More than five million blue waste bags will be out for delivery from Wokingham Borough Council from 3rd February

 

They will be distributed to all houses in the borough over the next five weeks, with each household receiving 80 bags in two rolls of 40.

This will cover the period between April 2020 and March 2021. Blue bags were first introduced back in 2012 to restrict the volume of waste per household to approximately 120 litres per week.

The size and quality of the bags remains the same. The Council can only collect waste in these council branded bags.

Waste collections will continue to be on a weekly basis and the number of bags each household receives will not reduce.

There have been slight changes to the blue bag scheme this year, as larger families who used to automatically receive extra bags will no longer do so.

Since the scheme was launched in 2012 we have increased our recycling options to include additional plastic containers, tetrapak and food waste so many residents may no longer require the additional supply.

If you are a larger family, with five or more living permanently in your household, then you can visit our website from June (search blue bags) to apply for additional blue bags.

You will then receive a voucher and be able to collect these from the council’s offices or your local library, when the stocks are in.

“Our residents are finding they need fewer and fewer blue bags by making the most of our extensive recycling services at the kerbside – helping us achieve our aim to recycle more than 50 per cent of our waste in borough,” said Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure.

Anyone wishing to know when their allocation will be delivered can do so by visiting the council’s website (search ‘annual blue bag delivery’).

If residents are unsure of their collection day this can also be checked on the council’s website (search ‘collection days’).

Residents should be aware our garden waste renewal service is changing, with those who are currently signed up being sent letters telling the how to opt into the service online for 2020-21. These will be sent out in early March, slightly later than usual.

The council’s food waste service continues to run successfully after launching in April last year.

Since it started 3,783 tonnes of food waste have been turned into energy – boosting recycling rates to more than 55 per cent.

It has also boosted recycling habits across the borough with 859 additional tonnes of plastic, paper and metal materials collected kerbside compared to the previous year.

“Our food waste scheme has been a runaway success and we can only thank our residents for taking to it so readily,” Cllr Batth added.

“It’s really heartening to see how it has also boosted recycling habits for our kerbside collections, with our residents making sure Wokingham borough continues to increase its recycling percentages annually.”

Residents are able to collect more food waste bags, free of charge, from the main council offices at Shute End or from libraries across the borough.

 

 

Wokingham Borough Council announces its commitment to supporting those at risk of homelessness and people who sleep rough.

 

The council adopted a new strategy to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in the borough at its full council meeting on 23 January 2020. The strategy has four key priorities: early intervention and prevention; working towards ending rough sleeping and tackling hidden homelessness (people who become homeless but are staying with friends or family); building more affordable homes; and supporting our vulnerable residents.

 

To address these priorities, the council is proposing to work with long-term rough sleepers, look closely at the hidden homeless in the borough and reduce its use of emergency and temporary accommodation for the homeless.

 

The strategy focuses on early intervention and prevention, working with partner organisations in the borough, exploring options for the development of a pilot Housing First (or similar) scheme, assessing hidden homelessness and addressing rough sleeping, refreshing the policy that sets out how the council allocates its social housing, building new affordable homes and supporting vulnerable residents.

 

The council held a public consultation on the strategy in September 2019 and then the council’s executive recommended approval to its full council.

 

“The impacts of homelessness can be devastating for individuals and families. Homelessness can affect everything — health, education and employment,” said John Kaiser, executive member for finance and housing. “Homelessness can have long term consequences for those affected. As a result, reducing homelessness and rough sleeping is a key priority for the council.

 

“Having a home should be a basic human right. That’s why we at the council prioritise so highly tackling homelessness and ending rough sleeping.”

 

For information on how to get advice if you or someone you know is or may become homeless, visit our website at www.wokingham.gov.uk and search ‘homelessness’.

 

To contact the council for help on homelessness, phone 0118 974 6000 during office hours or 01344 786 543 after hours, via email at housing.needs@wokingham.gov.uk or by visiting the council offices at Shute End, Wokingham.

 

If you are aware of someone sleeping rough in the borough, let the council know by sending an alert to StreetLink. The details you provide will be sent to the council, who will use the information to find the individual, offer them support, and explore ways to find them accommodation.

 

For more information, please click the link in the road name or contact Customer Services at Wokingham Borough Council (0118 974 6000) who can also provide individual contractor details.

Culver Lane, Earley, Wokingham

02 February – 02 February

Delays likely – Road closure

Name: Culver Lane

Location: Culver Lane

Description: Streetworks / License – Streetworks

Responsibility for event: Wokingham Borough Council

Park Lane, Charvil, Wokingham

28 January – 28 January

Delays likely – Diversion route

Name: Diversion

Location: Park Lane

Description: Streetworks / License – Streetworks

Responsibility for event: Wokingham Borough Council

 

A4 London Road, Earley, Wokingham

29 January — 31 January 

Delays likely – Lane closure

Works location: OUTSIDE LANE ON ROUNDABOUT

Works description: REPLACEMENT OF GUARD RAIL 

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

B3270,A329 Loddon Bridge and The Bader Way Interchange, Winnersh, Wokingham

28 January — 30 January

Delays likely – Lane closure 

Works location: lane 2 North and southbound

Works description: bridge inspections

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

B3270,A329 Loddon Bridge and The Bader Way Interchange, Winnersh, Wokingham

04 February — 06 February

Delays likely – Lane closure 

Works location: Lane 1 North and southbound 

Works description: Bridge inspections 

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Butts Hill Road, Woodley, Wokingham

28 January — 28 January

Delays likely – Traffic control (two-way signals)

Works location: just before the bridge

Works description: carriageway patching

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Butts Hill Road, Woodley, Wokingham

03 February — 10 April

Delays likely – Road closure

Works location: RAVENSBOURNE DR TO JUST AFTER SONNIG BRDGE 

Works description: PRE WORKS FOR SURFACE DRESSING

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Colemans Moor Road, Woodley, Wokingham

03 February — 07 February

Delays likely – Traffic control (two-way signals)

Works location: On Colemans Wood Road opposite to No. 130. 

Works description: Excavation in road and path to lay and connect new site main to existingparent main in Carriageway.

Responsibility for works: THAMES WATER

 

Colemans Moor Road, Woodley, Wokingham

03 February — 10 April

Delays likely – Road closure

Works location: STONEHAVEN DRIVETO LODDON BRIDGE ROAD 

Works description: PRE WORKS FOR SURFACE DRESSING

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Kingfisher Drive, Woodley, Wokingham

03 February — 03 February

Delays likely – Road closure

Works location: entire length of kingfisher drive including spine roads

Works description: Iron works

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Rickman Close, Woodley, Wokingham

04 February — 04 February

Delays likely – Road closure 

Works location: entire length of Rickman close 

Works description: Iron work

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Tippings Lane, Woodley, Wokingham

03 February — 10 April 

Delays likely – Road closure 

Works location: DUFFIELD ROAD TO HEADLEY ROAD EAST

Works description: PRE WORKS FOR SURFACE DRESSING 

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Woodlands Avenue, Woodley, Wokingham

01 February — 02 February

Delays likely – Traffic control (two-way signals)

Works location: From near SSE pole 149 to approximately 185m towards Highwood Primary School

Works description: TO PUT UP 2 WAY LIGHTS AND PUT ON ALL RED FOR 10 MINS MAX TO ALLOW DROPPING OF OVER HEAD LINES THIS WILL BE DONE BETWEEN 7AM AND 10AM

Responsibility for works: Scottish and Southern Power Distribution

 

Colemans Moor Lane, Woodley, Wokingham

03 February — 07 February 

Delays possible – Some carriageway incursion 

Works location: Signage only on Colemansmoor Lane at junction of Colemansmoor Road 

Works description: Signage only on Colemansmoor Lane due to excavation in road and path onColemansmoor Road to lay and connect new site main to existing parentmain. in Carriageway. 

Responsibility for works: THAMES WATE

 

Reading Road, Woodley, Wokingham

29 January — 31 January

Delays possible – Some carriageway incursion

Works location: 112

Works description: CUSTOMER SIDE LEAKAGE SUPPLY PIPE REPLACEMEN–WORKS INTENDED TO INCLUDE FIRST TIME PERMANENT REINSTATEMENT WITHIN SAME PHASE

Responsibility for works: THAMES WATER

 

Addington Gardens, Woodley, Wokingham

31 January — 04 February

Delays unlikely – Some carriageway incursion

Works location: 47

Works description: Boundary Box Exchange Fway in Footway. 

Responsibility for works: THAMES WATER

 

South Drive, Sonning, Wokingham

01 February — 05 February

Delays unlikely – Some carriageway incursion

Works location: 8 SOUTH DRIVE

Works description: B Box Exchange <33mm Cway in Carriageway.

Responsibility for works: THAMES WATER

 

Park Lane, Charvil, Wokingham

28 January – 28 January

Delays likely – Diversion route

Name: Diversion

Location: Park Lane

Description: Streetworks / License – Streetworks 

Responsibility for event: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Woodlands Avenue, Woodley, Wokingham

24 January — 28 January

Delays likely – Traffic control (two-way signals)

Works location: APPROX 47M WEST OF JCN WITH ACCESS ROAD FROM WOODLANDS AVENUE TO THE BULMERSHE CENTRE, WOODLANDS AVENUE 

Works description: Locate and excavate 1 blockage in existing duct

Responsibility for works: Openreach

 

Wokingham Road, Earley, Wokingham

31 January

Delays likely – multiway traffic control signals

Location: Junction with Mill Lane

Works description: Safe access to Underground structures – fibre cabling for new customer connections in existing underground duct network.

Responsibility for works: BT

 

 

Barnes Fitness has decided to host its annual Woodley 10km and 2.5km run in dear memory of David Stares, former Woodley Town Council councillor, honorary Reading Roadrunner and huge supporter of this event.

The event will also be supporting the fabulous work of the Mayor of Woodley Town Council’s Charity, Prostate Cancer UK.

Course details

• The course is measured and certified by RunBritain.The event will be run under UK Athletics Rules.

  *Chip timed with your result available instantly as you cross the finish line
  *Free event photos
  *Commemorative medal and banana for all finishers in the 10km & 2.5km
  *Clearly-marked route with plenty of friendly marshals, 2 water stations on 10km course, lead car and tail marker
  *Pace-makers every 5 minutes from 40 minutes to 90 minute completion time with thanks to Elite Conditioning
  *Podium prizes dontated by Mizuno, Castle Royle, Brown Bag, Berkshire Physio & Woodford Park Leisure Centre
  *Minimum competitor ages as of race day: 10km – 15+, 2.5km – 5yrs – 14yrs
  *Ample free parking available within 5/10 minute walk of start/finish.

 

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: www.barnesfitness.onerace.co.uk

 

 

Wokingham Borough Council commits £50million over three years to jumpstart the borough on its journey to be carbon neutral by 2030

The council has outlined eight key action areas as it looks to reduce its carbon footprint following its climate emergency declaration last summer.

Plans, backed at a full council meeting last night (24 January) include planting 250,000 trees over the next five years (that’s equivalent to 1.5 trees for every resident in the borough), developing five solar farms, more electric car charging points, a sustainable schools programme and making the council’s property estate carbon neutral.

Data shows the borough’s carbon footprint is 580.9 ktCO2e (kilotons of carbon dioxide).

The total carbon dioxide emissions for the borough are made of three sectors: domestic (43%), transport (31.4%) and industrial and commercial (26.6%).

It also shows the borough’s carbon footprint has been dropping since 2012, due to behaviour change, increased proportion of renewable energy in electricity supplies and more efficient technologies.

The amount of carbon dioxide being removed from the air through trees and plants in Wokingham has been steadily increasing in recent years.

Despite this positive trend in decreasing emissions, the projected trajectory still leaves a carbon footprint of 274.6 ktCO2 in 2030.

So the council has identified key areas where it can have the most impact in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Feedback on the council’s plan has been positive and supportive from expert energy consultants and local businesses, who were consulted during its development.

Goals

The goals, informed following a wide-ranging public consultation, including residents, businesses and other partners, are created in line with the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In doing so, the council hopes to ensure that its actions lead to a socially just response to climate change.

There are eight key areas for the council to work on to reduce carbon emissions. A full outline of each of these areas can be found by going to www.wokingham.gov.uk. These are set out below as focus areas:

• Reduce carbon dioxide emissions from transport
• Reduce carbon dioxide emissions from domestic and business property – Green Bank Project
• Generate more renewable energy in the borough
• Create a Local Plan that specifies net zero carbon construction and infrastructure
• Increase the levels of carbon sequestration in the borough through greening the environment
• Engage with young people and support sustainable schools
• Reduce waste sent to landfill
• Encourage behaviour change

 

“It’s exciting and incredibly important to show our ambitious and wide-ranging plans to our residents and businesses,” said Cllr Gregor Murray, executive member for Climate Emergency.

“After their feedback and ideas we have created a plan which we think will lead us to our goal by 2030.

“This is just the start of a long process where we will look to take the lead in making Wokingham borough carbon neutral.

“While we are implementing projects of our own, which will make a dent in our carbon footprint, a key part of this will be changing behaviours – so we are asking our residents to come on this journey with us to help us reach this important goal.”

A progress report will be developed and brought to the council for approval in July. It will then be assessed annually and carbon-saving quotas will be set up against individual projects over time.

Each time it is published the report will summarise achievements and outline benefits of the work carried out over the previous twelve months.

To monitor the action plan and steer policy, the council has set a climate emergency working group made up of a cross party group of members and representatives from town and parish councils.

It will review the delivery and performance of key carbon reduction projects and the council’s ambition to achieve net zero carbon for Wokingham borough by 2030.

A climate emergency advisory group, made up of representatives from industry, academia and charities, will meet quarterly to give expert advice.

A climate emergency officers’ group, responsible for delivering the action plan, has also been established and has been meeting monthly since the council declared a climate emergency last summer.

Woodley

Woodley Town Council will continue its commitment to climate change, fully supporting Wokingham Borough Council and continuing to work on our own projects and initiatives.

 

 

 

 

For more information, please click the link in the road name or contact Customer Services at Wokingham Borough Council (0118 9746000) who can also provide individual contractor details.

 

Park Lane, Charvil, Wokingham

28 January – 28 January

Delays likely – Diversion route

Name: Diversion

Location: Park Lane

Description: Streetworks / License – Streetworks 

Responsibility for event: Wokingham Borough Council

A4 London Road, Earley, Wokingham

29 January — 31 January

Delays likely – Lane closure

Works location: OUTSIDE LANE ON ROUNDABOUT

Works description: REPLACEMENT OF GUARD RAIL

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

B3270,A329 Loddon Bridge and The Bader Way Interchange, Winnersh, Wokingham

28 January — 30 January

Delays likely – Lane closure

Works location: lane 2 n/bound

Works description: bridge inspections 

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

B3270,A329 Loddon Bridge and The Bader Way Interchange, Winnersh, Wokingham

28 January — 30 January

Delays likely – Lane closure

Works location: Lane 2 s/bound

Works description: Bridge inspections

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

B3350 Church Road, Earley, Wokingham

22 January — 22 January

Delays likely – Traffic control (two-way signals) 

Works location: down from Mays close junc

Works description: identify and uncover a buried thames water cover

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Butts Hill Road, Woodley, Wokingham

21 January — 23 January

Delays likely – Traffic control (two-way signals)

Works location: Headley road to the bridge 

Works description: coring samples works 

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Crockhamwell Road, Woodley, Wokingham

24 January — 24 January

Delays likely – Traffic control (two-way signals)

Works location: drovers way to loddon bridge road 

Works description: coring works 

Responsibility for works: Wokingham

 

Woodlands Avenue, Woodley, Wokingham

24 January — 28 January

Delays likely – Traffic control (two-way signals)

Works location: APPROX 47M WEST OF JCN WITH ACCESS ROAD FROM WOODLANDS AVENUE TO THE BULMERSHE CENTRE, WOODLANDS AVENUE 

Works description: Locate and excavate 1 blockage in existing duct

Responsibility for works: Openreach

 

Reading Road, Woodley, Wokingham

29 January — 31 January 

Delays possible – Some carriageway incursion 

Works location: 112

Works description: CUSTOMER SIDE LEAKAGE SUPPLY PIPE REPLACEMEN–WORKS INTENDED TO INCLUDE FIRST TIME PERMANENT REINSTATEMENT WITHIN SAME PHASE

Responsibility for works: THAMES WATER

 

Shepherds House Lane, Earley, Wokingham

27 January — 31 January

Delays possible – Traffic control (multi-way signals)

Works location: os 26 – 589

Works description: Replacement of pedestrian guard rail

Responsibility for works: Wokingham Borough Council

 

Addington Gardens, Woodley, Wokingham

22 January — 24 January

Delays unlikely – Some carriageway incursion

Works location: 47 

Works description: Boundary Box Exchange Fway in Footway.

Responsibility for works: THAMES WATER

 

Corbett Gardens, Woodley, Wokingham

23 January — 24 January

Delays unlikely – Some carriageway incursion 

Works location: 6

Works description: Rectifiy Dangerous rein defect – non-pay in Carriageway. Our intentionis to complete the Permanent Reinstatement in the same phase 

Responsibility for works: THAMES WATER

 

Sherbourne Drive, Woodley, Wokingham

22 January — 24 January

Delays unlikely – Some carriageway incursion 

Works location: O/S 10, SHERBOURNE DRIVE 

Works description: Perform 1 excavation/s for installation activities 

Responsibility for works: Openreach

 

South Drive, Sonning, Wokingham

23 January — 27 January

Delays unlikely – Some carriageway incursion 

Works location: 8 SOUTH DRIVE

Works description: B Box Exchange <33mm Cway in Carriageway.

Responsibility for works: THAMES WATER

 

 

 

 

 

Wokingham Volunteer Centre is hosting its next Volunteer Recruitment Fair on Saturday 18 January 10.00 – 13.00

 

Charities from across the borough will be available to talk about what they do, including groups that support the elderly, children and families, young people, the homeless, people with mental or physical health issues, hospices, local events that benefit the community and many more.

 

Volunteering, as well as being extremely rewarding whatever your age, is an excellent opportunity to gain experience for a career change, invaluable life skills and confidence. Or you might just want to ‘give something back’ or meet new people or make friends.

 

The Fair will take place at Wokingham Town Hall in Wokingham Town Centre. Entry is free so please come along and be inspired!

 

 

Wokingham Borough Council specialist Technology Enabled Care (TEC) team uses the latest technology to improve families’ quality of life

 

Case study

Bonnie, 26, has profound global development delay which affects her ability to learn to walk or talk, pick up new skills, and interact with others socially and emotionally.

Bonnie suffers multiple seizures every day, so mum Beverley contacted our TEC team for help.

We spoke to Beverly to find out more about how the TEC team has helped Bonnie and improved their quality of life.

“I wanted to find out if there was any equipment available that could help with Bonnie’s care, particularly helping to monitor her seizures, especially at night. 

“I thought Bonnie may have been experiencing still seizures, where her heart rate was elevated but with no movement in her body. The signs for this type of seizure are very subtle and I would worry, especially at night, not knowing if she would need medical assistance.”

Significant seizures could be potentially life-threatening for Bonnie.

“We wanted to continue to have Bonnie at home with us, and to look after her, but I would be up for more than 24 hours worrying she would have a seizure while I was asleep. It was the only way I thought I could keep her safe but it was physically impossible to keep an eye on her day and night.”

Our team worked with Beverley and Bonnie looking at different ways we could improve their quality of life. Bonnie was one of the first in the country to trial PulseGuard, worn on her wrist, which monitors changes in her pulse rate; a big indicator that she is about to have a seizure. If it gets too high an alert is sent to a carer’s mobile device.

“Before, I would stay up for 24 hours or more with Bonnie making sure she was alive, making sure  she was breathing. Now I can sleep. I can also leave her with carers as I don’t have to rely on people recognising the subtle signs of her seizures.

“I’m so thankful for the support the TEC team gave us. I know it can be daunting but the technology is easy to operate and importantly, these new advances in technology can saves lives. It has saved Bonnie’s life.”

For further information contact our TEC team 0118 977 8606 or TEC@Wokingham.gov.uk

 

Please note that Woodley Bridleway 5 (running from Woodlands Avenue to Kingfisher Drive) has needed to be closed to enable works to be undertaken by Scottish and Southern Electricity. It is anticipated that the works will be complete by 24^th February 2020.