JULY 2021 E – NEWS You Can Find the Latest Information on Local Cases and Statistics on the Covid-19 Dashboard At
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E – NEWS JULY 2021 You can find the latest information on local cases and statistics on the Covid-19 dashboard at www.berkshirepublichealth.co.uk You can also find information at www.wokingham.gov.uk 1 E – NEWS JULY 2021 Have you seen these stunning, life sized iron-resin horses at Arborfield Green? The three sculptures were unveiled in a ceremony on 11 June, attended by Parish Councillors Gordon Veitch and Simon Weeks. The sculptures commemorate Arborfield’s rich history as the home of the Remount Depot and Horse Infirmary of REME during WW1 and WW2. They pay tribute to the fallen horses that passed through Arborfield during this time. You can see the sculptures at Arborfield Green, off Biggs Lane. This amazing English Oak is located at the new country park at West Court, Finchwood Park. It is thought to be over 450 years old and is being named the Finchwood Oak. It is the 8000th tree to be surveyed and recorded by the Wokingham District Veteran Tree Association. Members of the Association along with Parish Councillors Gordon Veitch and Simon Weeks, and Laura Powell from Cala Homes Ltd., visited the tree on 24 June. A plaque will be installed in due course. WDVTA is working to ensure that Wokingham's veteran and other significant trees are properly identified, protected and managed - and to increase public awareness of their beauty and contribution to the town's heritage and amenity. Since 2007 the Association has been surveying, recording and photographing veteran trees in Wokingham Borough. You can find out more at www.wdvta.org.uk 2 E – NEWS JULY 2021 Planning matters The Parish Council’s Planning Committee considered 19 applications at its meeting on 23 June. The Committee has delegated authority to comment on applications on behalf of the Parish Council, and its comments on the applications considered at the meeting have now been submitted to Wokingham Borough Council (WBC). WBC is the Planning Authority which determines planning applications, taking into account comments from the Parish Council, residents and other parties. • One of the applications considered was an outline application for up to 32 dwellings on land at and to the rear of 240 Nine Mile Ride. Detailed objections have been submitted to WBC. • Detailed objections were also submitted in relation to proposals for a change of use of land at Longwater Lane to form an enlarged caravan site, and objections were made to proposals at Warren Lane and at 59 Nine Mile Ride. • The Committee’s comments are now published on the WBC website www.wokingham.gov.uk but you can also view a summary on our website at https://www.finchampstead-pc.gov.uk/meetings/meeting-minutes Development at Finchwood Park continues with around 100 properties now occupied. Finchwood Park is the part of the Arborfield Strategic Development Location which lies within Finchampstead Parish, along with a small part of Arborfield Green. Outline planning permission for around 1500 dwellings has already been granted for Finchwood Park. The latest detailed proposals to come forward are for 235 homes along with associated internal access roads, children's play areas, parking, cycleways, footpaths and landscaping. Finchampstead War Memorial We have started a consultation to gather resident’s views on the potential relocation of the War Memorial. The consultation document is being circulated with this newsletter. You can respond in the following ways: Complete the short survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RHZL9T8 Email us at [email protected] Write to us at Finchampstead Parish Council, FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead RG40 4ES We are all aware of the road closures and road works in Finchampstead at the moment. Some have been planned to allow improvements to the road network, for example in relation to the construction of the new Nine Mile Ride Extension. Others are due to emergency works being required to repair roads or to deal with water leaks or other utility issues. To keep up to date with the latest position you can sign up for a weekly Traffic and Travel e newsletter at www.wokingham.gov.uk or follow the Traffic and Travel page at www.facebook.com/WokinghamRoadworks Another useful resource is www.one.network 3 E – NEWS JULY 2021 The new rigid plastic recycling trial will enable residents visiting re3 Recycling Centres to recycle a variety of previously non-recycled rigid plastic items such as: Plastic buckets, crates, bins, storage boxes, garden furniture, pipes, toys or plastic plant pots. Nothing contaminated with paint will be accepted, neither will polystyrene, fibreglass sheets, garden hoses, plastic film or car seats with textiles. The new rigid plastic trial is expected to last up to 6 months and, if successful it will be established as a permanent feature at the both recycling centres. https://re3.fccenvironment.co.uk/ Help paint a story of recycling Did you know more than 100,000 litres of paint are disposed of each year by residents in our area? Fortunately our partners at re3 keep what’s reusable through their Community Paint Reuse Scheme. You can help yourself to full or part-full tins of paint deposited at the tips if its for community projects or to help other charities or community groups. This saves money for these groups who do vital work in our area and reduces paint waste and its impact on our environment. How it works Turn up via the normal Click & Tip booking process https://re3.fccenvironment.co.uk/click-tip- services/ at Longshot Lane (Bracknell) or Smallmead (Reading) • Paint is displayed in a cabinet/shelf • These will be sanitised before they are made available to residents • Complete a short form before taking away the paint for your community project Why should I donate paint • You can’t tip it down the sink or drains – it should always go to the recycling centre. One litre of paint pollutes 250,000 litres of water • Check it’s less than two years old, there’s more than a litre, it’s not smelly and it’s not in a rusty tin • The recycling centre can put it to use for others in your community If you’ve used the recycle paint scheme for a community project in our area let us know. Email your pictures or stories to [email protected], we’d love to share them! 4 E – NEWS JULY 2021 Enjoy the countryside in Berkshire and beyond! With more people enjoying the outdoors than ever before, Natural England have refreshed the Countryside Code, it has been revised to help people enjoy the countryside in a safe and respectful way. Here’s what you need to know: 5 E – NEWS JULY 2021 The Greyhound is reopening this summer with a new neighbour…Goswell & Birds! James and Jamie with the team at Brucan Pubs are delighted to be re launch- ing The Greyhound in August 2021 and are very much looking forward to joining the Finchampstead community and sharing our traditional hospitality and British seasonal food offering with you all. We want The Greyhound to be a relaxed and enjoyable pub at the heart of the community for you to meet, socialise and dine. We are also very excited to be launching Goswell & Birds - Villages Stores and Coffee Shop. We have named the village stores and coffee shop in honour of the families who previously supplied Finchampstead village with their daily goods, originally The Goswells and later their daughter and son-in-law The Birds. Keep your eyes peeled over the coming weeks for more announcements our social media channels and to stay up to date with news of our opening plans please do join our mailing list by emailing [email protected] In the meantime, we are currently looking for some awesome individuals to join our team. Whether you are a seasoned industry expert, or love hospitality but need a part time role that fits around your busy life we would love to hear from you. Just email the above email address. California Country Park The temporary pontoon access and therefore the circular route around the lake is now closed. Unfortunately there were several accidents caused by people cycling and running on the pontoon and the only option was to close it to prevent further injuries. Other facilities such as the café and play area are unaffected. The Everglades footpaths are due to back in use in a couple of weeks following improvement works, and the reservoir dam works should be completed in early August, bringing everything back to normal. For more information about the park visit www.dinton-pastures.co.uk/california/ Animal Warden Officers will be out and about this summer to talk to members of the public about the role the wardens play in the community. The wardens can also check your dogs microchip details are correct and that the microchip is still in place. They are giving away free dog 'poop' bags and would be happy to talk to you about the welfare of your dog or dogs you might be concerned about. Friday 22nd July: Arborfield and Finchampstead (including California Country Park) www.publicprotectionpartnership.org.uk 6 E – NEWS JULY 2021 Join us in celebrating a precious wilderness that’s home to rare silver-studded blue and grayling butterflies, a dazzling collection of dragonflies and all six species of native reptiles. Discover a world of nocturnal birds, carnivorous plants, super-fast beetles and so much more. Come and meet the folk that fight the fires! This year we’re teaming up with the Fire & Rescue Services. They’ll be here with fire engines and unimogs to let kids have a seat in the cab and play at being a firefighter! Come along and find out how we can all help to make the countryside a safer place.