COVERING WOKINGHAM, FINCHAMPSTEAD, EARLEY, WINNERSH, SHINFIELD, WOODLEY, TWYFORD & SURROUNDING AREAS
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Thursday, March 4, 2021 No. 303
DON’T HAVE A PICNIC IN THE PARK WARNING
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YOUR BIG VALUE READ
By SUE CORCORAN news@wokingham.today POPULAR Dinton Pastures country park has pleaded with visitors to obey Covid socialising rules – which they say were broken last weekend when it was so sunny.
“Please don’t come to the country parks to meet large groups of people for recreation,” said a message from Wokingham Borough Council on social media. “The country park was busy this weekend and a few people appeared to think that socialising with others from outside their household was allowed. “We get it, we really do. The sun was shining, it was a perfect picnic weekend and it’s been a very long time since we’ve all met up with our friends and extended family, but we need to have some resolve for just a little longer.” Dinton’s overflow car park will stay closed and a play park ticketing system will be in place until further notice. Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “The weather was lovely last weekend and many residents took advantage by going out to all of our outdoor spaces, particularly our country parks, Dinton and California. “The vast majority followed the Covid-19 social distancing rules and guidance while doing so but there were incidents across the borough where residents met in groups which is obviously unsafe at present. “I would urge all visitors to follow the social distancing rules to keep everyone safe and well”. He added: “Dinton Pastures itself was actually well-patrolled by marshals and countryside services colleagues and, with the play area booking system in place, over-flow car parks closed and parking restrictions in place, the situation was kept under control.”
HAS BANKSY SPENT TIME IN GAOL? P14 ANGUISH AS PUPILS MISS OUT ON SCHOOL PLACES P8
Daff’s life!
Four-year-old Oliver Moor, who cycles past the Dinton Pastures wild daffodils on his way home to Winnersh from the park’s Muddy Ducks Nursery, takes times to enjoy the blooming lovely display – full story page 17 Picture: Sue Corcoran
HEALTHIEST PLACE IN ENGLAND By JESS WARREN news@wokingham.today
WOKINGHAM is the healthiest place to live in England according to a new survey of the country’s local authorities.
Government survey puts borough on top
Call us today for your valuation on 0118 978 0777
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) Health Index Data measured the health of the nation in a holistic way for the first time and the borough tops the table for healthy residents, lives and places. England’s health index is 99.7 – but Wokingham is 110.1. Leader of the borough council, Cllr John Halsall, said the score was great news for Wokingham. � Continued on page 11
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SCHOOL’S HALF- P2 TERM CHALLENGE ROUND THE WORLD
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Guildford Crown Court gave Paul Neale an eight-year jail sentence and a Serious Crime Prevention Order after pleading guilty to multiple drug offences. The 35-year-old of Denmark Street was sentenced on Thursday, February 24. He had been arrested on Wednesday, December 23, following a drugs warrant in Blackwater. While conducting a search, officers found a stash of class A and class B drugs including cannabis, ecstasy (MDMA) and cocaine. It was estimated to have a street value of £100,000. Officers also found a large amount of drug paraphernalia including packaging, scales and mobile phones, as well as £700 in cash. Neale was arrested and charged with conspiracy to supply class A, conspiracy to supply class B, two counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and two counts of possession with intent to supply class B drugs. After the sentencing, Detective Constable Alex Sarakinis, from Surrey Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, said: “Serious Crime Prevention Orders are not issued very often and the fact that Neale has been issued with this, as well as a significant prison sentence, highlights
JAILED: Paul Neale
the severity of his offending. “The order will give us the leverage we need to ensure his activities are curtailed once he is released from prison.” DC Sarakinis said that this included preventing Neale from owning more than one mobile, being in possession of more than £1,000 in cash and communicating with any co-conspirators. He must also notify Surrey Police of his home address. “These orders are put in place to prevent reoffending following an individual’s release from prison,” DC Sarakinis added, saying the Serious Crime Prevention Order remains in place for five years from his release date. “This case also demonstrates our determination to disrupt the supply of drugs in our local communities and ensure that those dealing drugs are brought to justice.”
£1.1 million will help police tackle root cause of serious violence offences WOKINGHAM.TODAY Family Notices
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A WOKINGHAM man is behind bars after being caught with £100,000 worth of class A and B drugs.
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£100,000 drug haul sees man given eight-year sentence
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 4, 2021
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MORE THAN £1 million is being pushed into solving the root cause of serious violence, thanks to the Home Office. The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Thames Valley will receive an additional £1,160,000 to support the work of the Violence Reduction Unit — which helps to prevent individuals from becoming involved in serious violence in the region. The VRU aims to bring a coordinated response, involving local authorities, health, education, policing, third sector organisations and members of the community to understand the root causes of serious violence. Matthew Barber, the Conservative candidate in the forthcoming PCC elections, said: “The VRU does vital work that is helping to cut serious violence and ultimately save lives. “I am delighted that the Home Office is continuing to fund the work of the Violence Reduction Unit, and we will ensure that this extra money goes to support services that will reduce crime and violence in our communities.” He said the unit provides “wide-
reaching benefits” to communities and is part of the strategic priorities for policing in the area. Superintendent Stan Gilmour, director of the Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit, said: “We work with and for our communities to tackle the root causes of serious violence by bringing great people together with a common focus on prevention. “The VRU uses the best available data and information to make sure those police officers, staff and partners tackling serious violence know where they need to be present, whom they need to be working with, and how to have the greatest impact.” Announcing the funding to 18 areas, including the Thames Valley, home secretary Priti Patel said the units play a vital role in preventing young people from being “dragged into the horrors of serious violence”. She added: “I will continue to back our police with the resources and powers they need to cut crime and make your community safer.” The VRU looks at violence as a consequence of a range of factors, opposed to not as isolated incidents.
JAILED: Paul Neale
ACTIVE HALF-TERM: Dressing up and enjoying the great outdoors
By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today STUDENTS at a Wokingham primary school raised more than £9,000 in half term to help fund online learning.
Staff at St Teresa’s Catholic Academy set active challenges for pupils and their parents over the week, to replace the usual days out a school holiday would bring. With lockdown limiting activities, the school launched its initiative, Get Active with St Teresa’s to keep the school community healthy — and raised £9,085 in the process. Families set their own personal challenges and even incorporated fancy dress. The children and their families went above and beyond expectations, with some even completing a half marathon. Other challenges included cycling 100km, completing 1000 burpees, a family triathlon, mini Olympics, a 10km (6.2 mile) litter pick.
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IN A BID to help people look after their hearts, this food chain is offering more than just sandwiches. Subway has teamed up with Heart Research UK to offer grants of up to £10,000 to charities across the Thames Valley. Community groups that work to reduce the
Thursday, March 4, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
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ctive challenge for half-term Knife crime fears
sees police step up Woosehill patrols By PHIL CREIGHTON news@wokingham.today KNIFE crime in Woosehill has led to Thames Valley Police stepping up its patrols in the area.
Officers took to social media at the weekend to confirm their intent, promising that investigations into potential offences were ongoing. The force hopes that by increasing the police presence in the area, via both foot patrols and in cars, it would reassure residents that they were taking the concerns of the public seriously. And members of the public can approach those officers patrolling to speak with them. The force has not given any further details of the knife crime incidents, but there has been unconfirmed reports of a mugging in the area last month. They have also been responding to reports of covid breaches and anti-social behaviour. The increasing presence comes after the force stressed its commitment to do everything it could to combat serious violence and knife crime across the entire Thames Valley Police area. Since the start of the year, there have been three murders in the Reading area and a further two in Milton Keynes. Officers said that in each incident the alleged offenders and victims knew each other and knives were used in each case. In addition to the patrols, Thames Valley Police said that it can use a range of measures including knife arches, test purchases, CCTV and knife bins to limit this type of crime, in addition to invoking a Section 60 order, which it uses to enact stop and search powers. Although this is not being considered currently for Woosehill, the force has used it in Reading and also, last autumn, in Crowthorne. A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “A Section 60 is order is only enacted in e x c e p t i o n a l circumstances when a senior police officer believes that serious
helped St Theresa’s pupils raise £9,000 for online learning
Anyone short of ideas was helped out by Wokingham-based personal trainer, Louise Charles from Live Once Fitness, who created daily Joe Wicks-style PE fitness videos. The week of activity caught the attention of Wokingham residents, with multiple fancy dress videos circulating on social media. “I am always very proud of the children’s achievements, but this time they have surpassed themselves with the incredible amount of money they have raised for our school,” headteacher Nikki Peters said. “Our School Association has worked tirelessly during the pandemic and this was a fantastic initiative for families to take part in fun activities together.” The funds will be used to pay for video conferencing, IT equipment and additional laptops for online learning. � For more information, or to donate, visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/ Getactivewithstteresas
for Subway’s healthy grants risk of heart disease are eligible for the duo’s Healthy Heart Grant. The partnership hopes the money can help deliver health initiatives to keep people fit and promote positive mental wellbeing. Kate Bratt-Farrar, chief executive of Heart Research UK, said the charity wants to encourage people up and down the country to make healthier choices. “This grant is available to ensure everyone can benefit from a
healthier, happier and longer life,” she said. “We’re looking for new and innovative projects that really have an impact, especially if they aim to improve the health of at risk or hard to reach communities.” The £10,000 has been raised in Subway stores throughout the South East. The deadline for applications is Monday, March 8. � To apply, visit: heartresearch.org.uk/ healthy-heart-grants
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ON THE BEAT: Thames Valley Police patrolling the Woosehill underpass
violence has taken place or may take place”. Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter, Head of Crime for Thames Valley Police, said: “If people carry knives as weapons, the consequence is that serious injury and sometimes death can be the tragic result. “That is why our officers are continuing to do everything in their power to robustly combat this issue. We will not tolerate these sort of crimes, which put so many people at risk. “We will continue to work with our partners for early intervention and prevention and we will continue to use powers such as stop and search, as well as implementing Section 60 orders whenever we need to. “Our absolute priority is always to keep the public safe and I want people to feel reassured that the Thames Valley remains a safe place.” Anyone who wishes to make a report can call the force on 101, or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or make a report online.
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 4, 2021
CORONAVIRUS LATEST
School’s pandemic efforts recognised in award ceremony By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today STAFF and pupils at Leighton Park School have been recognised for their outreach work and community service in the pandemic.
The Shinfield Road school won the Outstanding Local Community Involvement award, from the Independent Schools’ Association. Headteacher Matthew Judd, congratulated colleague Natasha Coccia, assistant head for her outreach work leading the project. “I offer my heartfelt congratulations to her and all colleagues involved in this area,” he said. “We are hugely proud of what has been achieved.” Last Easter, under the direction of the head of design and technology, the school founded a hub partnership producing PPE for frontline key workers. Bringing together 18 partner schools, three commercial organisations and one university, the Safer Vision hub partnership created and dispatched more than 39,000 face shields at a time of national crisis. They raised £28,000 for materials through GoFundMe, helping roughly 500 organisations that were desperate for vital PPE. Face shields were given out for free to hospitals, hospices, care homes, GP surgeries, pharmacies, adult and elderly care services, schools and councils. Gareth Williams, chief operating officer for Choice Care Homes, who received 1,600 shields from Safer Vision, said: “We all make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give. The school should be very proud of that.” Students and their families supported weekly donations of items for groups struggling in the
pandemic, including hygiene products for Launchpad Reading, food parcels for Whitley Community Development Association (CDA), care packages for Age UK Reading and books and board games for ABC Reading. In June, head of boys’ games, Tim Green, ran an on-campus marathon raising more than £3,000 for the school’s partner charity, Whitley CDA. Trisha Bennett, community development coordinator for Whitley CDA, said working with Leighton Park has been amazing. “They have wrapped their arms around us and found a range of creative ways to support our work with the Whitley community,” she said.
Virus rate rises
New test centre
WOKINGHAM’S coronavirus rate per 100,000 has risen this week, but it remains the lowest in Berkshire. The latest figures for the borough showed the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases per 100,000 residents is 59, up from 54.3 last week. There were eight positive tests recorded on Tuesday, March 3, bringing the total number of infections to 7,866. The figures are slightly higher in neighbouring Reading borough, which has an infection rate of 79.1 per 100,000. However, this is down from 86.5 last week. On Tuesday, Reading reported seven positive cases. Bracknell Forest has seen its rate per 100,000 reduce substantially, too. It is now 62.8, down from 92.2 last week. On Tuesday there were three new cases. Windsor and Maidenhead had seven cases reported that day, and its rate per 100,000 is now 61.4,
WOKINGHAM borough’s third rapid testing centre is set to open next week. Sindlesham Court will become home to the new hub, as the council strives to deliver even more tests to local residents. The lateral flow tests will be free and available to anybody leaving home regularly for work. Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for adult social care and wellbeing, said: “While infection rates are continuing to drop, we know that one in three people who are infected with Covid-19 will not show any symptoms.” He says it is “imperative” residents out and about in the community are tested regularly. “With the roadmap out of lockdown offering hope for many, individual case finding will become even more crucial over the coming months,” he added. “We really do need people who
down from 69.3 last week. West Berkshire recorded four positive cases, and its infection rate has fallen to 64.4, down from 98.5 last week. Slough remains the highest in Berkshire, but its rate per 100,000 decreased this week. It now sits at 154.4, down from last weeks’ 224. It also recorded 13 covid cases on Tuesday. Nationally, the UK reported 6,391 positive tests on Tuesday. The rate of infection per 100,000 has now fallen below 100 at 94.9, down from 119 last week. Sadly, 343 people died on Tuesday, within 28 days of a positive covid test. This is 1,991 over the last seven days. By Monday, nearly 20.5 million people in the UK received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccines. And there are 844,098 people who have received their second dose.
meet the criteria to come in and get tested on a regular basis. That’s twice a week if you’re working fulltime, or once a week if you work part-time.” From Monday, anybody in the same household, childcare bubble or support bubble as somebody working in a school is also eligible for two coronavirus tests per week at one of the council centres. There are also two hubs at Shute End and the Microsoft Campus. “No-one wants to be responsible for passing the virus onto their colleagues, customers, friends, families, or other community members” Cllr Margetts added. “But finding asymptomatic cases can help to keep everyone safe.” Residents are encouraged to visit wherever is most convenient, but should not attend if they display coronavirus symptoms. � For more information, visit: www.wokingham.gov.uk
Back to school … and the buses SCHOOL buses will restart journeys on Monday, as students return to classroom learning. Secondary school students travelling to the Holt, Forest, and Emmbrook schools can use additional school buses on the 202 and 244. Students travelling to Bohunt School can use the 92, 93 and 903. While passenger numbers remain low, the Leopard 3 will not be increasing buses. The additional services are returning, to help students keep to their own school groups during travel – as well as maintaining social distancing measures on the bus. The council has issued advice to help
young people use buses and trains safely. It said anyone over 11 should wear a mask when waiting for, and travelling on the bus or train - unless exempt. They should aim to use an electronic ticket where possible, to avoid touching machines. And students are asked to be patient, and wait 15 minutes past the scheduled pick-up time before reporting buses that haven’t arrived. On school buses, students are advised to fill from the back and leave from the front - and maintain social distancing where possible. The council is encouraging students and staff to walk or cycle to school, if they can.
Cllr UllaKarin Clark, executive member for children’s services, said: “The risk of catching or spreading Covid19 is lower outdoors, making walking and cycling good choices for children and young people; not to mention the health and environmental benefits. “Throughout the pandemic, our aim has always been to keep our residents as safe as possible, and this includes our youngest cohort.” She said teams are continuing to follow safety measures on buses, and said the council will continue to support residents with a safe return to school. � For more information about school buses and public bus and rail services, visit: www.myjourneywokingham.com/bustravel
Lateral tests available for homes AS WOKINGHAM borough families prepare for the return of the school run, the government has announced that applicable households will be able to have covid tests on a twice weekly basis. The lateral flow tests will be available to order and collect from local sites or via workplace testing programmes. Students at secondary school level and above will be tested three times at school before switching
to twice-weekly home tests. Primary School age children will not be tested due to low levels of covid transmission, however they will need to be tested if they show any symptoms of the virus. The Government hopes that the free tests for households will help reduce the spread of coronavirus., particularly as a third of individuals with coronavirus showing no symptoms and are
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potentially spreading it without knowing. The tests take up to 30 minutes to display results, so positive cases can isolate immediately. However, takeup is voluntary and not mandatory. The tests should be ordered and can then be picked up once a slot has been reserved. It is expected that the collection points will be at workplace testing, local authority test sites and a website. Health and Social Care
Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Regular testing of households and childcare support bubbles of primary and secondary school children is another tool we are making available to help keep schools safe. We know that one in three people with Covid-19 don’t have any symptoms, so targeted, regular testing will mean more positive cases are kept out of schools and colleges. Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 should book a test online or by calling 119.
CORONAVIRUS LATEST
Theresa May has her first dose of vaccine FORMER prime minister Theresa May has become one of the latest to receive her first dose of the coronavirus vaccine. On Sunday, it was announced that 20 million people have now received their jab, and that figure includes the resident, who took to social media to inform others. Her post included a photo of her wearing a mask receiving her first dose from Swallowfield GP Debbie Milligan Theresa May, who lives in Sonning and is also MP for Maidenhead, said: “I just had my first Covid-19 jab. It is safe, effective and painless”. She also urged others to make sure they have their dose when their GP gets in touch. “When it’s your turn, please #TakeTheVaccine,” she wrote. “Only by protecting each other can we defeat this virus.” She added: “Thanks to all the brilliant researchers, volunteers, NHS and military personnel for their truly heroic efforts”. Her vaccine comes after the government said it was working with 16 charities to encourage takeup of the jab. The charities will use the combined strength of their networks to reassure people with long-term health conditions about the safety
and effectiveness of the vaccine. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Having the support of the charities who work every day to support the very people we are reaching out to in cohort 6 is a great boost for the rollout which continues to show what we can achieve when we pull together as one. “Their help, encouragement and links with communities next in line for the jab will help make sure everyone can get access to the lifesaving protection the vaccine provides and help protect those with underlying conditions and their carers.” The organisations which have signed up so far to become members of the coalition are: � African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) � Asthma UK � British Heart Foundation � British Liver Trust � British Lung Foundation � Cancer Research UK � Carers UK � Diabetes UK � Epilepsy Action � Kidney Care UK � Lupus UK � MacMillan Cancer Support � Mencap � MS Society � Sickle Cell Society � Terrence Higgins Trust
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Sangoma Tech: Life / work balance – never give personal number, switch phone app off at 5.30
H
HAS WORKING from home thrown your office hours out of the window? If so, fear not, because local tech company Sangoma can help you take back control. The telecoms company, whose European Headquarters are based in Wokingham, has been assisting local businesses for more than 20 years and throughout the pandemic, has been helping employees stay secure while they work. When the country went into lockdown in March 2020, Sangoma quickly realised that people were being told to work from home armed only with their laptop and personal mobile phone. “When lockdown first happened, all the business owners and employers sent their staff home and said ‘get on with it’,” said Simon Horton, VP sales at Sangoma. “But people need to be able to control when they receive calls, IMs and everything else when they’re out of office.” He said helping people work from home with ease is what Sangoma is all about. And to make sure employees are not overworked or handing out personal details like mobile phone numbers, Sangoma’s Switchvox Phone System is here to help. The telecoms company offers an on-premise or cloudbased phone system, from £8 per user per month, which allows employees to answer calls from home on their personal devices, including mobile phones, desktops and headsets. When employers set up a Switchvox subscription,
employees can access an app which allows them to take their office extension with them wherever they go. Not only does it protect personal data because people can use their own mobile phone under their office number, it also lets employees take control of their work-life balance. This is because the app can be turned off when your shift is up, meaning you can step away from work at the end of the day and have that all important down time. “As an employee, the biggest benefit of our Switchvox Phone System is that when 5:30pm comes around, I can just switch off the app and no one is going to call me,” said Shaan Sood, Sangoma’s European marketing manager. “The only people that will call you after that time are your family and friends, and it gives you a real separation from work and home. “All employees should have the ability to mask personal numbers.” But that’s not all Sangoma’s phone system can do. It also allows workers to manage internal communications, including conference calls and instant messaging with employees. And it even gives people power to control what hold music customers listen to, transfer phone calls, and access in queue callback features - and everything is available, for every user, for the same low price.
“You name it, it’s included,” Mr Horton said. “Switchvox brings all communications together under one system.” Looking to the future, he believes Sangoma’s services will be a valuable asset to all local business. “What we’re seeing now is that we’re never going back to what ‘normal’ working was, because both staff and employers have realised they can be productive at home,” Mr Horton explained. “We’re super keen to help those businesses who don’t want to return to the office, and our Switchvox Phone System is the remedy to that.” So, why not give Sangoma a try and master your own work-life balance today? Any businesses within 20 miles of the company’s Wokingham office are eligible for 20% off the company’s Switchvox Phone System. � To claim your discount, contact uksales@sangoma.com or call 01344 269220.
6 | NEWS FOCUS
Families urged to talk about organ donation FAMILIES in Berkshire are being urged to talk about organ donation as part of the Leave Them Certain campaign. It comes as research revealed less than half of adults in England have had the conversation. Last year, the law changed in England, so all adults are seen as willing to donate their organs, unless they opt out or are in one of the excluded groups. The Leave Them Certain campaign aims to highlight the impact not knowing someone’s decision has on the families. In Berkshire, 342,305 people are currently on the NHS Organ Donor Register, with 16 people becoming donors in the last year — but the NHS needs more people to talk with their families about their decision. Many still don’t realise that families will still be approached before any donation goes ahead. Research revealed 27% of people are worried the conversation will upset their family or make them feel uncomfortable. Roughly one in four said they felt they don’t need to tell anyone their decision, with 22% not wanting to talk about their own death. Anthony Clarkson, director of organ and tissue donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “People often tell us that they struggle to find the right time or words to talk about organ donation, unfortunately we see first-hand the impact not knowing has on families when the first time they consider their loved ones wishes around organ donation is when they are seriously ill or have already died. “Talk to your friends, talk to your family. “Even though the law has changed, you can still sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register to provide your family with added reassurance. “Please don’t wait. Have the conversation today.” � For more information, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 4, 2021
Solar plan: ‘It could be the end of cattle farming in Barkham’ By CHARLOTTE KING cking@wokingham.today
END OF AN ERA: These cows may be the last to use arable land in Barkham if plans for a 40-hecatre solar farm is given the goahead Picture: Andrew Lake
A LOCAL farmer is frustrated at Wokingham Borough Council’s plans for a new solar farm, which he said could force him to sell and slaughter his livestock.
Andrew Lake lives on Highbarn Farm, an area of council-owned land in Barkham where the council is planning a 40-hectare solar farm. It revealed its proposals earlier this year, which include installing solar panels and equipment stores on the site, but it has not yet submitted a planning application. Now, Mr Lake has accused the borough council of having “no thought for other people” and said his tenancy has been handled with “disrespect”. However, John Kaiser, councillor for Barkham and deputy leader of Wokingham Borough Council, said the council is “very conscious” of the solar farm’s impact and wants to offer Mr Lake as much leeway as it can.
‘To give us a year to move out is a joke’ Last September, Mr Lake was served notice and given one year to move out, to make way for the proposed development. After living on Highbarn Farm for more than 50 years, he said the council’s approach to his tenancy has been “a joke”. “We’ve been tenant farmers since 1966,” Mr Lake explained. “You would have thought the council would have the decency to tell us the bigger picture of their plans for the site, so we could get ourselves prepared.” The farmer said his 15-year farm business tenancy ran out two years ago. “Since then, we’ve been trying to negotiate a new long-term tenancy [with the council], but they wouldn’t give us one,” he said. “They should have put their cards on the table and given us a heads up of their long-term plan for the site. “We could have started planning how to take our business forward.” Cllr Kaiser said Wokingham Borough Council
wants to offer Mr Lake “flexibility” in regards to the end of his tenancy. “This includes the possible extension of the lease for a further period,” he said. “We are currently engaged with Andrew Lake discussing options, and will continue to work with him throughout this process in order to minimise any impact wherever possible.” Mr Lake has since negotiated with the council to rent the buildings on Highbarn Farm for another year. This will allow the family to house their cattle next winter. “It is very difficult to discuss the council’s plans in the early stage of any project until feasibility studies have been carried out and full consultation has occurred, both of which will inform the outcome of any plans,” Cllr Kaiser added. Mr Lake is also worried that his family will now have to stop farming after it has been their livelihood for over half a century. “We haven’t got anywhere to go,” he explained. “There’s not a property on the market that suits our needs, and that’s not helped by covid or Brexit. “It can take six to eight months to finalise a house these days, let alone finalise a farm which can accommodate the stock and crop we’ve got.” The farmer fears he will have to sell and slaughter his livestock if a property does not appear soon. “We’ve looked after some of these animals for 15 years. We would be gutted,” he added. “They’re part of the family and we know them inside out.”
Why is the council proposing the solar farm? In July last year, Wokingham Borough Council published its Climate Emergency Action Plan Progress Report, which laid out a number of targets to help reduce carbon emissions. To meet Target 12 of the Action Plan, it must build four solar farms across the borough. However, Mr Lake has since questioned Wokingham Borough Council’s priorities when it comes to the climate agenda. “They say they want the solar farm to help the environment, but they shouldn’t sacrifice green space for it,” he said. “They should put solar panels on the new build houses and increase the thermal efficiency of buildings across the borough. “Instead, they’re taking away green fields, which will affect local produce and increase our
food miles which doesn’t make sense.” He said Highbarn Farm is one of the last bits of farmed grassland in the area, and once it's gone, there will be no cattle livestock left in Barkham. “The pandemic has made everybody realise they need local produce, and this goes against everything we’ve learned,” Mr Lake added. “The council just wants the money, and they couldn’t care less where our food comes from.” Sarah Kerr, Lib Dem councillor for Evendons ward, said the solar farm is a “red herring” and Wokingham Liberal Democrats is worried it will not reduce local carbon emissions. “The electricity generated will go into the grid and contribute to the nation’s pool of renewable energy, which will reduce Wokingham’s carbon footprint by only a tiny fraction of a percent,” she said. “It is clearly a good thing to be generating renewable electricity, but we should not underestimate the enormous challenge of achieving carbon neutrality for Wokingham.” Rachell Burgess, Labour councillor for Norreys ward, also said the borough council’s climate emergency plan is “failing”. “It will bring us nowhere near carbon neutrality by 2030 and is severely lacking in scale and ambition, and it doesn’t even add up,” she said. “This solar farm represents a mere 1% carbon saving.” Cllr Burgess said Mr Lake is right to call for solar panels on new homes, but they cannot legally be forced on housebuilders. “This is why we need a Citizens’ Assembly on the Climate Emergency,” she added. “To put residents, and not politicians, in the forefront of decision making and take party politics out of the equation.” Cllr Gregor Murray, executive member for climate emergency at Wokingham Borough Council, said that if approved, the Barkham solar farm will generate “clean renewable energy locally” without impacting the landscape. “It will ease our reliance on fossil fuels and reduce emission of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and other pollutants. “The council has also made the commitment to plant 250,000 trees over the next five years, and we are looking at making new developments net zero carbon.” If approved, Highbarn Farm will be reverted to farmland after 40 years. � Read its Climate Emergency Action Plan here: www.wokingham.gov.uk/council-and-meetings/ open-data/climate-emergency � Next week: a focus on solar power itself
Thursday, March 4, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
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Hurst homes fears By SUE CORCORAN news@wokingham.today ONE man wearing a high viz jacket and using survey equipment has alarmed residents who fear proposals to build on a large field may be on the way.
The field bordered by Tape Lane and Lodge Road in Hurst has been the centre of planning battles in the past. A resident spoke of fears that more than 100 homes could be built on the site. Donkeys, ponies and horses graze the area where the man was spotted at work this week. Villager Lou Robinson said she had spoken to him and gathered he was doing a topographical survey of the land. “We need to be on our toes and prepared for some sort of planning application. Just because we have fought this before and won does not mean we can be complacent now,” she said. A villager says cables used to measure traffic volume connected with a planning application have recently been laid across Lodge Road. At the moment there is no application for the field. Plans in 2008 to build stables and a barn for an equine treatment centre and plans for a mobile home on land at Lodge Road were refused planning permission by Wokingham Borough Council. The applicants, Luff Farms, lost their appeal against the refusal. Nearly 100 people had written objecting to the plans. The Luff Group at Wokingham was asked for a comment on this week’s field activity
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 4, 2021
School expands to meet demand for places By PHIL CREIGHTON and JESS WARREN news@wokingham.today PUPILS expecting to move on up to secondary school have been dealt a blow this week after learning their preferred choice is oversubscribed.
FIELDS: A horse grazing in Hurst Picture: Sue Corcoran
but had not replied as we went to press. Some time ago Wokingham Borough asked landowners and others to suggest areas in the borough for development up to 2036. The Tape Lane/Lodge Road field was suggested for housing, but the council did not include it in the draft plan put out for public consultation last year. The borough council picked out sites for a total of just 15 homes in the village – in Whistley Green and near Hogmoor Lane. However the draft plan is now being reviewed after a proposal to build 15,000 homes at Grazeley was stopped by the Atomic Weapons Establishment evacuation zone extension, Covid-19 and the council failing to get their bid for £252 million for infrastructure. Wanting to identify sites for a fresh draft plan, the council is having master planning done for two
areas (one south of Wokingham and the other between Sindlesham, Arborfield and Shinfield). They’re also reviewing other sites including brownfield areas (previously developed areas). It’s not yet known what sites will be in the new draft plan. Wayne Smith, Wokingham Borough councillor for Hurst and chair of the parish council and village society, said: “Residents will have the opportunity to respond to the consultation (on the new draft plan) in the summer, as they did in February last year to the plan then. “For any site when a planning application comes forward in Hurst, residents can have their say through the normal planning process. “The parish council and the village society would be guided by residents’ views and the planning policies that exist for Hurst.”
Wokingham.Today has learnt that in some cases, Year 6 pupils will be starting lessons this September at their fourth choice school. To help meet demand, one school has taken an increased cohort. And the leader of Wokingham’s Liberal Democrats says that there has been a lack of warning from the council, meaning that the first he heard about it was when distraught parents contacted him. Cllr Lindsay Ferris (Twyford ward) said: “It came to me as an utter surprise. “We need more communication from schools and councils, I know that academy schools have their own entrance criteria, but for distraught parents, it’s a bolt out of the blue. “Children’s Services at Wokingham Borough Council should have said, ‘Yes, we have a problem’ – they must have known about it in advance, and ward councillors should have been made aware. It’s appalling they weren’t.” He said that his ward’s main secondary school, The Piggott, could accept 203 pupils, but turned down 159. Another school, The Bulmershe, had had to turn away 96 pupils. Others had expanded their intake, including The Emmbrook, which took on an additional 75 pupils, but still had to place eight students on a waiting list. Waingels College also expanded its intake, welcoming an additional 30 pupils this year. Yet it still had to put 16 students on a waiting list. Speaking of The Piggott, Cllr Ferris said: “It’s a huge number (to turn away) – a third of people. “There is a problem (with school places) across the borough. It seems
to be a pretty big thing this year, it’s on a massive scale.” He called for an immediate review of places for borough pupils. “We were told there was enough capacity. It’s just not good enough – it’s been kept secret.” Bohunt School Wokingham had to turn down 147 pupils, Maiden Erlegh school turned down 301 students, Oakbank School turned down 16, St Crispins turned down 80 and The Holt turned down 150 pupils. The Forest School accepted 59 pupils, after they were rejected from their first choice – but it did not need to expand its intake to do so. Across the borough, 973 pupils were put on school waiting lists, after not making it into their chosen school. The Emmbrook School said that it has been pleased to work in partnership with the Local Authority to accommodate its request to take a number of additional students this September. It held an online event last night to welcome new families and parents are encouraged to contact the team if they have any questions about transition to secondary school. Nick McSweeney, The Emmbrook’s headteacher, said: “I am proud of how this community has pulled together to support our students through the challenges of the last year. “Our strong focus on pastoral support and academic excellence means that Emmbrook students are
Missed out by just 49 metres NIKKI GREEN’S son missed out on a place at The Piggott School because their home near Twyford Station is 49 metres too far away. Pressure on places at The Piggott had increased for several reasons, she said. “Children who in live in the Piggott catchment but don’t have a sibling there were judged on the radial distance from the school,” she said. “Last year the cut off point was 1.5 miles. This year the cut off point had shrunk to 1.185 miles because of the numbers applying for the Piggott. “My son missed out by living 49 metres too far away. “It shows the difference between the two years. Last year the majority of pupils south of the station would have been included. “I was told there was a decision in November last year to give automatic entry to 15 Crazies Hill primary pupils. “This was after the deadline for applying to schools.”
well prepared to return to face-toface lessons from Monday. “Our priority is to ensure the best possible transition to Year 7 and I am excited that we will be working in partnership with Wellington College to provide an amazing summer school experience for them. “We are looking forward to welcoming all of our new students into The Emmbrook Family.” Wokingham Borough Council said that it contacts parents first on National Offer Day, alerting executive members to the admission offer figures. Its admission and appeals process is published on its website. Cllr UllaKarin Clark, executive member for children’s services, said: “More than 85% of the 2,320 applicants we had for secondary school places were given a place at one of their top two preferred schools. “An increased birth rate for this school year and an increased demand for places at Wokingham borough’s schools saw us handle 7.5% more applications than for 2019-20, making it more challenging to get pupils into their preferred schools. “To help deal with this increased demand a large number of secondary schools have agreed to take on additional pupils where necessary to meet the demand for places within our borough. “However, as parents choose to accept or decline their offers there may be some churn in respect of the admissions offers and in such instances wait lists will be used to fill available spaces.” She added: “If you haven't been offered the school you wanted, you can appeal the decision. Appeals have to be submitted by 30 March 2021 and can be done on the council’s website. We would encourage parents to accept the place offered as this does not prejudice their right of appeal or movement on waiting lists.” This meant she did not have full information available to her when she applied. “Parents this would affect were not informed,” she said. He son has been given a place 3.7 miles away at The Forest School, Winnersh. “I’m putting together an appeal, a lot of other parents are too,” she added. “Children who live further away than my son have got places there because they go to Charvil Primary School. They have automatic entry.” Mike Pearson, father of Samuel in Year 6 at Colleton School, said: “People are furious, absolutely livid. No-one expected this. There is talk of a petition.” Samuel has been given a place at Waingels College, Woodley, instead of Piggott School, where his two close friends had gained places. “I understand that students south of Twyford Station in roads like Broad Hinton and Colleton Drive didn’t get into the Piggott unless they had a sibling already there,” said Mr Pearson. He has set up a Facebook Page for families affected and is trying to clarify details of the admissions process.
Thursday, March 4, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
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The moggy from Mogadishu: Karen’s shadow comes home By CHARLOTTE KING cking@wokingham.today A WINNERSH resident has returned to the borough after an 18-month stint abroad – and she did not come home empty handed.
Karen Lewin has spent the last year-and-a-half working in the British Embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia, where she found a furry friend in need of some medical attention. The civil servant met a stray kitty called Stella shortly after moving away, and said she quickly fell head over heels for her. Last week, after a long and arduous journey, she was reunited with her beloved pet on home soil. “When I arrived in Mogadishu, Stella used to wander around the Embassy where she was being fed and cared for by some of the workers,” Ms Lewin said. “Then she fell pregnant and had kittens, and people stopped feeding her. “A colleague and I questioned what to do, so we agreed to take her into our care.” Ms Lewin said Stella quickly became her shadow, following her around Mogadishu as she worked. “She is a very affectionate cat and loves attention, so she would often come and find me in my pod,” the owner explained. “She also loved to come to
SETTLING IN: Stella has moved from Somalia to Winnersh
meetings, follow me to the bar and to dinner, as well as laundry too.” Ms Lewin said it quickly became clear the cat was in need of some affection. “The British ambassador was also quite fond of her,” she added. As 2021 rolled around, the Winnersh resident said her work in Somalia was due to come to an end. When she began thinking about moving back to the UK, she could not bear the thought of leaving Stella behind. “I always knew it was a risk when I started looking after her that I would fall in love,” Ms Lewin explained.
“She’s quite dependent on me and a very needy cat, so I would have felt so guilty leaving her.” She said Stella also suffers from a medical condition which was very recently diagnosed, and can only be treated in the UK. “Stella has an allergy which gives her lesions and a rash on her tummy,” she explained. “She was only able to get a diagnosis when I sought help from a vet in the UK and sent them pictures of her condition. “She isn’t suffering from anything too terrible, but her problems wouldn’t have improved if she stayed in Mogadishu.”
Magic! Debbie helps firm celebrate fifth anniversary A WARGRAVE-BASED family firm has celebrated its fifth anniversary with a move to larger premises. Lucy Roberts and her Father Dick Goodall founded Active Silver in March 2016. The company produces Colloidal Silver products to help improve health, skin conditions and ailments in people and animals. Starting from home to begin with, the company has grown its natural first aid business ever since. And this week, to mark its birthday, it moved to new premises. Silver is a natural germ killer, and has been widely used throughout history – as far back as Ancient Greece. During the pandemic, Active Silver says that Wokingham residents have been looking for natural antibacterial and antiviral products. As a result, the company expanded its range to include hand cream and an alcohol-free hand steriliser. Staff member, Liz Deacon, said: “Covid-19 definitely brought challenges for the business, not only an increased appetite for natural products, but also in terms of the logistics of managing a small
RAISING A GLASS: Debbie McGee with Lucy Roberts celebrating the fifth anniversary of Wargravebased Active Silver
business with employees who had to juggle home schooling and social distancing. “The team has risen to the challenge dealing with an increased production and distribution week on week for the past 12 months.” On Monday, the business held a small, socially-distanced celebration with client, Debbie Mcgee.
“This five-year milestone is very significant for the business,” Ms Deacon said. “(We’ve marked) the move to new larger premises, increasing production and developing new products in the range, and it’s also been a time to celebrate also what has been achieved.” � For more information, visit: www.active-silver.co.uk
Ms Lewin was also worried that once she upped sticks, nobody would be willing to care for her precious pet. However, the process of bringing Stella home was not a walk in the park. “It was quite stressful getting her out of Somalia,” Ms Lewin said. “There aren’t many cats exported from the country, so there were no clear steps to follow. “She’s actually become quite famous in Somalia because I’ve had to contact so many people to get her home. “Thankfully it all worked out, but I was worried she wouldn’t make it here.” Now, the owner said Stella is adjusting to life in the borough surprisingly well. “She only arrived in the UK on Monday, February 22, after spending three nights in a kennel in Kenya,” Ms Lewin said. “But she’s settling in really well.” Stella is currently housebound, but Ms Lewin said she has kept herself busy by sleeping and breaking into her treat supply. “In Mogadishu, she would spend most of her time outdoors in the lovely weather, so I hope that once she can go out and explore it will occupy her a bit,” the Winnersh resident added. “She’s a bit mischievous, but she has been through a bit of an ordeal.”
NEWS | 9
Compost back on sale at re3 PEAT-FREE compost is now available to buy at re3 recycling centres. Generated from recycled garden waste by residents of Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham boroughs, it can be bought from both Bracknell and Reading centres. It costs £3.50 per 40L bag or residents can use a multi-deal offer of three bags for £10 - saving 50p. The compost conforms to BSI PAS 100 and the Compost Quality Protocol. Before being bagged, it undergoes a 12 week composting process, where waste is screened, shredded and matured. One of the stages is sanitisation, where the green waste is kept at between 65 - 80ºC for a week to kill off weed, seed and pathogens.
Finchampstead consults on neighbourhood plan FINCHAMPSTEAD residents can have their say in a draft neighbourhood plan, that will help shape development in the area. The consultation is open until Friday, March 19. Residents should have received a summary plan and letter in the post. It is also available at www.finchampsteadfuture.com. Finchampstead Parish Council said: “We believe that having the Finchampstead Neighbourhood Development Plan is the most powerful thing that local people can do to influence what development happens in their area.” Residents can share their views on an online survey, at: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ FinchFutureFeedback Alternatively they can write to: FNDP, c/o Finchampstead Parish Council, FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead, RG40 4ES
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Battery causes bin lorry blaze: don’t put them in your waste
By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today WOKINGHAM residents are being urged to dispose of batteries correctly, after a waste collection vehicle caught fire last month.
On Friday, February 12, crews spotted smoke coming from their collection lorry while in Spencers Wood. After realising the vehicle was on fire, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) was called to the scene and extinguished the fire before anyone was injured. The cause of the flame was a car battery, which a resident had put in their general waste bin. “I’d like to thank the crew for spotting the fire early and local fire service for their swift response to deal with the incident,” said Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure. “Fortunately, none of the staff were
NOT-SO BRIGHT SPARK: Firecrews tackle the blaze on the borough’s dustcart, caused by a car battery
injured and they were so proactive in dealing with the incident, but this situation is easily avoidable.” The waste collection lorry is now out of service, and Wokingham Borough Council said finding a temporary vehicle “will have significant financial impact”. Now, Cllr Batth is
reminding residents how important it is to discard batteries properly. “All residents should dispose of all batteries, and small electrical devices, correctly at their household waste recycling centre or other local collection points to help prevent future vehicle fires,” he said. Dan Crease, RBFRS group
manager, added: “Batteries in household waste and recycling can lead to a challenging incident for fire and rescue services to deal with, which can cause significant disruption to communities. “Many people may not realise the importance of correctly disposing of batteries, so we are urging
residents to please act responsibly by using widely available local battery recycling services.” Batteries of all kinds, from triple AAAs to car batteries, should not be put in the general waste bin but taken to a designated recycling centre where they can be disposed of safely. “Fires involving batteries and electrical items incorrectly discarded into kerbside collections have a significant impact on our resources, as well as the fire services,” Cllr Batth added. “This incident was small but it could have been much worse and been a further drain on public resources – both for the council and the fire service.” To find out where batteries can be recycled in Wokingham borough, visit: www.recyclenow.com/localrecycling To find out what can and cannot go into kerbside collections, visit: www.wokingham.gov.uk
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 4, 2021
Online greenfingers helps boost mental health A CHARITY is using gardening to help people stay fit in lockdown – but it’s all taking place online. Thrive supports people with disabilities, or are isolated, disadvantaged or vulnerable. It does this from its Beech Hill base, sharing tips on how to use gardening and nature to stay healthy this spring. Pre-pandemic, it supported more than 80 gardeners with learning disabilities, autism, and long-term health conditions through its horticultural therapy sessions. Now, Thrive has turned to the internet to deliver classes to clients at home. Through step-by-step guides from therapists, the charity is keeping people engaged with bulb planting, sweet pea sowing, and sensory walks. “It’s proving an effective way to help client gardeners experience the mental and physical health benefits of gardening while at home,” Kathryn Rossiter, Thrive CEO, explained. “We hope it will prevent people from feeling isolated and cut-off by providing a digital connection while they can’t attend in person.” She said the feedback has all been positive so far. � For more details, visit www.thrive.org.uk
Thursday, March 4, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
NEWS | 11
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Wokingham borough is the healthiest place in England � Continued from front page
Cllr Halsall said: “It’s not surprising though as I’ve known for years what a wonderful place to live Wokingham borough is and we work hard to ensure our residents have access to facilities and services to maximise their emotional and physical health and wellbeing, such as good housing and schools, state-of-the-art sports and leisure facilities, lots of open green spaces and access to nature, vibrant towns and villages and great transport connections to the rest of the country,” he said. “This index is based on data that is now a few years old. It doesn’t take into account the impact of the last year. “Even through this year of the pandemic, we have been working very hard to ensure all our residents and businesses have the support they need to get through this.” Some of the largest contributors to the gap in the health index are in depression (51.0 in Blackpool vs 95.2 in Wokingham) and avoidable deaths (71.1 vs 121.0). Substantial inequities exist across local authorities in children’s social and mental health (83.9 vs 118.5) alongside smoking (85.4 vs 130.7). The south east average score is 102.5, with London at 101.0. The baseline is a score of 100, and was set using 2015 data. The scores in this new chart were based on 2018, the latest year for which data is available, it has been compiled using ONS data in partnership with Lane Clark Peacock (LCP). LCP says that in that time, there were overall improvements to overall wellbeing and mortality, but they were cancelled out by worsening mental and physical health morbidity. While Wokingham scores highly in healthy lives – coming in at 117.1 – and healthy people (111.5), it only scores 101.5 for the healthy places category. Certain sections of this are below the 100 score.
Shop out to help school PTAs HARE HATCH Sheeplands has launched an initiative to support borough schools, as children prepare to return to the classroom. Following the success of its cash for Christmas trees in December, which raised £420 for five primary schools, Hare Hatch Sheeplands has pledged to donate 5% of its sales to parents, friends and grandparents of children at local schools to the school PTA of their choice or other borough charities.
They include air pollution (88.7), transport noise (93.1), road traffic volume (99), access to services such as GP surgeries, pharmacies and sports and leisure facilities (96.7). Housing affordability comes in at 87.6, while access to housing scores 100.8. Cllr David Hare, Liberal Democrat lead for wellbeing, said: “Wokingham is a place for healthy residents due to our relative affluence and semirural nature. “These factors mean we generally eat healthy food, many of us exercise, recently outside, we have good housing in the borough, meaning we have little overcrowding, most people in Wokingham have a good education all important aspects of Public Health. “It is a less healthy to live place due to the general pollution, excess, often stationary, traffic, the underpayment and consequent pressures on GPs along with the lack of some facilities that help our health.” Cllr Hare suggested more facilities to exercise, better control of traffic and more GP surgeries could all help boost this. “To facilitate these factors, the Liberal Democrats would encourage – after covid – public transport and people cycling or walking, reducing the use of the car. Much of this is a personal choice: how you use your car, how you heat your house, impacting on the health and wellbeing of the whole population.” Cllr Andy Croy, Labour leader for Wokingham, said the ranking hides “huge disparities” across the borough. “The story in The Sunday Times is illustrated with a photo of the Thames at Wargrave. The Thames forms part of my ward boundary, Bulmershe and Whitegates, and my ward has among the highest levels of child poverty in the borough,” he said. “Meanwhile we have seen demand at both the borough's
food banks rocket – this has shown the income insecurity of many families. “Hundreds of children struggled with homeschooling due to lack of access to the right electronic equipment.” He added: “While residents of Wokingham Town have a brand new town centre costing over £100 million, residents of Woodley are fobbed off with some loose change from the Highways budget and a wall to sit on. “The investment the council makes needs to be spread more fairly.” He added that wealth was one of the areas that scored highly – but this is in areas where “the council has no control”. “In areas where the Conservative council has the ability to change things are the area where we are perform poorly,” he said. “This Conservative council is dragging us down. We could be so much better with a council committed to a more sustainable model of living." Dr Jonathan PearsonStuttard, head of LCP’s Health Analytics team, said: “The numbers reveal clear and substantial differences across England and should be a wakeup call to the Government to deliver on its manifesto pledge to level up regional inequalities. “While there is some encouragement to be had from slight improvements in measures related to wellbeing and mortality, these have been cancelled out by worsening mental and physical health morbidity. These may have deteriorated further as a result of Covid-19. “Being able to identify the components that account for the variations in the index over time and across populations, by geography and deprivation, provides the opportunity to take a data-driven approach to investing in communities and build back better in 2021.” To see the index, visit healthindex.lcp.uk.com/map
Rob Scott, who runs the Twyford-based plant nursery and farm shop, said: “As a parent of two at a local primary, we are aware of what a fantastic job all these schools do for our children and the ongoing support they have given during lockdown has been amazing.” Mr Scott said Hare Hatch Sheeplands has always aimed to support the community, and wanted to find a cause to support. He added: “Nothing is more important than the education of our children and they deserve the best possible start in life as they face the many challenges ahead as
we emerge from the pandemic and try to rebuild a sustainable post carbon world in harmony with the environment.” Customers at Sheeplands will be asked which PTA they would like the 5% donation to go to when they join Friends of Sheeplands. An alternative donation to nominated local charities and The Rotary Club of Reading and Maiden Erleigh will also be offered. Members of the over 60s club, who already benefit from a 10% discount Monday to Fridays, can transfer to the new scheme which runs every day.
Bellringer’s tribute to Captain Tom A LONE bellringer made a moving tribute to the late Captain Sir Tom Moore on the day of the remarkable fundraiser’s funeral. The ringer, who did not want to be named, tolled his parish church bell 100 times, to honour the 100 year old who raised almost £33m for NHS charities. In fact Hurst’s lone ringer was part of a nationwide tribute. Bells were tolled in cathedrals and churches across the UK. Many villagers in Hurst paused last Saturday to listen to the tribute
from St Nicholas Church in Church Hill. One said: “It was lovely to hear the bell while quietly working on the allotment.” The ringer at Hurst said: “It was in memory of a fantastic gentleman and also of all his generation who gave up so much for us.” Covid restrictions have meant it was the first time the St Nicholas bells have been rung since Remembrance Sunday on November 8 and Armistice Day on November 11 last year.
Churchwarden Sue Payne said: “We’re pleased St Nicholas Church was able to join in the celebration of Captain Sir Tom’s life “He was such an inspiration to us all. “And we’re grateful to the anonymous person who volunteered to do this.” About 300 towers in the UK recorded their ringing tributes to Captain Sir Tom on the Ringing World website: www. bb.ringingworld.co.uk/
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 4, 2021
TAKE OUT TO HELP OUT
A flair for flavour with a story to tell
LOCKDOWN 3.0
Turmeric Tales Collection only Fridays and Saturdays Crowthorne www.facebook.com/ turmerictalesbyanu
T
URMERIC Tales was set up during lockdown in 2020 by Anu Ghag, a passionate chef with a real flair for flavour.
Prior to focusing on the new venture, Anu worked with The Beehive in Waltham St Lawrence, and ran curry nights in local pubs. Every Monday, a new menu is released on Facebook with lots of delicious options, including lots of vegetarian ones. This variety means that what we reviewed may be different from what is available when you order. The Chilli Chicken starter was a wonderful Indo-Chinese dish that boasted a beautiful combination of sweet, spicy and tangy flavours. The chicken was crispy, and cooked with bell peppers, garlic, chilli sauce and soya sauce. The Dal Tadka main option was a delicious lentil dish with a range of subtle herbs and spices, and was the perfect compliment to the naan bread which was cooked to perfection. Alongside this was a Baingan Bharhta. This is a vegetarian main dish that is prepared by mincing aubergine that has been grilled over charcoal and then cooked in a sauce of tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic and array of spices.
COLOURFUL: A platter from Turmeric Tales is pleasing to look at – and eat
This was really good to have alongside the Jeera (cumin) rice which was full of flavour. The Bhindi Masala (Okra) is a drier dish, making it a lovely compliment to the others that were more curry-based. The Okra was melt-in-the-mouth, and the herbs and spices that it was seasoned with really complemented it. The Punjabi chicken was a curry-based main course, a tomato-based sauce packed full of aromatic seasoning, it was delicious. Served with the meal was a fresh mint chutney, a brilliant contrast to the spicier tastes. Currently, the Turmeric Tales operation runs out of Crowthorne on a pick-up only basis, and really recreates the fine dining Indian experience in your own home. To have a look at the current offerings, search for Turmeric Tales on Facebook, or follow this link www.facebook.com/turmerictalesbyanu. TANYA MULLIN
Thursday, March 4, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
NEWS | 13
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Artist’s work wins place in grand final
Uni to use digital tech to help improve air quality
By TONY JOHNSON news@wokingham.today
By MARIE WILLIAMS
A WARGRAVE artist is painting the village red after reaching the final of a popular painting contest.
RESEARCHERS at the University of Reading are helping towns reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve air quality.
Shelagh Casebourne won her first heat in the Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year contest, and then last week impressed judges with her painting of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. She is one of three people to take part in the final, which was broadcast after we had gone to press last night. In the semi-final, the seven painters were installed in special socially-distanced pods on a bridge above the River Lea – just as well as the weather meant that there were torrential downpours throughout the event. The artists were treated first to a silvery mist of the early part of the day that obscured much of the scene. Although things did brighten, the weather was changeable. During the contest, Shelagh took part in several conversations with hosts and judges as the cameras filmed. As anyone used to painting will know, you interrupt an artist at your peril, but as
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WINNER: Shelagh Casebourne with the painting that caught the judges’ eye Picture: Tony Johnson
Shelagh said after the broadcast: “You get used to it, plus it can be really good to step away from the work from time to time and take a good hard look at it". And of her painting, Shelagh admitted: “I forgot the red bus” – referring to a London doubledecker bus that had gone across one of the bridges between the pods and the
former Olympic venue during one of the few bits of bright sunlight while she was on camera. Despite this, the judges felt that her composition and treatment of the landscape, including “The Orbit”, an observation tower designed by Anish Kapoor and the Olympic Stadium (now the London Stadium), was a worthy winner.
The Thames Valley Live Lab is one of eight projects across the country that helps councils use innovative digital technologies to reduce emissions. The University will help install 30 low-cost air pollution sensors across the Thames Valley region, to monitor how smarter traffic management could improve air quality and benefit public health. The Live Lab system is a cloud-based smart energy operations platform. It can schedule when energy assets should be operated to save money and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This includes setting electric vehicle (EV) charge rates and being able to remotely schedule building energy usage and EV charging point operation. Wokingham and Reading were the first two councils to connect their energy assets to the platform, which will monitor and manage solar
panels, EV charging points and other electrical equipment at the local authorities’ facilities. Dr Stefan Smith at the university, said it is fantastic to be part of the project. He added: “Against a background of dramatic changes in electricity use and generation, the timing of demand for electricity can help reduce energy bills while also benefiting the wider energy system. “Smart control of electric vehicle charging, for example, has the potential to help reduce the need for expensive reinforcement of the electricity grid, as well as reducing overall carbon emissions by encouraging people to charge them at times when renewable energy production is highest. “The ability to vary charging profiles and times helps to enable some flexibility in demand. We are also conducting simulation and analysis of the future potential to scale up the energy management trials to regional and national levels.”
Cllr Gregor Murray, executive member for climate emergency at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “We are thrilled to be involved in such an exciting project which brings us one step closer to our goal to reach c a r b o n neutrality by 2030. “We are working to improve the air quality in and around Wokingham Borough, so we’re pleased to have this opportunity to work in partnership with Reading Council and the University of Reading to reach a common goal.” The Thames Valley Live Lab is part of the £22.9m Department for Transport funded ADEPT SMART Places Live Labs programme, which started in 2019. The project is a collaboration between the University of Reading (School of the Built Environment), energy software specialist Smarter Grid Solutions, technology giants O2 and Siemens, engineering consultancy Stantec, and the six local authorities across Berkshire.
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14 | NEWS
Have your say on borough’s future community safety work RESIDENTS can have their say on crime and disorder in the borough as part of a consultation from Wokingham Community Safety Partnership (CSP). The group is looking at the next three years and wants to hear what residents think it should be concentrating its efforts on. The partnership includes Wokingham Borough Council, Thames Valley Police, Berkshire Fire and Rescue, Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group and Berkshire Healthcare Trust. Together, it has analysed local data and information to create a draft set of priorities and themes. Now residents can share their views. Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure, said: “Wokingham borough is a very safe place to live, work and visit. It’s one of the many reasons we are such a popular place to live. “The Community Safety Partnership are working together to ensure it stays safe. “This is a great opportunity for our residents to tell us what they think we need to do to keep Wokingham borough as safe as possible. “We all deserve to live in safe and strong communities.” He urged all residents to spend 10 minutes on the survey, to help shape priorities until 2024. Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services, added: “As we all know, feeling safe in our communities is an important part in our overall health and wellbeing. The Community Safety Partnership is one of our tools to keep our communities safe and strong. “Take the survey now to help shape the partnership’s priorities for the next three years.” The partnership will use the survey responses to shape its priorities. The survey is available via: www.wokingham.gov.uk/consultations.
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Is Reading Gaol art a Banksy? Street artist Pistol thinks it is By PHIL CREIGHTON and SALLY BRYANT news@wokingham.today A NEW verse has been added to the Ballad of Reading Gaol, thanks to a mystery artist’s work.
Overnight on Sunday into Monday, art appeared on the wall of the Reading landmark and it has been attracting a steady stream of visitors ever since. It features a prisoner escaping, via a traditional rope ladder made of bedsheets. In a nod to the gaol’s most famous inmate, Oscar Wilde, this is weighted by a typewriter. The work is thought to have been created by guerilla artist Banksy, whose art is highly sought after and well respected across the country. And Wokingham-based street artist Pistol is convinced the work is genuine. “I am 100% sure it’s a Banksy, I’d put my house on it, there is no shadow of a doubt,” he said. Pistol says the hallmarks are shadowing behind the typewriter, very discretely done. Also, while Banksy used to use just black, white and grey he now uses skin tones on faces and hands, and Pistol says it is his style completely. “Apparently, the scaffolding went up at about 3pm on Sunday,” he continued. “They put scaffolding up then
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BREAKOUT ART: A steady stream of admirers have visited the suspected ‘Banksy’ painting on Reading Gaol Pictures: Phil Creighton
tarpaulin, so they can crack on without being seen. Anyone passing by would just think it was building works. “I also heard someone questioned them and was told it was for filming. “When Dismaland [a Banksy art project in Weston-super-Mare] was being built, signs went up saying it was building work, so that is a regular Banksy ‘excuse’.” Pistol feels that the work was created to help support the campaign to turn the disused gaol into an arts centre, adding that Banksy has previously created work for a struggling Bristol-based boys’ club so they could sell it. “The prison is going to be either a cultural centre or flats and he has caught wind of that,” Pistol says. And the timing of the work is fillup for residents struggling with lockdown restrictions. “Whenever Banksy paints, he puts a smile on people's faces,” Pistol said. “It is a huge thing for Reading, it is to help the cause of arts and culture in Reading.” Pistol was waiting for the picture to appear on Instagram, which is
Projects will help Uni reduce carbon output THE University of Reading has been awarded over £3.4 million to deliver a range of carbonreducing initiatives across its campuses. Funding of £3.2 million is one of the first grants in the country to be awarded by Salix Finance as part of the new Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, a £1 billion grant scheme launched by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in October. The scheme will accelerate the decarbonisation of public sector buildings. A further £119,000 has been awarded from Salix’s complimentary Low Carbon Skills Fund for additional resource to support
how Banksy will claim it as his work. “It will be interesting to see what happens to it. I hope Perspex will be put over it to protect it.” And the typewriter’s significance is not lost on Pistol, who realises it is a nod to Oscar Wilde.
delivery of the main grant, plus £45,000 for a number of feasibility studies for future heat decarbonisation schemes. Dan Fernbank, energy and sustainability manager at the University of Reading, said: “This is a major win for us in terms of pushing forward with a tranche of new carbon reduction initiatives. “Projects need to be implemented by September 2021 at the latest so we have focused our energies on programmes that can be delivered in that timescale. “ The projects include: � Improved heating zoning and controls in two flagship buildings � A programme of laboratory and farm refrigeration/freezer upgrades � A major LED lighting rollout
“I think it shows that what could be a culture centre in Reading already has its own culture to begin with,” he said. The work has been welcomed by Reading East MP Matt Rodda, who is one of the leading lights of a campaign to see the site, which has been empty for nearly a decade, turned into an arts and heritage centre. He has secured a number of celebrity endorsements including Sir Kenneth Branagh, who is currently portraying prime minister Boris Johnson for a new Sky film, and Dame Judi Dench. But this latest endorsement, if it is by the famous artist, is perhaps the most visible sign of support. Mr Rodda said: “I’d like to thank Banksy, or whoever else painted this, for their support for the campaign to save Reading Gaol. “The media coverage generated by this artwork shows the amazing interest in the story of the gaol and Oscar Wilde. “This unique historic building should be saved for future generations.”
� A major expansion of solar panels on Whiteknights campus � Replacement of inefficient drying cabinets throughout science labs � Replacement of ventilation systems � Replacement and re-sizing of numerous inefficient air conditioning units � Improved sensors and controls to multiple heating and ventilation systems � Preparatory works for future heat decarbonisation The combined projects are anticipated to save 816 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the first year and £423,000 in energy costs. The University says it has already made significant progress in reducing its carbon footprint and is on course to surpass its target of a 45% carbon reduction by 2021.
Thursday, March 4, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 4, 2021
Thursday, March 4, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Mayor looks for picture power THE BOROUGH mayor has launched an amateur photography competition alongside Home-Start Wokingham District. To mark the charity’s 25th anniversary, Cllr Malcolm Richards is calling for young people and adults to take a picture for the outdoors. The theme focuses on Out of Home-Starts and could showcase an activity or a sport, or a beautiful scene. The photograph can be taken on a digital camera, a phone or a tablet and must be in a JPEG format. There are no size or resolution specifications and the image can be either in colour or in black and white. The entries will be split into two categories: young people, 12 to 17, and adults with one winner chosen from each group. Prizes include a £100 voucher for a family photo shoot or one to one photography tutorial and some mounted prints. The panel of judges will include borough mayor Cllr Richards, the Chair of Trustees of Home-Start Wokingham District and two local professional photographers, Marla White and Tina Panting. Closing date for submissions is Friday, April 30 and the result will be announced on Monday, May 3. “I’m delighted to be able to launch yet another competition,” Cllr Richards said. “I’d like to invite all photography enthusiasts to join me in celebration of Home-Start’s 25-year milestone. “The charity’s tailored, compassionate and professional approach means that so many families receive the life-changing support they needed.” He added: “As for the chosen theme, getting out in nature provides many mental health benefits and aids our wellbeing. “It helps us to disconnect from the challenges we face every day. “We of course want our residents to enjoy the borough’s parks, open spaces and hidden gems as part of their daily exercise, but ask that this is done responsibly. “Covid-19 safety guidelines must be followed at all times and outings must be a part of the permitted reasons to leave your home. Best of luck to all the competitors.” To enter, email the photograph to mayor@wokingham.gov.uk titled Photography Competition in the subject line, including name, age and a short explanation. The competition is free, but a donation to Home-Start Wokingham District is appreciated.
Charity walkers wanted WOKINGHAM residents are being encouraged to walk 10,000 steps each day this month, to raise money for Marie Curie. The charity – which celebrates its 35th anniversary this month – is calling on people to show support for those impacted by death, dying and bereavement. It has moved The Great Daffodil Appeal online this year, but the charity hopes many people will join the step challenge. Tracey North, Marie Curie fundraising manager for South East and London, said: “The Great Daffodil Appeal is vitally important to us. “Having been held every March for over three decades, this is the first time we’ve had to cancel all of our public collections. This is a huge blow as each volunteer would raise £80 from a collection shift: enough to pay for the equivalent of four hours of nursing care. “The campaign would normally bring together millions of people across the country to volunteer, fundraise, donate and wear a daffodil and we’re still encouraging people to do this in any way they can in a safe manner.” � For more, visit: mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil
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Spring treat at Dinton
A HOST of golden daffodils has been stunning visitors to Dinton Pastures at Hurst. The display of hundreds of wild daffodils lining the main driveway into the park has been particularly impressive this year. It’s not quite the Lake District display thought to have inspired poet William Wordsworth to write his Daffodils poem.
And visitors are unlikely to “wander lonely as a cloud” at Dinton. But the delicate pale blooms have brought many smiles – and quotes from the only poetry many know by heart. A spokesperson for Wokingham Borough Council’s Countryside Services team said: “The driveway daffodils are the
wild variety and have been there for many, many years. “They were planted, but have naturalised in that area and create a spectacular display that seems to grow each year. “The variety in the café garden are mainly the variety Tete a Tete, planted because they are dwarf and can withstand the wind better than the larger varieties.”
Seven in 10 young disabled are lonely By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today SEVEN out of 10 young disabled people are “chronically lonely” according to new research from national disability charity, Sense.
The charity recognises that disabled people were disproportionately affected by social isolation before the pandemic, but the dramatic increase has led it to call for urgent action from the government. Molly Watt, 26, from Maidenhead said she is optimistic that after the pandemic, society may become more empathetic and inclusive for disabled people. “When I feel optimistic, I think the world might become more accessible, and that life will improve for disabled people, because almost everyone is working from home and having to strategise to get by,” she said. “Non-disabled people can now empathise more with how disabled people live on a daily basis.” There are 14.1 million disabled people living in the UK, and while loneliness has risen across the whole population, data shows it has jumped by a
quarter for those with a disability who were already disproportionately affected by the issue pre-pandemic. Over two thirds of disabled people living in the South East of England said that social isolation is affecting their mental health and wellbeing, with two in five reporting an impact on their physical health. Some say as a result, the government should prioritise tackling mental health issues caused by the pandemic, over the economy. Richard Kramer, chief executive of Sense said: “Throughout the pandemic the needs of disabled people have been overlooked, and they have often felt forgotten. “The government must recognise the severe impact the pandemic is having on disabled people and improve the support available, so they are not left isolated and cut off from society.” Sense is also aiming to raise disability awareness and understanding amongst the general public. Two in every five people surveyed said this alone would help tackle social isolation. Mr Kramer added: “We have all felt disconnected from
others at some point during this pandemic, but loneliness has disproportionately affected disabled people. Many disabled people told us how they don’t have support networks around them and feel cut off from their local community. “Others have struggled to leave their homes at all or to access and use digital technology to connect with people. “We have all now experienced how it feels to have barriers preventing us from participating in everyday life. Our hope is that as we plan our way out of lockdown and begin to imagine what our lives will look like post-Covid, we can all commit to making society more accessible for everyone.” Mr Kramer said creating a more accessible society and committing to addressing loneliness could be a positive legacy from the pandemic. Sense is calling on the residents to sign its pledge, committing to help create a more accessible society. After signing the pledge, supporters will receive a free guide on how to make life more inclusive for everyone. � For more information, visit: www.sense.org.uk/LeftOutOfLife
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH
Healthy Wokingham makes good reading THERE was a frisson of excitement at the weekend when The Sunday Times broke the news that Wokingham borough is the healthiest place in England. Social media was awash with people pleasantly surprised by the survey, which is based on official government figures. Naturally, some were more sceptical. And, as our report this week shows, there are differences depending on where you live in the borough. However, most of us are within walking distance of many parks, woods and riverside walks. When parts of Woodley were built, the estates included green spaces. Live in Shinfield and there are country walks on your doorstep. Those in Sonning have the pleasure of living by the River Thames. There’s more too: the greenways being set up make a difference to our quality of life. Yes, we share the concerns over the rate of building across the borough, but there is much for us to be proud of. There are also areas in the report, notability on air quality, where we need to pull our socks up. The data is also three years old, and we don’t know what the impact covid will have had on the figures. We hope too that more and better public transport and the planned solar farms will help make a difference as we reduce our carbon footprint. Wokingham is a fine borough and, just this once, let’s bask in the envy of the rest of the country.
CHURCH NOTES
The bigger picture
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URING lockdown, I found myself with more time to complete a 1,000-piece jigsaw. When I approach a jigsaw, I like to turn the lid over, hiding the picture and then spread out the pieces face up. There are some easy starting clues of edges and corners and the knowledge that sky is at the top and sea at the bottom. But other than that, it is a careful consideration of the shapes and colours, to build the picture. In the one just completed, there were several pieces that I was sure fit in one part of the picture, but try as I might, I couldn’t make them fit. It was only as that part of the picture built up that I found that the pieces in question belonged in another, surprising part of the picture. Many people view life in the same way as the jigsaw though, thinking they know what the big picture is. Jesus Christ came into the world to show us the picture: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life’ (John 14:6). Many people have a vague knowledge of who Jesus is and what he did as he walked the earth and then use that vague knowledge to help them fit together their understanding of life and God. But there is far more to Jesus than Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, the great teacher and healer. We need to delve deeply into understanding who he is and for that we invite you to explore by joining with us on one of our Christianity Explored courses at Christ Church Wokingham which give you an opportunity to ask questions and dig deeper. Helen Hotchkiss is a member of Christ Church Wokingham , writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham
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Your letters
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 4, 2021
We love to hear from you! Send us your views on issues relating to the borough (in 250 words or less) to Wokingham.Today, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS or email: letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk
Send your thoughts to letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk
We reserve the right to edit letters Views expressed in this section are not necessarily those of the paper
I’m embarrassed to live in Wokingham I’m embarrassed. I’m embarrassed to live in Wokingham. I went for a walk yesterday, the sun was shining. I was surprised by how much activity there was in the Town Centre; queues for coffee shops, people spilling into the street to secure a sausage roll, park benches filled with no regard for social distancing. I was embarrassed when I walked past Elms Field park. I’d read in the media about school reopening concerns Inflammatory comments to suggest the Government were putting kids and teachers at risk. How come the park was busy? How come parents were happy for their children to mix? How come multiple households were picnicking? I trust my own interpretation of the lockdown restrictions, it seems I’m in the minority. If the virus was visible maybe my fellow residents would be more cautious. Maybe if my fellow residents took a view of any covid ward it would change their actions. Maybe not. I’m embarrassed that my fellow residents don’t think the rules apply to them and personal responsibility is something that can be blamed on others. I’m embarrassed. Sarah Sylvester, Wokingham
Let’s hope they get it right this time…. I see that the GCSE/A-level exam grades will be based on teacher’s predictions and when the same was mooted last year, it reminded me of a report a few years ago by the University and College Union. This report showed only 16% of results proved to be accurately predicted by teachers, 75% were over-predicted and just 9% were under-predicted. Consequently one must presume that there may well be more graduates moving into the jobs market and last year there was supposedly 60% less graduate vacancies. Tony Blair’s policy of getting half of students into tertiary education has seemed to breed a myth that anyone that doesn’t go to university is a failure. David Arnold, Finchampstead
Heads in the sand I have deliberately left the writing of this letter awaiting the publication of Wokingham.Today for weeks February 18 and 25, in the hope there may have been some kind of response from Wokingham Borough Council regarding my letter “Is history repeating itself over crossing” which was published on February 11. To date, silence is golden. This letter was in no way frivolous in its content, it was one of genuine concern regarding the safety of both pedestrians and motorists. Also, if you have got it wrong, and in my view you have based on history as quoted in my letter, the expenditure from both installation and subsequent removal of said crossing will once again be another
I was walking up Reading Road after lunchtime lon Monday. towards the Town Centre away from Woosehill Roundabout and had reached the left hand ("T") junction which leads to the Wokingham Bowling Club and gives access to a relatively new Care Home when I suddenly heard some very melodious birdsong. I looked up and there was a Robin singing his heart out. After listening for a while, I continued on my way towards Wokingham Town Centre feeling more cheerful. I did go back thinking I should try to video this cheerful bird. Too late. The tree was silent, the Robin had gone, no doubt on his way to cheer up another person. Harry Atkinson, Wokingham excessive cost we the taxpayers will have to bear. One final point regarding the lack of any response from the Council, in general whenever they are challenged or criticised by a Councillor of opposing colour they immediately turn to “the print” to either defend or challenge their comment. However, it would appear if you are one of the public then they become Ostrich: “put your head in the sand and it will all go away”. David Weston, Winnersh.
Failure to tell WBC has put out for consultation a development of 130 housing units and a 70-bed Dementia care home. The land is behind the new school being built off Queens Road that forms part of the NWDR and the A329m with access off the Twyford road What it appears WBC fail to tell you in this consultation is the following: � WBC own the land and have done for a good number of years so you would assume land cost is low. � 130 units will be built with some being affordable there is no number for the affordable. � The 70-bed care home is subject to the being a need and is for Dementia care a specialised field. If it is deemed a care home is not required the space will be used for further housing. Is this a sweetener that will never happen a more sensible approach would have been a 35-bed care home and a 35-bed secure dementia unit. I understand that WBC has not made up there mind to develop this site or to sell it on with planning
permission should it be granted. They have a great chance to do something for the less fortunate in the borough with this development. I would urge WBC not to be blinded by the £ signs and think very carefully about this site. I do not oppose this development but have concerns of possible flooding I have seen data from the EA that shows the bottom end of this site is prone to flooding. This development is on the route that 84% of Emmbrook residents would have preferred the North West Distribution Road NWDR not the Queens Toutley Old Forest Road that was adopted which I believe would have been more cost effective in spite of being told by John Halsall it was more expensive and with less disruption. It would be nice to have a clear plan of what is going to happen by the end of April Rod Needs. Emmbrook
Get back to the office immediately This instruction is for all staff who work for a Public Office, but especially Action Fraud, who appear to be closed and/or impossible to deal with – as you will see in the following notes. Now we have such good news that one jab ‘is enough’, and had my suggestion a few weeks ago re a simple Vaccine Passport been adopted, we could get people working for us again, now. One could say I am extremely annoyed because I have uncovered a very serious fraud being operated in the name of Amazon – Amazon is not involved but I believe customer data they hold, has been ‘violated’.
A brilliantly managed fraud, for which there seems to be a standard loss of £7,999. I know how that is derived, but back to my message of the week, so to speak. Having spoken to my bank, they certainly understood the operation, so I wrote a two-page detailed report of how it works and the contact data I had managed to extract from the gang, with the intent of informing Action Fraud, the Police and possibly the Press. However, if you send anything to Action Fraud, they appear to ‘bin’ it without reading it. I asked for an email address so that I could send them the report – answer ‘don’t have one’. Via the puerile chat system, I discovered I had wasted my time because the only option was to talk to an adviser if available, who might decide what they wanted to know is of interest, and did not want the report – just a verbal description. Such a vital body manifests the collapse of what is called ‘management’ now mostly absent in government, except where they involve our Services. I did manage to get through to the police – via a very tortuous route. A very cooperative officer, by the name of Connor, advised that if I wished to complain about Action Fraud, I should contact the City of London Police. Just try to get in touch with them. I did succeed in sending a request for an email address – that got me an answer ‘we will answer within 20 days’. Believe that if you will. If you feel like asking the question ‘why am I making such a fuss’, it is my concern that especially elderly people could very easily be robbed, plus many people need help/advice
Thursday, March 4, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
as how to avoid fraud, now almost a continuous threat. I want to see immediate action, not next year or never. Digressing to local politics, I have received the Liberal Party’s Better Future circular. I wish them well because as with the Government we urgently need a strong opposition. I believe I previously commented on the Liberals – nice people but no ‘thumping the table’ on general/ national concerns. A relevant National Policy must be generated soon, surely? Reg Cliﬞon, Wokingham
Devious tricks At a Council meeting two weeks ago Wokingham’s Conservatives used a very devious trick to get their own way. Why as with their majority they had no need to sink so low but leopards don’t change their spots. They quote the constitution if it works in their favour but if not they just ignore it. Members of the public and opposition councillors who questioned the Conservatives felt the full fury of their venom that evening. The shambles of the Standards Board was supposedly solved by the Leader and another Member of his Executive standing down to be replaced by two Deputy Executive Members and the Deputy Leader remaining. All part of the same ruling clique. The Standards Committee's role is
to promote the highest standards of behaviour amongst Councillors. So much for Democracy there. The Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee is no better as when questioned their Chair Person said she considered the Standards Board and the Constitutional Review Working Group (CRWG) as paragons of virtue. The Constitution is reviewed by the CRWW, whose job is to set out how the Council operates so as to be transparent and accountable to local people is even less democratic than the Standards Board. The CRWG consists of just four members. The Leader, his Deputy, a fellow Executive Member and a lonely Lib Dem. So much again for democracy. Wokingham’s Conservative interpretation of the constitution is simple use it or ignore. Do whatever suits. The Conservatives at the last council tried to rub residents noses in the dirt by proposing a series of anti democratic changes to the constitution. One recommendation from the CCRG which stood out like a sore thumb was the following text ‘that the Chief Executive and/or Mayor/Chairman may reject a question if it’s substantially the same as a question which has already been put at or submitted to the meeting or at a meeting of the Council or Executive or any other Committee, in the past six months.
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It begs the question; Who decides if the question is similar or has been put before? What happens if a Councillor and a resident asks similar questions? Who has their rights denied? Not a Conservative I bet. Parliament is our democratic model and their system is that the majority of MPs merely request the Prime Minister to ‘list his engagements for the day’ (same question) followed by a supplementary question on any area within the Government’s responsibility. What’s good enough for the Mother of all Parliament's should be good enough for Wokingham’s ruling Conservatives. When I see the Conservatives bias on these Committees (both heavily ruling Exec driven) I am not really surprised with the antidemocratic that they spew out. It’s an utter disgrace but I expected nothing less from a Conservative administration that treats it residents and opposition Councillors with such disdain. Although Donald Trump is not the flavour of the month his comment of draining the swamp should not be lost on Wokingham’s electorate when they exercise their rights next May. It’s the only thing they understand. Cllr Gary Cowan, Independent Borough Councillor at Wokingham Borough Council for Arborfield.
That was the week
Tony Johnson
RITING commentaries one gets the opportunity to take a squint at events and to listen closely to politicians, local and sometimes national.
Usually, this all compares favourably with the Phantom of the Opera: in stygian darkness, trying to discover events in the world above by touch, sound, taste or smell. Or taking the role of an Ozymandian sculptor whose attempts are more frequently like Shelley’s early draft than his final manuscript. All too aware of the perils of coming across like Pam Ayres’ husband used to, save for those few precious moments when an intuition, an insight (or help) makes for something extraordinary. Just occasionally, there’s time to reflect and this is one such moment.
Pie-crust promises At a national level the pandemic continues, dominating the news and current affairs. This last week, the Prime Minister has offered ‘jam tomorrow’ in a very curious way. The ‘earliest date’ we might be fully out of lockdown is in far off June, comfortably beyond the local elections. After the way he and his government have been running the country, he’s just played a political blinder. To a nation so starved of human contact that an indication of normality is like thirsty people in a desert getting sight of an oasis and this ‘earliest date’ is like a pie-crust promise. Easily broken.
Rent-a-bench? More like add-a-pound At a local level, our borough continues to plough ahead with the rest of the town centre regeneration project, appearing supremely
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indifferent to the provision of a UK law that says if you’re the developer and the planning authority, you’re not permitted to keep things secret. That the cost of renovating Wokingham’s market place rose from £750,000 shared between Town and Borough, to more than £5.5 million (the last published figure when the costs hadn’t all been declared) is indication of a civic vanity project that went totally out of control. Separately, a single bench in Peach Place costing “how much???” was another clue that in the battle of beauty and the budget, the fiscals came off second best. And the overall cost Who knows? If you can find anyone to ‘fess up – well done. Because it looks like things haven’t changed much and that provision of UK law wasn’t in the first draft of the 1972 Local Government Act. It got put there, just before the scandal of the Poulson Affair became widely known.
Nothing to see here – move along please While efforts continue to understand and resolve the problems in our local government, the list isn’t shrinking. The business of the Standards Committee and all its decisions since 2019’s bypassing of the constitution is still a sore point. Intercepting and changing an Audit Report on its way to Full Council, allegedly unconstitutionally, was rightly sent back for review. When Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour accountants all agreed at the last Audit meeting that last year’s accounts
Keeping Mum This Mother’s Day, school feeding charity Mary’s Meals would like to pay tribute to incredible women around the world. From the mums in the UK whose food has nourished us throughout our childhoods, ncluding those who volunteer and fundraise for Mary’s Meals, to the women who cook and serve our daily meals for children in some of the world’s poorest countries, we celebrate them all. Mary’s Meals feeds more than 1.6 million hungry children in 19 countries every school day. That’s why I am asking your readers to send a Mary’s Meals gift card to the special women in their lives this Mother’s Day. For just £15.90, it will feed a hungry child every day for an entire school year. And because the childhood meals our mothers made often stay with us, reminding us of being nurtured and loved, we have included a favourite childhood recipe from TV presenter Lorraine Kelly with each gift card. Please visit marysmeals.org.uk/ mothersday to purchase your gift card or digital gift. I know I’d love it if my three lovely children gave me this special present for Mother’s Day. Gillian McMahon Director of Supporter Engagement and Income, Mary’s Meals
NOT be signed off is surprising unity and well worth pondering. The Liberal Democrat fantasy debt figure has ballooned to three-quarters-of-a-billion-pounds. It’s no more credible than the Conservative’s fantasy debt figure of £83 million. Whatever the debt figure, it’ll be a while until there’s agreement on what it is. That Constitution Review report, which could have seen historic checks and balances being swept away by a future demagogue, was also rightly sent back for review. Excessively 'Party Political’ speeches during normal Council business are beginning to grate, as are Shute End’s and Councillors’ use of shonky technology. The ramshackle process of giving ‘nonanswers’ to questions needs to be retired and replaced by frank responses that don’t waste people’s time. And those actually running the shop might like to consider a root and branch review to combat the well-deserved reputation for overzealous civic secrecy.
The last word (for now) Experiencing the crow’s nest has been a pleasure. Observing what appears to be going on round here; then researching, investigating and digging a bit deeper into the actuality, hopefully to work out what’s actually been going on; then creating commentaries that you might find interesting, entertaining or amusing. It’s a rare privilege to work with an editor who’s advised on more than one occasion “really Tony, in a newspaper, you can’t actually say THAT”. Without such guidance, upsets would have turned to insults, rhetoric to invective and situational comedy would have become personal. As readers you deserve better. One that’s never take for granted that just because a commentary’s written, it’ll then get published. And the worth, if worth there was? Why that’s the worth of this valuable space. caveat.lector@icloud.com
From the chamber
Cllr Paul Fishwick
Electric scooters
O
NE of the professional institutions that I am a member of, the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transport, last week published the results of a poll it had conducted with some of its members related to electric scooters. The question asked was “Could electric scooters be a realistic mode of transport for most people taking trips in urban areas within five years? The result was Yes 64% and No 36%. What are these electric scooters all about? I am sure that many residents have seen people riding them locally and they can be purchased quite easily, but are they legal to use on the public highway? The first trials of e-scooters on public roads in Britain got underway in Teesside during July last year, with selected areas following since. All trials must be approved by the Department for Transport (DfT) and they are likely to run for a year but could be extended. The changes to legislation facilitating trials of e-scooter rental schemes across Britain came into force in July last year. In trial areas only, rental E-scooters will be permitted on roads, cycle lanes and cycle tracks but not on footways. As the Wokingham Borough area is not in the trial the use of individually owned e-scooters on public roads remains illegal. The DfT has made changes to the permitted specification of e-scooters following a consultation during the spring (2020). The maximum speed has been increased from 12.5mph to 15.5mph, maximum continuous power rating raised from 350W to 500W, and permitted mass raised from 35kg to 55kg. E-scooters will continue to be classed as motor vehicles during the trials, meaning riders need a driving licence – a provisional one will do. Rental companies have to provide insurance cover. Wearing a helmet is recommended but will not be mandatory. The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety in May 2020 said “e-scooters would be dangerous and would largely replace trips made by walking, cycling and public transport.” The National Federation of the Blind in the UK said in June before the launch of the trials “the DfT has underestimated the overwhelming negative impact e-scooters will have on rider safety, other vulnerable road and public space users, on active travel in urban areas and the ability of people to be able to socially distance from other people”. The trials have been running for several months and data is being captured as part of the analysis process. In November, the Transport Select Committee published a report and said e-scooters have the potential to offer a low cost, accessible and environmentally friendly alternative to the private car. It also said that current rental trials and any plans for legalisation should not be to the detriment of pedestrians, particularly disabled people. The committee is calling for robust enforcement measures and says that if the Government decides to legalise privately owned e-scooters the law should clearly prohibit their use on pavements (footways), which is dangerous and anti-social. There are other risks such as obstruction if proper scooter parking facilities are not provided for. Much can be learned from electric scooter use in other countries, as well as the UK’s own trials. Can the electric scooter replace short journeys by car? Maybe, but only if the right infrastructure is in place. If we get that right, and encourage everyone who can to walk, cycle, scoot their short trips, as well as public transport use, it will help towards tackling climate change, congestion, improve the air that we breathe and go towards a more active population. Councillor Paul Fishwick is the Lib Dem lead for Highways and Transport and councillor for the Winnersh ward of Wokingham Borough Council
20 | NEWS XXXXXX
Nellie knows
Nellie Williams nelliewilliams.co.uk
Back in the day
F
OR the shortest month February certainly packed some punches with the boiler stopping and my exhaust hanging off.
Delighted it’s now March and my favourite month which has firm fixtures like my birthday, Mothering Sunday and the arrival of lighter and brighter mornings. I had my first vaccine and despite feeling like I had been hit by a hangover and run over by a steam roller I am pleased to say that 48 hours later I was back to normal. On the day the boiler stopped we contacted our insurers who sent out a contractor who after a cursory glance it needs a new part but to be honest you need a new boiler. I wasn’t happy with this so asked an exPolice Scotland turned plumber friend who said that doesn’t sound right, surely they should have tried to get it working so get a second opinion. I asked around, contacted four plumbers, two responded – one saying she’s no longer corgi registered and one who said he’d be with us within the hour. He was indeed with us within the hour and said it needs a new pump. The contractor rang and told me that my insurers said it’s beyond economical repair at but they have given us the OK and we can fit a new one for three times the amount of the repair. I explained we’d had a second opinion and he said: “If your plumber thinks it’s that then that’s his opinion, our opinion is different, I can look at a boiler and tell you in seconds what the problem is”. I then rang our insurers and asked what was going on. Funnily enough they didn’t know what the contractor had said and raised a complaint, furthermore we don’t have a beyond economical repair on our policy. The independent plumber provided a quote and the insurers said they would ask the contractors for evidence that a new boiler was needed. Funnily enough, again, they were unable to provide sufficient evidence and told our insurers that as the boiler is 15/16 years old it’s not worth it, the boiler is eight. The insurers gave us permission to go with independent boiler man. Four days after first reporting the problem to our insurers and three hours after the independent arrived we had hot water and heating. A reminder that if it doesn’t sound right it’s probably not, so get a second opinion. I feel sick thinking about people’s unnecessary spends on new boilers. We’ve now found a plumber who is polite, well mannered, clean, tidy, honest and we would have no hesitation in recommending him.
Elsewhere … The garden is bursting into life with new shoots popping up everywhere, the blossom is out and it feels somewhat different in many ways. It’s been the weirdest year but here’s hoping the vaccine will bring a more positive change and we can start to enjoy life in a more relaxed way. If it’s your birthday this month, many happy returns. Nellie writes about all sorts at www.nelliewilliams.co.uk
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These habits are for life, not just for lockdown WHILE the coronavirus vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel, new research suggests people won’t give up their lockdown habits any time soon. From staying connected with family and friends to pursuing new hobbies, Gigaclear suggests that some coronavirus behaviours will last forever. According to the broadband provider, nearly nine out of 10 (87%) people in the South East now feel more connected to their loved ones than they did before the pandemic, and they plan to keep in touch more than ever before Gigaclear also found that more people are upskilling online. More than half (51%) of residents
in the South East have learnt new skills over the internet in the past year, and at least one in 10 took part in virtual exercise classes. Nick Rawlings, chief marketing officer at Gigaclear, says: “Spending lots of time at home has put a huge reliance on our internet, and without it, our financial, social and mental health struggles would have been significantly harder. “If we can take a few positives out of this bad situation, it is that as a country we are stronger and more resilient than we thought. “Good internet access is certainly playing a more vital role in our happiness and wellbeing than ever before.”
Don’t forget the biscuits for this virtual cuppa WOKINGHAM residents have been invited for a virtual cuppa, so don’t forget the biscuits. The University of Reading has launched a new initiative called Cuppa Over...Community, to get more people engaging with students and staff. It launched the scheme in a bid to improve relations with local residents in a “meaningful, personal and informal way”. Sarah Gardner, community relations manager at the University of Reading, said: “We want to talk to community groups and build on existing relationships, especially now when many people are feeling isolated and could also benefit from access to University resources. “We want to take the time to listen to local people’s perspectives, understand their needs and how we might be able to work with them.” Those who take part in the Cuppa Over...community initiative take part in a 15-minute chat to discuss how they feel about the University, and how it should interact with the community.
The scheme is part of a wider plan to ensure the University of Reading is more involved with the local community, and it is being developed in partnership with Reading University Students’ Union. “We’ve had some really interesting conversations with people, including a charity partner, a neighbour and a number of other community members,” Ms Gardner added. “People have shared a range of ideas such as the University investing in co-beneficial community projects, including sensory gardens or youth centres, and community members sitting on University committees to increase representation.” If the pilot scheme is successful, the University will offer regular discussions to improve how it works with local people to foster sustainability, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion. � For more information, visit: www.reading.ac.uk/about/workingwith-the-community/cuppa-overcommunity.aspx
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 4, 2021
Dexter wan £100,000 f By SUE CORCORAN news@wokingham.today A YOUNG NHS fundraiser just eight years old wants to raise an amazing £100,000 for the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
Dexter Rosier, eight, from Woodley, watched the televised flypast for Captain Sir Tom Moore on the day of his funeral last Saturday. The St Nicholas Primary School pupil has already raised £2,500 for the Royal Berks, but has inspired by Captain Tom, who raised £33 million for the NHS. His Mum Samantha said: “Because Captain Sir Tom was 100 years old Dexter now wants to raise £100,000 for the Royal Berks. “We’ve talked about it and at the moment the target is £10,000, which is amazing anyway. “I just don’t want him to be disappointed. “He has though already raised £2,500 from a quiz and running a marathon in 10 days and then one in seven days.” We featured his running efforts in last week’s Wokingham.Today. In a video Dexter says: “The world feels a bit sad and scary right now. I want to do something to change that. “I have decided for my next challenge I want to cycle the distance from Lands End to John O’Groats, 873 miles before I turn nine. “I want to raise £100,000 by the end of the year for the Royal Berks.” On Monday he launched his UKlength cycle – covering 10 miles from Woodley round the Dinton Pastures lake a few times and back through Hurst.
If it’s all the same, we’ MANY of us have treasured pets: all creatures great and small captivate us. But it turns out that for some Berkshire residents, walkies with Fido is not enough. Nor is feeding Fred the goldfish, or discovering that Kitty is ready to turn her nose up as the cheap supermarket food, and will only eat the gourmet blend. It turns out that there are 43 wild animals classified as dangerous being kept in Berkshire homes – and there are 4,000 across Great Britain. The list includes 10 wolves, and 33 primates including Ring-tailed lemurs, Hamadryas baboons, and Rhesus macaques. The good news is that they are all licenced and being looked after by their owners. But conservation charity Born Free is calling on the UK Government to immediately review the law and put a stop to some of the world’s most remarkable, but often deadly, creatures being kept as ‘pets’ in unsuitable captive conditions. These include, across GB, 320 wild cats including tigers, lions, leopards and pumas.
PET RESCUE: Born Free International wants the government to rethink the practice of keeping exotic animals as pets
Thursday, March 4, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
nts to raise for the NHS
He will build up the distance with more local runs. His Mum, who runs and cycles with him, doesn’t want his kind heart to end, but is hoping for something less strenuous next time. She said: “I’m hoping his next activity is a little less physical, perhaps baking some cakes. “I admire his determination and courage. “Lots of people have been inspired to fundraise by Dexter. “A family friend is doing 2,600 steps in her lunchtimes to support him. “His classmates are running and cycling to help as well. “My cousin is doing 100,000 steps for a breast cancer charity. “When covid rules are less strict the hospital doctors want to show him how his money has helped staff wellbeing as well as the patients.” When he was younger, Dexter spent four weeks in a Royal Berks Hospital bed recovering after he broke his leg. “He has really fond, positive memories of being there four years ago. They looked after him so well and gave him such a great experience,” said Samantha. Jo Warrior director of Royal Berks Charity was thrilled with their young supporter. She said: “We think Dexter is an absolute superstar and a real inspiration to others who want to fundraise. “Everyone at the Royal Berks would like to say a huge thank you for his thoughtfulness and an enormous well done for his fundraising achievement.” � To support Dexter go to: www.justgiving.com/dexter-rosier1
’ll stick to smaller pets There are also 158 crocodilians in care and 332 scorpions as well as, and you might forget this, two elephants. Other species that are being kept as pets or in private collections in the UK include zebras, camels, fossa (a kind of civet), hyaena, sun bears, wolves, and otters. Dr Mark Jones, Veterinarian and Born Free’s Head of Policy, states: “Born Free has been collating and analysing DWA data for over 20 years. “Since the millennium the wild animal welfare and conservation charity has seen a dramatic increase in the number of exotic pets in private ownership, including a 94% increase in the number of venomous snakes, 57% increase in wild cats, 198% increase in crocodilians and over a 2,000% increase in scorpions. “However, these figures are likely to represent only the tip of the iceberg. “They only record those animals being kept and registered with a DWA licence. “Born Free believes that many additional dangerous wild animals are being kept without a licence.” Currently, under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, anyone in Britain can keep a dangerous wild
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animal as long as they obtain a licence from their Local Authority. Born Free says that the licencing process requires the applicant to demonstrate that their animals are properly contained so as to prevent escape and protect the public, but this does little to ensure the welfare of the animals or the protection of the owner or anyone else visiting the property. Dr Mark Jones said: “It is unbelievable that, in this day and age, so many dangerous animals, including big cats, large primates, crocodiles and venomous snakes, are in private ownership in the UK. Increasing demand for all kinds of wild animals as exotic pets puts owners and the wider public at risk of injury or disease. “It also results in serious animal suffering, and the demand increases the pressure on many wild populations which are often already under threat.” � To find out what dangerous animals are living in other counties across the UK you can use Born Free’s interactive map on its website - www.bornfree.org.uk/ dwamap. � An ITV documentary on dangerous wild animals in the UK is coming soon.
Yeah, we can see why a Another cheese toastie came top view Neil Coupe
IT MIGHT seem like longer, but later this month we’ll mark the first anniversary of the first lockdown. Monday, March 16, was the first night where we really did stay at home and since then, we’ve craved all kinds of home comforts. And new research shows that one staple is comfort food, with the cheese toastie top of the pops in lockdown three. The number one comfort food in the survey is a cheese toastie (25%), followed by pizza (17%) and jacket potato with cheese (12%). Although 30% of respondents said they were snacking on cheese, which is a healthy and nutritious food in moderation, less healthy foods are getting a good look-in too, with 65% snacking on chocolate, 63% on crisps and 47% on sweets. Four in 10 people have admitted that they are finding it harder to stick to a healthier diet during the third lockdown than the first two lockdowns, with 53% citing a lack of motivation and just over half of people (51%) blaming the cold days and long nights. Dorota Dziedzic, assistant brand manager for Jarlsberg, which commissioned the research, said: "Our survey highlights how much harder the UK population is finding lockdown 3. “People found it easier to maintain a healthy routine in the first lockdown in the spring, but this one has hit people harder and,
POETRY CORNER My iPad They’ve given me this iPad now I’m 91 Saying, “Come along now Granddad, it will give you lots of fun”. I’m finding out what it can do by trying this and that And a friend I have has helped me when she’s popped into my flat. I’ve found that chappie Google. He tells me lots of things And all I buy on Amazon to my front door he brings. I now can send out emails instead of letters in the post. They reach my friends so quickly at very little cost. I order all my food online for free delivery. To have this brought right to my door is such a help to me. My iPad gives me games to play and many books to read. With all this happening for me time flies by at top speed
You can’t beat a bit of sunshine
as our survey shows, there is a real lack of motivation to stick to a healthier diet this time, particularly as winter makes us crave comfort food – and this winter is recordbreaking in its low temperatures." The nation's favourite lockdown toastie is cheese and ham (21%), followed by BLT (18%), with the traditional cheese toastie and tuna melt toastie in joint third place (12%). Cheese and pickle and chocolate spread are in fourth and fifth place respectively with vegan cheeze toasties in sixth place. Dorota adds: "The comfort that cheese brings to food and feelings has come across loud and clear in the survey with cheese making the top three in the poll of most favourite comfort foods: cheese toastie, pizza and jacket potato with cheese."
Persephone Visits Winter’s lull lifts gently, Persephone awakens, stretches, yawns, sleepy eyes open lazy languid limbs unfold, she points a long finger – beckons slumbering Earth to stir. Strides with confidence, purpose, robes flowing, tresses curled, golden, flounced on shoulders, wanders, awakens dozing creatures from their dreams. Her breath is fresh March breeze, her tears are April showers her smile sunshine and warmth. We sleep still as she passes, singing softly, beneath our sills, dusts frosts from bony boughs, dresses twigs with shoots, whispers bulbs to sprout, unfurls petals to grace our world with colour, scent, beauty.
My iPad is a camera but I’ve yet to try this out. I’ll take it outside later when nobody’s about. My latest joy is joining Zoom. It’s like a meeting on my screen And it’s a lovely way of finding out how everybody’s been. And we chat away as it once had been Before COVID lockdown came on the scene.
Finally, finally she paints a cornflower sky.
So you can tell how my iPad plays A significant part in my life these days. “Yes, Granddad, your having lots of fun. A new pattern for life now you’re 91”. Jim Horsnell
We love receiving your poetry. Email your submissions to letters@ wokinghampaper.co.uk
Her work complete, Persephone summons birds to gather, sing – Spring is here. By Tina Cathleen MacNaughton
N
EWS around the vaccine and the roadmap have certainly boosted morale over the past few weeks, as we are now daring to look forward to doing things we enjoy later on in the year. However, nothing boosts the spirits like the year’s first weekend of decent weather. It was nice to sit in the garden or get out and about and enjoy a walk through our photogenic forests and parks. Even the incongruous sight of pools of water and mud from the previous week’s forgotten downpour could not dampen the mood. People are much more inclined to stop for a cheerful and positive socially distanced chat when there is evidence of there being sun in the sky. Added to the ‘feel good’ factor, came one of the periodic surveys extolling the virtues of our hometown. This time it was based on health and wellbeing, and unlike some of the more spurious reports we occasionally read, it was actually a product of work performed by an official body, namely the Office for National Statistics. We can sometimes forget how fortunate we are to live somewhere with such a high quality of life and with such incredible amenities and countryside on our doorstep. Needless to say, a quick glance on certain local social media groups would reveal that this is by no means a universal view.
Good old days I was particularly struck by some of the contributors who were keen to express a view that Wokingham used to be a good place to live and was once so much more of a green and pleasant land than it is now. In the old days before they moved away, that is. In other words, ‘It used to be great, but there’s now too much traffic and I’ve gone somewhere so much better’. Thanks for your interest in our town, and thanks for your helpful contribution to the debate. The other issue causing concern in the busy online forums is the introduction of new recycling bags, replacing the plastic boxes. Why does every minor change seem to cause so much resistance? It is a bag to put recycling in, instead of a box, and it is a bag with a weight in it so it is not going to be blown away and pollute the rivers. It is not a catastrophe, it’s not a conspiracy, it’s not going to use 5G to spy on us, it’s quite simply a new bag. Like so much online debate, there are trenchant views to kick off the discussion, an element of pushback and then somebody wise rounding off the debate by saying words to the effect that it is probably going to be alright, and anyway, we will find out soon enough. The fact that the Council is continuing to try to innovate and make improvements, even in the time of a pandemic should be applauded. I am very interested in local football and am excited to see the work starting at Cantley Park which will see a pavilion and another 3G pitch being installed, being the fifth 3G pitch in the borough. There are well over 500 football teams of various age groups in the borough and being able to accommodate their training needs within easy travelling distance is of immense benefit to the participants. Sporting activity is so important for people’s physical and mental well-being and will be something for people to look forward to as we come out of lockdown and normality returns.
22 | BUSINESS
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 4, 2021
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Strong start to 2021 for PRISYM A WOKINGHAM-based clinical labelling firm has entered 2021 with a range of business wins. Setting out its ambitions for 2021, PRISYM ID said it plans to continue focusing its efforts on supporting the medical sector. And it has announced some business wins over the past year, including new clinical trials and significant growth in its flagship 360 platform, which supports people keeping electronic records. Richard Adams, CEO of PRISYM ID, said that looking forward, the pandemic will undoubtedly leave “a lasting legacy” for the life sciences industry and has re-written the rules of what is feasible. “The challenge now is to lock in these gains,” he said. “I’m conscious that PRISYM ID has learnt so much working with our clients in this environment, and I want to make sure we maintain a laser-like focus on both the medical device and life sciences sectors as we help them reconfigure after covid. “I know PRISYM ID is positioned better than anyone to respond and
Gemma helps shape the culture of businesses By CHARLOTTE KING cking@wokingham.today WHEN THE pandemic hit, a Wokingham businesswoman decided to take her fate into her own hands – and she’s never looked back.
LOOKING FORWARD: Richard Adams, the chief executive officer of PRISYM ID
deliver the regulated labeling and content management solutions they need.” The company provides packaging solutions to life science and pharmaceutical companies across the globe.
Redwood is a leader A BRACKNELL-BASED customer experience firm has been recognised as a global leader. Redwood Technologies Group, based off A327 London Road, was included in the 12th annual Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 list. The list highlights the UK’s midmarket, private companies with the fastest-growing international sales – and Redwood Technologies Group jumped from 74 to 21 in this year’s report. In recent years, the company has expanded its operations across the globe, in the US, Asia-Pacific, and mainland Europe.
LOCKDOWN BUSINESS
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, it has also helped businesses move to home working with its contact centre solution, storm®. Sean Taylor, CEO of Redwood Technologies Group, said: “Global growth is key to achieving our goal of becoming a $1 billion+ revenue company. “We have a great foundation, helping hundreds of customers across tens of countries. “Inclusion in the Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 is wonderful achievement and testimony to the great work the team has put in over the years.”
Gemma Hood launched consultancy firm Culturehood at the beginning of last year in a bid to support businesses struggling to move online. When the virus hit the UK, she said she anticipated people might struggle working from home and wanted to lend a hand. “People we’re shoved into little digital islands,” she explained. “Businesses have to think about how they can connect with people when they’re working from home, and I knew that human element would be missing within some companies.” In her last job, Ms Hood was tasked with setting up a human resources function to manage employees as the business grew. “I named it ‘culture and community’ because I like to focus on employee engagement and experience, rather than policies and practice,” she explained. And over the past four years, Ms Hood’s carefully crafted people strategies have been recognised with a number of awards, including winning the Tech Employer of the Year award at the Thames Valley Tech Awards 2020. At the start of the pandemic, she decided to use that experience and “take the leap”, leaving the safety of her former job to set up Culturehood. Nearly a year after launching, she is now running a well-established company assisting a whole host of small- to medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
At Culturehood, Ms Hood spends her time consulting with companies which are dealing with employee disengagement. “I look for indicators that people are not as productive as they should be,” she explained. “I’ve created what I call the ‘five D process’ when I work with a business.” After defining a company’s aims and discovering people practices in place and gaining employees feedback, she designs and deploys a ‘people and culture plan’. This is followed by a debrief months later, to see if employees are more engaged than before. “Each business is looking to do something slightly different,” Ms Hood continued. “They could be looking to re-engage an existing workforce, fix a toxic work
culture, or they want to tackle high employee turnover.” But that’s not all Culturehood is useful for, she said. The business also works with companies that want to grow by helping them build a good foundation for strong employee engagement. Ms Hood believes employees have a responsibility to prioritise employee engagement and wellbeing, now more than ever. “Because of the pandemic, they need to make sure that people are happy coming to work because from a mental health perspective, they need to ensure employees aren’t burning out or feel unclear on what’s expected of them,” she explained. “I recently started a mental health first aid course so that I’m better equipped to assess employees’ wellbeing when doing my audits. “With so many people working from home, that line between finishing work and starting work is so blurred, it’s easy to become stuck in a rut and burn out.” Culturehood is currently offering a free 45-minute consultation for anybody who believes their company culture needs a rethink. “Ultimately, if your employees are productive, they’re going to treat your customers better,” Ms Hood added. “The better you treat your customers, the more it will increase revenue so it comes in full circle. “By investing in your people, you’re investing in your business.” � To find out more about Culturehood, visit: www.culturehood.co.uk
Wokingham confidence
All change at the top for law firm
WOKINGHAM businesses are some of the most confident in the UK, according to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). It said despite a difficult year, business confidence in the South East is proving higher than anywhere else, thanks to strong sales and growth. ICAEW’s ‘Business Confidence Monitor’ reported that profits in the region have fallen by 0.5% compared to this time last year. The successful coronavirus vaccine rollout has since increased the likelihood of a strong economic rebound over the coming year. Domestic sales and exports are also projected to rise sharply in 2021, as the region returns to ‘normal’ life. If achieved, the ICAEW said this could
A LEADING law firm is about to fall under new leadership.
drive profits at a rate not seen in the South East for 13 years. Harpreet Panesar, ICAEW regional director for the South East, said: “Business confidence in the [area] is higher than anywhere else in the UK, and the region’s economic structure has helped it weather the challenges of the past year. “Businesses expect a return to growth this year, thanks to the rollout of coronavirus vaccines. “As we look towards spring and summer, we want to see the Chancellor use the upcoming Budget to provide a bridge to sustainable and resilient economic recovery, getting people back to work, helping exporters, and investing in digital technology to make our businesses competitive in the 21st century economy.”
Blandy & Blandy, which has an office in neighbouring Reading, will see a new chairman take over from Thursday, April 1. Nick Burrows will succeed Brenda Long as the firm’s new executive, after joining the team in 2002. He has previously served as one of Blandy & Blandy’s joint managing partners, and said he is looking forward to taking on the role. Ms Long said: “I am delighted to be handing over to Nick, who is a hugely respected, dedicated and approachable colleague and lawyer.
STEPPING UP: Nick Burrows will be the new chairman of Blandy & Blandy from April 1
“With his significant experience, I have no doubt that he is the perfect choice to lead Blandy & Blandy through the coming months and
years, as the UK begins to emerge from this pandemic and looks towards a hopefully strong recovery.” Mr Burrows added: “I am
greatly looking forward to working closely with our joint managing partners, Tim Clark and Jonathan Gater, and with our fellow partners and colleagues, to support our clients’ evolving needs and expectations as we look to the future. “According to recent research, the Thames Valley is among the best placed regions in the UK in terms of recovering from this downturn and returning to a point of growth and prosperity for individuals and business. “As a firm, we are committed to playing our part in that journey.”
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READY FOR BUSINESS: Hat and Home has opened in Alexandra Court
AERIAL VIEW: Brook House in Bracknell has been bought by Angle Property
New agency opens
Loving Angles instead
By CHARLOTTE KING cking@wokingham.today
ANGLE Property has announced the latest acquisition for its Opportunity Fund – and it’s in Bracknell The business partnership launched the fund to support planning and development across the South East. Now, it has acquired Brook House in neighbouring Bracknell. The 21,600 square foot property will be refurbished before being marketed by Haslams.
‘WHEREVER I lay my hat, that’s my home’.
James Good, director of Angle Property, said: “We are very pleased to have completed this exciting offmarket purchase in such a strong location. “It is our first purchase of 2021 and first deal for the Angle Property Fund, which we are keen to grow with sustainable opportunities.” Angle Property said Bracknell is the perfect spot for its last acquisition, and is a “major economic centre” in the South East.
PARISHNOTICEBOARD Parish and borough council meetings
Meetings online – contact councils for details
Thursday, March 4 Shinfield Parish Council. Planning and Highways. 7.30pm. shinfieldparish.gov.uk
Monday, March 8 Remenham Parish Council. Parish Hall, off Remenham Lane, Remenham. 8pm. www.remenhamparish.org.uk Wokingham Town Council. Arts and Culture committee. 7.30pm. www.wokingham-tc.gov.uk Wokingham Borough Council. Standards Committee. 7pm. www.wokingham.gov.uk
Tuesday, March 9 Earley Town Council. Planning committee. 7.30pm. www.earley-tc.gov.uk Sonning Parish Council. Council meeting. 7pm. www.sonning-pc.gov.uk Swallowfield Parish Council. Parish Council Meeting. 7.30pm. www.swallowfieldpc.gov.uk Winnersh Parish Council. Parish council meeting. 7.30pm. www.winnersh.gov.uk Wokingham Borough Council. Council questions and motions deadline. 10am. Licensing and Appeals Committee. 7pm. www.wokingham.gov.uk Wokingham Town Council. Planning and Transportation meeting. 7.30pm. www.wokingham-tc.gov.uk
Wednesday, March 10 Finchampstead Parish Council. Annual gathering. 7pm. www.finchampstead-pc.gov.uk Shinfield Parish Council. Development Board. 7.30pm. shinfieldparish.gov.uk Wokingham Borough Council. Planning Committee. 7pm. www.wokingham.gov.uk
Thursday, February 11 Wokingham Borough Council. Wokingham Borough wellbeing board. 7pm. www.wokingham.gov.uk
This is the message from new Wokingham estate agency, Hat and Home, which opened its doors in Alexandra Court last month. Its founder, Ben Gee, has a 20-year track record in the property industry and recently decided to ditch London for the local scene. “As a Wokingham resident
for the past 12 years, I am delighted to be launching Hat and Home in my home town,” Mr Gee said. “The regeneration of Wokingham in recent years has led to an increasing, younger population and enhanced lifestyle amenities which make it a very attractive place to live and work. “I am looking forward to being able to help people sell and let their properties in such an exciting town”. Mr Gee, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s last year, was
regional sales director at London agency Marsh & Parsons for 13 years. Hat and Home has pledged to support Parkinson’s UK through its work, and aims to raise £10,000 for the charity in 2021 following Mr Gee’s diagnosis. Wokingham.Today recently reported on his family’s charity fundraiser to support Hat and Home’s pledge. Due to current lockdown restrictions, the estate agency is not yet open to the public.
BUSINESSES looking to network will not want to miss out on a virtual meeting, taking place next week.. Woodley Business Club is hosting the open networking event, to help local retailers make those all important connections. The entire 90minute session will be devoted to discussion, allowing members to introduce their businesses, meet others, and help their firms grow. There will be breakout rooms, and the opportunity to ask questions while sharing ideas with like-minded people. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 9 between 8am and 9.30am. To book a spot, visit: www. Woodleybusiness club.org.uk
Everything your business needs when it comes to high quality HR help By CHARLOTTE KING cking@wokingham.today DEALING with disputes at work just got a bit easier, thanks to this Bracknellbased company.
Organic P&O Solutions is a human resources (HR) consultancy and support firm, which has been helping the borough’s businesses for the past eight years. Founder Tash Kearslake was inspired to launch the company in 2013 when she realised small traders were struggling to access reliable HR support. “After pursuing a career in HR and specialising in both learning and development and operational HR and employee relations, I learned that it’s the quality of the conversation that matters when resolving disputes,” Ms Kearslake explained. “However, very few businesses were training their HR teams to have quality conversations, and I knew local businesses needed better access to support.” Now, Organic P&O Solutions
offers a range of learning and development programmes, as well as HR support services, to make sure local employers can access vital help. From supporting project management and delivery to helping line managers engage and inspire, the Bracknell-based team offers small- to medium-sized (SMEs) businesses high quality HR advice when they need it most. “We work with three core audiences,” Ms Kearslake explained. “We help small business owners who need to outsource their HR work. “We also help HR leaders with
mentoring work and special projects, such as tackling employerrelations issues. “Finally, we support line managers and senior executives with topical HR support and leadership behaviour training.” Organic P&O Solutions’ services also include helping SMEs automate their admin, and supporting businesses through the recruitment process. And Ms Kearslake said her company’s work is absolutely essential for local businesses, who need to ensure they don’t err on the wrong side of the law when dealing with disputes. “If you’ve got quality HR advice, you find out in advance what’s okay and what’s not okay,” she explained. “Small business owners often have close relationships with their employees, so they may not know how to address something until it’s too late. “You wouldn’t tinker with your car before speaking to a mechanic, and if you’ve got high turnover or
difficult employee behaviour, we can help you identify what’s going on.” To make sure local SMEs find the right support for their needs, Organic P&O Solutions is offering its services in bundles which are paid for on a monthly basis, as well as assisting businesses with ad hoc projects. “If a business isn’t ready for a full HR service that’s okay,” Ms Kearslake added. “We can offer a simple conversation to make sure employers are handling something correctly from the get go. “On the flip side, we can also support employers who are in the midst of a dispute and don’t know what to do next. “Simply put, Organic P&O Solutions is here to help you navigate one-off conversations, as well as supporting business owners who are looking for a more complex solution.” The Bracknell-based firm is currently offering discounts for a range of local businesses, as well as lower prices for ongoing support projects. � To find out more about Organic P&O Solutions, visit: www.organicposolutions.co.uk
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COUNCILNEWS Leader’s gratitude for covid support THE meeting opened with the leader of the council, John Halsall, paying tribute to the way in which the borough has handled the coronavirus pandemic. “I would like a big thank again to everybody who has stepped up to the plate and made it possible for life to continue during these appalling times,” he said, adding his condolences for “those who have suffered so much”. He urged residents to continue to obey lockdown measures designed to thwart the spread of the virus. “It has never been more vital that we play our role and continue to observe the rules,” he said, adding that the council was using the government’s roadmap out of restrictions as part of its recovery strategy. This included helping health partners to roll-out the vaccine and provide spaces for lateral flow testing. “To be successful this testing needs to be part of everybody’s daily routine. We need to change behaviour and continually check for positive cases. So that these cases can then selfisolate,” he said. “We need to be ready to rapidly deploy thousands of PCR tests door to door should the data suggest we have a problem in the borough.” The council would also focus on the following areas of recovery: supporting business and job creation; physical and mental wellbeing; maintaining services; using data for insight; focusing on education; tackling inequality and social inclusion.
‘Vaccine recipients need more parking’ MORE car parking spaces should be provided for people heading to Wokingham town centre for their covid vaccine. Resident David Dunham told Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, the executive member for highways and transport, that the Bradbury Centre was able to vaccinate between 900 and 1,400 people a day, and that they needed to be monitored for 15 minutes before leaving. The turnaround is around four people every eight minutes, and as such the 14 allocated spaces weren’t sufficient. “Could the Rose Street car park be allocated vaccine centre car park only for that one day a week?” he asked. “The loss of revenue would be minimal in comparison to the benefits, especially as there are many who still need to be vaccinated who are on the vulnerable list.” He added that on occasion traffic wardens had “been hovering”, while the volunteers at the centre were able to use the Waitrose store car park. Responding, Cllr Jorgensen thanked Mr Dunham for the question, and said that the council had set aside space for the vaccinations and it was being managed. She promised that they would review the situation and make adjustments.
“It is important to bear in mind, that if the Rose Street car park were used solely to serve the Bradbury Centre vaccination clinics this would unfairly disadvantage those using it to visit the few businesses that are currently managing to remain open as well as those needing to attend the Wokingham Medical Centre for noncovid medical care.” Mr Dunham again called for more parking, saying another line was all that was needed. “I am very happy to make sure there is enough parking,” Cllr Jorgensen promised.
Children’s services visits update WITH lockdown continuing, Anne Chadwick, Conservative’s candidate for Loddon Ward, wanted to know how many face-to-face children’s services visits were conducted during this time. She noted that in June last year, during the first lockdown, 97% of child protection visits were face-to-face. Cllr UllaKarin Clark, executive members for children’s services, that the borough council’s social workers had been “committed” to this system, delivered to a set of practice standards, within the usual statutory timescales. “Between January 1 and February 19, 2021, a total of 783 Child Protection visits have been completed by Wokingham social workers,” she added. “Out of this number 5.4% have been virtual and 94.6% of visits have been undertaken in person and face to face by a social worker.”
Covid in care homes update given DANIEL HINTON, Conservative candidate for Candidate for Evendons Ward, asked for an update on the level of covid in the borough’s care homes. Responding, Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services, said that there were now relatively low case numbers in Wokingham. “Across 52 care homes in Wokingham, there are two covid positive residents and three positive members of staff,” he said. “Following a peak in the case rate in Wokingham at the beginning of January, the weekly rate has fallen steadily, at all times remaining below the national and South East comparable rates. “Wokingham currently has the lowest weekly rate in Berkshire, a rate of 54.3 per 100,000 (for the week February 10-16) and has a very low rate in residents over the age of 60 at just 35.5 per 100,000, well below the equivalent figure for the South East of 69.8 per 100,000.” He added: “Central Government has, however, announced this week that Care home residents will be permitted one designated visitor from March 8. “Our Task Force will continue to work with colleagues from across the sector to minimise the risk of community transmission and ensure
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 4, 2021
PHIL CREIGHTON reports on a special Wokingham Borough Council executive meeting held online on Thursday, February 25
Approval for covid review TWELVE recommendations to the council borne out of the coronavirus pandemic were approved by the executive. They were voting on a report by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee based on the experiences of the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. The report was introduced by Cllr Pauline Helliar-Symons (Con, Wokingham Without): “I have great pleasure in introducing this report,” she told the executive, saying that “We felt the council has done a superb job in coping with this pandemic”. Some of the 12 issues were already being addressed, such as council staff and councillors undergoing mental health first aid training. Recommendations include a commendation to the efforts of staff, councillors, partners and community volunteers to ensure that key services remained operational. On care homes, the executive want to ensure that staff do not work in more than one home and appropriate social distancing measures are applied. that Lateral Flow Testing is fully to facilitate designated visitors.” Mr Hinton, who is also the Conservative group leader on Wokingham Town Council, wanted to know if there was a message for residents from all this. Cllr Margetts said the response had been encouraging with residents working hard to follow covid rules. Cllr Gary Cowan (Ind, Arborfield) wanted details on the way in which the council had supported those in and near care homes during the pandemic. “Is the Council satisfied that it has worked just as proactively to deliver support and advice to our residents and businesses in the vicinity of the care homes where there has been reported cases of infection and sadly loss of life in the Borough?” Responding, Cllr Margetts said: “Outbreaks in care homes have been managed effectively and contained through all necessary infection control measures and public health action to manage this risk of community transmission.” He added that the council has worked with residents and businesses to minimise the risk of community transmission, including covid marshals and a support team. “Where we have seen care home outbreaks, the council has targeted resources within local community,” Cllr Margetts continued. “This has included marshal patrols and an increase in signage, with staff working alongside local residents and businesses to highlight any risks and ensure compliance. “For example when there was an outbreak at the Shinfield View care home we arranged daily covid marshal patrols and located four large temporary feather signs in Shinfield outside key shops and the garage and a number of additional standard signs to reassure the community.”
The welfare of council staff during the next phases of the pandemic was highlighted, as was the ‘relative sparsity of data’ on domestic violence. This led to a new support contract being approved at the January executive. A similar approach to poverty is being worked on. A call to ensure that people aged 21-25 who have left care settings should be exempt from paying council tax has been met and comes into force from April. Going forward, the council will tailor its covid response to specific community groups and ensure the messaging is appropriate for that setting, be it for a ward area or to targeted communities. The report calls on the council to continue the partnerships with external organisations including the voluntary sector, health, police, schools and town and parish councils. There is also scope for the council to learn from the operational issues learnt during the pandemic, which has seen staff redeployed to maintain essential services while others were shut due to government restrictions.
Cllr UllaKarin Clark asked for an amendment to be made to the report, saying she was not happy with the first sentence in the section about children’s services being amended to ensure staff and children were safe, as it “gives the impression that this was not the case before … that’s definitely not true”. Cllr Gregor Murray noted “how pleased I am at the amount of focus the report has given to mental health across our community”, urging all councillors to undergo mental health first aid training “as soon as they can”. Summing up, Cllr John Halsall said that the report was being considered almost a year to the day that the first case of covid was confirmed in the borough. “I have been extremely proud to be leader in this period … the emergency planning regime kick in, we involved the voluntary sector, the health sector and, I must say that, by and large, we did a pretty good job. “We have phenomenal officers who have stepped up to the plate.” The report was approved unanimously.
Council’s response to covid praised
these work-streams together and ensure they are not forgotten as we embark on our significant role in helping create a brighter, purposeful and happier future for our community.”
THERE was praise for the Executive for “standing up for the borough where necessary” during the pandemic. The comments came from Sam Akhtar, Conservative candidate for Candidate for Charvil, who wanted to know more about the council’s plans for the other side of lockdown. He asked: “What is its strategy?” Cllr John Halsall said: “It is pleasing to hear the appreciation of the council’s response to the pandemic. “It means a lot to know that our endeavours were felt among the community at such a vital time. “Our response is not over yet of course, so we must keep focused on this and doing all we can.” He pointed out that the budget for the year ahead was one about “recovery” as it provided £500 million worth of investment over three years. “A considerable amount of this will stimulate our local economy and seek to address the housing needs in the borough for those not currently able to afford to buy their homes,” he said. And there was also money for care services including a domestic abuse support service, and work on its poverty strategy. He also hoped to refresh the vision and corporate delivery plan next month, and would be bringing a recovery strategy to a May meeting of the executive. “Most of the recovery work is of course already progressing, for example; improving our offer for low to medium mental health support, stimulating economic recovery and helping our children achieve their development potential,” he continued. “This strategy will help us bring all
Concerns over child poverty levels UP TO 17% of children in certain wards are living in poverty according to a Conservative election candidate. Shahid Younis, who is standing in Bulmershe and Whitegates ward, wanted to know what the council was planning to do to reduce levels of child poverty. Cllr John Halsall, the leader of the borough council, said that while Wokingham had one of the lowest poverty rates in the country, “even if one person or one child does not have fair and equal opportunity in our Borough that is one too many and we are committed to fighting this”. He said that the work was already ongoing to alleviate this, including maxmising affordable and council housing and addressing homelessness. A fuel poverty scheme has seen energy efficiency measures installed, which could save more than 30% on annual bills. And Cllr Halsall also praised the council’s partnership with the voluntary and community sector which means it could “support our residents to lead self-sustaining lifestyles, including addressing food insecurity through initiatives such as Grub Club and Social Bites which has positive benefits for children”. He added: “Notwithstanding this positive work that has been taking place and is being strengthened in response to the pandemic, we know we can do more to ensure those who really need our support can get it.”
Thursday, March 4, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
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Schools join air project FOUR borough schools have joined the council’s new Wokingham Air Quality project. Evendons Primary School, St Paul's Junior School, Hawthorns Primary School and Westende Junior School have had three diffusion tubes placed outside their schools to monitor Nitrogen Dioxide(NO2) across the year. Information gathered will also be used to teach students about air quality. The project's focus is to increase active travel and improve air quality – especially around schools near the council’s air management areas. The project has been funded by Defra, and is in partnership with Intelligent Health.
Uni applications rise IT SEEMS students are flocking to the University of Reading this year, after it saw a 5% rise in applications. According to the University of Reading, nearly 20,000 people applied for full-time undergraduate courses in 2021, rising by more than 1,000 applicants from last year. This means there are approximately five students for every undergraduate place available. The University also reported applications from UK and overseas students rose by 10%, compared to last year, while the number of applicants from EU students dropped by 47%. Professor Robert Van de Noort, vice-chancellor at the University of Reading, said: “It is fantastic to see that young people are still planning for their futures by applying to university. “I am very proud to say that the University has seen an overall increase of applications, despite such a drop in applications from EU – which was expected.”
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 4, 2021
First time buyers are turning to bank of grandma and granddad EXCLUSIVE
IN THE FAMILY: First time buyers are looking for support from relatives to get on the property ladder Picture: mastersenaiper / Pixabay
By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokingham.today FIRST-TIME homeowners in the South East are being gifted more than £61,000 from grandparents to help cover the cost of a deposit.
Data from equity release company, Key, revealed that the “bank of gran and grandad” is hard at work in the region, to help young people buy their first home. On average, financial gifts made up 95% of a deposit, with only £3,300 coming from the young buyer. Last year, older homeowners released almost £755 million of equity in order to help younger members of their family meet costs, Key CEO, Will Hale said. Gifts for house deposits were highest in London at £102,826 and lowest in the North West at £23,467. Mr Hale said the Stamp Duty holiday on all purchases up to £500,000 — which ends this month — was a major driver in the gifting. Cllr Lindsay Ferris, leader of the Wokingham Lib Dems, said while
the stamp duty holiday helps with overall costs, it doesn’t resolve the barrier to reaching getting on the property ladder in the first place. Cllr Prue Bray, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for social housing said high household income requirements for mortgages and deposit costs puts buying a house out of the question for many people in the borough. “Even for a flat in Wokingham is over £51,000 a year, with the average across all property being over £98,000,” she said. “That’s why it is so important to provide more affordable housing, including shared ownership as an option, under which people can buy a share of a house and pay rent on the rest.” Cllr Bray said the borough urgently needs more affordable housing to rent for people whose incomes will never be high enough to be able to save a deposit in today’s housing market. “All this is why the Liberal Democrats are committing to maximising the number of 1-3 bed affordable homes to meet local needs in our manifesto for the local elections in
Wokingham this year,” she added. Cllr John Kaiser, executive member for finance and housing at the borough council said providing affordable housing is a top priority for the council. He called housing a fundamental right, adding the council aspires for everyone in the borough to have a “decent stable home in a thriving community”. “As a local authority we have delivered one of the highest numbers of affordable homes in England,” he said. “In new housing developments, we require around 35% to be affordable. We have worked with our housing association partners to provide over 1,400 good quality new affordable homes in the last four years and an additional 800 affordable homes will be provided over the next few years. “Homes that people can afford to live in, with the majority for residents on the council’s housing register. “We also help those aspiring to get onto the housing ladder offering a part buy, part rent shared ownership scheme. And, we have a strong pipeline of 2,000 affordable homes planned over the next several years.” He added: “Housing plays a huge role in the health and well-being of all our residents. It is more than just bricks and mortar; housing is about people and communities.” But Cllr Carl Doran, Labour spokesperson for housing, said first time buyers have already been
priced out of Wokingham. “WBC homeless and waiting list figures show that there is a large number of people in Wokingham looking for cheap one or two-bed accommodation,” he said. “Cheaper than those properties which are available on the market. “The combination of wage squeezes while house prices have tripled since 2000, has led to a situation where the housing market is effectively unaffordable for new entrants. “This is a problem that affordable housing was supposed to solve, but it clearly has not. “That's down to a planning system that allows developers to get away with supplying pathetically low amounts of affordable" housing and at prices that simply aren't affordable. “Slightly less expensive might be a better term for this housing.” He criticised the borough council for not building affordable housing in its own developments. “WBC themselves have taken advantage of this planning system in their own developments,” he said. “In the Carnival Pool flats development, the planning authority, WBC, accepted the applicant's view, also WBC, that there should be zero affordable housing.” Cllr Doran was concerned that in this week’s budget, the new scheme to underwrite 95% mortgages would make more money for developers, make it easier for career landlords to purchase extra homes, and increase house prices. “And all this puts housing more out of reach of first time buyers and requiring the Government to come up with ever more ludicrous schemes to pretend everyone can own their own home,” he said. “We should build council houses rather than let speculative developers build expensive homes to be rented out by private landlords. “As Shelter have said, a home is the foundation of individual success in life and public house building can be the foundation of national success.”
Sainsbury’s opens in Dobbies A HARE HATCH garden centre has opened a new foodhall thanks to a partnership with Sainsbury’s. Dobbies Garden Centre is now stocking more than 3,000 fresh, chilled and frozen products – along with other grocery and household items. Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies, said: “It is fantastic to see our new look foodhall open in Hare Hatch, with a diverse range of Sainsbury’s products now available for customers. “This new food and grocery offer provides convenience and a wide product selection for our customers.” Mr Jenkins thanked
everyone involved in creating the partnership, and said he hopes customers will enjoy the new foodhall. From Monday to Thursday, the garden centre gifted five lucky visitors the contents of their shopping basket for free.
The shop is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays. Social distancing measures are in place. For more information, visit: www.dobbies.com
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from your groups clubs and societies INTHECOMMUNITY Send yourNews reports to news@wokinghampaper.co.uk Easthampstead Rotary
The Arts Society Wokingham LIVE from the south of France, Julia Musgrave shared her knowledge and enthusiasm for the art and design work of Eric Ravilious with members of The Arts Society Wokingham during their February on-line lecture. Julia took her audience through Ravilious’s short career from 1922 when, aged only 19, he won a scholarship to study at the Design School at the Royal College of Art through to his untimely death in 1942, aged only 39. At the Royal College of Art he was nicknamed ‘the boy’ by his contemporaries such as Cecilia Dunbar Kilburn and Douglas Percy Bliss. It was here that he met and became life-long friends with Edward Bawden and Peggy Angus. Under the tutelage of Paul Nash he developed his technique of wood-engraving and so impressed Nash that he helped Ravilious get commissions for his bold wood-cut designs. Ravilious also studied in the Department of Mural and Decorative Painting at the RCA which led to him and Bawden to undertake an important commission to design and paint the walls of the Refreshment Room of Morley College. They chose Shakespearean plays as their theme and when completed in 1928 these vast and detailed murals were highly acclaimed and made them both famous. Unfortunately the building was hit by a bomb during the Blitz and the murals were destroyed. Ravilious had become well-known as a designer and in 1936 Wedgewood hired him as their leading pattern designer. He designed bowls, dinner services and mugs, including one to celebrate the coronation of George VI. These days, Ravilious is perhaps best remembered as a watercolourist. He not only took inspiration from his beloved South Downs, but also served as a war artist and painted many
Taking advantage of the sunshine last week, and of course following the latest Government guidelines, Pickle, my Bichon Frise rescue, and I went for our walk in the park. Well, what a surprise when we saw a giant squirrel. Apart from its size (over five feet tall), when it passed we saw a sign on its tail: Youthline. And what was strange about that, was the fact that before leaving the house, I'd been writing a press release on a Rotary project supporting Youthline. Well, Pickle and I caught her up. Her name (yes it was a female squirrel) is Monika, and she has been running to raise public awareness in the local charity and the work it does providing free counselling for young people and their carers. “As someone who loves helping others, this has filled my days with joy knowing that I’m helping people remember that even in lockdown we can smile and stay positive,” Monika told me. Since Covid-19 struck, young people’s education has been interrupted, home-schooling has its
www.volunteer wokinghamborough.org.uk
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holidays, fundraising and events planning, or even compiling the annual accounts for local groups. Others give their time as leaders or assistant leaders for units, providing girls and young women with a space where they can be themselves. Whatever your skills and interests, and no matter how much time you have to spare, one of the guiding volunteering roles is bound to suit you. In Wokingham, Girlguiding is currently looking for a Unit Leader or Unit Helper for Rainbows (to support girls aged five to seven) Brownies
� The local branch of Samaritans requires the help and support of a volunteer who either has health and safety experience or is willing to learn. The role will include ensuring that all safety policies and practices are adopted, to carry out risk assessments and consider how risks could be reduced and keeping records of inspections findings, proposing suggested changes to the committee, and developing plans for implementing agreed improvements. The volunteer must maintain confidentiality at all times, be approachable, organised and honest, understand Samaritans mission, vision and values. Some knowledge of health and safety regulations would be beneficial.
Peter von Bergen
CLASP Wokingham AN ONLINE quiz created by people with learning disabilities will help raise funds for Comic Relief. The virtual event will be held from 11am on Friday, March 19. It is organised by members of CLASP Wokingham and use the Zoom online platform. Those taking part are asked to make a minimum of £5 for Comic Relief before joining in the fun. There will be prizes and participants are asked to wear something red. Before the quiz, the group will enjoy a talk from Wokingham Lions about its charity work. This starts at 10am, and also uses Zoom. For more details, or to join in, log on to www.wokinghamclasp.org.uk
SUE BRYANT
(to support girls aged seven to 10) Guides (to support girls aged 10 to 14) and Rangers (to support girls aged 14-18).
Helena Badger
IRLGUIDING is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK. Thanks to the dedication and support of 100,000 amazing volunteers, we are active in every part of the UK, giving girls and young women a space where they can be themselves, have fun, build brilliant friendships, gain valuable life skills and make a positive difference to their lives and their communities. The volunteers contribute more than 10 million hours to guiding every year. Some give a couple of hours here and there – helping out with driving for trips and
own pressures, and the coronavirus is also affecting young people. So far Monika has raised £1,475 for Youthline. To see how she's getting on, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ Monika-Taplin Donating is safe and simple – and every penny counts. The Rotary support for Youthline was a £2,000 Peace Grant arranged by Easthampstead
striking images of planes and ships including one of HMS Ark Royal in action in 1940. The aim of Julia‘s lecture was to explore whether the art of Eric Ravilious could have existed without the friendships and social networks which inspired and employed him: this she did. The society's next lecture is entitled ‘Art and Illusion’ by Ian Gledhill. This talk will illustrate the way in which theatre has developed over the past 2,500 years; in particular how stage scenery design has evolved and advanced in that time. It will be streamed to the society’s YouTube channel at 7.45pm on Monday, March 15. To find out how to become a member of the society and have access to these virtual lectures, please visit our website www.TheArtsSocietyWokingham.org.uk
Wokingham Volunteering
Rotarians to fund a training course in counselling for young people who are suffering with anxiety disorders. The following comment reflects the feedback from all the participants on the course: “Well presented, interactive, lots of relevant examples, excellent”. For more information on Youthline check out their website www.youthlineuk.com/ or www.facebook.com/ youthline.bracknellforest Easthampstead Rotarians are a group of 45-odd (and not-so-odd) local men and women like Monika who have fun making a difference in their Community. Feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, encouraging our young people. Our projects are local and global - Supporting Education, Promoting Peace, Fighting Disease, and Protecting the Environment. New supporters are always welcome. Interested to find out more? Visit: easthampsteadrotary.org or www.facebook.com/ easthampsteadrotaryclub, or call me on: 01344 526 424
DEBS MORRISON, CLASP MANAGER
This role will require attendance at governance meetings which are currently held every sixeight weeks by Zoom. The Samaritans say they are a small friendly branch and this role is critical for the safety of its volunteers. � ABC to read says it believes life is better when everyone can read and express themselves confidently. Its trained reading mentors provide children with the skills and confidence they need to do just that. With the current pandemic, it says it feels there is even more need for volunteers as some children may have fallen behind. Volunteers are currently being trained on online and are supporting children virtually
while they are not on site in school. When the schools return, volunteers will ideally return to support children on a face to face basis in schools. Commitment is ideally twice a week for one-and-a-half hours in the afternoons but once a week will be considered. The role is extremely rewarding, learning new skills and strengthens our community. At the current time, ABC to read will be conducting online interviews and training. � These are just a few of the latest opportunities on our books. Contact us by calling: 0118 977 0749, send an email to: volunteer@wok-vol.org.uk or log on to www.volunteer wokinghamborough.org.uk to find out more and have a look at all the roles we have to offer.
28 | LEISURE
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WOKINGHAMLEISURE Armchair detectives wanted MURDER mysteries can make you walk a virtual tightrope, looking for clues in unexpected places. And now a Shinfield-based theatre group is preparing to launch a high flying crime to solve in a special virtual event. There has been a murder in a travelling circus, and there’s a chance for viewers at home to crack the case. The Shinfield Players have a reputation for organising murder mystery evenings during non-covid times. Now it is returning with an online version, taking place using the Zoom video conferencing software on Saturday, March 13. The am-dram group is inviting participants to watch the action and then cross-examine suspects. A spokesperson said: “Enjoy the talents of our players as they sew the seeds of an intriguing mystery with a murder which needs solving. “This is virtual theatre with a killer twist so book your tickets now.” The event includes a virtual raffle with 10 prizes up for grabs. Tickets cost £6 per connection, and raffle tickets are £5 per strip, offering five tickets. To book, log on to www.ticketsource.co.uk/ shinfieldplayerstheatre, email boxoffice@shinfieldplayers.org.uk or call 0118 975 8880.
No need to go to the attic to watch this picture
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SPECIAL digital adaptation of a classic Oscar Wilde play will see Stephen Fry team up with a wealth of famous faces next week. The Picture of Dorian Gray is being performed in conjunction with Newbury’s The Watermill theatre and brings together the all-star cast for the modern adaptation, using social media and dating apps to tell the Faustian tale. Joining Fry are, among others, Joanna Lumley as Lady Narborough, Emma McDonald as Sibyl Vane and Russell Tovey as Basil Hallward. Director Tamara Harvey said of the casting, “When trying to tell stories in Covid times, with very few resources and almost no time, the thing you need from your cast more even than talent is a spirit of collaboration, combined with patience, kindness and large doses of humour. “Every member of our cast for Dorian
Wokingham Loves Music
THIRD DAY: Hoopy Frood performing at Wokingham Festival Picture: Andrew Merritt Photography
Chris Hillman
bit.ly/wokingham lovesmusic
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Gray brought that and more. “They are not only ridiculously talented but also – perhaps even more importantly – they’re all genuinely lovely people, which has made the making of this piece a joy.” The Picture of Dorian Gray will utilise elements found in radio plays, films, documentaries as well as traditional theatrical techniques. Audience members receive a screening link which will activate on their booked performance date for a 48-hour period. Tickets are priced at £12 which will include a link to the production as well as a digital programme. Closed captioning will be available for all dates during the run, with audio description available from 23-31 March. Tickets for the production are currently on sale internationally, and can be purchased via pictureofdoriangray.com
HEY say the best things come for those who wait. And that’s exactly the case with this week’s highest new entry in our
playlist. Hoopy Frood has just released their latest album – their first in 12 years. Round Shaped Hole is one track from it and it heads up our Wokingham Loves Music soundtrack this week. You can listen for FREE, via Spotify. There’s a special page set-up at bit.ly/wokinghamlovesmusic
Hoopy Frood – Round Shaped Hole This Wokingham-based band released their second album back in 2009 and have just released their third called Affirmations. Was it worth the wait? Well, if you listen to this track from the album you’ll hear that it certainly was. It’s a great track with a cool video and it’s a good example of their hard to classify sound which the band describes as psy-groove electro-rock music. That’s as good a description as any so have a listen and, if you like what you hear, check out the album– www.hoopyfrood.co.uk
Alfie Griffin – Fi-Lo Some mellow grooves here from a Reading-based musician who has previously appeared live at Wokingham Festival. If you’ve seen Alfie previously you’ll know his indie acoustic singer-songwriter style so you may be surprised by this new single as it’s an instrumental.
There’s nothing wrong with that though as it’s a good track with some good guitar sounds and a chilled feel. It’s always good to see artists being creative and trying new things– www.facebook.com/alfiegriffinmusic
lockdown and all the chaos and frustration that comes with it.’ www.facebook.com/ rachelredmanmusic
Katie Ellwood – The Only Thing
The band describe themselves as ‘emotive, evocative and enchanting’ and they recently streamed a live online performance from Generation Studio– www.facebook.com/ ThirdLung
A wonderful debut single written, recorded, produced, played and sung by this talented young musician at her home in Wokingham during lockdown– www.katieellwood.com
The Lost Trades – Hummingbird Recommended by local photographer, Andrew Merritt who saw this trio when they visited the area to play at The Acoustic Couch before lockdown– thelosttrades.com
Red Tape Resistance – Hollow This Bracknell-based band will be releasing new material very soon and while we wait for that, here’s their single from early last year – www.facebook.com/ redtaperesistance
Rachel Redman – Against the Tide Rachel has played at Wokingham Festival and here’s her new single which she describes as ‘a reflective tale of dealing with life in
Third Lung– Falling Stone
Milan Webb – It Never Snows in Spain The new solo single, mixed by Dean Nelson, from the man you’ll have seen as ‘Carlos’ at Oye Santana shows at Wokingham Music Club (WMC)– www.oyesantana.com
Marc Woosnam – Silver Lining (Piano Version) Check out Marc’s beautiful new single and listen out for the wonderful string arrangement from WMC sound man Spencer Brooks– marcwoosnam.com
Edward Naysmith – Fit Within Your Life A great song from a singer/songwriter who has visited both Wokingham Festival and WMC – www.facebook.com/ EdwardNaysmithOfficial
LEISURE | 29
30 | LIFE
In the garden March
SOWING THE SEEDS FOR SUMMER
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ARCH brings some sunny days to tempt gardeners back into the garden and many of us are really aching for Spring now. This is the month for sowing seeds and getting the garden ready for the summer months ahead, which includes a general tidy up and some essential pruning. Pruning is not only therapeutic for plants, but gardeners as well – getting rid of all that dead wood and preparing for new growth and flowers. You need to remove dead, diseased or damaged stems from roses. Shrubs and climbers will also need pruning to encourage good, healthy growth. Seed sowing should be at the top of your ‘to do’ list at the moment. Give seeds soil that is wet and warm enough and off they go, and the bigger the seed the deeper it needs to be in the soil to germinate. Some seeds can be sown direct into the ground, such as vegetables, while some prefer to be in seed trays and a slighter warmer environment to be given a good fighting chance. March is also a good planting time for more mature plants, so think ahead to not just summer but autumn as well and try to plan your planting for all year round colour in the garden. For a bit of instant colour you could think about a hanging basket. A simple garden solution for March is to create your own hanging basket in the colour scheme of your choice mixing hardy annuals with small evergreen shrubs for all year round interest. Although most baskets are planted in early spring and put outdoors after the risk of frost has passed, they can also be filled with frost hardy flowers and tough evergreens for colour over winter. Don’t forget to water regularly and boost growth with a weekly liquid feed. A plant perfect for winter baskets and containers is Vinca (pictured), which is part of the periwinkle family. Vinca minor is also a favourite with gardeners for providing ground cover and can be planted in smaller beds and borders. It’s a great way of providing cover for poor, dry and slightly shady garden areas and its creeping and arching stems soon make an attractive carpet of bright green foliage. The small sky-blue flowers appear in spring and Vinca will grow in most soil types but like most other plants, requires good drainage. Spring seems tantalising close in March and work in the garden starts to get going again. Here are some jobs you should be thinking about this month from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) … � Protect new spring shoots from slugs � Plant shallots, onions and early potatoes � Plant summer flowering bulbs � Lift and divide clumps of perennials � Top dress containers with fresh compost � Mow the lawn on dry days � Cut back dogwood and willow grown for winter stems � Hoe and mulch weeds to keep them under control early � Start feeding fish and using the pond fountain � Prune bush and climbing roses
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Inthekitchen Freely Fruity facebook.com/freelyfruityUK
Roasted Savoy Cabbage
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ARCH is a great time of year to eat savoy cabbages and here is a great way to cook one. Roasting cabbage in the oven adds so much flavour. Each wedge is like a rainbow of textures and means they are soft and juicy from a little steaming yet slightly charred and crispy from roasting. This makes a great accompaniment to steamed fish, a rich stew or roasted meat. Choose all or some of the suggested toppings below and, of course, it’s easily vegetarian or vegan if you like. Serves 4 as a side dish
Ingredients � 1 savoy cabbage � 2 tbsp olive oil Suggested toppings � 200g smoked streaky bacon, finely chopped � 30g pine nuts � Chilli flakes � Parmasan, grated � ½ lemon, zest and juice
Method 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/ gas mark 6 2. Discard any big, discoloured outer cabbage leaves. With the stalk intact, cut the cabbage into quarters then cut each quarter into 5 wedges. Place the 20 wedges carefully into a colander so they stay together as much as possible 3. Boil a full kettle of water and pour it over the cabbage. Leave for a couple of minutes to drain and cool then carefully arrange the wedges in one layer on a baking tray and cover tightly with foil 4. Place into the oven for 20 minutes then take out of the oven and remove the foil 5. Sprinkle over the bacon bits, if using, and drizzle the whole tray with olive oil then return to the oven, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes 6. Add the pine nuts for the last 5 minutes of cooking, if using 7. Serve sprinkled with, chilli flakes, parmesan and/or lemon zest and juice Recipe by Charlotte Simpkins for Freely Fruity www.facebook.com/ freelyfruityuk/
Get ready to enjoy the blossom
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HERE can be little doubt that spring is on its way – the warm sunshine over the past week has been much welcomed.
And with the sunshine comes the promise of growth. Trees are starting bud, and it won’t be long before they are in full bloom. To celebrate, the National Trust is inviting people to take a moment to pause, actively notice and enjoy the fleeting beauty of blossom. Using #BlossomWatch the National Trust is asking people to share their blossom images on social media, with the hope that the joyful sight of blush-tinted blooms will lift spirits and enable everyone to celebrate nature together. For those inspired to plant a blossom tree of their own, the National Trust has also compiled a list of top five blossom trees suitable for home gardens, recommended by Head Gardeners. The National Trust looks after thousands of heritage fruit trees and ornamental cherry trees at National Trust gardens in Bucks, Berks and Oxon. Many of these can be found in traditional orchard settings. More than 90% of Britain's heritage orchards have been lost, but the National Trust now protects more than 25 in the South East alone. They provide a lifeline for insects including pollinating bees and butterflies, and are an uplifting spectacle in spring, and in autumn when they are bursting with fruit.
Our nearest National Trust property is Greys Court, where the cobbled paths were specially designed to retain a carpet of delicate petals and prevent the cherry blossom from being immediately trampled underfoot. There are small flowering fruit trees dotted all around the walled gardens, but it’s the crab apple arch, flowering in May, that puts on a real show. It’s been trained over hoops and entwined with clematis to create a scented flowery tunnel. Not strictly blossom, but equally enchanting is Greys Court’s wisteria ‘room’ in the walled garden. Planted in the 1890s, it flowers abundantly each May. Emma McNamara, National Trust Gardens and Parks Consultant for the South East and Northern Ireland: “Blossom is fleeting but so beautiful that you’ll find planting your own tree hugely rewarding. “A blossom tree gives you two seasonal delights: bright, blowsy, or delicate flowers in the spring, and
later, home-grown fruits. Most fruit trees are easy to maintain; you may need to take action against some pests and diseases, but these trees are resilient and long-lived. Bees will be delighted by the flowers and will help to pollinate, leading to autumn fruit. “Blossom trees come in all sizes, and whatever sized outdoor space you have, there is a blossom tree that will suit. Prunus incisa 'Kojono-mai' is a very small Fuji cherry tree with zig-zagging branches and masses of flowers - perfect for growing in pots. As winter ends in early March, 'Kojo-no-mai' bursts into an abundance of blossom.”
Top of the blossom Malus baccata var. mandshurica (Manchurian Siberian crab apple) Requiring only basic tree husbandry with little or no pruning, this fully hardy tree, native to eastern Asia, is perfect for all garden lovers. It can also be used in orchards as a pollinator tree. -Jamie Leslie, Senior Gardener, Ightham Mote, Kent Pyrus communis (pear cultivars) Created by Rudyard Kipling, Pear Alley provides one of the best views towards the house. The espalier pear trees are trained along the metal structure to show off the fruits to their best advantage. These varieties produce good crops. A further restoration of Pear Alley is planned this autumn. -Len Bernamont, Garden & Outdoors Manager, Bateman’s
Prunus 'Kanzan' (cherry ‘Kanzan') There is a reason why this is one of the most popular doubleflowering cherry trees. In March/ April it has floriferous double pink flowers, followed by lovely bronze leaves turning green in summer. Once autumn is here the foliage develops a coppery orange colour before falling. -Anthony Mason, Head Gardener, Cliveden, Berkshire Cercis siliquastrum (Judas tree) I really look forward to this flowering in May – unusually, the deep pink blossoms erupt straight from the main stem and branches which gives added ‘wow’ factor. These are followed by pea-like fruits which are most obvious in late summer/early autumn. It’s a reliable performer and not a shy flowerer. Neil Cook, Head Gardener, Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire Malus domestica ‘Discovery’ (apple ‘Discovery’) This early dessert apple, a cross between ‘Worcester Pearmain’ and (possibly) ‘Beauty of Bath’, is as beautiful as it is delicious, producing pure white, cup-shaped blossoms from around the end of April. Be mindful of the rootstock it is grown on as this will dictate its eventual size (good fruit growing nurseries can advise). -Vicky Cody, Senior Gardener, Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire To find out more log on to: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/ blossom-watch.
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WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 4, 2021
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PUBLIC NOTICES
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THE WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (LAND AT GORSE RIDE SOUTH, FINCHAMPSTEAD, WOKINGHAM) COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER 2021 COMPULSORY PURCHASE OF LAND IN WOKINGHAM Notice is hereby given that the Borough Council of Wokingham has made The Wokingham Borough Council (Land at Gorse Ride South, Finchampstead, , Wokingham) Compulsory Purchase Order 2021 under section 226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. It is about to submit this order to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for confirmation, and if confirmed, the order will authorise the Borough Council of Wokingham to purchase compulsorily the land described below for the purpose of the development, redevelopment or improvement of land at the existing Gorse Ride South Estate comprising the demolition of existing buildings and replacement with 249 dwellings (mixed tenure flats and houses) together with associated access, parking, landscaping, public open space and drainage. A copy of the order and of the accompanying map may be seen online at https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/majordevelopments/gorse-ride-estate-regeneration/. A copy of the order of the accompanying map may also be requested by email to gorseride@wokingham.gov.uk or telephone 07925 147786. Any objection to the order must be made in writing to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government at the National Planning Casework Unit by email to PCU@Communities.gov.uk or by post to 5 St Philips Place, Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2PW and before 24 March 2021 and should state the title of the order, the grounds of objection and the objector’s address and interests in the land.
DESCRIPTION OF LAND The Land to be Acquired 4 Firs Close; 6 Firs Close;
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (B3349 BASINGSTOKE ROAD, THREE MILE CROSS) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2021 NOTICE IS HEREBY given that Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority proposes to make an Order under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which is prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along: B3349 Basingstoke Road, Three Mile Cross between its junctions with Clares Green Road and Grazeley Road. The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via B3349 Basingstoke Road and A33 Swallowfield Bypass or by this route in reverse. Works requiring this restriction will take place between 6th April and 7th April 2021 between 20:00 and 06:00. The reason for these prohibitions is to allow Wokingham Borough Council contractors to undertake structural maintenance and plane inlay work in safety.
29 Firs Close;
Access for residents and businesses within the boundaries of these restrictions will be maintained at all times.
10 Dart Close;
The restriction imposed by the Order shall only apply during those periods when traffic signs complying with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 are lawfully displayed.
11 Dart Close;
9 Orbit Close; 11 Orbit Close; 15 Orbit Close; 24 Orbit Close;
5 Billing Avenue; 8 Billing Avenue; 9 Billing Avenue;
The restrictions contained in the Order shall come into operation on the 22nd March 2021 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier. Dated: 4th March 2021 Mark Cupit Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL
10 Billing Avenue; 11 Billing Avenue; 15 Billing Avenue;
22 Gorse Ride South; 24 Gorse Ride South; 26 Gorse Ride South; 30 Gorse Ride South;
Electricity substations at Whittle Close, Orbit Close, Dart Close and Firs Close;
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Gas governor at Whittle Close; and Unregistered land comprising subsoil under existing footpaths.
Dated: 4th March 2021 Sarah Morgan, Head of Development
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PUBLIC NOTICES WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 HEARING TO BE HELD AS A VIRTUAL EVENT OPENING ON WEDNESDAY 17TH MARCH 2021 AT 10:00AM REASON FOR HEARING Appeal by Sheldon Seal relating to the application to Wokingham Borough Council for the material change of use of the land for storage of vehicles without planning permission at Model Farm, Barkham Ride, Finchampstead, Wokingham, RG40 4EX. An Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State will hold a Hearing opening on the date shown above to decide the appeal. The Hearing will be held as a virtual event run by an Inspector in the normal way, but with the parties invited to join via Microsoft Teams or telephone.
WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL PLANNING APPLICATION The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 AND/OR Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990 The following application(s) have been submitted and are advertised for the reasons below: Application Address
Reasons for Advert
Description
210021
Unit 1, Molly Millars Lane Wokingham
Major Application
Application to vary condition 2-4-5-9-11-12-13 and 15 of planning consent 192420 for the Full application for the change of use to mixed use of B8, B1c and B1a. Extension of first floor. Raising the roof ridge height by 1.75m. Installation of 2no. silos, new external doors and solar panels. Condition 2 refers to Approved details and the variation is to make internal changes to the use classes layout, Reduce the number of external parking bays and changes to fenestration. 4 Noise Mitigation. 5 Construction Management plan. 9 Car park management plan. 11 Travel Plan. 12 Cycle parking to be approved. 13 Electric Vehicle Charging. 15 Bin storage and Collection Area, and the variation is to allow for details to be
210440
Henley Bridge, Hart Street
(Affect setting of) Application for Listed Building consent for the Listed Building proposed installation of 2 x 110mm push fit telecoms ducts in the footpath.
Documents relating to the appeal can be viewed on the Council website (201114). Anyone wishing to attend the Hearing must make that interest known to the Planning Inspectorate Case Officer as soon as possible prior to the Hearing, either by email or telephone after reading the Hearing Attendance Information set out below. When contacting the Case Officer, it would be helpful if you could confirm whether you want to take an active part in the proceedings or attend only as an observer (see below). Hearing Attendance Information Before deciding whether to take an active part in the Hearing, you need to think carefully about the points you wish to make. All written submissions from application and appeal stage will be taken into account by the Inspector. Re-stating the same points won’t add any additional weight to them. If you feel that taking part in the Hearing is right for you in whatever capacity, you can participate in a number of ways: To take part using video, participants will need to have access to Microsoft Teams (via an app or web browser). This link gives further information: https:// support.office.com/en-gb/teams. Alternatively you can take part by telephone. Calls would be to an 020 number which will incur charges: https://www.gov.uk/call-charges If you just wish to observe the event, you should make that clear in your response to the Case Officer. If you wish to take an active part in the proceedings, please make clear in your response whether you wish only to appear at the Hearing and make a statement or whether you would also wish to ask questions on particular topics. If you want to take an active part but feel unable to for any reason, and/or the points you want to make are not covered in the evidence of others, consider whether someone else could raise them on your behalf. Registered participants, in whatever capacity, will receive individual joining instructions, providing details of any requirements, guidance and support, whether joining by Teams or telephone. You should note that the event may be recorded by the Planning Inspectorate for training and quality assurance purposes.
submitted.
The application is available to view online at wokingham.gov.uk � Planning � Search planning applications and typing in the application number above. All libraries in the Borough have internet access in order to view this page. Comments on the application can be made online from this web page. Any comments must arrive on or before the 25th March 2021. Any comments made are not confidential and can be seen by anyone as they form part of the public record. The comments, unless offensive, discriminatory and/or racist, will appear on the Council’s website within 24 hours and include the submitted name and address. Due to the high volume of comments received we do not provide individual responses. Date: 4th March 2021
For the latest news visit
Planning Inspectorate Reference(s): APP/X0360/C/19/3223247, APP/X0360/C/19/3223248 & APP/X0360/C/ 19/3223249. Case Officer contact at the Planning Inspectorate: Opirim Agala Tel: 0303 444 5209. Email: TeamE3@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
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Dated: 4th March 2021
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Younger People with Dementia (Berkshire) CIO Trustee Opportunity as a Treasurer YPWD (Berkshire) CIO is a vibrant and successful local charity, operating across Berkshire. We were established in 2012 to fill a much-needed gap in provision for those with young onset dementia and their families and carers. We provide workshops and 1:1 support to those diagnosed with young onset dementia. In addition, we deliver an education course for those diagnosed, their families and carers. We also provide access to an Admiral Nurse and carer support groups, specifically aimed at the well-being of the carer. We would like to strengthen our Board of Trustees by recruiting a new Treasurer. We are looking to recruit a professional with bookkeeping or accountancy expertise, and someone who shares our vision to help make a significant difference to the lives of people living with young onset dementia. The role of Treasurer is an extremely important one and as a member of our Board you will have responsibility for overseeing the financial management of the organisation to ensure that it is legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practice. This role is on a voluntary basis and you will be expected to attend six meetings each year, as well as our Annual Meeting, with an overall time commitment equivalent to approximately one day per month.
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– all applications needed by 5pm on Friday 12 March 2021 – � For further information about the role please have a look at the role description on our website: http://ypwd.info/newsletter � To apply, please send an up-to-date CV with a covering letter to Mark Hainy via e-mail: mark.hainy@ypwd.info YPWD (Berkshire) CIO, First Floor, Unit 9 Indigo House, Fishponds Road, Wokingham, RG41 2GY W: www.ypwd.info T: 0118 207 2880 E: contact@ypwd.info Charity Number: 1171720
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34 | LOCAL SERVICES
PUBLIC NOTICE WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE) ORDER 2015 NOTICE UNDER ARTICLE 14 OF APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMISSION Proposed Development at: Land adjacent to Lysander Close (Lot 168), Woodley, RG5 4ND Take notice that application is being made by: ALM Infrastructure Ltd for the erection of a two storey building containing 4no. one bedroom flats and 2no. two bedroom flats together with parking bays and provision of public open space Local Planning Authority to whom the application is being submitted: Wokingham Borough Council, P.O Box 157, Shute End, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1WR. Any owner of the land or tenant who wishes to make representations about this application, should write to the Council within 21 days of the date of this notice.
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KITCHEN DESIGN & INSTALLATION
Thursday, March 4, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
SPORT | 35
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SPORTING EFFORTS NETS SCHOOL NATIONAL AWARD STAFF and students at Berkshire boarding school, LVS Ascot, are celebrating after winning the prestigious Independent Schools Association (ISA) award for Outstanding Sport in a Large School.
The virtual awards ceremony was held on Friday last week and celebrated excellence and innovation across the independent education sector and recognise the hard work of headteachers and their staff. The judges praised LVS Ascot for demonstrating the importance of sport throughout the whole school, via festivals, initiatives and professional pathways which encourage participation and inclusivity. LVS Ascot has achieved sporting success at district, county and national level, including swimming, hockey, cross-country running, kayaking and golf, and past students have gone on to represent England in the U18 Hockey and U16 Football teams. Commenting on the win, LVS Ascot’s Principal, Christine Cunniffe, said: “We are delighted to have won this award. “LVS Ascot’s ethos is to inspire young people to exceed their expectations. “We believe that sport is for all and physical activity is an important element of a holistic education. It benefits physical and
mental wellbeing, helping young people to develop resilience, determination, and mindfulness, as well as the more obvious team player and leadership skills. “It is an honour to have our sporting faculty recognised in this way. “Lockdown has been tough for many and has had an impact on our usual sporting events and activities, however our students have kept moving, taking part in various online sporting challenges and attending talks from professional athletes and notable alumni, such as footballing hero, Connor Hall, who recently gave an interview for the school’s Perspectives series.” Rudolf Eliott Lockhart, CEO, Independent Schools Association, added; “This past year has been unprecedented for all, but one thing that has remained is the dedication and hard work from ISA Members and their schools to push on and continue to offer an excellent education to all the children in their care. “LVS Ascot has a positive ethos in celebrating success at all levels of sport within the school and they proudly share their school facilities with the local community. “The school also works tirelessly to host football events for more than 400 girls every year, which has a growing impact on engaging girls in sport.”
FOOTBALL
ROYALS JOIN GPs TO PROMOTE COVID VACCINE
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BASKETBALL
LATE HEARTBREAK COSTS ROCKETS AGAINST WARRIORS READING ROCKETS 98 LEICESTER WARRIORS 104
READING Rockets suffered late heartbreak when a late referee call when against them to give Leicester Warriors a narrow away victory.
In a most competitive game, it was a contentious referee’s call in the last minute when Rockets were ahead by the slightest of margins, a single point, one of the referees called a foul and Warriors went to the line to hit four from four from the penalty stripe. Rockets had to foul to try and regain possession quickly but Warriors were again secure from the free-throw line to take the win. Warriors had a slow start to their season with a 0-7 run but then they signed 7ft Morakinyo Williams so coupled to 6ft 11in Henri Langton. Warriors won the tip and opened the scoring before Rockets’ power forward Leome Francis went inside to score before adding a pair from the free throw line. When Sam Toluwase drove and finished well, the game was tied on six apiece. A Warriors treble was matched with a Reis Pinnock treble and the lead swapped with virtually every possession before recent Rockets signing Jaz Bains was introduced to the court and helped himself to five quick points including a trademark treble, the first of five Bains hit throughout the game, seeing Rockets with a double digit lead at 32-21 as Francis slammed home the advantage. A Lattrell Maitland dish to Bains to stroke another treble was the highlight of the first quarter as the academy player again impressed and saw Rockets 35-27 in the lead. Though Rockets started the second period with possession it was Warriors who scored first before a top of the key treble from O’Showen Williams and a Kivuvu Live spin and finish increased their advantage to 40-31 before a 9-0
Leome Frame lines up for a shot during the Rockets’ defeat against Leicester Warriors
Warriors run saw the game tied on 40 apiece. A Warriors buzzer beater was equalled as Bains drained another treble but with Rockets in team foul trouble Warriors capitalised and took a 54-49 advantage into the third quarter. A pair of Warrior trebles against hard work inside from Francis saw Rockets eight points behind early on. Rockets picked up the pace again and Toluwase spun and scored as Williams drove and finished well and when Bains hit back to back trebles Rockets were just 65-69 down with three minutes of the quarter to go.
Ben Dixon drove to score and add the bonus free throw before scoring with a floater though again Warriors hit vital penalty throws to stay ahead by 75-72 as the final period beckoned. Williams scored off Rockets’ first possession to make it a single point game which was soon tied on 76, 87, 93, and 96 with 1 minute 47 seconds remaining. A Francis offensive rebound and score edged Rockets ahead at 98-97 before the tough call determined the fine game. Rockets meet the top two teams this weekend in a double header.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
DETERMINED DEFENCE SEES ROCKETS WOMEN TAKE VICTORY
READING players Michael Morrison and Josh Laurent have joined Wokingham GP Dr Amit Sharma in encouraging people to get the covid vaccine.
Reading’s Madejski Stadium has become a Mass Vaccination Centre, and Dr Sharma is hoping to dispel the myths surrounding the vaccine and encourages everyone to have a jab when it is their turn. “As a football fan I have really missed being on the terraces cheering my team on and I can’t wait to get back there,” said Dr Sharma, Clinical Director of the Earley+ Primary Care Network.
“More than 20 million people have had the vaccine. Both the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines are safe and effective against coronavirus. “So if you are given the opportunity to get jabbed then please do so. Vaccinating as many people as we can is the most effective way of tackling this pandemic and eventually lifting lockdown.” There’s lots of questions and answers around the vaccine on www.berkshirewestccg.nhs.uk along with a walk through video of the Mass Vaccination Centre at the Madejski Stadium.
READING Rockets Women put on a tremendous defensive display as they grabbed 22 steals on their way to an 18-point win at the John Madejski Academy over Worcester Wolves.
The game started at a terrific pace. Both teams applied an enormous amount of pressure on each other all the way up the court. After a 6-0 run to start the game for the Rockets, the Wolves came back with a 6-0 run of their own to tie the game 6-6. It was then back and forth the whole quarter with
both teams exchanging baskets, not letting each other forge a lead, ending 20-21 in favour of the Worcester Wolves. The second quarter started the same way the first finished, both teams going at each other determined not to let the other develop a lead. Halfway through the quarter, the Rockets defensive pressure was relentless allowing them to accumulate many steals and turn them into easy baskets which led to a seven point advantage in the Rockets
favour going into the second half with the score at 47-40. The Rockets continued their impressive run into the second half with academy-star Sitota Espinosa starting the half with a tremendous three point shot. The Rockets swarming defence caused the Worcester Wolves to turn the ball over more than they would have hoped.
The Rockets capitalised on this and went on a huge scoring-run to finish the quarter 69-51, a healthy 18-point margin going into the fourth and final quarter. The fourth quarter was as exciting as the previous three with both teams continuing to press the ball all the way up the court. Rockets came away victorious, with a 91-73 win, their third win of the season.
36 | SPORT
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RUGBY UNION
RAMS SCHEME PLANS TO BUILD JUNIOR SECTION
By RICHARD ASHTON sport@wokingham.today RAMS RFC are desperate to provide opportunities to even more youngsters when the current pandemic is over, but admit they may have to switch location to do so.
The junior section has grown hugely in recent years, but CEO Gary Reynolds believes the club may only have scratched the surface in what can be achieved. Rams already have to borrow space from neighbouring Shire Hall RFC to cope with the demands on Sunday mornings, but Reynolds revealed: “I reckon we could increase our youth section by another two to three hundred in an instant, if we had the space. “But we’ve only got 11 acres and three pitches
and we can’t change that, and only two car parks which are at capacity for every home game so we have to use park and ride and other arrangements. “We can’t physically change Old Bath Road – there’s no room to expand – but we are in talks and looking at options for relocating. “If we’re going to be that force in state schools, which is so desperately needed to give kids a great opportunity to participate in a wonderful team sport, then we’re going to need to find somewhere else where we can grow because unfortunately at the moment we are bursting at the seams at OBR.” The Government has committed to improving the health of the nation in the post-pandemic era, and
RUNNING
Reynolds fully endorses this approach. He said: “Rugby provides a very, very important part of people’s well-being. “It doesn’t matter if you’re six or 86, you can find companionship, social interaction, friendship and with those shut down around
the country, that will cause an awful lot of anxiety. “You’ve only got to look at the number of calls coming through to the help groups with regards to mental health issues and it’s a very, very difficult time for lots of people.” He continued: “We believe the other side of this pandemic people will want to get back to doing things, and our youth section has gone from 350 to 500 in a very short space of time – and that’s really without massive engagement with the schools. “When we unlock we are planning lots of outreach to schools and we’ve got some brilliant new initiatives which hopefully will be great for the local community and the state schools in particular.”
SHINFIELD RUNNING CLUB LINKS WITH LOCAL BUSINESS
By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today SHINFIELD Running Club has linked up with local business Parsons Grange Care Home and Care UK which will now act as the home of the club.
The new base will provide a place for members to use as free parking, a sheltered area to get changed, toilet facilities to use before and after club sessions and will also be adorned with a Shinfield Running Club banner. There will also be an executive lounge area for club members to use for tea, coffee and cake once the covid-19 restrictions in the country have been lifted, but for the meantime, there is use of outside gardens. Shinfield Running Club chairman, James Suarez said: “Since the club was started two years ago, I have continued to drive to develop it further. It’s a passion of mine not to sit still and settle, I love trying to create new ventures for all of us to enjoy. “This is bringing the community together to work as one to help and support each other. “I am so pleased to announce we will be joining up with Parsons Grange Care Home and Care UK. “I want to thank all the team at Parsons Grange for being so welcoming, I am really looking forward to a blossoming relationship moving forwards. “It’s a really exciting move for us as a club and I look forward to when we can meet as a club once again.”
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
ROYALS WOMEN FACE TRIP TO RELEGATION BATTLING BRISTOL By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING Women return to Women’s Super League action after the conclusion of the latest international break against bottom of the pile Bristol City Women.
The Royals have endured a turbulent campaign, but showed their class last month as they broke Manchester United Women’s long unbeaten home record with a 2-0 triumph. That was just the fourth win that Kelly Chambers’ side have picked up in 15 league games, with a lack of goals costing them from challenging the top-four in the table, with seven draws and four defeats leaving them in sixth position. Reading will also be looking to add to their squad in the upcoming transfer window after they learned that Jess Fishlock would return to her parent club, OL Regin, in April after a loan spell at the Madejski Stadium. Meanwhile, Welsh compatriot, Angharad James has also sealed a summer move to North Carolina Courage. “I move to North Carolina in the knowledge that I gave everything to Reading,” said James. “I’ll continue to do so while I’m still here. I can’t thank Kelly and her staff enough. I only have praise and admiration for them, for giving me the opportunity to grow and express myself on the pitch, they
have been instrumental in my development.” Reading opponents on Monday, March 8, have had a torrid time in the league this season and have picked up just one win all season. The Robins are bottom of the table with six points, with their only victory of the season coming in a 3-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion Women in January. However, the Royals will know not to take Bristol lightly after their stalemate earlier in the campaign. Reading dominated proceedings in their December meeting at the Madejski Stadium with Bristol, but couldn’t find a clinical edge to take the points. Emma Bissell put Bristol ahead in the 43rd minute which was quickly cancelled out by Fara Williams’ strike in the 50th minute. Despite having 33 attempts in total, and 14 on target, the Royals couldn’t find the net for a second time, which has been a common theme throughout the season, as they had to settle for just a point. Reading are unbeaten in their last four league matches, having not suffered defeat since they received a 5-0 drumming against league leaders Chelsea. Bristol were also on the end of a 5-0 loss against Chelsea in their last game prior to the international break. The clash between Reading and Bristol City will be shown live on BT Sport on Monday evening (8.15pm kick-off).
READING FC
BAYERN BOUND: RICHARDS SEALS SUMMER SWITCH By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING full-back Omar Richards has reached a pre-contract agreement to join German giants Bayern Munich on a four-year deal.
As reported by Sky Sports, Richards will join the current Champions League holders from the Royals having passed a medical which will see complete a move at the expiration of his contract with Reading. Richards, 23, joined the Royals from Fulham in 2013 and graduated from the Reading academy in 2016, and made his first-team debut in the same year. The left-back has gone on to play a pivotal starting role in the Reading team in the last couple of seasons, and has had an impressive season under Veljko Paunovic this campaign which attracted the interest of several top clubs.
Omar Richards Picture: Steve Smyth
Richards' superb campaign has seen him make the most tackles so far in the Championship this season (58). He has made 80 league appearances and scored two goals for the Royals and will leave a void to be filled at left-back when he departs for Germany in the summer.
Thursday, March 4, 2021 WOKINGHAM.TODAY
SPORT | 37
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SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
MORRISON’S THE MAN TO GET READING BACK TO WINNING WAYS ROTHERHAM 0 READING 1 By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today READING got back to winning ways at the New York Stadium after Michael Morrison's first-half goal proved to be decisive to take three points against Rotherham United.
Morrison latched onto his initially saved header to put the Royals in front in the 26th minute. The Royals had chances to extend their lead but managed to keep Rotherham at bay to collect their 14th clean sheet of the Championship season. The win put Reading back up to fifth in the table after they were overtaken earlier in the day by Bournemouth. Veljko Paunović praised his team’s effort and how they dealt with Rotherham’s style of play to come out on top. “I am very happy with the result and with the performance too,” he said. “The way we played against a side with a peculiar style was very hard for us. They knew how to use their resources. “Winning gives us an important boost and chance to build our new momentum. It was a big win for everyone in the changing room, everyone is celebrating. “We have to be ruthless in the final two months of the season and we are aware of it. This is what differentiates the teams that have success. “We have to own this moment. It could be crucial at the end of the season.” The hosts had the first chance of the match, just three minutes in when the ball was swung into the back post and was met by Rotherham's top scorer Matt Smith, but he failed to capitalise on an early opportunity as he headed over the target. After an early scare, Reading began to take better care of the ball and had more possession. Ovie Ejaria was swarmed by two Rotherham
defenders but still managed to win a corner. The aftermath fell to Omar Richards who hit a shot towards goal and forced a save from goalkeeper Viktor Johansson who parried the ball away for another corner. There was a let-off again for Reading in the 16th minute when a cross was hooked into the box and met by Ladapo whose header was just a few inches too high and scraped the top of the crossbar. A clearance from MacDonald almost saw Andy Yiadom score with what would have been a bizarre goal as the ball smacked the Reading fullback and flew just wide of the far post. Michael Morrison put Reading in front in the 26th minute as he notched his fourth goal of the season. Richards sent in an inviting cross to the back post which was met by the Royals defender, and he reacted quickest after his initial header was saved but spilled by the keeper as he stabbed the ball home on the rebound. João had a sight of goal just before the halfhour mark when Reading skipper Liam Moore played a superb ball into the forward, but he was let down by his poor first touch as he failed to get a shot away.
Reading should have doubled their lead with the last action of the first-half. Ejaria put the ball across the face of goal as the Milers failed to clear properly, but were relieved to see Alfa Semedo's shot strike the outside of the post and go out of play from an acute angle. Just a minute after the restart, the Millers thought they had pulled themselves level only to be denied by the linesman's flag. Smith smacked the ball into the bottom corner but had strayed offside as the ball was played into his path. Olise slid the ball through to Joao who looked to double the lead as he sprinted towards goal, and he tried to catch Johansson who had rushed off his line, but he scuffed his effort after trying to chip the ball over the keeper which fell safely into the Rotherham keeper's arms. The game turned into a scrappy affair for much of the second-half as Reading held their opponents at arms length as they looked to preserve their lead and earn a much needed three points. Morrison was continuing to have an impact in both boxes and threw his body in the way of Ladapo's shot, which ricocheted into the path of Lewis Wing, but he fired a strike well over the bar. There was a scare late in stoppage time as Rotherham piled on the pressure to find an equaliser, but Ben Wiles' shot took a cruel deflection but flew agonisingly wide of the post. The Millers were unable to penetrate the Royals' defence and ended the game with just one shot on target. ROTHERHAM UNITED: Johansson, S MacDonald, Wing, Lapado, Robetson, Harding, A MacDonald, Olosunde, Smith, Crooks (c), Giles SUBS: Blackman, Clarke, Wiles, Barlaser, Jozefzoon, Sadlier, Hirst READING: Rafael, Yiadom, Morrison, Moore (c), Richards, Laurent, Rinomhota, Semedo, Ejaria, Olise, Joao SUBS: Southwood, Esteves, McIntyre, Holmes, Tetek, Camara, Aluko, Baldock, Puscas GOALS: Morrison 26'
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
PREVIEW: ROYALS HOST RELEGATION BATTLING OWLS READING will be aiming to pile the misery on relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday when they meet at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
The Royals ensured that they fixed their recent torrid home form with a 1-0 victory against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday evening in their second 1-0 win in a row. Sheffield Wednesday have had a difficult season on and off the pitch, which began with them being deducted six points for breaching financial regulations. The Sheffield club are in the midst of a fight for Championship survival and have a relegation six-
pointer on Wednesday night against Rotherham prior to their trip to the Madejski. Prior to kick-off against Rotherham, Wednesday are currently in 23rd place in the league on 28 points, seven points away from safety. There is also a new man at the helm after Darren Moore was appointed as the new Sheffield Wednesday manager this week. Tony Pulis had held the position at the start of the season, but only managed 10 games before he was dismissed. Moore has a huge task on his hands to pull the club away from
the relegation places, with their goal-shy attack a major problem for the new boss to fix if they are to have a chance of survival. Wednesday have scored the least amount of goals of any side in the league, joint with bottom side Wycombe Wanderers, with just 23 goals from 32 games. The Royals will be without both Michael Morrison and Andy Rinomhota who are set for a short spell on the sidelines with muscle injuries. Meanwhile, Yakou Méïté is expected to face a late fitness test but is more likely to be ready for action the following week.
From the middle Dick Sawdon-Smith
When is the referee’s whistle needed?
P
REMIER League referee Lee Mason created controversy last weekend with his handling of a Brighton and Hove Albion free-kick just outside the West Bromwich Albion penalty area. Whilst the Baggies players were sorting themselves out, Brighton’s Lewis Dunk, says he asked Mason if he could take a quick free-kick, to which he replied yes and blew his whistle. Just before the ball entered the goal, he blew it again. Eventually after discussion with his VAR, he disallowed what would have been an equalising goal. The use of the referees whistle has subtlety changed over the years. Originally, the Laws of the Game said that ‘the referee signals the recommencement of the game after all stoppages’. Under free kicks it said: ‘The kick must not be taken until the referee gives the signal, mainly by whistle’. After several changes the Laws now say, ‘The referee supervises/indicates the restart of play, with the advice that ‘the whistle is not needed to restart for most free kicks’. This change from mainly used to seldom used is part of ‘speeding up the play’. Apart from the penalty kick, the only free kick where the whistle is commonly used, is the one near the goal area of the defending team, from where goals are often scored. But this is not a fixed requirement. One goalkeeper who got caught out by a quickly taken kick in this situation told me he hadn’t had time to organise the wall. I had to explain to him that wasn’t a given right. Many referees at these situations wait until they have reached the spot for the free-kick to be taken, before deciding whether to use the whistle. Prior to that they might well allow a quick freekick to be taken. If not, most referees will hold the whistle up above their head to show everyone that the kick must await for it to be blown. Lee Mason said he blew his whistle to stop some pushing in the line, not to signal for the kick to be taken. Bad choice. The retake was saved.
38 | SPORT
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SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
How they rated STAR PLAYER George Puscas
PUSÇAŞ FIRES ROY READING 1 BLACKBURN 0
RAFAEL CABRAL Earned his 15th clean sheet of the league season. Wasn't tested too often thanks to a solid defensive display from his teammates in front of him.
OMAR RICHARDS His persistent pressing led to the opener as he stole the ball from Harvey Elliott deep inside the Blackburn half. Defended well one-on-one and got forward when he could, particularly in the first-half.
MICHAEL MORRISON Had played every minute of the league season until the 33rd minute when he was forced off with injury.
LIAM MOORE Read the game well and dealt with the loss of Morrison when Holmes replaced him in the first-half.
ANDY YIADOM Created a brilliant chance for Puscas after his attacking intent in the opening minutes of the game. Provided defensive stability to deal with a pacey Blackburn attack.
JOSH LAURENT Battled hard in the midfield as he always does despite his usual partner, Andy Rinomhota.
ALFA SEMEDO Showed some superb footwork in the first-half as he created room for a shot but hit it tamely.
OVIE EJARIA Some excellent footwork as usual and worked hard to create chances for the two strikers up-front. Helped out defensively in the second half.
MICHAEL OLISE Kept possession well, particularly when the Royals were under pressure in the second half. Was replaced in the 85th minute.
GEORGE PUSCAS An impressive showing on his first start since November. Provided useful hold-up play to take the burden off João. A good finish to put Reading in front and nearly scored with an outrageous effort from the half-way line.
LUCAS JOÃO Good vision to spot his strike partner in space to set up Puscas for the opener.
SUBSTITUTES TOM HOLMES 7 TOM MCINTYRE 6
6 7 6 7 7 7 6 7 7 9 7
By ANDY PRESTON at the Madejski Stadium apreston@wokingham.today GEORGE PUȘCAȘ’ goal ensured that Reading broke a run of three consecutive home defeats as they beat Blackburn Rovers at the Madejski Stadium.
On his first start since November, Pușcaș fired in the only goal of the game in the 24th minute. It was a backs-to-the-wall second half, but the Royals held out to earn their 15th clean sheet of the season to keep the gap to four points from sixth-placed Cardiff City. Andy Rinomhota has been an ever-present figure in Reading’s Championship campaign so far, featuring in all 33 league games, however he missed out through injury as Veljko Paunović was forced into a change. George Pușcaș was selected to start as Paunović opted to start two strikers up-front with the Romanian forward partnering Lucas João. Pușcaș has missed a large chunk of the season through injury, but did find the net when the Royals met Blackburn earlier in the season in a 4-2 triumph at Ewood Park. The Royals had an early shot at goal as they tested Rovers’ keeper Thomas Kaminski after just three minutes. Michael Olise found Andy Yiadom’s run down the right flank, and the right-back whipped in a teasing cross to the front post which was met by the leap of Pușcaș with a powerful header which was tipped over by Kaminski. Blackburn began to grow into the game and almost punished Reading when Michael Morrison sloppily gave possession away with a loose pass, but Omar Richards made a vital block as Corry Evans looked to get a shot away. Morrison and Liam Moore stayed switched on at the back to make consecutive blocks to prevent Joe Rothwell from testing Rafael Cabral. Pușcaș was showing early signs of confidence with some nice touches and useful hold-up play on his return to the side and almost marked his return with an audacious strike from the halfway line. The Romanian forward spotted Kaminski off his line, and from just inside the Blackburn half, he tried an outrageous effort which had the Rovers keeper scrambling back, but to his relief, the ball dropped onto the roof of the net. Alfa Semedo picked up a booking for a tough tackle on Ben Brereton, and just moments later showed his
Josh Laurent battles for the ball
George Pușcaș returned to action to score the winner as Reading beat Blackburn Rovers on Tue
Ovie Ejaria dirbbles forward through the midfield
quick feet as he breezed past three tackles to work space for a shot but his tame effort was easily held. But the Royals were rewarded for their tenacious work to win the ball back in the Blackburn half which led to them taking the lead in the 24th minute. Omar Richards’ persistent work saw him steal the ball from Harvey Elliott, and Lucas João unselfishly squared the ball to his strike partner Pușcaș, who took a touch to compose himself before he buried the ball into the corner. Reading were dealing with the dangerous Blackburn forwards competently but were forced into a change when Morrison, who until now had played every minute of the league season, had to be replaced by Tom Holmes. Brereton continued to provide the brightest moments for the visitors as they searched for an equaliser and he had the first effort on target for Blackburn but Rafael made a routine stop.
Andy Yiadom bursts forward
Adam Armstrong looked to use his blistering pace to hurt Reading on the counter-attack when Richards lost the ball on the halfway line, but Royals skipper Moore was brilliantly positioned to cover for teammate and win the ball back as the half
Match stats READING: Rafael, Richards, Morrison, Moore (c), Yiadom, Laurent, Semedo, Ejaria, Olise, João, Puscas SUBS: Southwood, Esteves, Holmes, McIntyre, Tetek, Azeez, Camara, Aluko, Baldock BLACKBURN: Kaminski, Nyambe, Lenihan (c), Harwood-Bellis, Bell, Trybull, Evans, Rothwell, Elliott, Brereton, Armstrong SUBS: Pears, Branthwaite, Douglas Bennett, Travis, Downing, Buckley, Dack, Dolan GOAL: Puscas 24′
ended with the hosts a goal to the good. After dealing with a short corner routine from Blackburn, Ejaria sprinted into the Blackburn half and was cynically taken down by Amari’i Bell who received a yellow card. Rovers boss Tony Mowbray made a double change just after an hour when Stewart Downing and Bradley Dack replaced Evans and Rothwell. Paunovic made a switch to strengthen the defence as top scorer Lucas João was replaced by Tom McIntyre. Reading were continually being pushed deeper into their half as Blackburn dominated proceedings in the second half in search of a way back into the contest, but without any reward. The Royals were given some respite when Kaminski handled the ball just outside of is area, leading to a free-kick wide on the right.
SPORT | 39
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YALS TO VICTORY
From The Tilehurst End Olly Allen
The rapid rise of Omar Richards
A
esday night Pictures: Steve Smyth
George Pușcaș celebrates his goal with Lucas João
Rafael Cabaral punches the ball away from danger
Alfa Semedo holds off a tackle
Lucas João makes a pass
Olise lifted the ball into the area but it was collected by the Blackburn keeper. Rafael was called to the rescue to keep out Brereton’s effort, before Bell fired the ball behind into the side netting on the rebound. It was a nervy end to the game
Tom Holmes disputes the referee
Omar Richards has a shot at goal
as Rovers looked to find a point with four minutes of stoppage time to play. Armstrong had a huge chance to draw the hosts level in the first minute of injury time but spurned his chance. A cross was delivered into the
middle and met by the striker on the volley, but he directed his effort inches wide of the post as the best clear cut chance of the half was missed by the visitors. But the Royals held on after a whole half of Blackburn pressure to earn a vitally important three
points to keep them in the hunt for the play-off places. After a run of two consecutive 1-0 wins, Reading host struggling Sheffield Wednesday at the Madejski Stadium, who are second from bottom in the Championship table, on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
REACTION
PAUNOVIĆ HEAPS PRAISE ON RETURNING STRIKER READING boss Veljko Paunović praised returning striker George Pușcașas he scored the decisive goal to end a run of three straight home defeats with victory over Blackburn Rovers.
Veljko Paunović
George Pușcaș scored the only goal of the contest in what was a nervy affair as the Royals clung on to earn three points. “I’m very happy. I believe the team understands how we have to play and adapt to teams like
Blackburn who did a really good job,” said Paunović. “We didn’t get desperate and that was the way to play against this team, it was very mature. “I’m very happy for George Pușcaș, coming back from a long injury. “He really worked hard ad helped us have more options in attack and be more creative. “I’m very happy for the generous and unselfish assist from João in
that moment as well.” Paunović hailed the confidence of the Romanian striker, who almost found the net with an audacious effort from the halway line. “It’s credit to him. We showed the team how advanced and proactive their keeper is, so we said let’s test him. “He (Pușcaș) kept that information. I was praying it went in. It would have been goal of the season.”
FTER months of speculation, it seems that the Omar Richards transfer saga could finally be coming to an end. Several high-profile outlets have reported that Bayern Munich have agreed a deal to sign the left-back at the end of the season when his contract expires at Reading. It is difficult to know how to view the move as a fan. There is undeniably a sense of disappointment in the way the club have allowed this to happen. The fact that one of the club’s best players this season, and an academy graduate, will be let go for free is a bitter pill to swallow. Sure, Richards may not have go on to spend his whole career at the Madejski Stadium or even stay beyond this season, but it was the perfect opportunity to receive a healthy transfer fee for a player, which Reading have not done for years. With a minimum £10 million valuation being bandied around, not receiving any money at all for the 23-year-old is a big blow, particularly given the club’s position regarding Financial Fair Play. Richards’s contract situation has been handled poorly and he should have been offered a new deal a long time ago. It is representative of a wider problem at Reading too, with Tom McIntyre and Michael Morrison also out of contract in the summer with no word on new deals. As it stands, only five first team players are contracted beyond the end of next season. It needs sorting out. However, if we put aside the disappointment of letting Richards go for free, it is hard not to feel an immense sense of pride for an academy player earning a move to one of the biggest club’s in the world. I’m not sure it has quite been appreciated how big of a move this is. A player from Reading’s academy – little old Reading – has been deemed good enough for the European champions. Let that sink in. It is another testament to the club’s youth system and the regard with which the club is held in developing the next generation of players. Graduates of Reading’s academy have gone on to play in the World Cup, European Championships, Champions League and Premier League – that’s a special statistic. Outside of England’s elite clubs, there are few better academies to be at in this country than Reading’s and a success story like Richards will provide inspiration to the younger age groups at the club and serve as a reminder that they are at one of the best possible places for their development. Who knows whether Richards will get much game time at Bayern – he has the unenviable task of trying to get past one of the world’s best left-backs in Alphonso Davies – but you cannot begrudge him the opportunity to test himself at the highest level against the best players. It is now down to him to give his all for Reading until the end of the season and not let his performance levels drop. The club gave him a chance after he was released by Fulham at the age of 16 and have helped him become the player he is now. There would be no better way than to depart RG2 than with promotion.
RAMS KEENTO GROW ALL-ACTION YOUTH PICTURE SECTION POWER STORY: PAGE 36
BAYERN BOUND: ROYALS STAR SEALS SUMMER SWITCH
READING 1 BLACKBURN 0
ROYALS’ RIFLEMAN RETURNS PUSCAS FIRES HOME WINNER TO END MAD STAD DROUGHT By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokingham.today GEORGE PUȘCAȘ was the returning hero for Reading on Tuesday night as his goal ended a run of three consecutive home defeats.
The Royals had struggled to reap the benefits of playing at home, as many sides have struggled to find home comforts without fans present throughout the past year. However, they kept their top-six hopes alive and kicking with a determined display against Blackburn Rovers to keep the gap between them and the teams chasing hot on their tails just outside the play-off places. “It was a tough period for me,” said Pușcaș, who is nicknamed The Rifleman by teammates. “Finally I am back, feeling good and fit and managed to last the 90 minutes. “The most important thing was to help the team earn a tough three points. “I’m happy to help the team win. This team can handle a battle with the defence and another clean sheet, I think it’s the best scoreline to win and not concede a goal.”
STORY: PAGE 36
LATE HEARTBREAK: ROCKETS EDGED BY WARRIORS READING ROCKETS suffered late heartbreak after as they were beaten by Leicester Warriors. The Rockets had led the contest until the late controversial call by the referee as Warriors took advantage to win the match on Saturday. Rockets return to action with a double header this
� Match reports on page 35
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� Match report on page 38
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weekend against the top two in the division Meanwhile, Reading Rockets Women were more successful as they earned their third victory of the season with a tremendous display against Worcester Wolves at the John Madejski Academy.
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