WOODLEY TOWN COUNCIL CONTINUES IMPROVEMENT OF WOODFORD PARK LAKE AND PARKLAND

Environmental improvement works are due to take place from 11th February, to improve the biodiversity and amenity of Woodford Park lake as specialist contractors move in to help improve this much-loved community space.

Woodley Town Council are tackling the build-up of vegetation and silt with the help of specialist contractor Ebsford Environmental.

This work is part of Woodley Town Council’s aim to support existing wildlife, by improving the overall biodiversity of the environment – while making improvements to amenity value for visitors through providing accessible points for feeding the ducks and geese and also areas for pond dipping with a new boardwalk and deck.

A collaboration

Nick Hartley, managing director of Ebsford Environmental Ltd comments: “Ebsford are delighted to be collaborating with Woodley Town Council and assisting with reforming the lake to improve biodiversity. It’s fantastic to work with Councils who are keen to invest in improvements to the environment alongside improving community areas. We are looking forward to seeing the end result and helping to revive this area.”

Ebsford are tackling the works and desilting with low impact ‘on water’ machinery, while the water remains in the lake. Importantly, there is no disruption to wildlife. Extensive surveys ahead of the project start have been carried out to identify what inhabits the lake and surrounding areas with an ecology management plan implemented to ensure precautions are taken to protect wildlife. The works will ensure long term biodiversity benefits are established for the future.

A positive environment

Woodley Town Council Leader, Keith Baker, comments: “We are very proud of the improvement work which has taken place so far, creating a positive and nurturing environment for the plants and wildlife. We look forward to working with Ebsford Environmental to continue the regeneration of Woodford Park lake and the surrounding area for both the local wildlife and community.”

Information boards will be put up around the lake to provide information as the works are carried out. Leaflets are also available from the Oakwood Centre and Woodford Park Leisure Centre.

If you’re ever wondered how food is recycled, take a look at this short video which explains the cycle:

FOOD RECYCLING 

Latest news from Thames Valley Police

John Campbell (R), proposed Thames Valley Police Chief Constable pictured with Matthew Barber (L), Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner

John Campbell chosen as the preferred candidate to be Thames Valley Chief Constable

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, Anthony Stansfeld, has chosen John Campbell as his proposed appointment for Thames Valley Police Chief Constable.

John Campbell is the current Deputy Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, a position he has held since 2015.

Anthony Stansfeld said: “After a detailed selection process I am delighted to announce that John Campbell is my preferred candidate to be appointed as the next Chief Constable for Thames Valley Police.  I look to forward to working closely with him in the future.”

Deputy Chief Constable John Campbell said: “I feel privileged to be chosen as the preferred candidate for the next Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police.

“I am very proud to have been a Chief Officer with Thames Valley Police for over eight years, and look to take over from an outstanding Chief Constable in Francis Habgood. I hope to build on his successes in my tenure as Chief.

“It will be an honour to lead all those who work and volunteer for us so that we can continue to deliver a police force that protects the communities of the Thames Valley and gives the public the standard of service that they deserve.”

Community Policing Awards 2019

The Community Policing Awards take place each year at a ceremony held at Eynsham Hall near Witney in Oxfordshire in May.

This ceremony is now in its eighteenth year and provides an opportunity to recognise and nominate the work of officers, staff and volunteers who have made the greatest contribution to their community over the past year. The nominations will then be sifted down to a shortlist, and a panel of judges will make the final decision of who the community champions of the year are.

There are eight categories:

1. Community Police Officer 2019
2. Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) 2019
3. Special Constable 2019
4. Diversity Champion 2019
5. Cadet 2019
6. Volunteer 2019
7. Community Volunteer 2019
8. Problem Solving Award 2019

Please click on each category to take you to the nomination form.

Launch of new PCOS Apprenticeship

In 2019, TVP are introducing a range of new entry routes into policing, including the newly launched Police Community Support Officer Apprenticeship (PCSOA).

Applications are now open for our new PCSO Apprenticeship, with the first cohort of Officers planned to join the force in May.

Matthew Barber, Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner said; “This is a great opportunity for people to learn on the job and gain valuable qualifications. Policing is a complex business and the public rightly expect the best from Thames Valley Police. The new PCSO apprentices will play a vital role in delivering policing in our communities and transforming routes into policing.”

For further information, please click HERE

Increased investment in frontline policing in the Thames Valley

The Police and Crime Commissioner, Anthony Stansfeld, has now approved the capital and revenue plans presented to him by Chief Constable Francis Habgood.

After funding pay and price rises, the increase in Council Tax agreed today enables an investment of around £8.5m in a number of priority policing areas.

• Improve services to the public through contact management by reducing 101 call handling times
• Increase frontline policing by recruiting additional officers and staff to respond to increasing crime demand and complexity
• Improve our investigative capacity and process for complex crimes
• Increase our digital capability by exploiting the modern platforms we have been investing in.

Anthony Stansfeld Police and Crime Commissioner said: “In December I welcomed the Government’s funding settlement which increased funding for policing and recognised the demand placed on policing nationally.

“Over £100 million has been cut from Thames Valley Police’s annual budget over the last 8 years. While the Force continues to prioritise its work and make efficiency savings, there was significant concern that budget pressures would lead to unacceptable reductions in resources which would impact frontline policing and result in a service less able to respond to increases in demand.

“The 2019/20 funding settlement has allowed us to avoid a reduction in resource and I am pleased to be able to agree a budget today which enables Thames Valley Police to invest in operational policing to help protect our communities.

“It is important to recognise, however that more than half of the funding in the Governments 2019/20 settlement (£509m) available nationally to Police and Crime Commissioners is expected to come from local taxpayers by increasing the police portion of the Council Tax.

“Before I made a decision on the level of Council Tax, I sought views of the residents of the Thames Valley. Of the 8,031 people who completed the survey, 69.7% agreed to an increase to fund policing.  I am therefore proposing an increase in the police portion of the Council Tax in 2019/20 of £24 for the equivalent of a Band D property.

“After funding pay and price rise, the increase in Council Tax enables me to invest around £8.5m in a number of priority policing areas.  These include the recruitment of additional officers to respond to increasing crime demand and complexity, improved service to the public in investment in 101 call handling, the recruitment of investigators to tackle complex crime and, investment in technology to improve productivity and efficiency.

“I am confident that the budget proposed protects our communities today and plans for the future.  Over the next four years, Thames Valley Police will need to continue to make efficiency savings of over £15m with demand on services expected to continue to increase through increased reporting of complex crime and the growing challenge from serious organised crime networks”.

“The budget will now go to the Police and Crime Panel on the 1 February for final ratification.”

Francis Habgood Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police said: “Firstly I would like to thank the public for showing their support for policing.

“Without this additional investment we would have faced further cuts and it would have seriously damaged our ability to provide the policing services that we want to and our communities expect.

“The increase agreed today will enable us to recruit additional officers and staff to respond to increased demand, recruit more investigators to tackle the increase in complex crimes, deliver an improved 101 service and to invest in technology to improve productivity and efficiency.”

Wokingham Borough Council is relaunching its Wokingham Borough Safer Places Scheme

The event takes place on Tuesday 5 February 14.00-15.30 at Wokingham Town Hall, Market Place in Wokingham.

Come and find out about the changes to the scheme and see what the new logo looks like. You can also apply for your new Safer Places card.

The aim is to provide a safe place to help vulnerable people if they feel scared or at risk while they are out and about in the community and need support right away.

58% of local off-licences are failing to ID test

The Public Protection Partnership (PPP), which delivers Trading Standards, Environmental Health and Licensing services across Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire and Wokingham Borough, has identified that 58% of 86 local off-licences tested in a recent test purchasing operation potentially breached their licence conditions by not asking for identification before selling alcohol to a 20 year old volunteer.

The mystery shopper, aged 20 years old, visited 86 local stores and tried to purchase alcohol. The young person took no means of identification with them but was still able to purchase alcohol from 50 of the retailers.

The law in the UK states that customers must be 18 years or over to buy alcohol and they must provide proof of age if challenged. Although there were no Trading Standards offences from underage sales the retailers potentially breached their licence conditions by failing to ask for identification before the sale of alcohol to a young person.

Challenge 25

Cllr Iain McCracken, chairman of the joint public protection  committee, said: “All retailers selling alcohol are required to have an age verification policy in place as part of their premises licence. Most stores run a Challenge 21 or Challenge 25 policy which means they should be asking for ID if the person purchasing the alcohol looks either 21 or 25, or under. The Challenge retailing strategies encourage anyone who is over 18, but looks under 21 or 25, to carry acceptable ID if they wish to buy alcohol, such as a card bearing the PASS hologram, a photographic driving licence or a passport.”

He went onto say: “Businesses who aren’t checking the age of young customers before they sell alcohol to them, by asking for and checking ID, are causing potential risk to the health and wellbeing of local young people. The PPP encourages all businesses selling alcohol, and any Age Restricted Product, to run a Challenge 25 policy and to train all staff on how to carry out the policy.”

Premises will be checked again to ensure their future compliance. Any repeat sales will result in all possible enforcement options being considered including prosecution or review of their licence.

Raise your concerns

Any residents of Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire or Wokingham Borough councils that have concerns about activity of this nature, or any other trading standards or public protection matter, should contact the service on 01635 519930 or e-mail tsadvice@westberks.gov.uk.

Solar panels have been installed at Woodford Park Leisure Centre

Woodley Town Council is working with Reading Community Energy Society (RCES) to install solar panels on Woodford Park Leisure Centre, Coronation Hall and the Oakwood Centre.

This partnership will provide solar panel installations at no cost to the Council, and lower cost daytime electricity at a rate – fixed for the duration of the 20-year contract. The Council will make savings each year as prices in the energy market rise while generating ‘green energy’.

RCES is a community-owned social enterprise that already operates 12 PV (photovoltaic) systems in and around the Reading area.

Surplus income from the sale of green energy is used to provide grants for sustainability projects in the local community.

RCES raises funds for the installations through a public share offer. This will give residents of Reading the opportunity to become members of the Society and invest in the projects.

A panel inside Woodford Park Leisure Centre’s reception will be shortly installed, which will display how much energy is being generated and saved.

Helping local residents find support in the community

The Wokingham Borough Community Navigator Service is available for local borough residents to help find the correct local and national organisations and groups for support.

The free service provides additional non-medical help and support to give a better sense of well-being, social inclusion and independence.

Who is it for?

The service is available for anyone who is registered with a GP in the Wokingham Borough area looking for additional non-medical support. This could be sourcing information to find support to manage a health condition or looking for new social networks, sports or music clubs and groups in the local area, or new parents looking for parenting support and activities.

How it can help

• Improve general health and well-being
• Reduce feelings of isolation
• Meet others who share your experience
• Find local self-help groups, clubs and befriending agencies
• Volunteering your own skills and experience
• Help you to access social groups and parenting classes
• Direct you to support for housing, employment, benefits, debt and legal advice
• Get out and about more
• Learn new skills
• Get you involved in your local community.

How to access the service

The service is fully accessible and referrals can be made by a GP, nurse or other professional, as well as by an individual, friend or family member.

For further enquiries please call 01344 304404, email community.navigation@nhs.net or visit http://www.involve.community

Do you know an unsung hero?

Citizen’s Awards 2019

Each year, Woodley Town Council celebrates the work of people who help others and contribute to our community at its Citizens Awards ceremony.  The awards are for individuals whose good works benefit an individual or organisation in Woodley. They can be good neighbours, or people carrying out voluntary work, or who care for people in our community. Nominees can be any age and there is a youth category for nominees aged 19 or under.

The Mayor will be presenting the awards at a Civic Reception on the evening of 29 March 2019 to which the award winners, their family and friends, and the nominators will be invited.

If you know someone you think deserves recognition for their work in our town you can make a nomination by filling in the form and returning it to the Council offices by Monday 21 January 2019.  Forms are available on the Council website: Citizen Awards or call to request one on 0118 9690356 or for more information.

Get on your bike!

The My Journey Wokingham team will be launching their new bike hut in Woodley on 19^th February and there will be lots of FREE cycling activities on offer for all the family.

• Bring your own bike along to have a free safety check by Doctor Bike or learn how to fix a puncture at one of our workshops.
• Younger children can have a go on a balance bike taster session or a Learn to Ride session (run by our cycling instructors, indoors in the sports hall).  Balance bikes will be provided for these sessions but you are welcome to bring your own child’s pedal bike for the Learn to Ride session.
• Make a fruit Smoothie on our pedal-powered Smoothie bike.
• Have a go at our “Time to Shine” competition – hunting for bright “hi-vis” pebbles (with prizes to be won!).
• Information and advice from the My Journey Wokingham team on cycle routes and opportunities for cycle training for children and adults.

Further information can be found on the My Journey Wokingham website.

Bikeability Learn to Ride

My Journey Wokingham will also be starting up Bikeability Learn to Ride sessions on 28th February at Woodford Park Leisure Centre. Please book here.

Find out at the touch of a button what and where to recycle locally

Wokingham Borough Council is encouraging local residents to use its Recycling App Re3cyclopedia, which is available on Apple and Android devices. The App will quickly help to see what you can recycle and where. Alternatively, a desktop version is also available: Re3cyclopedia Desktop.

Be cleaner and greener

With the imminent launch of Food Waste recycling coming to the Wokingham Borough area in April, the Council is reminding local residents that many foil products can be recycled, such as take away foil trays. Its slogan: Eat, rinse, recycle! hopes to encourage more residents to use, rinse and recycle foil products and help reduce the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfill.