Wokingham Borough Summer 2012

Inspire NEWS Includes Your magazine from Wokingham Borough Council Wokingham – Olympic feature pages 15-18

In this issue...

Jubilee trees page 9

New neighbourhoods and country parks page 24

Community colour at Rainbow Park page 26

www.wokingham.gov.uk 2 www.wokingham.gov.uk Keeping in touch with us Welcome Phone: (0118) 974 6000 Fax: (0118) 978 9078 Email: [email protected] Text/SMS message: 07786 200 974 Website including webchat: www.wokingham.gov.uk

Visit us Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5pm at the Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN.

Social networking sites: www.facebook.com/wokinghamboroughcouncil

www.twitter.com/wokinghambc

“2012 is an extraordinary Looking Local iPhone and Android app – Report abandoned vehicles, fly-tipping and vandalism, or check out events, job vacancies year for the whole country. and the latest travel information. Go to app store and search for the free Looking Local app. This month sees the Olympic and new service we’re making good Email and text updates – Register at: Paralympic Games coming to London progress in reducing the amount of www.wokingham.gov.uk/online for the first time since 1948. We’re waste we send to landfill (see page 7). also celebrating The Queen’s Information kiosks – Available at Woodley Diamond Jubilee and it’s only the Of course there is much more to read and Lower Earley libraries and the Civic Offices. second time in our history we’ve about in this newsletter. There are celebrated a monarch’s 60 year reign. articles on the vital service provided Looking Local – Access local information to our older people by The Link and services using your digital television There are many events in the Visiting Scheme, protecting your remote control. Borough to mark both historic home from burglars and the official www.wokingham.gov.uk/looking-local occasions and you can read more opening of Waingels College by HRH about them in this magazine. Some The Duke of York. of our residents, including Forest We’d like to hear what you think student Jack Weatherley, will have a Finally, there’s a chance for you to of Wokingham Borough News, once in a lifetime opportunity to be get involved with Parish and and in particular if you would like an Olympic torchbearer. And we’ll be Community Forums for each of our to contribute to future editions. joining forces with the Wokingham Strategic Development Locations in Please also give your views on our District Veteran Tree Association to North and South Wokingham, South social networking sites – send us a plant 60 mature trees around the of the M4 and Arborfield Garrison message on Facebook or an email to: Borough to mark the Diamond Jubilee (see page 24). [email protected] (see page 9). As always, I am happy to hear Editorial: Communications Team at from you about how we can Wokingham Borough Council. April saw us launch our new waste collection service and it would be fair improve things for you. Please Print: Printed by Herald Graphics to say there were a few initial get in touch by emailing me at: on Core Uncoated 80gsm FSC. problems for which I can only [email protected]” Cost: apologise. I am only too aware that 14p per person/ it’s important to get these basic Cllr David Lee 28p per copy. services right. Three months into the Leader 3 Royal seal of approval

During a whistle stop tour to officially open the £31million buildings at Waingels College in Woodley, HRH The Duke of York met sixth formers to talk about their plans for continuing their education at university, their inspirations and their career aspirations.

HRH The Duke of York is keen to recognise initiatives that support young people in developing the right employability skills for the 21st Century and stated that Waingels College is an excellent example of these initiatives.

The redevelopment of the school buildings started in April 2009 and was completed in November last year.

PCC Elections In this edition mean an early Your chance to shape canvass health services ...... 4 Recycling rates increase ...... 7 On November 15, electors in the Election round up Thames Valley Police region will be Autism for life...... 8 voting for a Police and Crime Marking the Jubilee ...... 9 Commissioner. The Register of Electors Some 32 per cent of our residents took Eat Out Eat Well ...... 12 this year will be published on October to the polls on May 3 when a third of 16, not December 1 as usual, and this Inspire Wokingham – the Borough Council’s seats were up for means the Annual Canvass will take living the legacy ...... 15-18 election. The political make up of the place during the summer. Council is now: Information at your finger tips ...... 19 43 Conservatives Canvass forms will be sent out this 9 Liberal Democrats month (July). Please remember it’s a Furniture recycling scheme . . 20 2 Independents legal requirement for all households to Best start in life for children. . 22 complete the form. And, by returning it Check out our website for details about early, vital council tax money is saved, New neighbourhoods ...... 24 your local councillor. If you don’t have as personal canvassers have to be sent Keep your property secure access to the internet, please call to properties that don’t respond. this summer ...... 28 Democratic Services. Planning matters ...... 29 t. (0118) 974 6522 / 6523 t. (0118) 974 6053 e. [email protected] What’s on ...... 31 www.wokingham.gov.uk/cllr-database www.wokingham.gov.uk/elections 4 www.wokingham.gov.uk

Your Chance to Shape Health Services

The NHS reforms mean that from April 2013, local GPs will be responsible for buying and paying for health services in the Wokingham Borough.

This includes most hospital care and community and mental The CCG will be using a variety of ways to listen to patients and health services – but patients will have a big say in how this is the public and is introducing a website. It will also be holding done. To make this possible, local GPs from the Borough’s 14 regular meetings and forums and distributing surveys to gauge practices and other health care professionals have set up the opinions and collect ideas for improving health services. If you Wokingham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). would like to join a patient participation group, please get in touch with your general practice or, for more information about There are now seven CCGs in Berkshire and hundreds more the CCG, please contact Mike Parting. nationally. One of the CCG’s priorities is to give patients and the public a bigger say about health care in the Borough. Each t. (0118) 982 2970 e. [email protected] practice within the CCG is setting up patient groups and these come together as a forum to engage with the CCG. Executive view The next step is to involve the wider community. Dr Richard Cllr Julian McGhee Sumner, Perry, from the Wokingham CCG and who works for the Parkside Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing Family Practice, explains: “We want to ensure local patients are more involved in improving the quality and effectiveness of local “We’ve set up a shadow health and wellbeing board which health services we commission – we want to give them a voice in met for the first time in May. Setting up this board is one of how we make decisions, so I urge them to join a patient group at the key elements of the NHS reforms and the Government's Health and Social Care Bill. We are practices in Wokingham Borough.” working with our partners to improve the health of our residents. By tackling issues He added: “We also want to talk to the wider community, the together, and engaging communities and Local Involvement Network, carers, support groups and patient individuals more effectively in what they groups. It’s important that we respond to their needs when can do to help, we can ensure that the choosing health care providers or making service changes – it’s Wokingham Borough is one of the about ensuring everyone is kept well informed, given choices and healthiest places to live in the country.” involved in decisions.” Summer 2012 5 Paralympic gold medallist officially opens specialist housing facility

The completion of Beeches Manor, a new housing scheme for people with dementia and adults with learning disabilities in Wokingham, has been officially opened by Paralympic gold medallist Helene Raynsford.

The £3.8 million scheme provides 26 purpose- built rented apartments.

The unique design has apartments for independent living clustered around two central courtyards. Communal facilities include a lounge, kitchen and dining area and activity/ hobby rooms. Beeches Manor has 24-hour care and support.

Pictured above: A Council initiative, the scheme received a Helene Raynsford (centre) £1.8million investment from the Homes and with Simon Bostock (Housing 21) and Andy Couldrick (WBC) Communities Agency.

Fosters Update

After four months of consultation, and several meetings with relatives and staff, we’ve taken the difficult decision to close Fosters Residential Care Home in Woodley.

Staff play a vital role in Fosters and the care they provide is greatly valued and held in the highest esteem by residents, their families and the local community. However the building is no longer fit for purpose – bedrooms do not meet minimum requirements for room size, there is limited wheelchair access and no en-suite facilities.

We know this decision was hard for residents and their families and we gave it much consideration. We’ve assured them that every assistance will be given to New menu at the make sure their loved one is moved to the home of their choice, safely and with full regard to their individual needs through a personal plan. Acorn Community

To help further we have guaranteed that no-one will be worse off financially as a Centre result of this decision, which includes meeting the difference between higher fees in the chosen home and funding for furnishings for those that choose to move A new range of specials is on the menu into extra-care housing. We will also help with travel costs for any relative who this summer at the Rainbow Café located is disadvantaged by having to travel further to visit their family member. at the Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive, Woosehill. Financial assistance will also be given to those staff who choose to transfer employment to continue to support residents (up to 18 months). Instead of homemade soup and jacket potatoes served up as winter warmers, By doing this now, we also have a greater chance of moving residents and the café is now offering club sandwiches, staff together if they wish. Some concerns were raised by families during the salads and fruit smoothies. All are freshly consultation that extra-care housing isn’t suitable for their relatives and as a made each day by the team. result of this we have been able to secure alternative accommodation for them within the Borough. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank relatives and t. (0118) 977 6713 staff for their views during this consultation. e. [email protected] 6 www.wokingham.gov.uk Reading your letters

Nancy Bedford was so concerned about road safety at a railway bridge in Woodley that she penned a letter to us voicing her fears.

The eight-year-old was worried mum Rachel had to twist her neck to check oncoming traffic when turning left from Waingels Road to drive under the bridge in Park Lane.

An official reply was hand delivered to her Pitford Road home, addressing all her concerns.

Nancy said: “I kept thinking about it every time we came to the bridge, because mum has to strain her neck round to see if traffic is coming. I asked mum who I should contact and she said the Council. So I decided I would write a letter.”

She says her previous letter writing experience has been confined to Father Christmas, the Tooth Fairy and children’s TV.

“But I had to do it by hand because my sister Grace was on the computer doing her homework. It took me about 20 minutes. Mum didn’t help me – apart from the spellings for ‘sincerely’ and ‘bridge’. And my sister looked up who to send it to.”

Nancy also received a bag of goodies from us. She’s a very impressive young lady!

Happier and eager to learn thanks to a special programme supporting children’s emotional health

More than a thousand children and young people across The five-strand programme runs training for teachers, teaching Wokingham Borough have so far been helped by Targeted assistants and other staff working in schools and with young Mental Health in Schools (TaMHS), and more than 400 staff people to raise mental health awareness and give them a trained in its courses. toolkit to deal with a range of issues.

82 per cent of local schools have signed up to at least one It also offers tailored support for specific groups of children, part of the scheme and are now running various programmes such as isolated or vulnerable pupils or youngsters in Years 6 to help their pupils. and 7 moving from primary to secondary school.

This is what they say about it:

“Year 7 has felt calmer than other previous years since I’ve been here, the best Year 7 yet!” (TaMHS Lead in a Wokingham secondary school)

“It was good because I know how to turn red thoughts into green thoughts now. I learnt how to be brave when I was in my room in the dark.” (Pupil, ‘Fun Friends’ Programme, Wokingham school) Summer 2012 7 Reducing waste and increasing recycling

It’s been three months since we launched our new waste collection scheme with Veolia Environmental Services with initial tonnage results indicating that we’re reducing waste sent to landfill and increasing recycling.

This is all down to your efforts. The new scheme will allow us to achieve even more and reduce our costs by nearly a million pounds every year, money which can be pumped back into vital front line services.

Things didn’t go quite as smoothly as we had hoped for when we changed the service and we’d like to thank you for your patience. Don’t forget: • You can still enlist for weekly kerbside recycling and receive your black boxes. Email your name and address to: [email protected]. • You can still opt into our garden waste scheme. There’s an annual charge of £60 covering the fortnightly collections from a wheeled-bin (pro-rata’d if you join now). Register by Executive view calling Veolia on (0118) 909 9360. Cllr Angus Ross, Executive Member for • Alternatively, you can buy 75-litre compostable sacks for £1 Environment each from our libraries or the Civic Offices at Shute End. “We appreciate the new waste scheme has You can compost yourself – this is the best way to dispose been a change for you. But it was a change • of your garden waste. You can still purchase a home we had to make to hold council tax composter for around £20 by calling 0844 571 4444. charges for you as landfill taxes of £64 per tonne are increasing at £8 per tonne year on year. We’ve been set • If you’re at risk of animal damage you can use a standard targets to reduce landfill from around 20,000 tonnes per dustbin and we will collect the tied blue sacks from it or year in 2012/13 to around 13,000 tonnes in 2019/20. If alternatively place your tied sack on top of your recycling boxes. we don’t do this, we face significant financial penalties. • The 80 official blue sacks should last you for a year. Please “We are constantly looking to improve our performance, be aware of this if you’re placing more than three out per with the latest waste changes helping us achieve a fortnight as you will run out. remarkable increase in our kerbside recycling in the first month.” Call Wokingham Direct for all other enquiries. t. (0118) 974 6000 e. [email protected]

With the summer finally on the way, Recyclebank has some great rewards that might interest you. You’ve probably got a few points now tucked away, so why not redeem them for rewards with our great partners in the Borough?

If you’re looking to spend your Recyclebank points on some leisure and recreation, then why not think about the rewards being offered by Bulmershe Leisure Centre, Woodford Park Leisure Centre or Loddon Valley Leisure Centre? Between these three partners, there are 11 different rewards available, Wokingham you’ll get a 6" sub free when you buy another 6" including swim for £1 at Bulmershe Leisure Centre. Rewards sub for just 50 points. start at just 15 points. Don’t forget to tell Recyclebank each week that you’ve recycled, But if you fancy something a little more relaxed, why not either online at Recyclebank.com, by phone or by smartphone take advantage of the great deals with local coffee shops and apps. Whichever way you spend your Recyclebank points, we restaurants? The Brown Bag at Wokingham and Woodley are hope that you enjoy them! offering buy one, get one free on all hot drinks for just 30 points. Or if you fancy a sub on the go, at Subway in www.recyclebank.com 8 www.wokingham.gov.uk Autism for life

Up to a thousand people in Wokingham Borough could be autistic, according to estimates.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability affecting how a He added: “We are an advisory body, person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also but with the power to influence affects how they make sense of the world around them. It’s a decision-making and hold service spectrum condition, which means it affects people in different providers to account over their ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively statutory duties. A children’s partnership board had been independent lives but others may have accompanying learning successfully running for many years to support local youngsters disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. with autism.

The Action4Autism Adult Partnership Board was set up two years “But children with autism become adults with autism and there ago in the Borough to help support adults with autism and their was no strategic overview for adult provision. This is why the families. adult partnership board was set up. Inadequate support can lead to a lifetime of isolation and disadvantage for people and their Kevin Wallace, who co-chairs the board, is autistic, formally families. We’re here to stop that.” diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. One example is local charity ASD Family Help which now has “I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 48,” he said. “It was such a relief after closer working relationships with other service providers across spending a lifetime struggling, not understanding the rules of the the Borough. It provides support to people on the autistic life game. At a very early age I had learnt to say nothing. Everything spectrum, parents and their carers, access to the community via I did or said was bound to be wrong. But now I use my personal activities and social events, free advice and information and experiences to help others like me and communicate with everyone autism training to local health, education and social care else. We’re being talked to, as opposed to being talked about.” professionals. The Action4Autism Adult Partnership Board brings together public, community and voluntary sector organisations to manage the t. 07707 660 599 local support available for adults with autism. e. [email protected] www.asdfamilyhelp.org

“We look at who is doing what to whom and why. We look for If you or someone you know needs advice or gaps in the provision, where there are bottlenecks, and if services support concerning the autistic spectrum, overlap in places,” said Kevin. please visit: www.autismberkshire.org.uk

Rebounding!

We’re now offering Rebound Therapy at St Crispin’s Sports Centre, Wokingham, as part of the Activise programme.

Rebound Therapy is a trampoline-based activity that’s used to help movement for those with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or long-term health conditions. Sessions are one-to- one and tailored to the individual’s need or goals.

Parent Helen Duncan said: “Gemma has benefitted tremendously from weekly Rebound Therapy. The instructors are encouraging and supportive and there is a great sense of camaraderie and fun each week. Gemma says that she looks forward to going each week and has made some new friends. She especially likes the trampoline and, although she was nervous at first, is getting better each week.” Gemma with physical activity health mentor Adam Godwin The Activise programme also offers multi-sports, badminton, Nordic walking and health walks. t. (0118) 974 6264 e. [email protected] Summer 2012 9 Marking the Diamond Jubilee

English Oak, Wokingham Borough will be flying Toutley Road, Wokingham the flag this year to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. This is a once in a lifetime event as it’s only ever been celebrated once before in Britain for Queen Victoria. Reproduced Reproduced with permission from WDVTA (www.wdvta.org.uk)

Tree Projects We’re joining forces with Wokingham District Veteran Tree Association (WDVTA) to plant 60 English oak trees across the Borough. We’re consulting town and parish councils about suitable sites and would welcome any suggestions. These trees will be planted during National Tree Week (November 24 and December 2). Each tree (or group of trees) will have a commemorative plaque to display and will be recorded in the Woodland Trust’s Royal Record. Get e. [email protected]

WDVTA is also organising a Diamond Jubilee Involved Hedge Tree campaign. A hedge tree is an individual tree growing above a hedge. Very few young trees are growing to replace the lovely older hedge trees as they decline. Landowners may have sapling trees growing in hedges that can be allowed to grow on to become feature trees. These can be tagged with a Tree Council marker to prevent them being cut. Alternatively saplings can be planted to become future hedge trees. Landowners interested in taking part

Reproduced Reproduced with kind permission from Carli Adby (www.adbycreativeimages.co.uk) should contact WDVTA. www.wdvta.org.uk/treewarden.php Garden Party e. [email protected]

With almost 2,000 applications received in Berkshire alone for a unique event to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, 38 lucky Wokingham Borough residents and their partners joined The Queen at a special garden party. The draw from the public ballot was made by former TV star Lizzie Webb.

They joined 4,000 guests, together with The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, at the garden party last month (June) held at The University of Reading’s Henley Business School Greenlands campus. It was jointly organised by the Lord Lieutenants of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire as part of The Queen’s UK-wide Diamond Jubilee regional tour.

Members of the public joined guests from all walks of public life including representatives of voluntary organisations and charities, together with civic, community and business leaders.

Closely associated with this event is a major Jubilee fund-raising appeal for Berkshire Community Foundation which exists to strengthen communities and enrich local life by inspiring and supporting philanthropy and charitable giving.

www.berkshirecf.org (www.adbycreativeimages.co.uk) Reproduced with kind permission from Carli Adby 10 www.wokingham.gov.uk

Despite the plentiful spring rain we’ve had, we’re working with our local water companies to ensure that water in the Borough is used wisely and sparingly in the continuing drought conditions caused by two successive dry winters. Most of the water we use comes from underground porous rock, called the aquifer, which is recharged by winter rain. A small amount of the spring or summer rain, like we had in April and May, will filter down through the porous rock to recharge those aquifers, but more is needed. In the summer months much of the rain that falls will quickly evaporate due to higher temperatures, and growing plants take up lots of the water too, so it won’t soak through as easily as it does in the winter.

We’re doing our bit to help. We’ve reduced our water consumption To play your part, please: as far as we can and we are strictly following the hosepipe • Request a free water-saving device from South East Water and restrictions. If the weather turns hot you will see that our flower save a litre each time you flush the toilet. beds and sports pitches may suffer. • Turn off the tap when you clean your teeth. • Take short showers instead of baths. • Use washing machines and dishwashers only when you have a full load. • Report a leak – if you spot a leak, please tell South East Water. • Apply mulch around your garden plants to lock in moisture. • Use a water butt in your garden to store any rainfall – enter South East Water’s great water butt giveaway competition via the website. • Use a bucket and sponge to wash your car. • If you are on Twitter you can follow @DroughtShout to keep up-to-date with the latest news about the drought and ways you can help save water. www.southeastwater.co.uk t. 24 hour leak line – 0333 000 3330 Top reasons to get on your bike!

Cycle training in Wokingham Borough hit a new high last year, with over 1,200 children aged between 10 and 11-years-old achieving Bikeability Level 2 – that’s a whopping 70 per cent of Year 6 children trained to cycle on the roads.

Monisha Jefcut, Assistant Headteacher at South Lake Primary School in Woodley, said: “The Bikeability was a real success. I really do feel reassured that they are going off to secondary school as competent and road aware cyclists.”

Although we saw a decrease in casualties amongst 11 to 15-year- olds, data for 2011 shows an increase for adults aged over 45. So we’re now running adult cycle training sessions and supervised family bike rides this summer – so dust off those pedals and get booked up!

www.wokingham.gov.uk/cycling t. (0118) 908 8208 e. [email protected] Summer 2012 11 Extracare housing wins top award

Get active with Games4Life this summer

Some of the biggest sporting events on earth are almost upon us. weekly for adults. This can be things like jumping, skipping, dancing And with Games4Life being launched last month, we want and running. Not only does it help to make them feel good, but it everyone to be part of the team! helps to strengthen their heart and bones too.

Games4Life is an exciting new initiative from Change4Life, aiming If you’d like Change4Life to send you a free, personalised, summer to make England the most active host nation ever. activity plan – full of ideas to help you get going every day – fill in the online Games4Life questionnaire. Why not get active? It’s important everyone gets their active minutes doing activities that really get their hearts pumping every day – 60 active minutes daily for children and 150 active minutes www.nhs.uk/Change4Life

MyLearningPlace is an online service available to organisations and individuals who work with us to help deliver services to the Borough’s residents. The service is available 24/7 and allows users to book onto training courses, complete e- learning modules and access a host of learning resources at a confidently. Providing this online service opens up access to time that suits them. learning opportunities, enabling people to take better charge of their development. It was launched by our Learning and Development Team in December to help service providers access the necessary You can register with MyLearningPlace at: training and knowledge to do their job competently and www.learningpool.com/wokingham 12 www.wokingham.gov.uk Eat Out Eat Well Last month (June) we launched an exciting new award for food businesses called Eat Out Eat Well.

The Eat Out Eat Well Award has been The award is open to developed to reward caterers throughout all types of establishments Wokingham Borough who make it easier that cater for the general public, including for their customers to make healthy takeaways, cafés, sandwich shops and choices when eating out or taking away. restaurants. It has three levels – Bronze, Silver, and Gold, and is symbolised by an It also rewards businesses that use healthy apple logo in the shape of a heart. ingredients and better preparation practices to provide healthier food across the menu. The level of award is based on a scoring system that takes into account the type of food on offer, cooking methods, and how Kindly supplied by boutique contract caterer Artizian caterers promote it to their customers. To Executive view customers understand diet, nutrition and obtain a Gold Award, key members of staff labelling and how integral our influence is Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, Executive need to undertake some form of accredited in the work place. We are delighted to Member for Internal Services or recognised training in nutrition. have been awarded a Gold Eat Out Eat “This scheme will go a long way to Award winners will receive a certificate Well Award as this is what we’re so help our residents understand the and charter to display on the premises and passionate about.” food choices on offer and enjoy meals help with promotion and training on The scheme is run by West Berkshire and that are both healthy and delicious. healthier food. There are many great places in the Wokingham Environmental Health and Borough for eating out or taking Boutique contract caterer Artizian are Trading Standards Services. If you’d like to away and this delighted to have been awarded a Gold join the scheme, please get in touch. new scheme will Award in the inaugural month. Look out for the heart symbols appearing help everyone around the Borough! have a better Managing Director and owner Alison Frith understanding said: “At Artizian, we place a strong focus of healthy food on providing people with the choice of t. (0118) 974 6765 on offer.” having a healthy alternative. We recognise e. [email protected] the crucial role we play in helping our www.wokingham.gov.uk/healthyeating Celebrating in Barkham

Summer 2012 is a busy time in Barkham. As well as celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, it’s the 25th anniversary of the founding of Barkham Village Residents’ Association (BVRA) and the publication of its 100th newsletter. The BVRA was formed in 1987 in response to proposed housing development within the Coombes woodland. Once this had been successfully resisted, the Borough Council designated the Coombes as an Area of Special Landscape Importance where development was not allowed.

Over the past 25 years, BVRA has, together with Barkham Parish Council, continued to act as a focal point for village activities, organising regular social events including a quiz, barn dance, skittles, carol singing and an Easter Egg Hunt and keeping residents aware of other significant developments via the quarterly newsletter and the website.

BVRA ran a competition to design the front page of the 100th newsletter and to publicise the Diamond Jubilee events, won by Emma Dodds (11) of Bearwood Road (shown right). There was an excellent response to the competition so BVRA decided to include all the entrants in a montage on the back page of the newsletter. Also, Laura Whittington (16) of Thorn Close designed a poster to mark the 25 years (shown left).

BVRA is looking forward to the next 25 years!

Laura Whittington’s poster e: [email protected] www.barkham.org.uk Emma Dodds’ winning poster Summer 2012 13 Mayor’s View

In May, Cllr Bob Wyatt MBE was elected to serve as Borough Mayor, taking over from Cllr Dianne King.

Bob was elected as a councillor on the original Wokingham Borough Council in 1968 and since then has worked hard for homeless young people, helping to set up the young person’s hostel at Seaford Court in Wokingham and through his involvement with Caritas, the charity for young homeless. He also takes an active interest in improving services for carers in the Borough and was appointed a Champion for Older People.

After being Deputy Mayor for two years, Cllr Wyatt is Mayor Cllr Bob Wyatt (right) looking forward to the next year as Mayor. with Deputy Mayor Cllr UllaKarin Clark

“I feel privileged that my peers have entrusted me with this important role and I hope I can meet the expectations of our Borough’s residents in this special Jubilee and Olympic year. I have big shoes to fill after Cllr Dianne King’s departure and I look forward to being as useful as I can, to as many residents and organisations as possible. I have chosen The Link Visiting Scheme as my charity for the year. This wonderful local charity serves isolated and lonely elderly residents through volunteers who give their time and friendship freely to those who need their help. I am looking forward to this exciting year!”

[email protected] www.linkvisiting.org SIGN UP Time to link up! or volunteer: The Link Visiting Older Wokingham Borough residents have been calling for more activities Scheme to do during the week. In response, The Link Visiting Scheme has launched an expanded programme of opportunities to help them get out and about and mix with others. The Link Visiting Scheme, a local charity, helps to combat the sense of isolation that can all too often accompany advancing years. By providing volunteers to visit people in their homes, perhaps once a week for a chat, it allows vast improvements in older people’s sense of wellbeing and self worth.

But often that’s not enough as time can hang heavily between visits. Many crave opportunities to get out and mix with others – so why not check out what else is on offer? • Several monthly pie and pint groups that meet for lunch and a chat in a local pub • Weekly coffee mornings at the Bradbury Centre, Wokingham – drop in on Wednesday mornings from 10.30am • Weekly bowling group at Hurst Bowling Club • Monthly singing group at The Cornerstone, Wokingham • A reading group at Wokingham Library • Weekly tuition in Understanding Computers

The Link Visiting Scheme would love to hear from you if you are interested in their services, or in joining as a volunteer.

David Eteson and David Grandorge at one of the pie and pint groups t. (0118) 979 8019 e. [email protected] 14 www.wokingham.gov.uk Transforming our Borough – turning the Vision into reality

During the consultation on our Vision and priorities you gave us really useful feedback on the areas you felt were of most importance. You told us that you wanted an efficient refuse collection system and clean streets; great country parks and leisure attractions; roads and transport links that are of high quality and without congestion; top quality schools and local libraries. Investment at Hillside Primary School

So what have we done so far to meet those And last summer we launched our wholly-owned trading expectations? companies Optalis, Wokingham Housing Ltd and Wokingham You can read about many of the projects in this edition of Enterprises Ltd. By investing in these companies, we will be able Wokingham Borough News, including our school building to branch out into new areas of work, generate income and improvement programme (page 22) and Wokingham town centre ultimately reinvest that income into our priority areas. regeneration (below). The regeneration team has been working We are starting to regenerate Eustace Crescent in Wokingham to closely with our Planning Department to ensure that a scheme is provide an improved environment for local residents and good developed which works for the town and addresses many of our quality housing of different types. Last autumn, residents of the key priorities such as tackling congestion and bringing economic Borough Council’s flats and maisonettes in Eustace Crescent were vibrancy to the Borough. asked for their views on the future of their homes, including the possibility of demolishing the blocks in the future.

Executive view Overwhelmingly, residents supported this option. And over the past few months, we’ve been working towards this aim by Cllr Alistair Corrie, Executive working with tenants to understand their housing needs and Member for Regeneration and identify suitable properties for them to move to. Affordable Housing “I’m really excited to be involved with A range of options for the regeneration of Eustace Crescent are the regeneration of Wokingham town now being looked at and we will report more in the next edition centre. of Wokingham Borough News, due out in the autumn. “It’s great hearing the positive comments about how the It’s going to be an exciting journey for the Borough making it a developing scheme has responded to public feedback and great place to live and an even better place to do business. we remain committed to making sure this continues over the coming months.” www.wokingham.gov.uk/vision Get involved in Wokingham town centre regeneration Get Involved It’s been all go over the past few months. We’ve been investigating As we move towards submitting planning design options for Wokingham town centre as well as looking at applications later this year, it’s important that ways to keep traffic flowing, planning the right amount of parking we continue to respond to local people’s comments. for the growing visitor numbers, improving pedestrian access and We’ve been putting in place more opportunities to make working to create a top class park. this happen, including engagement events and meetings.

If you are interested in finding out more about how our plans are developing and share ideas for the town, please join us at a special event in the near future. Keep an eye out for up-to-date details on our website.

t. (0118) 974 6000 e. [email protected] www.wokinghamregeneration.co.uk Follow us on twitter: @wokinghamregen Summer 2012 15 Inspire Wokingham – living the legacy Forest pupil carries flame

Jack Weatherley, a Year 7 student from The Forest School in Winnersh, has been chosen to take part in the prestigious Olympic Torch Relay to mark the opening of the 2012 London Games.

On its journey to London, the Olympic Torch was lit at the original birthplace of the Games Olympia in Greece, and was handed over to the UK as the host country. The UK leg of the Torch Relay started on May 19 at Lands End and finishes on July 27 at the opening ceremony.

The Relay runs for 70 days and has been planned so that the flame will come within ten miles of 95 per cent of people in the UK. Over 8,000 people will carry the bank of the river at the Leander Club. Here “It’s a huge honour to have been Olympic Flame during the Relay for a total a second torchbearer will run for a short nominated as a torchbearer making me distance of around 8,000 miles. A number distance to the awaiting convoy. The Torch part of the London 2012 team, and I’m of the Borough’s residents will be convoy will then proceed on the A4130 over the moon. It will be a day I will never torchbearers during this period. (White Hill) in motor convoy to Bisham forget. This is such a great opportunity, Abbey and then on to Maidenhead. I can’t wait. It will be brilliant.” The Torch will be making an appearance in the Wokingham Borough on July 10. It will Jack (12), who lives in Lower Earley, will be Jack has already put in some practice on cross the River Thames carried on a rowing joining the Andover leg. We caught up some 3K runs and runs regularly with his eight, landing on the Wokingham Borough with Jack who told us: Dad Lee.

Inspired by the Games

Olympic art brightened our Shute End offices thanks to the talents of Year 8 pupils from Maiden Erlegh School.

The Creative Olympics exhibition included crafts, sculpture and image- based work inspired by the Games. ceremonies and studied posters designed by The young people had been shown contemporary artists including Tracey Emin. images from past Olympic opening The exhibition in our Mall Gallery also included the Tree of Inspiration created by local children and vulnerable adults to symbolise the principles of Inspire Wokingham.

Its ‘leaves’, carefully painted plastic bottles, show favourite places across the Borough. It’s now on display at the Acorn Centre in Woosehill.

www.inspirewokingham.com Follow us at: @InspireWokingham 16 www.wokingham.gov.uk Winning gold in Beijing

To be a Paralympian, it takes a lot of dedication and commitment. We caught up with Beijing Paralympic gold medallist Helene Raynsford, who lives in Woodley, to find out more!

How did you get involved in rowing? In 2005 I was working for the Department of Health and went to Dorney Lake in Eton for a meeting. It was the first time I’d seen rowing live and was totally gripped by the vibe and excitement. I’d never perceived rowing would be a sport for me and I started rowing as part of my training for the GB Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team. Rowing soon became my passion!

What was it like to win a gold medal in Beijing? It should have been the best moment of my rowing career but I crossed the finish line in a world of pain and proceeded to be sick for over an hour. I was even sick into my Union Jack during my medal ceremony. There’s probably a law against that and I didn’t get the usual kisses on the cheeks but pats on the shoulder! My best memories are of the journey to that point, the things I learnt about myself and having to overcome many challenges. How would you encourage those with a disability to get involved with sport? What are you most looking forward to Sport is more than keeping fit, it helps build confidence, self at this year’s Games? esteem, improve mental wellbeing and it’s a great way to meet new people. There are many disability sporting opportunities on I’m really looking forward to seeing the nation gripped by the offer in the Borough and with the Paralympic Games just around Games. Not just the shiny medals but the appreciation of the the corner, there’s no better time than now to get involved. Olympic and Paralympic values and being inspired to go on and achieve their own aspirations and goals. What’s been your proudest moment? Are you involved in London 2012? It has to be the Olympic and Paralympic parade in London. It was a cold October morning and we were up at the crack of dawn I’m going to work for the organising committee (LOCOG) on in our GB kit designed for hot Beijing! Until then I had been so a three-month secondment this summer. I’ll be part of the focused on training, I hadn’t appreciated winning in Beijing – operational team running the Games regatta at Dorney Lake. it just felt like a good day at the office. Having won my first World Championships there in 2006, it would have been fantastic to have defended my title. When the floats pulled out onto the London streets it was fantastic. Following injury in 2010, I can no longer row but it will be The pavements were crammed with people: some leaning out of fantastic to be part of the team creating the experience for office windows waving, little old ladies on the pavement sitting on others. their picnic chairs and so many young people waving Union Jacks. I went out onto the stage in Trafalgar Square to be interviewed and What advice do you have for budding saw a sea of people and Union Jacks. It was only at this point that I truly realised there were a few more people other than my family Olympians? and friends following the journey to Beijing. Having seen so much Sport is a great career to follow but for all those moments of support for Team GB four years ahead of the London 2012 Games, glory, there are many tough times. Injury can come at any I can’t wait to see the nation get behind the team this summer! point so make sure you keep up your academic and career prospects and never forget those who started you out on the Why not check out Helene’s blog during London 2012 road to success. Games? Visit: www.inspirewokingham.com Summer 2012 17

Olympic dreams

Hundreds of young people from Wokingham Borough have been living their own Olympic dream the past few months.

They joined thousands of young people from across the county to compete in the Berkshire School Games.

The aim was to create a lasting legacy beyond 2012, encouraging more young people of all abilities to take up sport. It also showcased the huge range of sports available.

Growing 4 Gold

July 6 is the closing date for entries in Growing 4 Gold 2012.

We’re looking for Wokingham Borough’s best Olympic- themed gardens.

You can enter almost any type of garden – residential front and back, window boxes, hanging baskets, communal spaces, public houses and restaurants, as well as schools, libraries and community centres.

t: (0118) 974 6000 e: [email protected] www.inspirewokingham.com Follow us at: @InspireWokingham 18 www.wokingham.gov.uk Experience your own Olympic thrills this summer

July 7 to 15 July 27 Open Doors Week Olympic Opening Ceremony Clubs and leisure facilities. Free all week. Hosted by the Borough Council, Loddon Valley Leisure Centre, Earley Trinity Church, www.inspirewokingham.com Earley Charity, Head Partnership and Asda.

July 7 to August 31 Barbecue along with sporting activites, face painting and bouncy castle. Tickets Summer Fun in available from the leisure centre. Finchampstead Loddon Valley Leisure Centre, Lower Earley Sports, crafts, family cinema and picnics. Prices: £2 per adult / £1 per child or £5 per family. 6pm. www.finchampstead.com/summer August 4 July 7 2or12 Family Fun Day Bring the whole family to celebrate The Get the family together and join in with a Games. Walk two miles (a shorter route host of activities to get into the Olympic also available) and aim to complete spirit. Local sports clubs and organisations 12 miles by August 12 either by cycling, will be on hand offering fun taster sessions. walking, swimming or rowing. Routes are Cantley Park, Wokingham July 9 suitable for beginners, experienced walkers, 10am to 3pm. Free Meet Neil Faulkner people with mobility scooters and wheelchair users. Archaeologist/ historian – talking about his new Dinton Pastures Country Park, Hurst book: A Visitor’s Guide to 10am to noon. Free the Ancient Olympics. Wokingham Library 6pm. £3 charge

July 26 Teen Sport Come and join a day of fun-filled activity including BMX, basketball, street dance, football and hockey. Elms Field, Wokingham 6pm to 8pm. Ages 11 to 19

July 27 Olympic Opening Ceremony July 8 If you didn’t get tickets for the opening ceremony, why not head to The Acorn Norreys Community Community Centre to watch on a big Festival screen whilst enjoying a barbecue? September 8 There will also be a licensed bar and a Sports-based, all ages and abilities All 4 Sport Games special show by performing theatre community festival with an Olympic feel, A chance for adults (18+) with additional group Platform YP. organised by All Saints Primary School and needs and/or a variety of health conditions Norreys Churches. The Acorn Community Centre, to try a variety of sports and activities. Fernlea Drive, Woosehill. 6pm. All Saints Primary School, Wokingham Mini-competitions and prizes to be won! Entry for show & barbecue: £5 per www.allsaintswokingham.org.uk Loddon Valley Leisure Centre, Lower Earley adult and accompanying children free Free entry 10am to 3pm. Free

For more Olympic inspired events across the Borough visit www.inspirewokingham.com Summer 2012 19 Wokingham Information Network

Everything you need to know about services, support, organisations and activities for families and adults in the Borough

Our free online and telephone-based guide is specially designed to help give you every chance to make the most of your talents and fulfil your potential. at your It is divided into two sections: the Adult Information fingertips Directory and the Family Services Directory. or a call away www.wokingham.gov.uk/win The Adult Information The Family Services Directory tells you about: Directory tells you about: • School holiday schemes and clubs • Accommodation and housing • Borough childminders • Help to live at home • After-school/breakfast clubs at Wokingham Borough schools Organisations listed in the • Getting about the Borough • Day nurseries and early years settings guide can update their • Leisure activities and facilities • Parent and toddler groups own information, ensuring all their details are • Health services and support • Sports and activity clubs for children/young people completely current. • Education, volunteering and • Activities and support groups for new mums and their babies employment Visit the website if you • Activities and support groups for children with additional have any feedback about • Charities and organisations needs (and their parents) WIN, would like more • Benefits and financial information • Local and national support organisations information, or are an organisation providing Adult Information Directory Family Services Directory these services and would t. (0118) 974 6772 t. (0118) 935 2255 like to be listed. e. [email protected] e. [email protected]

REACHing out across Wokingham REACH Wokingham’s Mission Statement REACH Wokingham (Parents’ Forum) exists to support REACH Wokingham is just one of the many Forums you’ll find in the the families of children with disabilities/learning Family Services Directory. difficulties and to empower them to get the support and services they need for their children to achieve It was set up to encourage parent involvement in decision-making positive life outcomes and reach their full potential. regarding education, health, social and respite services for disabled children. The group organises meetings where parents and carers can share information and support as well REACH’S aims for as talk to decision makers face-to-face and have their questions answered. 2012 Training days are already held on topics • Build on relationships such as Special Education Law, which formed with Council allow parents to benefit from specific decision makers, striving professional expertise. Additional for co-operation and training sessions are being planned. commitment Work with the Crossroads Holiday Club • Develop additional has helped create holiday activities for training for parents disabled children. • Create more Why not REACH for your keyboard and opportunities for parents make contact? to interface with decision makers in health, www.reachwokingham.com education and social care 20 www.wokingham.gov.uk

Furniture recycling scheme

Unwanted furniture will be recycled and sold on for charity under “It will also provide reasonably-priced furniture to all customers; a scheme we’ve launched with Age Concern Slough and Berkshire and discounted furniture to those who really need it.” East. They will collect unwanted furniture (provided it’s in a reasonable condition) from homes and businesses around the Tracey Morgan, Chief Executive of Age Concern Slough and Borough. The furniture will be stored at a warehouse/showroom Berkshire East, said: “I’m delighted to work with the Council at IQ Winnersh, provided by Segro. on this forward thinking initiative that not only helps the environment but also helps the local community and older people The furniture will be available to anybody to buy at reasonable in particular.” prices and some will also go to other charities and our Housing The furniture showroom is in Wharfedale Road in IQ Winnersh Needs Team at discounted rates. and is open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.

Senior Strategy Officer Rhian Hayes said: “This project brings a Get in touch if you have any furniture to donate. lot of benefits. It’s environmentally-friendly as some of the recycled furniture would otherwise have ended up in landfill. t. (0118) 327 1329

Revenues and Benefits Executive view Cllr Anthony Pollock, Our key achievements in 2011/12 Executive Member for Finance Last year was another good year for Revenues and “We know that times are difficult for Benefits with improvements in performance in everyone. Continuing to provide our many of our key areas. services is essential and the efficient collection of council tax allows us to We collected a record 99.37 per cent of council do that. Our job is to make sure tax owed, which surpassed last year’s figure of everyone understands our approach, 99.28 per cent. This performance is expected to offer different payment methods and maintain our position as the highest collecting make sure that our discounts are unitary council in the country. The average applied fairly. Staff have done a great collection rate for unitary councils across England job and I appreciate the effort they is only 97 per cent. Therefore our collection rate generates over £1.7million every make to ensure we are the most year more than the average collection rate, providing valuable services across the efficient council tax collecting unitary Borough or reducing council tax bills by more than two per cent. authority in the country – a record Our Welfare Benefit Team generated approximately £730,000 in new government- we have held for funded benefit for our most vulnerable customers across the Borough in need of two years. If we financial support. This is more than £50,000 up on last year. weren’t so efficient, we would have to The average benefit claim was assessed in an average of 13.8 days, similar to last raise council tax year. We will be working hard to reduce this timescale further in 2012/13. year on year.” Summer 2012 21 Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership

Bids are being sought for a multi-million pound fund to help stimulate economic growth across Berkshire.

The Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership • Improving the communications infrastructure, in particular the (TVB LEP) has been awarded more than £15million from the availability of superfast broadband Government’s Growing Places fund to support projects that will • Responding to innovative and creative projects which remove help the local economy by creating jobs and improving barriers to economic growth infrastructure. The TVB LEP brings together businesses, local authorities, and There is no maximum or minimum, but bids must be for a capital the education and community sectors to work to grow the project and the funding must ‘revolve’ – which means any returns Thames Valley economy by delivering improved transport and generated will be reinvested in the local economy. communications infrastructure, increasing employment and skills across the region, and attracting and maintaining inward The objectives of the Growing Places funding in Berkshire are to investment. boost economic activity by: Visit the website to find out more about how to bid for funding. • Addressing transport infrastructure and site constraints and promoting the delivery of housing or other developments www.thamesvalleyberkshire.co.uk GRANTnet – accessing funding opportunities online

Community and voluntary groups can now search for up-to-the-minute funding opportunities online through GRANTnet, one of the country’s leading online Executive view funding portals. The site allows local groups to search for local, regional, national Cllr Rob Stanton, Deputy Leader and European funding opportunities and access general funding advice (although individual advice is not available to groups). “GRANTnet provides simple, step-by-step searches that are suitable for people with all The site can be accessed at: www.wokingham.gov.uk/win. Users should search for levels of IT experience and GRANTnet and then register their details on the GRANTnet website in order to also provides a choice of access the funding searches. Contact Wokingham Direct if your local group is standard or enhanced having trouble registering or needs further advice about this site. search results. It’s a great tool for organisations to use to find out the latest www.wokingham.gov.uk/win funding opportunities e: [email protected] available to them.” t: (0118) 974 6037 22 www.wokingham.gov.uk Giving our children the best start in life

More than £11million of work at three local schools is creating more places for our children, giving them 21st Century learning environments.

Hawkedon Primary School, Lower Earley – school expansion ideas

Planning permission has been granted to expand The Colleton and Hawkedon Primary Schools to create an additional 305 spaces spread across all year groups.

Part of the Hawkedon expansion scheme will be ready for the autumn term. Located in Lower Earley, Hawkedon is benefitting from a major extension, taking the school up to three form entry. The works include a number of single storey extensions and courtyard buildings, a new single school building, play areas, multi-use games facilities and a traffic drop-off zone.

The Colleton in Twyford has been oversubscribed for years and is getting worse as it’s located in one of the fastest growing areas of Wokingham Borough. The expansion includes additional teaching accommodation, a new hall, changing and play features, remodelled playground, car parking and drop-off zone for improved traffic management. This will increase places from 35 to 60 a year.

The Bulmershe School in Woodley will benefit soon from a package of works to help develop its approach to teaching and learning. The plans, which are currently at design stage, include a new teaching block, post-16 learning centre, remodelled library and information centre as well as dining facilities.

Micro enterprise getting bigger

Micro-providers who offer social care and support services The Real Business Club, which supports local small businesses, across the Borough have had a business boost. Community Catalysts and Shared Lives Plus, who both support small scale care providers nationally, also came along to chat with We organised a special marketplace event for these small scale providers and offer advice about developing their businesses. providers where they were able to meet a range of people interested in finding out more about their services. “We really enjoyed the event and found it very informative,” said Mary Durman, joint Chief Executive of Wokingham, Bracknell & During the past three years, we’ve been working to help these Districts Mencap. providers better establish themselves, helping them expand the range of options open to people who have personal budgets to Mencap may hold a similar event for their members later this fund their care needs. year so carers can meet providers, she added.

Brokers from Optalis and Age UK were invited to the event, “The micro market in Wokingham is developing well which is alongside local organisations representing social care excellent news,” said Angela Catley, Director of Operations at customers. Community Catalysts. Summer 2012 23 Thanks for comments on station link road

We’d like to say thank you to everyone who responded to our consultation on the station link road in Wokingham.

Over 900 of you took the time to give us your views on our plans to improve the road network around the station. Over 60 per cent of people who responded to the consultation were in support of proposals. The link road will help us tackle traffic congestion – one of our key priorities – and together with the new station building, it will create a pivotal gateway into the town centre.

Thanks to your comments we made some changes to our proposals. They’ve helped shape final road designs, and a consultation report, detailing all responses, is included in the planning application being submitted this month (July).

Work will start on the new station building in the autumn – watch out for more details in the local press and on our website nearer the time.

t. (0118) 974 6000 e. [email protected] www.wokingham.gov.uk/stationlinkroad

Crash barriers installed South East Water schemes on the A329M starting this summer

Following a number of fatalities on the A329M, it became clear To ensure South East Water can continue to supply clean, that we needed to extend the crash barrier system along this busy safe drinking water to customers in Wokingham now and road. To carry out this work we applied to central Government for in the future, the water company will begin a number of the money in 2007 and 2008 but we were unsuccessful. schemes in the area over the coming months.

Despite tough financial times, we knew we had to do all we could There have been a number of bursts on water mains in the to complete the works on the central reservation. We invested town. When this occurs it causes interruptions to drinking more than £1million into the scheme and work was completed water supplies, damage to the highway, and there is then earlier this year. We also installed barriers along the edge of the further disruption to the wider community as a result of carriageway near Sutton Seeds Business Park as the railway is the company having to carry out emergency repairs and close to the road. highway reinstatement. This work will not only reduce the number of bursts in the town, it will also ensure the company can meet the town’s water supply demands now Executive view and in the future. Cllr Keith Baker, Executive Member for Further information will be provided to residents nearer the Highways and Planning time, via local press, advertisements and letter drops to “The crash barriers along the A329M have those directly affected. almost certainly saved lives or serious injury this year. They have prevented a number of vehicles www.southeastwater.co.uk crossing the dual carriageway into the fast lane of the other carriageway. This is one part of our investment in the Borough’s road networks.” 24 www.wokingham.gov.uk Buckhurst Park – the first of many new neighbourhoods and country parks in the Borough

Buckhurst Park artist impression (above and below)

Over the last five years, we have agreed an overall plan for the Borough to build four major growth areas called Strategic Development Locations (SDLs). These are located in North and South Wokingham, South of the M4 and Arborfield Garrison.

These growth areas will not only ensure new homes are built to meet the Borough’s housing need, but will also include new The four SDLs are really quite different and at different schools, shops, roads, cycle and walkways, parks, playing fields stages of development. and allotments to create really good places to live. North and South Wokingham SDLs are new neighbourhoods We’re keen to create sustainable new neighbourhoods, carefully that would effectively enhance and extend Wokingham. planned in consultation with existing residents and with new people as they move in. Buckhurst Park, the first phase of the South Wokingham SDL, was approved by our Planning Committee in April. We would like local people to contribute to the development of This is subject to a detailed planning agreement including the SDLs as they come forward. For each SDL we’re planning to a commitment to provide required infrastructure. The establish a Parish and Community Forum. These will be used to scheme for Buckhurst Park development includes 650 new keep in touch with the communities and organisations in each homes as well as a new primary school, transport area and to work through detailed planning issues together. improvements, new park and open spaces.

If you live in or next to an SDL area, watch out for details on our Arborfield SDL will be a new and expanded village based website and in the local press about your forum. There will be around Arborfield Garrison. Work is under way to produce meetings in each SDL during the summer or early autumn this year. a scheme that is sustainable and linked to places of work across the Borough. However, it will be some time before any detailed scheme is available to the public.

South of the M4 SDL is made up of the villages of Shinfield, Three Mile Cross and Spencers Wood, to the north west of the Borough. Planning applications for schemes at Three Mile Cross, Spencers Wood and north of Cutbush Lane are expected to be submitted to us later this summer.

t. (0118) 974 6819 Get www.wokingham.gov.uk/planning Involved Summer 2012 25 Reaching a verdict

Every year, hundreds of students across the country take part in a Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial Competition. Students take on the roles of lawyers, witnesses, magistrates and court staff and prepare the prosecution and defence for specially written criminal cases. Teams compete against each other in a live format at Magistrates’ Courts with their performances judged by magistrates and other legal professionals.

We caught up with Holt student Hannah Preece who recently took part in the competition.

“We took part in the competition at Reading Magistrates’ Court. It was an amazing experience, as it taught us what it takes to work in a court as well as how they operate. We have gained so much confidence, and despite complaining about how tedious the work was at first, it became such an important and enjoyable part of our lives, as we all felt so attached to the case and incredibly driven to do well.

“After we were given the case, we were told we would have an ‘against side’ and a ‘for side’ for the case, and that both sides would compete against another local school. We began our intensive preparation that consisted of frequent meetings at lunchtime.

“We considered all the different scenarios that could occur in the court room as well as making sure that we included all of the necessary information to strengthen our case.

“We soon learnt our defence team had won the case. We were up next and I was first prosecution lawyer. It was nerve-racking Executive view standing in front of real magistrates and lawyers. After the case finished we had to anxiously wait for the magistrates to decide their Cllr Charlotte Haitham Taylor, verdict. The case went extremely well for our school, which resulted Executive Member for in us winning – we were one of the only schools to have their Children’s Services prosecuting and defence sides win. It meant we had made the final!” “Over 95% of criminal cases, more than one million every year, are dealt The Holt School was joined by St Crispin’s and The Bulmershe with by magistrates, yet many people know very little Schools in the regional final in May. The Bulmershe School came about their vital role. The Mock Trials offer our young second and headed to the national final last month (June). people a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in Read more about Hannah’s experience by visiting our website. the legal system. I am delighted that three of our schools made the regional finals.” www.wokingham.gov.uk/news

Do you enjoy reading but find it difficult to get to the library?

Our Home Library Service can help by providing home delivery and a collection service for books including large print, spoken word cassettes and CDs to qualifying residents, subject to availability.

So how does it work? Well, a trained member of staff or volunteer will deliver books and other items that match your reading interests to your home or day centre at an agreed time that’s convenient to you.

You can use the service if you are permanently or temporarily homebound and unable to visit one of our libraries. Apply today!

www.wokingham.gov.uk/homelibrary t. (0118) 969 0304 / 978 1368 26 www.wokingham.gov.uk

Community Colour at Rainbow Park

Rainbow Park in Winnersh used to be in the headlines for all the wrong reasons – ‘burnt out cars, violence and vandalism’.

But seven years on this estate now has the chance to travel to different places a strong community spirit, a vibrant and each month. wide choice of activities and classes, and a community drop-in. This is a community Strategic Commissioner for Communities reborn, thanks to the long-term efforts of Josie Wragg said: “It’s important to tell the residents themselves, various agencies good news stories about communities. and a development worker permanently Rainbow Park is not perfect, no community there on the ground. could claim that, but it is an example of how community development can take Community Development Worker James place if the right people work together in Newman helps organise the activities the right way.” wanted by residents. These include bowling James Newman serving Rona and Christine Jagger and darts founded by local people, a get-fit Our community development workers are: club, bingo sessions and computer classes. Community Action Group to grow. The Rose Green, Senior Community A simple knock on the door from James group now meets monthly and runs many Development Worker can help motivate shy residents, reminding activities including community lunches, t. (0118) 974 6793 them something is happening. Or he can trips out of the area, parties, James Newman (Rainbow Park) help them overcome barriers such as entertainment, training and workshops. t. (0118) 989 4280 depression, lack of confidence and mental Catriona MacMillan (Norreys) health issues. James said: “One resident recently commented that her vacuum cleaner had t. 07785 314603 James’ support has also helped the local remained untouched in her lounge for days Claire McEnoy (Finchampstead) residents’ association Centre Forward because of all the community activities t. (0118) 973 1760 she’d been involved with. She had come to the community centre to meet more people and make new friends after her husband had died. Not only has she achieved this, helping her become less isolated and lonely, but in the process she has learnt new skills through many college courses and become a key player in making community events take place.”

Another development has been monthly community taxi trips, which offer residents Summer 2012 27 First Responders are people’s choice

Norreys residents have voted for Wokingham (North) Community First Responders to receive funding.

The Norreys Neighbourhood Project announced last year that local people were taking control of a £5,000 community budget. The £500 grant will be used to cover ongoing costs for the group Residents and community groups were then invited to come up and may also go towards navigation software to help the with project ideas they thought could make a real difference to responders pinpoint the exact location of emergency calls. their community – and then bid for a share of the money to put them into action. Nigel Eaton, Co-ordinator from Wokingham (North) Community First Responders, said: “All of the volunteer Community First Some £4,500 from the budget was last year allocated to projects Responders who help cover the Norreys Ward would like to thank: ranging from creating a community garden to supporting parents Wokingham Borough Strategic Partnership, Norreys Project Team and toddler sessions. However £500 was left over. and all the residents of the Norreys Ward who voted for our successful grant bid to the Norreys Community Budget. The community was again asked to put forward projects, and residents were invited to vote on which to fund. Following this “Thanks to their votes and the grant, we can continue and process, the remaining £500 was allocated to the Wokingham improve our work helping residents in the Norreys Ward.” (North) Community First Responders. The group is always keen to recruit new volunteers to join them. This is a group of volunteers trained by South Central Ambulance Service to attend 999/life threatening call-outs across the Norreys t. 0800 585 0207 area. The group is often first on the scene of an emergency and e. [email protected] therefore provides vital treatment. www.wokinghambsp.gov.uk/norreys 28 www.wokingham.gov.uk Keep your property secure this summer

Wokingham Borough is proud to have had the highest reduction in crime within the Thames Valley. But even though we are a ‘low Top tips: crime’ area, we are not a ‘no crime’ area, and there were still 427 ● Lock and close all doors even if you are going out for a burglaries in the Borough last year. few minutes With the summer holidays fast approaching, residents are being ● Don’t leave valuables or car keys by open windows and reminded not to leave burglars with any easy pickings. doors ● Lock all side and back gates Most burglaries are opportunistic, so if your home does not look ● In your garden? Lock your doors and close your windows secure, appears empty, or has entrances that are hidden from ● Use lights and radios on timer switches so the house view, it could be at risk. seems occupied ● Ensure all garden equipment is put away and your shed John, 80, from Earley, had his home broken into earlier this year. locked He said: “I’m annoyed that my privacy has been violated and that ● Cancel deliveries if you will be away someone has come into my home and gone though my personal ● Ask a neighbour to take post in and close curtains at possessions and helped themselves to whatever they liked. night You can also mark your possession with your postcode, “In hindsight, I should have made my home look occupied and house or flat number to help the Police trace any stolen installed timer switches on lights and a radio. I would recommend valuables that are recovered. that you take the time to make your home more secure.”

Multi-Million Pound Funding to Influence Travel Behaviour

We’ve secured £2.75million The money will be used to encourage a change in the current of central UK Government travel behaviours of people using the A329 corridor – just over funding for a package of six miles – which runs through the middle of the Borough transport measures designed from its boundary with Reading in the west to the boundary to change the way our with Bracknell Forest in the east. residents travel. The DfT grant complements money secured by both Reading The second round of bidding Borough Council and Bracknell Forest Council to take a holistic for the Department for approach to influencing the way people choose to travel. Transport’s (DfT) £560m Local Sustainable Transport Fund, aims to deliver a programme of transport measures that directly Read more at: supports economic growth as well as cuts carbon emissions. www.wokingham.gov.uk/news Summer 2012 29 Planning matters

Illegal mobile homes successfully removed

A garage used as a home, mobile homes in a field and shop adverts displayed where they shouldn’t be. These are just some of the increasing number of planning breach cases we have successfully tackled during the past six months.

We talk to Marcia Head, Development Management Team Leader, to find out more: Successful cases “We only issue a Planning Enforcement Notice as the last resort An outbuilding in an Earley back garden because we would rather work with people towards compliance. was being used as a self-contained home. We served a Planning Enforcement “Our officers work hard encouraging people to comply with Notice telling the occupants to move out planning regulations. However, sometimes the harm caused by and remove the kitchen and bathroom so unauthorised development leaves us no option. it couldn’t be a dwelling again. Following a public inquiry, the inspector found in “We get about 700 complaints from the public every year and we investigate every our favour and also ordered the one. But about half turn out not to be planning breaches. appellants to pay our costs. The inspector said the land owners had failed “So before you make a complaint to us, please check first to see if they have to prove their use was lawful and it was permission. Our website has details of all planning applications and decisions. reasonable for us to want the kitchen and bathroom removed. “People can often do small things without planning permission. This is permitted development and may apply to things such as sheds or small extensions. Again, check Another public inquiry was held when our website. It will tell you what qualifies as permitted development. land owners appealed against our Planning Enforcement Notice concerning “Some people apply for permission once they’ve done something – called a two mobile homes on land in Arborfield. retrospective planning application. When we grant this some neighbours can get The notice required the residents to upset because they feel perhaps we should have penalised the application and move out and the mobile homes be refused it. removed. Again the inspector found in our favour and ordered the land owners “But planning officers look at retrospective applications the same as any other. to pay our costs. The inspector said the There’s no black mark. If the application complies with our policies, then it is mobiles were harming the character of generally acceptable.” the countryside and the appellants had acted unreasonably. www.wokingham.gov.uk/planning

At Easter, we re-branded our Motorvation Drive Start free pre-driver training programme as Drive Start with more demand for tickets than ever!

The impact on young people who have attended in the past, is obvious by their comments. Mike Richards said: “I will use what I learned from it to help keep myself alive on the road.”

Hannah Carberry said: “The course really gets you thinking about driving, and the consequences of our actions on the road.”

If you are aged 15 to 17 and desperate to get behind the wheel, an application form for our summer courses can be found at: www.wokingham.gov.uk/drive-start 30 www.wokingham.gov.uk

There’s nothing quite like a makeover in Beauty spot makeover time for summer and Winnersh Meadows has experienced exactly that.

With its new look now complete, the 10-hectare country park and beauty spot between Arbor Lane and the M4 has been officially opened by local Olympic rower Zak Purchase. Zak scooped gold at the Beijing Olympics – a feat he hopes to repeat this year.

The site’s £100,000 transformation includes all-weather footpaths improving access for all, an outdoor gym, basketball The project was led by Pat Rowell at the hoop and a kick-about football goal, plus Winnersh Neighbourhood Action Group, benches and picnic tables. which has wanted to improve this popular open space for some time.

More than 4,000 bulbs have been planted as Photos courtesy of Pat Rowell of Winnersh NAG well as a community orchard with some 35 The group successfully applied for Lottery fruit trees; all varieties native to our area. funding, which was boosted by the Borough Council and Winnersh Parish Council. The extensive works follow public consultation in 2008 when residents The opening ceremony had gym challenges, outlined what they wanted to see improved. a climbing wall and dog related events.

What’s on for YOUth

There’s a lot going on in our youth clubs including opportunities to get involved in youth governance work; national awards such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award; arts, sports and community work opportunities and, with the launch of a new website Parkour comes redesigned by and specifically for our young people, there hasn’t been to the Borough a better time to see what’s on offer. A dedicated Parkour facility, the first in the South East, was officially opened by top Eloise Collier from Hurst recently Parkour (otherwise known as free-running) experts last month at Sol Joel Park in Earley. received an achievement award for completing Level 1 of the National The facility has been made available to local residents thanks to our combined efforts with Earley Town Council and an investment of £85,000 through Section 106 funding Indoor Climbing Achieving Scheme specifically for the use of children’s play areas. organised by Wokingham Youth Club. Eloise said: “I had a brilliant Parkour is increasingly popular in the UK and focuses on efficient movement around time learning how to climb as part of obstacles. The main purpose is to teach people how to move through their environment my Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. We by vaulting, rolling, running, climbing and jumping. learn with ropes and also without, This new facility aims to mimic an urban landscape and contains dozens of objects which is known as “bouldering”. It commonly found in a city so that people can practice their sport within a safe and dedicated has been hard work, especially on environment. It’s also got great public transport links – it’s less than 10 minutes walk from my arms, but really fun.” Earley train station and it’s on the 190 bus route between Wokingham and Reading.

www.activeyouth.co.uk An estimated 40,000 people regularly take part in the sport, but unlike many other sports, there are currently very few dedicated Parkour facilities in the country. Summer 2012 31 What’s on?

Summer fun whatever your age and tastes

. . . in the countryside

July 21 Summer Treasure Trail: Follow a trail and answer questions to earn a sweet treat! Ideal for families and suitable for pushchairs. 1 to 3pm, Dinton Pastures Country Park. £3 per child

August 18 &19, 25 & 26 and September 8 & 9, 29 & 30 Bushcraft: Fun course introducing adults and children to the basics of bushcraft including shelter building, fire lighting, camp craft, backwoods cooking and wild food foraging. Option of staying . . . in your library overnight under canvas. July 5 10am to 6pm (1 day), 9am to 4pm (2 days) £85 (1 day) £120 (2 days). (0118) 986 7333. Meet Patrick Gale: The best-selling novelist will be talking about his new August 25 and 26 book A Perfectly Good Man. Event includes a book signing and Summer Orchid Show: Come and see thousands of orchids in flower, refreshments. from the bizarre to the most exquisite! A huge variety of orchids will be available from top orchid growers. Sundries, pots, books, 8pm, Wokingham Library. £5. moss and composts also on sale. Take part in beginners’ workshops. Sat 9am to 5pm, Sun 10am to 4pm, Dinton Pastures Country Park. July 14 to September 22 Small entry charge to Orchid Marquee. Little Explorers Book Club (under 5s), StoryLab (for ages 5 to 12), September 16 Teen Reading Challenge Pirate Day: Celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Come Reading challenges for each age dressed as a pirate ready to take to the waters of Black Swan Lake group to read six books. Prizes for some exciting games and activities. up for grabs. Also lots of age- Morning and afternoon sessions, Multi-Activity Centre, related activities. Free. Dinton Pastures Country Park. £5 Child and £10 Adult. August 8 to August 10 October 7 The Globetrotter’s Hot Pot stories and puppet making with Pottytree Puppets California Speedway Day: See some of the original bikes that raced on the sand speedway track at California-in-England Holiday Camp Ages 5 to 12, at all libraries. Please phone your local in the 1930s to 1950s. Friends of the Speedway will be showing library to book. £3 charge. remains of the track and concrete starting grid and sharing their stories. Monday August 13 11am to 4pm, California Country Park. Around the world – storytelling with Tusitala Free (normal car parking charges apply). Wokingham, Lower Earley, Maiden Erlegh and Spencers Wood libraries. Free.

For details of these events and more, see www.wokingham.gov.uk www.wokingham.gov.uk/childrenscentres www.facebook.com/wokinghamboroughcouncil www.facebook.com/wokinghamboroughlibraries www.twitter.com/wokinghambc Keeping our children safe in Wokingham Borough

Keeping children safe in Wokingham Borough is everyone’s business – including yours.

If you have concerns about whether a child or young person is not being properly cared for or you are worried they may be physically, emotionally or sexually abused, or neglected, get in touch with us. Children and their parents may need help urgently.

If you do not feel comfortable telling us, or you are not sure if you are right, you can also speak to a police officer, teacher, health visitor, doctor or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000. The most important thing is to tell someone who can help.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger you should call the police on 999.

t. (0118) 908 8002 e. [email protected]

www.wokingham.gov.uk/child-safeguarding