Could you be a brilliant foster carer?

Becoming part of a foster family can be life-changing for a young person in care and we need more local families to make this a reality for more young people.

Wokingham Borough Council foster carers Matt and Natasha Lee have grown as people since starting in the role last year. They are one of 64 foster families in the borough but more than 10 are urgently needed, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Matt and Natasha balance fostering alongside their commitment to their three sons. It has had its challenging times but the pair describe it as a joyous experience.

“Fostering is something that we had talked about for many years,” they said. “We knew the time would have to be right to make it work for everyone, so started our fostering journey in January 2019 and haven’t looked back since. Within a few days of being approved as foster carers, we had a young boy placed with us for a few weeks of respite care and shortly after this, had siblings of seven and two years of age placed in our care.

“After six months with us now, it would be a lie to say that it’s all been plain sailing or easy, but we never expected it to be. Fostering throws up challenges the same as anything in life and at times can be emotionally tiring, but how the whole extended family have dealt with those challenges and overcome them gives the most positive feeling imaginable.”

The experience has seen growth not only for the young people in their care, but also Matt and Natasha’s own children. “The development we’ve seen with the children, including our own, in all respects is the greatest achievement of all and is something we’re all proud to be part of,” they added. “We had imagined fostering to be many things and, over a year down the line, are so glad we took that step to make a difference to someone’s life.”

With the annual national Foster Care Fortnight (11 to 24 May) still going ahead during the Coronavirus pandemic the borough council wants to reach out to would-be foster carers for children including teenagers, siblings, and asylum seekers and children with disabilities who desperately need foster carers in the borough. It is very probable that more children will come into care and require foster homes as a consequence of COVID-19.

The council always looks for homes for the 100 plus children and young people currently in care with its own council carers first. Additional financial assistance in the form of council tax exemption is offered as part of a wide range of benefits and incentives.

Regardless of culture, background, sexual orientation and whether you are a homeowner or tenant, if you have a spare room, are aged 21 and over with life experience, live within twenty miles of the borough and have time for a child, you could foster. What matters most, is that you are the right family or person for our children.

As a foster carer, the council offers attractive remuneration packages, council tax exemption, excellent training including a specialist therapeutic programme, as well as one-to-one and out-of-hours support. Fees increase with experience often resulting in the equivalent of a reasonable salary, which could provide a complete change of career. For example, an experienced foster carer at Level 2, who cares for two children all year, could earn more than £25,000 p.a. excluding allowances for the child.

“Becoming a foster carer is open to a broad range of people and what’s most important is being able to provide a safe and loving home for the young people in our care,” said Cllr UllaKarin Clark, executive member for children’s services. “Get in touch with our team to find out about the possibilities of starting the journey to become a brilliant foster family while getting paid as well as access to a host of other benefits and training.”

During Foster Care Fortnight, the council is holding a drop-in virtual information event on Wednesday May 20 between 6pm and 8pm. Foster carers will share their experiences and discuss the positive life changes created for the children and young people involved.

Anyone interested is invited to email fostering@wokingham.gov.uk and we’ll make arrangements. The application process is friendly, supportive and quicker than you might think. The council is still actively recruiting, continuing with new fostering enquiries and applications by phone calls and virtual visits.

The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week across Wokingham Borough and the country is Kindness

Books and resources to help adults and children, particularly to help during the difficulties faced during lockdown and the Covid 19 pandemic, can be found by accessing Wokingham Borough Libraries online HERE.

15/5/2020

Woodley’s Food bank hit the 20,000 donation this week with Woodley Town Mayor Cllr Kay Gilder providing the milestone donation during the Covid 19 pandemic

20,000 food and toiletries have now been donated to the Woodley Food Bank via drop boxes set up at Woodley’s Covid 19 Response group food drive co-ordinator’s house, since the Covid 19 pandemic started in March. 

Ronnie Goodberry, also a key administrator of the group, started collecting donations on 27 March. “When I first started coordinating the donations, I wasn’t aware of the demand upon the food banks and other charities which issue parcels to vulnerable person within the Woodley area. At times, our living room was like a warehouse with a mass of baskets and carrier bags full with tinned items, toiletries, plus other food item; it was actually quite overwhelming at times.” 

“We’ve managed to donate a large number of mini toiletries to the nursing welfare charity at the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) and have received bikes, scooters, books, DVDs, games, soft toys and puzzles all donated for those in need.”

Woodley Town Mayor, Cllr Kay Gilder was delighted to be able to donate the 20,000th food item to the scheme, despite being recommended to self- isolate. “I was delighted to be asked for my donation to be the 20,000 given to this wonderful group of people who decided to start this initiative at the start of the lockdown. Although I myself am self-isolating I felt honoured to be asked to help these wonderful people, again it shows what a superb community Woodley is.”

Speaking of the Mayor providing the 20,000 item, Ronnie said: “the Mayor congratulated us for our efforts and was overwhelmed by the generosity shown by Woodley’s residents at this time of crisis. We asked the Mayor to help our group and 1400 members to celebrate the generous donations deposited at the drop boxes outside my house.” 

The group is also particularly proud of how it has responded to individual needs and, often, in record time. “We managed to provide one family in isolation with food parcels that were sourced and delivered within two hours of the call going out. We also received donations including new toys, a cake, banners and balloons for a nine-year-old’s birthday as his family were in isolation, alongside food parcels and essentials,” said Ronnie. 

Woodley Council Leader Cllr Keith Baker is also a member of the Woodley Covid 19 Response Group. Speaking about the group and its milestone donation, Keith said: “During the weeks, and now months, Woodley residents have come together as a community, demonstrating what a loving and caring group of individuals they all are. The true character of a town only becomes visible when a serious incident occurs and the Covid 19 virus is right up there at the top of the pile. Residents have come together in a remarkable way that most of us have never experienced before. The passion to protect the vulnerable seen by residents working together has been exceptional. Whether it is donating food, collecting prescriptions, going shopping, mini toiletries delivered to RBH, emergency deliveries, donating non-food items or even dismantling a bed and putting up its replacement residents have all played a magnificent part in proving what a wonderful town Woodley is.”

Donations continue to be needed, not just to the Woodley Food Bank through Ronnie’s collection boxes but also at other collection points around Woodley.

“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all residents who have donated, helped, and contributed to keep everyone safe and in food and essentials during the Covid 19 pandemic and thank you for your continued support,” added Mayor Kay. 

14/5/2020

Community garden to be set up in Woodley town centre

A community garden will be created in Woodley precinct to smarten up the town centre and help boost the local economy as it responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

It will be created around the trees outside Waitrose, near the Crockhamwell Road car park, by removing the current paving slabs.

The joint project between Woodley Town Council, the Town Centre Management Initiative and Wokingham Borough Council aims to solve the problem of potential trip hazards around the four trees due to their roots dislodging paving around them.

Creating the raised community garden, which will go around the trees, removes the restrictions on the trees roots and will provide an area for the community to enjoy. 

A brick retaining wall will be used following feedback from residents to the town council. 

New seating will be installed in the area for visitors to the town centre, as well as a notice board in the same style as those in Woodford Park. 

Pedestrians will still be able to walk on either side of this new garden to get to the shops.

Start date

Work will begin on 18 May and take around three weeks, with works being carried out by a contractor on behalf of the borough council. 

Access to all shops which are open will be maintained.

The plants and vegetation to be installed in the garden has yet to be decided with current thoughts of a school community garden, a variety of grasses or even the use of moss to absorb carbon from the atmosphere or a mixture of both. Whatever is chosen will be easy to maintain.

Kickstart

“We are working to help kickstart our local economy during Wokingham Borough’s response to the pandemic and investing in town centres and high streets like Woodley’s is one of the ways to do this,” said Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport.

“This will also solve a historic problem with tree roots in that area of the precinct as well as creating an area for the community to enjoy for many years to come.” 

Cllr Keith Baker, leader of the town council, said: “This long standing issue of trip hazards has now been addressed by a highly innovative solution. 

“For Woodley residents it not only makes this area safer but it also provides a visually attractive scene including new seating areas for them to sit down and rest, meet friends or simply to eat their lunch. 

“This is the third piece of the regeneration of the public space in the precinct and will enhance the area considerably.” “Woodley Town Centre Management have been concerned for some time about the uneven surface around the trees in the town centre and while we don’t want to see the trees removed, the proposed plans for the garden are a good solution to the current trip hazards,”said Brian Fennelly, Woodley Town Centre Manager. 

“We are also keen to get active involvement from the local community with planting and maintenance of the garden.”  

11/5/2020

Increased demand for foster carers due to Covid 19

More than 10 foster families are urgently needed in Wokingham Borough, with demand on services set to increase due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

One of the pressures of the lockdown measures to manage COVID-19 is an increase in domestic abuse. Nationally, charity Refuge has seen a 700 per cent increase in visits to its website and a 25 per cent increase in the number of calls to the National Domestic Abuse helpline. We know from the backgrounds and histories of foster children and young people that some have been exposed to the damaging impact of domestic violence.

Children will need foster carers during the Coronavirus pandemic and in the future, which is why we’re still recruiting. Our foster carers are amazing and here’s your chance to join them and make a lasting difference. More than ever we are looking for new or experienced foster carers for local children who need caring families living in or close to Wokingham Borough.

With the annual Foster Care Fortnight (11 to 24 May) campaign still going ahead Wokingham Borough Council wants to reach out and find would-be foster carers for children including teenagers, siblings, asylum seekers and children with disabilities who desperately need foster carers in the borough.

They will join the 64 Wokingham Borough Council fostering homes for some of its children and young people in care who want to be fostered close to their families and friends in the borough. The council has ramped up its support for these families during COVID-19 by doubling their efforts during the lockdown to keep in touch with foster carers by phone and Skype video. Regular news emails for foster carers to share ideas and general Covid-19 news updates are being sent out and a free yoga session.

The council always looks for homes for the 100 plus children and young people currently in care with its own council carers first. Additional financial assistance in the form of council tax exemption is offered as part of a wide range of benefits and incentives.

“We have 64 foster carer households who do vital work providing a loving and nurturing home for young people in our borough,” said Cllr Ulla Karin Clark, executive member for children’s services. “We know coronavirus has caused people to lose their jobs and some could be looking for a new way to earn a living. Fostering changes lives and keeps young people close to their friends and families, so talk to our team about it.

“As a career, our foster carers also find it enormously rewarding. Children go into foster care for all sorts of reasons, through no fault of their own, but the work our foster carers do gives youngsters a happier and more supported life. We are really grateful to them and value them enormously. Please give some thought as to whether you could be one of these special people.”

Regardless of culture, background, sexual orientation and whether you are a homeowner or tenant, if you have a spare room, are aged 21 and over with life experience, live within twenty miles of the borough and have time for a child, you could foster. What matters most, is that you are the right family or person for our children.

As a foster carer, the council offers attractive remuneration packages, council tax exemption, excellent training including a specialist therapeutic programme, as well as one-to-one and out-of-hours support. Fees increase with experience often resulting in the equivalent of a reasonable salary, which could provide a complete change of career. For example, an experienced foster carer at Level 2, who cares for two children all year, could earn more than £25,000 p.a. excluding allowances for the child.

During Foster Care Fortnight, the council is holding a drop-in virtual information event on Wednesday May 20, between 18.00-20.00.  Foster carers will share their experiences and discuss the positive life changes created for the children and young people involved.

Anyone interested is invited to email and we’ll make arrangements. The application process is friendly, supportive and quicker than you might think. The council is still actively recruiting, continuing with new fostering enquiries and applications by phone calls and virtual visits.

To find out more, contact Jackie Ross, recruitment and marketing officer by calling 0118 974 6204, emailing fostering@wokingham.gov.uk  or visit fostering.wokingham.gov.uk

Grass cutting across the borough continues following socially distant guidelines

4/5/2020

Wokingham Borough Council contractors Tivoli have continued to cut the grass across the Borough. Unfortunately, due to current circumstances in order to protect high risk employees, it has been challenging to keep staffing resource consistent. As such, grass cutting progress is currently running behind by up to two weeks in some places. Please note that this should not impact our parks and larger open spaces which are being prioritised to ensure that recreation space is available for exercise.

To catch up, Tivoli have increased their resource and have been working over weekends and overtime as well.

Most recently our contractors have:

·         Completed cutting in Woodley, Winnersh, Shinfield, Swallowfield & Arborfield

·         Commenced and continued cutting in Earley, Finchampstead & Wokingham Without. These areas will be completed over the next week

·         Cut the larger parks across the Borough.

After the bank holiday weekend:

·         Grass cutting will resume in Twyford, Hurst, Ruscombe and Wokingham

·         Larger parks and open spaces will continue to be cut.

Please bear with the team as it works to catch-up. During this time, priority will be given to:

·         Ensure local parks and open spaces are safe and accessible for permitted exercise and wellbeing

·         Continue Grounds maintenance for vulnerable residents in sheltered housing providing them with outside space

·         Assist other critical contracts where appropriate.

You can find further information on grass cutting on Wokingham Borough Council’s website at: http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/roads-and-outdoor-maintenance/trees-hedges-and-grass-cutting/grass-cutting/

To report an issue please raise this via our Customer Delivery team so this can be logged and monitored on our dynamics system and be directed straight to our contractor.

Please get in touch with Wokingham Borough Council via:

Web: https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/contact-us/contact-us-online/

Email: CustomerService@wokingham.gov.uk

Phone: 0118 974 6000 

At the first virtual meeting of Wokingham Borough Council’s executive committee on Wednesday 22 April, the Council approved a strategy aimed at tackling the growing problem with fly-tipping. 

Fly-tipping has been on the increase in recent years, but has seen an additional increase in the last couple of weeks due to the closure of the rubbish and recycling centres. All waste and recycling kerbside services are running normally and the decision to close the tips is being assessed on a daily basis.

Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste or rubbish on public or private land, and is a significant blight on our local environment; a hazard to wildlife; and a nuisance. 

Within Wokingham Borough there were 1298 incidents of fly-tipping during 2019/20 and 1171 in 2018/19.  This is an average of approximately 100 fly-tips per month.  These figures exclude much of the waste dumped on private land, which landowners are liable to dispose of at considerable cost. 

The most common type of fly-tipped waste found in Wokingham Borough is household waste (black bags), followed by construction waste.

This strategy will help ensure the borough’s residents, businesses and landowners understand their responsibility for their waste and shows how the council will work with all partners to keep the borough clean and deliver a pro-active approach to tackle waste crime. 

Specifically, the strategy includes information about how the council will deliver against the following specific aspects of activity:

• Prevention
• Communication
• Reporting Incidents
• Responding to Incidents
• Enforcement
• Working with Partners

The strategy includes a comprehensive action plan for how the council and its partners will work to reduce the impact of fly-tipping across the borough.  A selection of key actions for 2020 are:

• Install additional signage in higher risk areas across the borough
• Deploy CCTV in hotspot areas
• Work closely with town and parish councils to identify and tackle local fly-tipping hotspots 
• Promote campaigns made up of interested parties working in partnership to prevent and tackle fly-tipping
• Publicise existing council waste collection service, including bulky waste collection
• Keep up-to-date information on responsibilities for residents, businesses and landowners in one place on the council website
• Clear fly-tipped waste on public land within five working days of reporting
• Attach a large orange sticker on each fly-tip after it has been inspected to confirm to residents that it is due to be cleared
• Regularly inspect businesses’ waste disposal arrangements
• Issue fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping and to businesses without the correct waste disposal arrangements
• Publicise fixed penalty notices and convictions
• Provide landowners with advice on how to deal with clearance and disposal of fly-tipped waste
• Establish a network to share intelligence on fly-tipping incidents, best practice and resources on prevention and enforcement between partner organisations
• Provide feedback to residents on the result of investigations and any subsequent prosecutions

“Fly-tipping has been on the increase and we have made tackling fly-tipping a high priority over the last year,” said Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure. 

“Not only is fly-tipping illegal but is an eyesore, a blight on our beautiful towns and countryside, but it also adds to the risk of flooding by blocking ditches and gulleys. We just should not have to tolerate this illegal behaviour and we are doing everything we can to try and stop it.

“So let this be a warning to those contemplating this illegal fly-tipping practise. We are watching and monitoring you. We have installed CCTV cameras and our staff are out there watching anyone fly-tipping illegally. Those caught will be punished through on the spot fines and may even face jail for persistent abuse of our beautiful countryside through the ugly practise of illegal fly-tipping”.

29/4/2020

At present Wokingham Borough Council has taken the difficult decision to temporarily close all of its libraries.

A large number of online library services are still available, including ebooks, enewspapers and audiobooks. While the libraries are closed we have suspended the fines so there is no need to renew or return your books. Please look after the books, until such time as the libraries reopen, then you will be able to return them

New Digital Services

• Sign up for free library membership by visiting the Spydus website to join our libraries online.
• Freegal Music – Access 15 million songs from thousands of artists. You can download 3 songs per week, and listen to streamed content for up to 3 hours per day. Login to Freegal Music with your barcode and PIN, or download the Freegal Music app from the App Store or Google Play Store, then select your library and log in with your barcode and PIN. Please note: Some of the titles may contain content of a more adult nature. As with all library usage we recommend parents and carers give their child support in choosing appropriate items to match their needs.
• Ancestry Online website – is a family history website with access to census records, births, marriages and deaths records, and much more. Available at Wokingham, Woodley and Lower Earley libraries. Access to this resource has been temporarily expanded to library cardholders working remotely, courtesy of ProQuest and its partner Ancestry. To log in from home, visit the Spydus website

VE Day Celebrations

Join us for our virtual Library VE Day celebrations to mark this important anniversary. Check out our libraries blog at https://wokinghamboroughlibraries.wordpress.com/ for VE Day activities which will include:

• A look at how Wokingham celebrated VE Day with an article put together by our local history volunteer Jim Bell
• Recommended books from our  digital library about WW2 and how it ended
• A play list of contemporaneous music available on our free music streaming service Freegal
• A “Bake along” with wartime recipes. One of our members of staff will be baking the cakes and posting pictures of the results on our blog
• Amazing Animal Adventures with book ideas and activities about animal heroes during the wars.
• Links to virtual activities taking place nationally

We will also be running the following on our Facebook page and keep checking as we start more activities over the coming weeks – https://www.facebook.com/wokinghamboroughlibraries/ 

• Online Origami Club
• Online storytime every Tuesday on our Facebook Page
• Rhymetime – a rhyme a week will be coming out on Friday on our Facebook page –
• Online Writing Club
• Lego Club weekly challenge

Reading Well and Mental Health 

Check out the NHS Every Mind Matters website. It has some useful tips for mental wellbeing while staying at home. There’s a host of advice, support and tools to use. Just visit: http://ow.ly/4dBb30qsCNl

Reading Well Schemes – https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/libraries/reading-schemes-for-children-and-adults/reading-well-schemes-to-improve-health/Some of the titles are available on eBooks for you to listen to but check out https://reading-well.org.uk/resources/mental-health for more resources.

E-Services – Did you know you can borrow a range of e-books, e-audio, e-comics newspapers and magazines completely free of charge if you are a library member? Just go to https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/libraries/library-services/e-books/ or download the RB Digital app and use your library card number to create a free account with a username and password.

E-books 

• Read books on your home computer, smartphone or tablet
• Borrow 6 books at a time for up to 21 days
• Choose from over 2000 books, with new titles added every month

E-audio

• Listen to audio books on your phone, MP3 player, iPod or computer
• Choose from over 1000 books, with new titles added every month
• No limit on the number of titles you can borrow

E-Comics

• Read graphic novels on your home computer, smartphone or tablet
• Choose from over 1000 titles, including Marvel Comic titles, which can be borrowed for 30 days

Press Reader –E-newspapers and magazines are available via the Press Reader App, please visit: https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/libraries/library-services/e-magazines/ for more information.

The service allows you to:

• Read and download newspapers and magazines on your computer, smartphone or tablet
• Read the current copy of most daily and Sunday newspapers, many local newspapers and a wide selection of magazines
• Access a selection of newspapers and magazines from all over the world

Why not search our online catalogue from the comfort of your own home to see what’s on offer:  http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/libraries   

You can find more about events in libraries via our email newsletter. You can sign up for this at: http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/contact-us/sign-up-manage-text-and-email-alerts/. Or alternatively download this publication at:  http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/libraries/find-and-join-a-library/

28/4/2020

National Thank a Teacher Day is looking to celebrate your teachers

Teachers are celebrated across the UK every year on National Thank A Teacher Day, which is on 20 May this year.

The Teaching Awards Trust, who run the event, also use this day to announce and celebrate the Silver Winners of the Pearson National Teaching Awards. This year the team are waiting for schools to reopen to all children before it officially announce the winners. In the meantime, however, it is asking everyone across the country to join together to say a HUGE thank you to their teachers for their amazing work not only in these challenging times but all year round.

How can you thank your teacher?

Do you have a STAR teacher? Do you miss seeing them every day? This Thank A Teacher Day let’s take the opportunity to say thank you to all our amazing teachers and support staff, who are doing a star job each and every day.

Share your message of thanks with the Thank a Teacher team before the 20th May, ideally in a video clip, or in an expression of your choosing. The theme this year is a star. How creative can you be? Maybe you and your school will feature as a #StarOfTheDay on social media.

The aim is to get as many messages of thanks and some great stories about the teachers who are being thanked so these can be shared with the whole country on National Thank a Teacher Day on May 20th.

More information can be found HERE. You can also email: info@teachingawards.com.

If you upload videos or messages on your own social media pages, please use the hashtags #ThankaTeacherDay #ClassroomHeroes and for Woodley residents please tag us @WoodleyCouncil so we can see the wonderful messages for Woodley teachers.

Scheduled roadworks in Woodley for May

Please be aware that Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority has made an Order under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which is prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along: 

🚫 Colemansmoor Road, Woodley between its junctions with Loddon Bridge Road and Miles Way. The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Miles Way, Spitfire Way, Headley Road East and Loddon Bridge Road or by this route in reverse. Works requiring this restriction will take place on 18th May 2020.

🚫 Tippings Lane, Woodley between its junctions with the Duffield Road, and Headley Road East. The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Church Road, Glendevon Road, Butts Hill Road and Headley Road East or by this route in reverse. Works requiring this restriction will take place between 18th May and 19th May 2020.

🚫 Butts Hill Road, Sonning between its junctions with Pound Lane and Ravensbourne Drive. The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Glendevon Road, Church Road, Duffield Road and Pound Lane or by this route in reverse. Works requiring this restriction will take place on 19th May 2020.

🚫 Pound Lane, Sonning between its junctions with Butts Hill Road and Duffield Road. The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Butts Hill Road, Glendevon Road, Church Road and Duffield Road or by this route in reverse. Works requiring this restriction will take place on 19th May 2020.

🚫 A4 Bath Road, Sonning between its junctions with A3032 Old Bath Road and Pound Lane. The alternative route for all eastbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A4 London Road, A4 Crown Street, A327 Southampton Street, A329 Queens Road, A329 Watlington Street, A329 Forbury Road, A329 Vastern Road, A4155 Caversham Road, A4155 Church Street, A4155 Prospect Street, A4155 Henley Road, A4155 Hampstead Hill, A4155 Reading Road, A4130 Hart Street, A4130 White Hill, A321 Wargrave Hill and A321 High Street. The alternative route for all westbound vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A321 High Street, A321 Wargrave Hill, A4130 White Hill, A4130 Hart Street, Thameside, Station Road, A4155 Reading Road, A4155 Hampstead Hill, A4155 Henley Road, A4155 Prospect Street, A4155 Church Street, A4155 Caversham Road, A329 Vastern Road, A329 Forbury Road, A329 Kings Road, A4 London Road. Works requiring this restriction will take place on 16th May 2020.

🚫 Pound Lane, Sonning between its junctions with Duffield Road and A4 Bath Road. The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A4 Bath Road, A4 London Road, Reading Road and Western Avenue or by this route in reverse. Works requiring this restriction will take place on 19th May 2020.

🚫 A4 Bath Road, Hare Hatch between its junctions with Wokingham Borough Boundary and Scarletts Lane. The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Henley Road, A4130 Henley Road, A4130 Remenham Hill, A4130 White Hill, A321 Wargrave Road, A321 High Street, A321 Wargrave Road and A4 New Bath Road or by this route in reverse. Works requiring this restriction will take place on 16th May 2020.

🚫 Little Glebe, Sonning between its junctions with Pound Lane and Garde Lane, The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Garde Road, Glebe Lane and Pound Lane, or by this route in reverse. Works requiring this restriction will take place between 12^th May and 13^th May 2020. 

🚫 Walton Close, Woodley from its junction with Grays Crescent for its entirety. Works requiring this restriction will take place on 13^th May 2020. 

🚫 Bruce Road, Woodley between its junctions with Wheble Drive. The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Bruce Road and Wheble Drive, or by this route in reverse. Works requiring this restriction will take place between 13^th May and 14^th May 2020. 

🚫 Wallace Close, Woodley from its junctions with Fairwater Drive. Works requiring this restriction will take place between 15^th May and 16^th May 2020 

🚫 Rosewood, Woodley from its junction with Linden Road Works requiring this restriction will take place on 16^th May 2020. 

🚫 Linden Road, Woodley from its junction with Nightingale Road. Works requiring this restriction will take place between 16^th May and 17^th May 2020. 

🚫 Austin Road, Woodley between its junctions with Vauxhall Drive and Colemansmoor Road. The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Vauxhall Drive and Colemansmoor Road, or by this route in reverse. Works requiring this restriction will take place between 17^th May and 18^th May 2020. 

🚫 Redwood Avenue, Woodley between its junctions with Oak Drive and Holly Road. The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Oak Drive, Spruce Road and Holly Road, or by this route in reverse. Works requiring this restriction will take place on 18^th May 2020. 

VE Day 75 celebrations cancelled but there are ways to celebrate at home

As you will know from the announcement made by HM Government on 16th April 2020, the Coronavirus lockdown has been extended by at least a further three weeks. This means that the community event organised by Woodley Town Council and Woodley Town Centre to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day on Friday 8th May can no longer go ahead as originally planned. 

However, the organisers of VE75 hope that some aspects of this important anniversary could still take place on 8th May in ways that allow people to celebrate the VE Day anniversary, while following the essential social distancing advice that ensures everyone remains safe.

Woodley Town Council and Woodley Town Centre would like to encourage its residents to participate in a ‘Stay at Home Party’ while adhering to the social distancing rules. Why not host a picnic in your garden or lounge and decorate your home red, white and blue? Here are some suggestions from the official organisers – don’t forget to join in with the National Toast at 3pm and make this an unforgettable celebration from the safety of your home. 

Free BBC Radio Berkshire bunting templates HERE.

Please do share your images with us on our social media pages (@WoodleyCouncil for Facebook and Twitter and @WoodleyTCMI on Twitter) or by emailing: communications@woodley.gov.uk.

Please also share your BBC Radio Berkshire bunting on social media using the hashtags #GreatBritishBunting and #VEDay75 – don’t forget to tag @WoodleyCouncil and @WoodleyTCMI too!

Friday 8th May

2.55pm: The playing of the Last Post

Buglers, trumpeters and cornet players might like to consider playing the Last Post from the safety of their front or back garden, outside their front door or from their balcony or window. We would ask you not to play in an area that could attract a group of people however.

3pm: The piping of Battle’s O’er and VE 75 Years

As with playing the Last Post, individual pipers could play these two stirring marches from their front or back garden, at their front door or from their balcony or window. It is extremely important to adhere to the Government’s restrictions so bands will not be able to play together and individual pipers should not perform in areas that might attract people.

3pm: The Nation’s Toast to the Heroes of WW II

We would very much like to encourage you all to still take part in the Nation’s Toast from the safety of your homes to pay tribute to the many millions in the United Kingdom and overseas who sacrificed so much to secure the freedom we have today. We would invite you stand at 3pm and raise a glass or cup of refreshment of your choice and undertake the following toast: “For those that gave so much, we thank you.” 

6.55pm: The Cry for Peace Around the World

Town criers and others who wish to take part can perform the Cry for Peace from their front or back garden, at their front door or from their balcony or window. The words can be found on the Download page of the VE Day 75 website – www.veday75.org. Please don’t perform it from a place that might encourage people to gather.

28/4/2020

Due to Covid 19, Woodley Carnival has been cancelled this year

The Woodley Carnival Committee, following the most recent Covid 19 advice and guidance from the UK Government, has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Community Carnival on 13 June 2020 and all associated events. 

The committee is disappointed they will be unable to share the 60^th anniversary with Woodley residents, however, they look forward to sharing next year’s carnival on 12^th June 2021. 

Despite losses incurred from cancelling the event, all purchased stalls will be refunded, as well as all advertising and sponsorship packages. Refunds will be processed in due course back to the original payment method. 

For further information, please email info@woodleycarnival.org.uk