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Annual Canvass

Annual Canvass

Wokingham Borough Council is urging residents to check their electoral registration details or risk losing their chance to vote on decisions that affect them.

The Council is required by law to carry out the canvass every year and each household must ensure their details are correct. The process allows the Council to keep the electoral register up to date, identify who is at risk of losing their voice at elections and to encourage people to register before it is too late. 

With elections taking place in May next year, this is an opportunity for residents to make sure they can take part. This year’s canvass will take place from September to November, in readiness for publication of the revised electoral register on 1 December 2022.

How the process will work

The Council will contact some residents by post, while others will be contacted by email. The letter will tell you whether you need to respond. Not all residents will be contacted when the first letters and emails are sent out at the beginning of September. The council will be sending out further correspondence and reminders in October.

Forms will be addressed to ‘The Occupier’ but anyone in the household can respond. Canvass correspondence sent via email will be sent from the Wokingham.borough.council.electoral.services@notifications.service.gov.uk email address and will contain the council’s official branding.

It is important to confirm the details of your household by 30 November in order to appear on the published register. Any new electors must register by 20 November.

During the canvass period, you can respond on the Household Response website, but you will need to use the security codes provided on the form to do so.

Make sure your don’t lose your say

Andrew Moulton, electoral registration officer at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “Keep an eye out for updates from the Council. The annual canvass is our way of making sure that the information on the electoral register for every address is accurate. To make sure you don’t lose your say at the next election, look out for instructions from us. If you don’t hear from the Council, you might not be on the register. If you want to register, the easiest way is online.”

People who have recently moved home in particular are being encouraged to check their details, as research from the Electoral Commission has found that recent home movers are less likely to be registered than those who live at the same address for a long time. In Great Britain, 92 per cent of those who have lived in their home for 16 years will be registered, compared with 36 per cent of people who have lived at an address for less than a year.

More information on registering to vote is available online from the Electoral Commission. Residents with questions about their registration status can contact the Council’s electoral services team at electoralservices@wokingham.gov.uk or call 0118 974 6000.

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Active Travel Route – Woodley to Reading – Consultation

A large number of local residents attended the Town Council’s recent Planning & Community Meeting suggesting improvements and alternative routes for the proposed cycleway between Woodley and Reading

Nearly 50 residents attended Woodley Town Council’s Planning & Community Committee meeting on Tuesday 9 August, to express their views on Wokingham Borough Council’s updated proposals for an Active Travel Route between Woodley and Reading.

The scheme, designed by Phil Jones Associates (PJA) on behalf of Wokingham Borough Council, proposes a segregated cycle route running from the eastern end of Woodlands Avenue in Woodley town centre through to Palmer Park in Reading, via Church Road and Palmerstone Road, and follows the award of £500k funding from Active Travel England in November 2020.

A previous design, which proposed converting Woodlands Avenue to a one-way section of road between Lytham Road and Howth Drive, faced strong opposition at an earlier meeting of the Planning & Community Committee in February. Following that earlier consultation, PJA revised the scheme, proposing instead to retain the two directional traffic on the eastern stretch of Woodlands Avenue but reduce the width to 5m in order to implement a two-way stepped cycle track along the north of the carriageway.

Representatives from Wokingham Borough Council and PJA, including Councillor Paul Fishwick, Executive Member for Active Travel, Highways and Transport, attended the Committee Meeting to present on the updated proposals and listen to comments.

A balanced and lengthy discussion took place, during which a variety of views were conveyed regarding a number of sections along the proposed route. The general consensus was that, while there was support for improvements to the cycle route between Woodley and Reading, there was a desire for an alternative route via Beechwood Avenue and Howth Drive to be fully explored and designed, with residents then consulted on both options together.

Draft minutes of the meeting can be found on our website: www.woodley.gov.uk.

There is still time for residents to respond to the consultation, which has been extended to 4th September. While the majority of debate has been around the eastern section of Woodlands Avenue, residents are encouraged to consider the entirety of the route. Details can be found at: engage.wokingham.gov.uk

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Reading Road Allotment

National Allotments Week

During National Allotments Week, we’d like to highlight this valuable community asset.

Reading Road Allotment

The Woodley Allotments site on Reading Road is now one of the largest allotment sites in Berkshire with over 370 allotments and nearly 320 individual allotment holders. Tenants are members of an inclusive community focused on growing vegetables, fruit and flowers in an organic and environmentally friendly way.

Health and wellbeing

While primarily providing a space to grow crops, allotments also provide many physical and mental health benefits such as a quiet place for reflection and relaxation, an area to observe nature and as an escape from the pressures of the outside world. However, it also helps people to develop new friendships, to share their love of gardening with others and improve their physical wellbeing through walking, digging, planting, weeding, watering and harvesting.

Allotments on the site cater for all ages and abilities and, in response to an increasing interest in ‘grow your own’, smaller starter plots and mini plots have been added to the portfolio of full size and half size plots, providing the opportunity for more local residents’ to access an outdoor growing space.

Charities

The Woodley Allotments Tenants Association Committee support several charities on site, including: Launchpad, Sport in Mind and Hope & Vision. These charities are all allotment holders and use their plots to in a variety of ways to support vulnerable people from within the local community. Furthermore, all crops grown on the Launchpad plots together with donations from tenants are delivered weekly to Reading Food Bank to help provide fresh produce to those who need it most. Sport in Mind charity provides a similar service supporting the Woodley Food Bank through weekly donations.

Schools

The Allotment Association has also developed close links with local schools; Addington School is an allotment holder and recently children from Highwood Primary School visited for an educational tour. The Association hopes, through education, to encourage more young people to develop a closer relationship with the land and growing plants.

Find out more

For more information about available plots, please visit: https://www.woodley.gov.uk/parks-facilities/allotments or call 0118 9690356. 

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waste-collections

Changes to waste collections

From Wednesday 10th August to Friday 12th August, Wokingham Borough Council waste and recycling collections will start an hour earlier at 5:30am, in order to protect the crew during the heatwave.

Please put your waste and recycling out the night before your collection day to avoid being missed.

Thank you for your cooperation in supporting the team.

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love parks Woodford Park

Woodford Park

Love Parks – Green Flag award, Rotary Garden, Garden of Remembrance, Memorial Ground and the Friends of Woodford Park

We are delighted to be taking part in Keep Britain Tidy’s #LoveParks campaign. Today we celebrate Woodford Park’s Green Flag status for the fifth year running, as well as the Garden of Remembrance, the Memorial Ground, the lake and the Rotary Garden in Woodford Park. 

We’d like to thank our fantastic team for all the work they do in the park, as well as the Friends of Woodford Park and all the volunteers.

Improvements to the park

We are delighted that Woodford Park has been awarded Green Flag status for the fifth year running and we are very proud of the work that has been done to improve the park. 

These include:

  • New play area
  • Skate park
  • War memorial and civic space
  • Memorial gates
  • Lake refurbishment
  • New pathways
  • Rotary Garden
  • Friends Group Gardens
  • 3G pitch
  • Works to improve land drainage.

We have more plans to improve the area, which include:

  • Knee rail fencing replacement
  • Extending pathway near Garden of Remembrance
  • Replacing timber planters 
  • Creating more shrub bed areas
  • Continue improving the biodiversity and planting around the lake
  • Creating more bug habitat
  • New seating 
  • Tree planting
  • New rose garden – more being added all the time
  • Create a nature trail with informative signage around the park 
  • Look at improving the drainage in areas prone to flooding.

Climate change facts about the park

We are very keen to develop and maintain climate opportunities to achieve carbon neutral status by 2030. These include:

  • Wild margins around the sports pitches
  • Wildlife habitat around the lake
  • Rainwater harvesting for use in the park
  • Solar panels on park buildings.

Tell us what you love about this park…

How you can help: 

  • Take your litter home
  • Pick up dog poop
  • Report any issues to us
  • Tell us how it can be improved

Email: admin@woodley.gov.uk Call: 0118 9690356 

love parks week how you can help

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memorial plaque for David stares

Sensory garden memorial

Plaque unveiled at ceremony to honour the late Cllr David Stares

The sensory garden in the new play area at Woodford Park was planted in Cllr David Stare’s memory and a plaque commemorating David was unveiled today by the Woodley Town Mayor, Cllr Janet Sartorel.

Cllr David Stares was chairman of the Leisure Services Committee when the new play area in Woodford Park was first suggested and was at the forefront of driving the project forward. 

The event was attended by his family, councillors, local residents and members of the running club Reading Roadrunners of which David and his wife Diane were members.

Cllr Janet Sartorel unveiling the plaque

“David was kind and caring and always wanted to do the very best for the local residents of Woodley. He would have been delighted to see so many happy children playing in the new play area. I am honoured to unveil the plaque, dedicating the sensory garden to David,” said Janet. 

David and his wife Diane were a huge part of Reading Roadrunners and were always helpful, working together to raise money for charities, volunteering to help,” said one Reading Roadrunners member.

Reading Roadrunners’ members

“David was always happy to help. I can remember us working together as marshals at the London Olympics 10 years ago for the men’s and women’s marathons and road cycling events. It was a memorable time and an example of how David was always happy to volunteer,” said Carl Woffington, Reading Roadrunner member. 

David Stares marshalling at the 2012 Olympics

“I’d like to thank everyone who came today to commemorate David. It was a pleasure to work with him and it is especially touching to have a permanent memorial for him in the play area that he was so instrumental in getting off the ground. He has left a wonderful legacy for the residents of Woodley,” said Woodley Town Council leader, Cllr Keith Baker. 

Cllr Janet Sartorel with David’s family

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love parks week Woodford Park play area

Woodford Park

Love Parks – Woodford Park play area, Queen’s Green Canopy & sensory garden

We are delighted to be taking part in Keep Britain Tidy’s #LoveParks campaign. Today we celebrate the new Woodford Park play area, the Queen’s Green Canopy and the sensory garden, which is dedicated to the late Cllr David Stares.

The new play area was officially opened in June this year by the Woodley Town Mayor and was designed specifically with inclusivity in mind. It includes a double cableway, a sensory area, a wheelchair accessible play mound, an agility trail, a 7m tall canopy trail, seven types of swings and much more. 

New play area

We have also received a certificate offsetting our carbon footprint in the making and installation of the park, which is in line with our climate change policy to be carbon neutral by 2030. 

Cllr David Stares was chairman of the Leisure Services Committee when the new play area was first suggested and was at the forefront of driving the project forward. The sensory garden was planted in his memory and a plaque commemorating Cllr Stares was unveiled today by the Woodley Town Mayor, Cllr Janet Sartorel.

Sensory Garden

The play area also contains our Jubilee Tree planted for the Queen’s Canopy and Jubilee Stones display decorated by local children to commemorate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Queen’s Canopy Platinum Jubilee Tree

We are delighted that this play area is now always full of the sound of laughter from children enjoying the equipment. 

Tell us what you love about this park…

How you can help: 

  • Take your litter home
  • Pick up dog poop
  • Report any issues to us
  • Tell us how it can be improved

Email: admin@woodley.gov.uk Call: 0118 9690356 

love parks week how you can help

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Woodford Park paddling pool and play area

Woodford Park

Love Parks Week – Woodford Park paddling pool & small play area

We are delighted to be taking part in Keep Britain Tidy’s #LoveParks campaign. Today we celebrate the play area and paddling pool area in Woodford Park, near to Woodford Park Leisure Centre.

Improvements to the park

The play area was installed in 2010, and has been expanded since with toddler play equipment. We are currently exploring ways to improve accessibility to the area and will be improving the sandpit area with new retaining timber and a sub base, as well as developing the landscape areas.

The paddling pool liner and paving have been replaced and it remains a very popular area, complimenting the leisure facilities at the Centre. 

According to a recent survey by YouGov and Keep Britain Tidy, 61% of parents said that one of the reasons they take their child to the park is because it’s free. We’re celebrating #LoveParks because every child deserves access to a high-quality green space. 

Tell us what you love about this park…

How you can help: 

  • Take your litter home
  • Pick up dog poop
  • Report any issues to us
  • Tell us how it can be improved

Email: admin@woodley.gov.uk Call: 0118 9690356 

love parks week how you can help

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Malone Park

Malone Park

Love Parks Week – Malone Park

We are delighted to be taking part in Keep Britain Tidy’s #LoveParks campaign, which returns from 29 July – 5 August. Today we celebrate Malone Park.

Malone Park has two play areas which were previously managed by us under Wokingham Borough Council ownership until 2020, when we took ownership.

Improvements to the park

We have installed new play equipment, replaced all the play area railings and gates, carried out tree maintenance and created a wildlife area, which we will continue to develop over the coming seasons.

We are planning to install pathways to improve accessibility and access to the play area. We will also install knee rail fencing along the road boundaries to prevent unauthorised vehicle access. We will also begin to explore opportunities to improve the accessibility of play equipment provided at the site.

Climate change facts about the park

We are increasing opportunities for wildlife to thrive through un-mowed areas and wildflower planting.

Tell us what you love about this park…

How you can help: 

  • Take your litter home
  • Pick up dog poop
  • Report any issues to us
  • Tell us how it can be improved.

Email: admin@woodley.gov.uk Call: 0118 9690356 

love parks week how you can help

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police incident

Incident at Woodford Park

Statement from Woodley Town Council

Part of Woodford Park, near the Garden of Remembrance, is closed off this morning due to a tragic incident and current police investigation. There is no access to the park via the track from Western Avenue until the area has been reopened.

Our thoughts are with the man’s family.

Statement from Thames Valley Police

We are currently dealing with an unexplained but non-suspicious death in Woodford Park, Woodley. Please avoid the area but be assured there is no wider threat to the public. There will be an increased police presence in the area throughout the day.The 32-year-old man’s next of kin are aware and are being supported by officers. A file will be prepared for the coroner. Thank you for your patience.

Please follow TVP Reading online for more information: https://www.facebook.com/TVPReading

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love parks week Wheble park

Wheble Park

Love Parks Week – Wheble Park

We are delighted to be taking part in Keep Britain Tidy’s #LoveParks campaign, which returns from 29 July – 5 August.

Today we celebrate Wheble Park.

Wheble Park, which is leased from Reading Borough Council, is a small grass park with a play area and a small multi-sport wall. 

Improvements to the park

Since managing Wheble Park, we installed new play equipment several years ago, including a small multi-play area and basketball hoop. 

We are planning to provide a tarmac hardstanding area to improve the sports wall.

Climate change facts about the park

Wild margins have been left to encourage wild plants and insects.

Parks provide a breath of fresh air for kids and parents alike and we are pleased that this area is well used by local residents. According to a recent survey from Keep Britain Tidy and YouGov, 68% of parents say they take their child to the park to burn off energy.

Tell us what you love about Bulmershe Park…

How you can help: 

  • Take your litter home
  • Pick up dog poop
  • Report any issues to us
  • Tell us how it can be improved

Email: admin@woodley.gov.uk Call: 0118 9690356 

love parks week how you can help

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