: “I am declaring war on the culprits who are burning commercial waste late in the evenings and weekend. The foul smells created are blighting the lives of many residents – and could cause health problems in particular those with respiratory conditions. We have the powers to catch and punish those responsible – and we won’t hesitate to do so.”
The council’s Public Protection (PPP) Team has followed up complaints and on witnessing nuisance issued Abatement Notices at locations in the south of the borough where they found evidence of illegal burning. To date there have not been further incidents at these locations, but, if there are infringements there are a range of options open to the Council including prosecution and all options are on the table. They are also using other powers such to deal with dark smoke when appropriate.
The PPP team has also carried out day and night time inspections at these and other potential trouble spots to try to catch the perpetrators in action.
Cllr Batth added: “Wokingham Borough has zero tolerance to illegal burning of commercial waste. Our teams are out looking to catch those responsible. But we do need the public’s help because it is obviously essential to get evidence, and the best evidence is to catch them red-handed. If you are aware of illegal burning of commercial waste, please contact us on the appropriate channel – just posting something on social media will never help us take action, but reporting the incidents can do.”
Any residents witnessing illegal fires should contact the PPP via the website https://publicprotectionpartnership.org.uk/make-a-service-request/ or if it’s happening in real time a call to the EH number on (01635) 503 242. Reports should include information on times, locations and if possible photographs of the fire and smoke.
2nd Woodley Scout Group
£250 – to purchase camping equipment and activity equipment.
Berkshire Vision
£250 – towards the cost of providing services and a range of events and activities to enhance the lives of the visually impaired.
Home-Start Wokingham District
£250 – towards the cost of running a training course for new volunteers and mentoring current volunteers.
Kick Twist Cheerleading
£250 – towards the cost of 4 training sessions at the Bulmershe Gymnastics Club.
Me2 Club
£250 – towards the cost of recruiting and screening 5 new volunteers within Woodley.
Woodley Festival of Music and Arts
£250 – to help towards the cost of providing the Festival of Music and Arts.
Woodley United FC
£250 – towards the cost of enabling 4 volunteers to obtain the FA Level 1 Football Coaching qualification.
Wokingham Borough Council is asking residents to imagine what the borough would be like if the Government’s proposal to double the number of homes built in the borough each year goes ahead. The council is extremely concerned about the impact of 1600 new homes every year would have on the borough’s infrastructure.
“If the Government go ahead with their proposal to double our housing numbers, our system of planning for new homes strategically just wouldn’t be able to cope,” said leader of the council, John Halsall. “We would be playing catch up with the infrastructure for years to come.
“Just imagine what would happen to our roads – the Reading Road would be at a standstill, the Finchampstead Road going out of Wokingham towards the Tesco’s would be backed up at all hours, junction 11 would be like a carpark and the A4 would be chock-a-block all day. If you think the roads are bad now, just image what would happen if we suddenly have to start building double the number of houses every year.
“I have created a parliamentary petition asking the Government to re-think this proposal. You can find it on the parliamentary petition website by searching for ‘housing target’ or by visiting https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/548391. “We’ve had 10,000 new homes in the borough in the last 10 years,” added executive member for planning and enforcement Cllr Wayne Smith. “While that seems like a lot, in reality these houses were well planned and do have the infrastructure they need.
“We have seven new primary schools in the borough either already open, under construction or on the way, and a new secondary school open – the first in 50 years – at Bohunt in Arborfield. We have five major new roads, the Shinfield Eastern Relief Road already open, the Arborfield Cross Relief Road opening in October, the North Wokingham Distributor and Winnersh Relief Roads mostly open and nearing completion and the South Wokingham Distributor Road coming in the next couple of years.
“We are investing £170million in new public open space, play areas and parks and £45million in new sports facilities. We have five new community centres coming and £420million worth of affordable housing. How anyone can say we aren’t building the infrastructure is just beyond me. But, that is all about how we have been building in the past, based on our last local plan, which gave us a roadmap of how to develop the borough responsibly, planning new communities in four strategic locations across the borough all with the infrastructure to support them.”
Wokingham Borough Council is urging residents to respond to the Government’s proposal that would see the number of houses built each year in Wokingham Borough more than double. The consultation, which closes 1 October, on the Government’s proposal would see over 1600 new homes a year imposed on Wokingham Borough. This is more than double the current figure. See the parliamentary petition by visiting https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/548391 or visiting the parliamentary petitions webpage and searching for ‘housing target’.
Leader of the council John Halsall said: “What the government is proposing is absolutely outrageous – we have been playing according to the rules for years, building thousands of new homes in Wokingham Borough. We’ve had 10,000 new homes in the borough in the last 10 years and now the government want us to more than double that – they want us to build 25,000 new homes in the next 15 years. That would be like building two new towns the size of Wokingham every 15 years!
“I have spoken directly to the secretary of state for housing Robert Jenrick about the disastrous impact this would have on Wokingham. To get him to really listen to us, we need our residents to contact their MP and Robert Jenrick himself, before 1 October when the consultation ends.”
To respond to the consultation:
See the parliamentary petition
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/548391
Contact your local MP
Email your MP and copy us in at fairplayinhousing@wokingham.gov.uk
Contact the Secretary of State
Contact the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick using the online form and let us know by emailing fairplayinhousing@wokingham.gov.uk
Respond to the Government consultation online
Take part in the government consultation online.
For more information visit the council’s website at www.wokingham.gov.uk/fairplayinhousing
Proposals to replace the existing black recycling boxes with waterproof recycling bags in Wokingham Borough was given the go ahead at last week’s special meeting of the council’s Executive committee (11 September).
Changes in the world market for recycled material have meant that wet paper and card is no longer being accepted by recycling plants – which is hurting the borough’s recycling rates and causing significant environmental and financial cost.
The switch to waterproof recycling bags will help the council maximise its recycling rate, with an aim to achieve a 70 per cent recycling rate as part of a drive to make Wokingham a carbon neutral borough by 2030.
No other changes for residents are planned, with weekly collections alongside blue bag and food waste recycling continuing.
The waterproof recycling bags will amount to a £400,000 cost saving per year, and allow an increased capacity for every household of 20 litres per week. The council anticipates this would lead to an increase in total amount recycled in the borough by more than 1,000 tonnes.
Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment, said: “We know how important recycling is to our residents – we know you want to recycle because it’s the right thing to do for the environment.
“We’ve been working on a solution to the wet paper and card problem since the issue first emerged at the end of last year. We hired independent consultants to look at all the options available to us to ensure we made the right decision for our residents.
“We are an ambitious council – we want to get to a 70% recycling rate by 2030, something no other council in the country has done yet. Solving the wet paper problem is an important piece of that puzzle. We can’t reach our target without first getting over this hurdle.
“The waterproof recycling bags have the benefit of solving the wet paper problem and having a minimal impact on our residents, allowing them to keep the great recycling and waste collection services they expect.”
The waterproof recycling bags will be ordered following the call in period.
For more information about recycling, visit our website at www.wokingham.gov.ukand search recycling.
Following the cancellation of the Car Boot Sale on Sunday 20th September 2020, here are the revised dates for the remainder of 2020.
All markets are open from 08.00-13.00.
Wokingham Borough Council is encouraging homeowners and landlords to apply for a government green homes grant towards the cost of installing energy efficient and low-carbon heating improvements which could help save up to £600 a year on energy bills.
The government will provide vouchers worth up to £5,000 to help cover two-thirds of the cost of energy efficiency home improvements, such as home insulation or low carbon heating.
The council declared a climate emergency last year and committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. In July of this year, the council set out its roadmap on how it will achieve that.
The council recognises the level of commitment that is required by all sectors and partners. The achievement of this ambitious objective relies on the engagement and support of our residents, communities, local towns and parish councils, and local businesses.
“We have committed £50million over the next three years to assist in the reduction of the borough’s carbon footprint but we cannot reach carbon neutrality alone,” said Cllr Gregor Murray, executive member for climate emergency.
“The green homes grant is a fantastic opportunity for our residents to save money on a home improvement which will then save them money year on year. And, they’ll be helping to reduce residential carbon emissions across the borough and get the council closer to our goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.
“Domestic carbon emissions account for 45% of the total carbon emissions for the borough, so we need to improve the energy efficiency of our homes if we’re going to get to carbon neutrality.
“The application process is simple – I’ve just applied for a grant and it only took a couple of minutes. If my grant application is approved, I stand to save 25% on my annual heating costs while helping the council reach their carbon neutral goal and most importantly it’s good for the environment.”
A higher level of subsidy may also be available if a homeowner or a member of the household receives one of the qualifying means-tested benefits, which could result in 100% of the cost of the improvements being covered up to £10,000. More information on the qualifying benefits is available on the Simple Energy Advice website.
The council has applied to be part of the government’s Green Homes Grant: Local Authority Delivery, which would provide additional support for low income households across the borough.
If you are a home owner why not visit the Simple Energy Advice website to find out what green improvements could be made to your house and how to apply for a grant. Visit www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk and search green homes grant.
© Woodley Town Council 2024
