2 | NEWS
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US Due to the coronavirus, our offices are closed to the public. The best way to contact us is by emailing us Email news@wokinghampaper.co.uk
Newsroom: 0118 327 2662 Advertising: 0118 327 2662 Write to: Wokingham.Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS Editor • Phil Creighton Reporters • Jess Warren, Charlotte King Sports reporter • Andy Preston Graphic designer • Charlotte Simpson
From the editor Throughout this new lockdown. Wokingham.Today will continue to publish every week, just as we did during the spring. However, with limited sport or arts events taking place, we will be producing slightly smaller papers as a result, and thank you for your understanding during this time. We thank also our advertisers who are sticking with us through these strange and difficult days. We are making every effort to ensure that your favourite local newspaper is available to you in printed form throughout the lockdown – you will be able to buy Wokingham.Today from all good supermarkets, newsagents and petrol stations as normal. They are essential retailers and we, after all, are essential reading. There is also a digital version of the paper, which will be available on Friday evenings. And our website is updated seven days a week. At times like this, it is important that the community has a local voice and we are proud to be yours. The best way for you to support us – lockdown or not – is to buy a copy each week. Thank you for your support. THE Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation. If you have a complaint about a Wokingham Paper Ltd publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance email: pcreighton@wokingham.today, or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.
To advertise email advertising@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, November 12, 2020
Council objects to planning plan A PROPOSAL from the government to shake-up the planning system has been opposed by Wokingham Borough Council. The consultation has now closed, but before it did, council leader John Halsall sent off the borough’s objections. The council argues that the Planning For The Future white paper would “fundamentally” change the way the planning system operates, and see a one-size-fits-all national system introduced that would frontload public consultation and detailed assessments to produce faster local plans. But Wokingham Borough Council feels that the Government is looking towards the wrong target. “The Government has committed to building 300,000 new homes per year across England,” said council leader John Halsall. “As that is not happening, the planning system is being blamed. “The planning system is complicated and cumbersome, but councils do not, in the main, build houses. Developers do and will only build when it’s profitable for them to do so. The government’s proposed changes do not address that.” He lodged his objection during an individual executive member decision meeting, which was made on Tuesday, October 27. Joining him in disagreeing with the white paper was Cllr Wayne Smith, Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for planning and enforcement. He said: “If these proposals go through as they currently are, they would do lasting damage to Wokingham borough. “They would take away so much of our ability to plan growth where it makes sense locally – to put the right homes in the right places – and standardise those powers across the country. “That means that we would be following the same rules for places as diverse as a busy London borough
that is fully built out, a rural district that is all countryside and a coastal area that is a tourist destination. “These places are all so different and we need to be able to make decisions about our future at a local level.” It follows the council’s objection to government’s other ‘changes to the planning system’ proposals last month – which outlined plans to see Wokingham take double the number of homes built in the borough each year to 1,635. The council argued that the Government’s ideas to boost housing would not compel developers to build more homes or speed up build rates because this would drive down prices and it is not in their interests to do so. “We have already objected to the calculation that would more than double the number of houses we need to build in the borough every year and now we are objecting to the other proposals which would reduce our ability to manage development,” Cllr Halsall said. “We currently have one of the highest community infrastructure levy rates which means that developers pay for the infrastructure their new communities need – the roads, schools, shops, parks and open spaces, the sports facilities and community centres. “The government is proposing to set that levy nationally, which would almost certainly result in a significantly lower rate, which would render us powerless to make developers pay for necessary infrastructure.” Cllr Smith added: “We would also end up with far fewer affordable houses. We make developers have on average about 35% of what they build as affordable, which has made such a difference to helping our residents climb onto the housing ladder. “The proposals reduce what we could achieve locally.”
From left: Adrian Hansel, Charlie Kristensen, Jacqueline Hughes at Auburn Jam Music preparing for the launch of the youngster’s new single
Charlie ready to take on the hit parade By CHARLOTTE KING cking@wokingham.today A BOY from Arborfield who won the hearts of the nation after launching the #CheerUpCharlie initiative is taking his anti-bullying campaign to the next level.
Charlie Kristensen is joining forces with the West End to release a charity fundraising single for National Anti-Bullying Week. The 10-year-old launched the #CheerUpCharlie campaign last year with the help of his teacher after being bullied for his love of musical theatre. And now he’s working with a number of stars to release the single You Will Be Found, which is all about finding the courage to be yourself.
And it is in aid of The Diana Award, to raise awareness of the charity’s anti-bullying work. Those joining Charlie on the single include Wendi Peters from Coronation Street and Matthew Croke from Aladdin, and casts from a variety of West End shows including Wicked, Hamilton, and Annie are set to feature in the music video, offering messages of support to those experiencing bullying. “The stars are like my family,” Charlie said. “The theatre is my tribe. It’s where I belong.” The single will be released on Sunday, November 15 to kickstart National Anti-Bullying Week which runs from Monday, November 16 until Friday, November 20.
FAMILY NOTICES WWW.ABWALKER.CO.UK
John WITHERS Beloved husband of May, passed away on 6th November 2020 aged 74 years. Much loved father of Martin, Philip & Debbie & grandfather of Duncan, William, Max, Harry & Hugo. He will be sadly missed.
