Latest advice and information as at 5 March 2020
Please stay up to date on our dedicated Coronavirus Page
Please use the following links;
The following information and advice has been issued by Wokingham Borough Council.
Follow the Public Health England advice to:
Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently using soap and water – this is the best way to kill the virus.
Catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue, and then throw it away.
If you have questions about coronavirus, Covid-19 and your health – such as what the symptoms are and how to stop it spreading – then you should refer to the NHS website for information.
If you have questions about the situation – such as the number of cases and where they are, and what countries are affected – then you should refer to the Public Health England (PHE) website for information.
We’ve received a number of questions about what it means if you have had contact with someone who is then required to be self-isolating. Here’s an update from David Munday, the lead Public Health Consultant for Berkshire:
“Covid-19 is like most coronaviruses and we think primarily spreads from person to person via respiratory droplets, for example when someone coughs or sneezes. You catch it from someone who is showing symptoms. That’s why the most important advice is to catch your cough or sneeze in a tissue, and to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.”
“Self-isolating is another word for quarantine. It means staying in-doors and away from other people to avoid spreading the virus. You only need to self-isolate if you have been in contact with someone who is confirmed to have Covid-19 and have been told to by Public Health England or the NHS. You don’t need to self-isolate if you have been in contact with someone else who had contact with the confirmed case. For example, Willow Bank Infant School had a confirmed case. Staff and children who were in contact with the person have been asked to self-isolate. But if you visited the school, played with other children or talked to a parent – even if they had contact with the confirmed case – you don’t need to self-isolate.”
Summary
Someone has a confirmed case of Covid-19 – Isolated in hospital and treated
Someone had contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 while that person was having symptoms – PHE will assess how much contact there was and ask the person to self-isolate / monitor closely for symptoms.
Someone had contact with a person who in turn has had contact with a confirmed case (but has no symptoms and is not a confirmed case themselves) – No action needed – no contact with a confirmed case
Rest of population – No action needed – no contact with a confirmed case
At the Full Council Meeting on Tuesday 1 October, the following motion was adopted:
“This Council notes that:
This Council therefore:
Gregor Murray, Wokingham Borough Council Executive Member for Climate Emergency spoke of the Borough Council’s plans to address climate change and work in partnership with town and parish councils. Woodley Town Council will work with Wokingham Borough Council as part of a cross-party working group, beginning with the formation of an action plan over the next six months.
Meanwhile, Woodley Town Council will also continue its commitment to climate change through its current campaigns and initiatives.
Several grants were approved at the recent Strategy & Resources meeting, held at the Oakwood Centre on Tuesday 21st November.
Community grants are awarded to community groups or organisations either based in or supporting residents of Woodley, to fund one-off costs such as specific projects or purchases.
The following grants of £350 each were awarded to:
To purchase additional litter picking equipment for volunteers.
You can find out more about WASP on its Facebook page.
To fund material required for the running of four cluster projects.
To pay towards qualifications, training courses and CPD for parent volunteers.
You can find out more about the club on its website.
To pay towards a new printer to allow the administration of DBS checks in-house.
Please email woodleyvolunteers@hotmail.co.uk for more information about the support it provides.
To pay towards the cost of items included in gift bags provided to individuals going through chemotherapy treatment following a diagnosis of breast cancer.
You can find out more about the charity on its website.
Youth grants are awarded to organisations to assist and facilitate projects that reach, engage and support young people (those aged 21 and under) in Woodley.
The following grants were awarded to:
£2,500
To pay towards the continued use of Reading Sports Park for matches and Woodford Park Leisure Centre for training; providing rookie days, advertising and engaging with local schools, colleges, universities, clubs and community centre; to purchase new equipment; to provide transport to/from away matches.
You can find out more about the club on its website.
£2,500
To pay towards the running of the Teen W&RD project in 2024.
You can find out more about the charity on its website.
Applications for our Annual Grants are still open and close on 15th December.
Annual grants are available for fully constituted ‘not for profit’ organisations either based in or supporting residents of Woodley, to fund annual running costs or specific projects.
Find out more HERE.
Wokingham Borough Council is inviting residents to give their views on the second stage of a proposed new cycling and walking link between Wokingham town centre and Winnersh, this time covering a 270m section of the A329 Reading Road from Emmbrook Road to Mill Close.
The survey is open until Thursday, 21 December on this part of the route, which the council hopes to build along a 1.6-mile (2.5km) stretch of the A329 if external funding is available. This would support its ongoing efforts to encourage sustainable travel and address the climate emergency.
This second phase, incorporating the Woosehill Spine Road junction, could include the installation of toucan crossings to help pedestrians and cyclists to cross the roundabout safely and more conveniently, without needing to use the existing subway.
Design work is being paid for through the Government’s Active Travel Fund. Construction, which is subject to residents’ views, would be funded by further external grants and contributions from housing developers. No funding is confirmed yet, but the council is looking for opportunities.
The overall goal is for a better, safer cycling and walking route along both sides of the A329 between Sadler’s Lane at Winnersh, near the M4 overbridge and petrol station, and the western end of Broad Street in Wokingham town centre.
It would have a one-way cycle track, separated from both the road and the pavement, plus safer junctions at side roads with raised crossings to help pedestrians and give cyclists priority along with new toucan crossings. Bus stops would also be separated from cycle traffic.
The A329 would remain two-way for motor traffic, but the speed limit would be reduced from 40mph to 30mph to make it safer for everyone.
The scheme is going forward with Wokingham Town Council and Winnersh Parish Council’s guidance and will help meet the goals of the council’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). This long-term, high-level vision strategy was extensively consulted on, then adopted in March 2023.
Earlier this autumn, residents’ views were sought on the first phase between Sadler’s Lane and Emmbrook Road. A total of 486 people responded, mostly those living near the area, including 279 (57.4 per cent) expressing support and 52 people (10.7 per cent) either neutral or uncertain.
Some 74 people either expressed concern about the design or suggested amendments, and these comments will be passed to the designer for consideration in the next stages. To view the second phase plans and give feedback, visit engage.wokingham.gov.uk.
Cllr Paul Fishwick, executive member for active travel, transport and highways, said: “We’re pleased that so many people gave their views on the first phase of this project and hope this will continue.
“Given that most short commutes under 5km (three miles) are made by car, we need to provide people with a sustainable alternative and want to be sure our proposal will be helpful.
“We know from consulting on the LCWIP that there are concerns about personal safety and traffic speeds in this area, so it’s important to remove any barriers that deter people from travelling in a far healthier and less polluting way.
“This is just one of many proposals to reduce air pollution and lower carbon emissions to meet our climate commitments, and we promise to keep consulting our residents as these move forward.”
There will be further consultation on the remaining two phases, with the third continuing eastwards until just before Station Approach and the fourth ending at the western end of Broad Street.
This will be carried out as soon as possible, and all comments will be considered before the designs are finalised and the next steps decided.
Anyone who might be spending Christmas Day alone can get help from the Link Visiting Scheme.
They’ll be offering a traditional Christmas dinner on 25 December at a local venue in the borough, with people to talk too and a gift of treats. Open to anyone who might be spending the day alone:
The Cowshed’s Christmas project aims to provide children with a memorable and joyous holiday experience.
Each sack will be filled with approximately five thoughtfully selected presents, a book, stocking fillers, and a delicious selection pack of treats. All gifts will be provided wrapped and in fabric sacks made by the Cowshed’s Craft Group Volunteers.
Make a Christmas sack referral to the Cowshed on its website. If you have any questions contact christmas@thecowshed.org
A community Christmas project brought to you by First Days Children’s Charity, SHARE Wokingham, Wokingham Foodbank and other local charities and Christas.
A Christmas Presence helps Wokingham Borough families which cannot afford gifts for their children or Christmas food items.
The teams will be transforming the Elevate Centre in Denmark Street into a Christmas Grotto, and setting up a ‘shop’ where parents/carers are invited to come and choose exactly what they know their children will love.
Anyone struggling to afford everything they need for Christmas can request help.
Anyone who works with people who may need this help, can apply on their behalf. Please ensure that the resident knows you are passing on their contact details and has given permission for you to share their details.
Wokingham Foodbank will be:
If you need help before Christmas, check the help with food page in Wokingham Brough Council‘s cost of living help hub.
Wokingham Salvation Army (RG40 2HD) services are operating as normal during the festive period:
Anyone needing help between Christmas and New Year can visit between 10am and 12 noon on 29 December.
CLASP will be running a full December timetable for people with learning disabilities, full of festive events and fun.
Check the what’s on information on the CLASP website for full timetables.
Free bus travel when you get on a most stops in the borough on Saturdays in the run up to Christmas:
