Children from six schools in the Wokingham Borough are attending the Young Interpreters: Leaders of equality and respect conference next Tuesday (November 12) from 9.30am to 3pm.
Many are bilingual and have been trained to support their peers who are learning English as an additional language. They also take the lead in their schools in celebrating language and cultural diversity. The aim of this conference is to empower these children to develop their leadership roles in their schools.
The conference has an anti-racism theme, with workshops being delivered by national organisation Show Racism the Red Card, and award winning Slough-based Aik Saath. The day will end with a Q&A session to a panel which, it is hoped, will include a player from Reading FC.
November 9, 2013 | editor
Management of three of Wokingham Borough Council’s leisure centres will remain with the Community Sport and Leisure Trust (C-Salt) supported by Leisure Connection until 2018, the council’s decision-making executive agreed on October 31.
Executive members approved the recommendation to extend C-Salt’s management contract for three years, after hearing of the leisure improvements and benefits being enjoyed by local residents and savings to the public purse under the current agreement.
The contract extension – it was due to finish in May 2015 – will also mean additional investment by C-Salt for the centres including improved changing facilities, new studio and spinning space and new water features at two swimming pools.
The centres Loddon Valley, St Crispin’s and the Carnival Pool provide affordable leisure activities which support the priorities in the borough’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
November 2, 2013 | editor
Plans to ensure residents, shoppers, workers and businesses in Wokingham town centre have the parking spaces they need were discussed by Wokingham Borough Council’s decision-making executive on October 31.
Executive members approved the Wokingham Town Centre Car Park Strategy, which will now go out to public consultation so that people can feed back into the proposals.
The strategy sets out how the borough council hopes to rationalise existing town centre parking during the next 13 years to meet a population growth across the borough, and ensure it powers the town’s economic health.
The consultation starts on November 1 and will run for six weeks. Parishes and town councils will be contacted directly.
The public can lodge comments and feedback by email to [email protected],
November 1, 2013 | editor
From Monday October 28 to Friday November 1, between 10am to 4pm, people of all ages can try their hand at carving timber, peeling bark, cleaving chestnut poles and assembling wood structures under the expert tuition of Touch Wood Enterprises.
Davies White Landscape Architects and Wokingham Borough Council are working together to create a new nature play space at Dinton Pastures, and it’s is currently being built using many of the skills people will be able to try their hands at.
The free sessions last approximately one hour and will be supervised by qualified and trained carpenters. Those attending are advised to wear sturdy boots and suitable clothing, everything else will be provided.
October 20, 2013 | editor
Over 60s in the Wokingham Borough can take advantage of free swimming and aqua aerobics sessions until the end of March, 2014, just by showing their Wokingham Borough library card.
Free swimming is available for over 60s until Monday March 31, 2014 at Carnival Pool in Wokingham, Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley and Bulmershe Leisure Centre in Woodley during specific sessions.
The scheme is a partnership between Wokingham Borough Council, C-Salt and Woodley Town Council and aims to make sure that more older people in the Wokingham Borough are able to reap the physical and emotional benefits of exercise. There will also be an opportunity after each session to enjoy a free cup of tea or coffee and take time to socialise.
To participate, over 60s will need to be a Wokingham Borough resident and show their own Wokingham Borough library card. If they do not already have one they simply need to visit any Wokingham Borough library, complete an application form and provide ID to show their address.
For further information on the scheme, visit the free swimming page or call (0118) 974 6000.
October 13, 2013 | editor
Work started on September 30 creating from Reading Road a temporary access for the construction machinery and vehicles needed to build the new station link road scheme in Wokingham.
The road is the vital element in the multi-million pound scheme to transform the town’s train station into a 21st century travel centre, ease local traffic congestion and make the route safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Wokingham Borough Council is creating this new highway between Reading and Wellington Roads. Network Rail and South West Trains are redeveloping the station, which is due to be opened to passengers in the next few weeks in advance of its official opening in November.
Preparation of the station link road site for the main construction works has been ongoing for months, and has now finished.
The borough council and its contractor are now finalising plans to minimise as much as possible traffic and noise disruption for local residents and motorists when the main works start.
Following completion of the temporary access onto Reading Road, work will begin on the northern section of the link road starting with earthworks and drainage.
Construction of the new signal junction onto Reading Road is expected to start immediately after Christmas. The southern section of the link road will be finished next spring.
The final element of work – a new signal junction at Station Road and Wellington Road – will start next summer. The entire scheme is due to be finished by the autumn.
October 5, 2013 | editor
From September 30 a new football programme called Kickz, aimed at young people, is starting at different locations across the Wokingham Borough.
The Kickz initiative, for young people aged 11 to 19-years-old, has been set up in partnership with the Premier League, Reading Football Club and Wokingham Borough Council and offers free football sessions with qualified instructors.
The project aims to reduce anti-social behaviour by creating safer, stronger, more respectful communities through the development of young people’s potential. The free sessions run for 48 weeks of the year across the Wokingham Borough.
Under 16s need parent’s consent.
For more information about the scheme contact the Wokingham Borough Council sports development team on (0118) 974 6264.
September 26, 2013 | editor
Taking place at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre, on October 1, from 10am to 3pm, residents will be able to take part in the following activities for FREE.
Various exercise sessions – Archery, Tai-Chi and Fit Steps
Arts and crafts workshops
A market place full of useful information
Health checks
Free swimming (from 12noon to 4pm)
A free lunch will also be provided!
Booking isn’t essential but will confirm your place in the taster sessions. Please download the booking form (PDF document) and return it to Nicola Hinde, Public Health Department, Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End, Wokingham, Berks, RG40 1BN.
Anyone who requires further information, or would like help with transport to this event, can contact Nicola Hinde on (0118) 908 8195 or email: [email protected].
September 17, 2013 | editor
17 Wokingham drivers were caught not wearing a seatbelt by Wokingham Borough Council’s road safety team supported Tispol’s Europe-wide seatbelt enforcement campaign, during a split four hour operation, along with seven mobile phone offences. Fixed penalty notices were handed out by road safety constable Dawn Seston and a team of neighbourhood officers. The fines for both these offences have recently been increased to £100.
Wokingham Borough Council’s road safety officer Julie Pillai said: “Wearing seatbelts saves lives and people who don’t wear them risk death or serious injury, not just for themselves but for other passengers in the vehicle. In a collision at 30mph, if you are unrestrained, your body will hit anything in front of you with a force equivalent to 30 to 60 times your own body weight.”
Inspector Greg Elphick, from Thames Valley Police, said: “These tickets included two of the fourth highest risk factors for road deaths – using phone while driving and not wearing a seat belt. The others are excess speed and drink driving.”
September 17, 2013 | editor
Wokingham Borough Council is proposing two new road routes to reduce congestion and serve the major developments coming to Arborfield and North Wokingham – and has launched consultations to get the views of as many residents as possible on them.
The Arborfield Cross Relief Road will provide a by-pass for Arborfield Cross, which is heavily congested during rush hour, and will also help to minimise the impact of the homes and facilities due to be built at Arborfield Garrison and around Shinfield, Spencers Wood and Three Mile Cross (the Arborfield and South of the M4 Strategic Development Locations). The North Wokingham Distributor Road will serve the homes and facilities due to be built north of the town and ensure congestion on the local road network does not increase.
The borough council has sent out more than 25,000 postcards to residents notifying them of the consultation details and is also using social media to encourage involvement.
Comments on the proposals can be made until Friday November 8. Exhibition boards setting out the road route options (the route that has been recommended by a technical study commissioned by Wokingham Borough Council and some alternatives that are also being considered) will be on display during the consultation:
Henry Street Garden Centre for the Arborfield Cross Relief Road – during opening hours until Sunday November 3
Wokingham Library, Denmark Street for the North Wokingham Distributor Road – during opening hours until Saturday November 2
Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham for both roads – from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday until Friday November 1
Details of the road routes and the consultation questionnaire are available on the Arborfield Cross Relief Road and North Wokingham Distributor Road website pages. Comments and questions can be sent to [email protected] and [email protected]
September 11, 2013 | editor
