Great Hollands Matters

Forthcoming Events Thursday, 5 December, 7.00 - 9.00 pm, Easthampstead Park Community School Key Stage 4 Presentation Evening Tuesday, 17 - Thursday, 19 December, 7.00 - 9.00 pm, Easthampstead Park Community School School production of “Joseph” Sunday, 22 December, 5 pm, Great Hollands Primary School Great Hollands Free Church ’Celebration of Christmas’. Everyone welcome.

Monday, 23 December to Friday, 3 January 2014 Easthampstead Park Community School Christmas Break Saturday, 11 January 2014, meet at 10.00 am, Great Hollands Community Centre Community Litter Pick. Everyone welcome.

Thursday, 30 January 2014, 4.30 - 7.30 pm, Easthampstead Park Community School Year 8 Parents’ Evening Monday, 17 - Friday, 21 February 2014 Easthampstead Park Community School Half Term Break Saturday, 22 February 2014, 10 am, Great Hollands Community Centre Community Forum Monday, 24 February 2014, Easthampstead Park Community School Inset Day Thursday, 27 February 2014, 4.30 - 7.30 pm, Easthampstead Park Community School Year 9 Parents’ Evening

reat Hollands Matters The Newsletter for Great Hollands Also, why not visit our website: www.greathollands.com

Next Community Forum

Saturday, 22 February 2014 Start 10.00 am

Great Hollands Community Centre Your chance to share your views with local Councillors. Bracknell Forest Homes representatives and Bracknell Town Council’s Environment Warden about what is GOOD and what is BAD about Great Hollands.

Some photos from Great Hollands Community Centre Open Day

December 2013

Bookings

Great Hollands Community Centre Contact: Karen Richardson Tel. 0743 208 0762 Email: karenandian5@googlemail.com Website: http://www.greathollands.com

Great Hollands Matters is delivered four times a year to houses, shops and businesses in Great Hollands.

Advertising rates are: Full page (A5) £60 per issue, £200 for four issues (pre-paid) ½ page (A6) £30 per issue, £100 for four issues (pre-paid) ¼ page (A7) £15 per issue, £50 for four issues (pre-paid) Contact any of the newsletter committee listed below to get your advert placed in the next issue, due out in March 2014.

The Newsletter Committee would like to emphasise that publication of advertisements in no way implies any endorsement of advertisers or the services they provide. Residents are advised to use their own discretion when responding to advertisements.

Newsletter produced by: Gillian Leather Mary Temperton

Tel. 425092 Tel. 426191

Eileen Mann Clive Temperton

Tel. 451041 Tel. 426191

The views expressed in Great Hollands Matters are not necessarily those of the people involved in its production. All material is included at the Editor’s discretion. The information contained herein is accurate, to the best of our knowledge, at the time of going to print.

Produced jointly by NGHCA and GHNO, Printed by Press To Print

Great Hollands Community Forum - 18 October 2013 The forum attracted a good number of local residents, councillors, the beat police team, and representatives of Healthwatch and SEAP. Police: Crime is at an all time low. The police would like to create a dialogue with residents. Emergencies: dial 999. Non emergencies: dial 101 or go online at https://reportonline.thamesvalley.police.uk/ Please do not use Facebook to ‘report’ crime. It is hoped that the beat team will stay stable for 18 months-2 years.

Healthwatch is an independent body to ensure that public views on health services are taken into account. It can provide information, advice and guidance on health and social care, guidance on how to complain, and report concerns to HW England, which can recommend action by the Care Quality Commission. Contact Healthwatch at The Space, 20 Market Street, Bracknell RG12 1JG, telephone 01344 266911, email enquiries@healthwatchbracknellforest.co.uk.

SEAP is the free, independent, confidential NHS Complaints Advocacy Service. If you have not had the service you expect from the NHS and want to complain, contact SEAP: phone 0300 343 5702, fax 01424 204687, by email: info@seap.org.uk.

Updates: Oak trees between Jennett's Park and Great Hollands were saved from destruction after intervention by local residents.

The Talk Shop is now the Look In Café for the Over 50s; all groups from the Talk Shop are now at the Community Centre. The recent Open Day was very successful. After a petition in Appledore, a family has been moved into a house that was formerly multi-occupancy.

Photographs of graffiti are being sent to the police. The Environment Warden is dealing with dog mess, litter, graffiti and fly-tipping. Two Squares won Bracknell in Bloom prizes. There will be a community bulb planting day in November. The Carnoustie play area is being revamped.

Banks and verges around Holland Pines have been cleared. Ringwood has nine new parking spaces. Fundraising events have been held for the family whose house burnt down and for Debbie Corrie.

The next forum will be on Saturday, 22 February, 2014 at 10.00 am in the Community Centre.

Great Hollands in Bloom In September’s edition of Great Hollands Matters we told you about some of the gardeners of Great Hollands’ entries into the Bracknell in Bloom competition. Now that the results are in, we can report that all of our entrants did very well. Firstly, at the RHS Thames & Chiltern in Bloom It’s Your Neighbourhood awards ceremony in September, the Eva Jones Memorial Garden achieved Level 5: Outstanding, and Wroxham Community Garden achieved Level 4: Thriving.

Secondly, at the Bracknell in Bloom awards ceremony on 28 October, the following received awards: • Michael Bentley - Highly Commended in the Best All Year Garden category • Great Hollands Primary School - Silver in the Young Gardeners category • Dot Whittaker - came First in the Tallest Sunflower category • Wroxham Community Garden - Silver Gilt and overall winner of the Best Community Garden category.

Bracknell in Bloom received Gold in the Small City category (for the 4th year in a row) at the RHS Thames & Chiltern in Bloom ceremony and went on to represent the Thames & Chiltern area at the RHS National final where they received Silver Gilt. Well done to everyone for their hard work.

The Look In Café - Open For Business On Monday, 14 October, The Look In Café opened for business, in what was formerly the Talk Shop, in Great Hollands Square.

Margarette Mardle, Chair, and Eileen Mann, Secretary, of Great Hollands Neighbourhood Organisation were two of the first customers. As well as sampling the delicious cappuccino coffee, they were delighted to present a cheque for £500 to the The Look In Café to help them in their endeavours to serve the older residents of Great Hollands. Long may they remain in our community.

Gillian Leather 8

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The Oaks & Hollies Children’s Centre

Activities at Great Hollands Community Centre

we can be found on the site of Great Hollands Primary School

Are you pregnant or a mum or dad with a child under 5?

The Oaks Children’s Centre is here for you!

We’re open Monday - Fridays 8.30 am - 4.30 pm, the kettle is always on!

Some of the things that you can join in: Teen Parents, Parenting workshops, Baby Groups, Cooking on a budget, Stay & Play in school holidays, Movers and Shakers Active sessions, Baby Massage courses, Paediatric First Aid workshops, Speech & Language Drop Ins, Benefit Advice Appointments, Links to the Health Visitors, Links to the local Parent & Toddler Groups, Coffee & Breakfast mornings and much more….

There’s also a pre-school on site: The Oaks Pre-school Monday - Friday am and pm sessions available.

Please call 01344 317040 If you would like to know more about what we can do for you and your family, or to find out more, please call the centre on 01344 317020

Image Hair & Beauty 15% OFF

Morning MONDAY Hall 1

Hall 2 TUESDAY Hall 1 Hall 2

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Evening

Parent & Toddler Available for 09.30 - 11.30 bookings (term-time)

Art Group 19:00 - 21:00

Available for bookings

Available for bookings

Dog Obedience Classes 18:30 - 21:00

Slimming World 09:30 - 11:30

Available for bookings

Slimming World 17:30 - 21:00

Available for bookings

Available for bookings

Available for bookings

WEDNESDAY Hall 1 Parent & Toddler Nimble Fingers 09:30 - 11:30 14:00 - 16:00 (term-time)

Youth Club 18:00 - 20:00 (term-time)

Hall 2

Available for bookings

Available for bookings

Embassy Church 18:00 - 20:00

THURSDAY Hall 1

Available for bookings

Friendship Club 14:00 - 16:00

Beavers 18:30 - 20:00

Hall 2

Available for bookings

Available for bookings

Kick Boxing 19:15 - 20:15

FRIDAY Hall 1

Active Kids 10:00 - 11:00

Available for bookings

Available for bookings

SATURDAY Hall 1

Dance Classes 08:30 - 14:45 (term-time)

Available for bookings

Hall 2

Dance Classes 10:30 - 12:30 (term-time)

Available for bookings

All full priced Hair & Beauty Services Mon - Thurs when you show this advert Hair Services - Colours, Foils, Tints, Cutting, Re-Styles, Sets, Perms, Blow Dries, Hair Extensions, Men’s & Children’s hair plus more

Afternoon

SUNDAY Hall 1

Great Hollands Free Church 09:30 - 12:30

Available for bookings

Available for bookings

Hall 2

Embassy Church 08:30 - 12:30

Available for casual bookings

Available for casual bookings

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Providing new homes “Great Hollands Practice, Great Hollands Health Centre and Birch Hill Medical Centre use an 0844 number. We contacted these surgeries for further information. Their responses have been summarised below:

Great Hollands Health Centre / Birch Hill Medical Centre These two practices are run by the Ringmead Medical Practice. When they first installed the system the use of this type of number was approved by the Department of Health. There is a heavy penalty for breaking the contract. Nonetheless, they are in discussion with the provider to change to a local number.

Great Hollands Practice The practice clarified that 0844 numbers are not premium rate, nor banned in the NHS provided that patients should not be paying more than a local rate to contact their GP. The current contract with the provider comes to an end in June 2014, in the meantime the practice is exploring ways to change provider as soon as is possible.”

Mary Temperton Great Hollands Community Centre Open Day On 28 September residents of Great Hollands were able to look round the new facilities, find out what goes on there and chat to some of the groups that meet there.

Great Hollands Art Group put on an exhibition of their work - a very varied selection of art in different media.

Nimble Fingers had a stall with unique craft items made by their members.

Check them out for some lovely Christmas cards at very reasonable prices.

The Youth Club were challenging residents to see how many cream crackers they could eat at one sitting. Those who tried were in desperate need of something provided by Great Hollands Parent & Toddler Group who were on hand providing hot and cold drinks and a selection of hand-made cakes. They also provided activities for the younger members of the community.

Members of Great Hollands Free Church were there to outline the work they do to support both Great Hollands residents and the wider community.

Throughout the afternoon we were entertained by the talented children of the dancing school. Well done to all the children who danced.

If you weren’t able to attend the Open Day we have produced a diary, on page 7, of all the activities in both halls at the Community Centre. There’s something for everyone. We look forward to seeing you.

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Bracknell Forest Homes is now providing more homes, with 72 properties at Jennett’s Park, and a range of other plans in the pipeline.

The new family homes at Jennett’s Park include 37 for affordable rent and 35 for shared ownership purchase, and were unveiled at an opening event in the summer.

The housing association has also started work to build a flagship extra care scheme near Garth College, Sandy Lane, which will have 65 one and two bedroom apartments for older people. The extracare scheme, which will be called Clement House, is expected to be completed in early 2015.

Dermot McRoberts, Chair of Bracknell Forest Homes’ Board, confirmed the association’s commitment to providing quality new homes for local people, saying: “The Board recognises the importance and demand for more homes. We have a strong commitment to delivering high quality affordable new homes and we have an exciting development strategy. We value working closely with partners and are delighted to see people moving into the homes already.”

The association will provide some 150 homes each year for the next five years through its plans.

There’s also plans for more affordable accommodation elsewhere in the borough.

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Benefit Matters – Universal Credit is coming: benefit claimants must get ready Don’t forget – Universal Credit (UC) is on its way for those between 16 and 64 years old, starting with new claimants and with all claimants changing to UC by 2017.

UC will bring together six of the major benefits in our welfare system - housing benefit, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income support, child tax credit, working tax credit and income-related employment support allowance. UC claims will be made and managed online and benefit payments will go directly into your personal bank account, which you must have to receive payments.

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Payments will be made once a month in arrears so you’ll need to prioritise rent payments and budget the benefit. Make sure you are prepared.

We are encouraging all customers who will be affected by UC to get ahead with their rent to ensure they are not caught out by the changes and don’t build up arrears. Consider making additional payments towards your rent account of between £2 and £5 per week to help you manage the changes.

Remember, it is no longer possible to make a new claim for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) if you are between 16 and 64 years old. Personal Independence Payments are replacing DLA over the next few years.

If you have any queries or wish to discuss how you may be affected by these changes, please contact the Benefits and Financial Inclusion Officers on 0800 692 3000. You can also read more in our latest Benefit Matters.

Bracknell Market is Still Open!!!

Over the past couple of years, our market has suffered from a huge lack of footfall. We get many people coming in and telling us they were under the impression, or they had been told, the market is closed. We are still open but we need your help. Alas, we are in a catch 22 situation. We have lost so much footfall over the past couple of years that many stalls have had to pack up as they are simply not taking enough money to survive. We need everyone who reads this to spread the word that if the market is not used, it will be lost.

The market is in desperate need of more stall holders, be they small or large, to bring it back to life. Anyone can come along and ask to take on a stall as there is no waiting list. You can have a stall for a day, 2 days or have a more permanent pitch. Have you ever given thought to trying out market trading? If you have done a boot sale, you have been a trader! The only difference is our market is under cover and so you won’t get wet!

If you fancy having a stall in the market, often there is no need to book. We have plenty of space and would love some new faces and new goods to bring the market to life.

The market is operated by Grenchurch Market Operators Ltd. For more information contact them on 01608 652556.

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Oak Trees Saved In August, I was notified of a planning application to fell a row of oak trees on the boundary of Jennett’s Park separating Jennett’s Park from the school drive at Easthampstead Park Community School. A row of willows has already been taken down on this stretch – at the same time as the willows opposite Waverley were removed. The developers have to allow a ditch to drain and prevent stagnant water from accumulating. The application planned to put a drain pipe where the oaks stand, and so the trees had to go. They planned to put a chicken wire fence covered in ivy to act as a green barrier and to replace the oaks with silver birch.

I opposed this application because oaks are a superb habitat for so many species ( much better than silver birch); because oaks are slow growing and birch trees shoot for the stars; because the oaks are established and form the last natural barrier between the houses and the school. I was also under the impression that oak trees are protected.

I suggested that the drainage pipe should be placed instead under the adjacent road. Thankfully 18 other residents also objected to this application and the developer has agreed to leave the oaks and put the pipe under the road, connecting it to the drainage system of the school.

Cllr Mary Temperton Macmillan Cancer Support Many thanks to all those who supported our coffee morning last September in aid of the above. We raised £776 which, together with the donation by Barclays of £750, gave us a total of £1,526 which has gone to the Berkshire Macmillan Fund.

Sue Winders Great Hollands Free Church Shoe Box Appeal We are pleased to say that our latest appeal raised 116 shoe boxes.

Very many thanks to all those who donated so generously.

Jean Ardron Use of 0844 number by local doctors’ surgeries I have been contacted by several residents concerned at the use of the 0844 number by the local doctors’ surgeries. You are told as you wait to be connected that this call will be 5p per minute, more from a mobile phone. As you hold on, waiting for an appointment, the 5ps mount up.

This is an unexpected extra expense for many of our families. I asked Healthwatch to investigate and this is their report. …….

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