The Wokingham Paper May 21, 2020

COVERING WOKINGHAM, FINCHAMPSTEAD, EARLEY, WINNERSH, SHINFIELD, WOODLEY, TWYFORD & SURROUNDING AREAS

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER

THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

WOKINGHAM.TODAY

Thursday, May 21, 2020 No. 262

‘Catastrophic to delay developer payments’

70p

DOG OWNERS P20 ALERT FOR THEFTS

EXCLUSIVE

By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokinghampaper.co.uk

COUNCILS are being encouraged to delay collecting money from housing developers designated for community contributions.

But the leader of the borough council said that it would be catastrophic for council finances if any money was lost.

On Wednesday, May 13, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced house builders could be given more discretion in the late payment of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

The announcement stated that: “Local authorities may wish to consider now to ease the burden on developers.”

Although the decision is at the discretion of the council, the Government is “encouraging” them to delay CIL payments.

Cllr John Halsall, leader of the borough council said: “We have one of the highest CIL rates in the country, and developer contributions are vital to meet the infrastructure bill and provide affordable housing.

“It would be catastrophic for the Wokingham borough if any CIL is lost.

We have to build infrastructure in anticipation of developments. You can’t build houses if there is no road to reach them.

“And we can’t lose money that has already been committed to infrastructure projects. There’s £60 million of CIL at risk. But I’m not anticipating the council losing anything.

Cllr Carl Doran, Labour lead for planning also belives the council should avoid delaying payments.

He said: “I think it would be dangerous to get involved in things like this for big developers.

“The big complaint from residents is always the lack of infrastructure, that is very heavily included in the draft local plan update now, although it was also included in the local plan 10 years ago.” � Continued on page 2

HEROES PAINTED IN ART PROJECT P22

PEDAL POWER: Double win for cycling at national awards P5

SAFETY MAY DELAY SCHOOL OPEN DATE

TRIO OF FRIENDS CLIMB EVEREST P3

Pupils’ wellbeing comes ahead of lessons warns leader EXCLUSIVE

By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokinghampaper.co.uk

NOT ALL schools in the borough will reopen after half-term, despite Government plans to allow pupils back into classrooms.

Wokingham Borough Council’s leader, John Halsall, has warned that safety and wellbeing of children comes above reopening from Monday, June 1.

And while he wanted to see youngsters return to their lessons, he vowed that schools that decided not to

open would get the backing of the council.

In a statement, Cllr Halsall said: “Wokingham Borough Council recognises the Government announcement regarding schools reopening at the earliest from Monday, June 1, and are working to support schools in their planning for the return of children to their settings.

“We wholly support the benefits of children re-engaging with learning, and are also minded to the safety and wellbeing of all of our Wokingham learners.

“We continue to work with all schools and academies in the borough, and will support each governing body or trust to make decisions that are appropriate to their school and school community to ensure the safe return of children, young people and teaching staff.

“This may mean that for some schools children will not return on Monday, June 1, but will return when the schools risk assessments and plans determine it is right and safe for them to do so.” � Continued on page 8

GETTING GRUB TO THE HOME P19 PROPERTY MARKET RESTARTS P10

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Council can’t afford to help big developers by delaying payments � Continued from front page

Cllr Doran said: “But Wokingham Borough Council finances have already been hit by the pandemic, I don’t think they can afford to help developers.”

And Cllr Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey, Liberal Democrat councillor for Winnersh and lead for housing, said: “Because of the recession, people won’t have the money to buy houses, but investment buyers will. That’s not good for communities. Instead, we need more large infrastructure projects to help the local economy.

“We need to build and maintain parks, schools and roads, and CIL money is needed desperately.”

Leader of the town council, Cllr Imogen Shepherd-DuBey said she doesn’t think CIL money will be paid at the speed originally anticipated.

“We are not expecting it to come in at the same rate as previously expected,” she said. “We may have to delay some projects or risk borrowing lots of the money — which would bring extra costs.”

Cllr Doran also said that the borough council should be doing more to to build their own affordable housing.

“Developers can argue that it is not commercially viable to build affordable housing if they make less than approximately 15% profit on the home.

“But Wokingham Borough Council are building flats at Carnival Pool, and as the developer, they have decided they are not making a big enough profit to build affordable housing there.

“The council shouldn’t be looking to make a profit on affordable housing, it's disgraceful.”

And Cllr Shepherd-DuBey said the borough council should be setting an example when it comes to affordable housing.

“The council has claimed that the profit from house sales in the Carnival Pool development is being used to help fund the Carnival Pool

The Carnival Pool redevelopment plans include council built apartments, but none have been allocated as afforable as it is ‘not comercially viable’. Picture: Wokingham Borough Council

cost itself,” she said. “But it’s important to build homes for everyone, not just the rich. So we must keep building affordable homes.”

And nationally, the National Housing Federation (NHF) and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) are among those concerned that new advice could impact the delivery of affordable homes.

It comes as a campaign to build 100,000 affordable homes for key workers launched on Thursday, May 7.

The Homes for Heroes campaign

was launched by an alliance of housing associations, and many others across the property sector calling for the private, public and charitable sectors to join together and build low cost homes for key workers in the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is inspired by the Homes fit For Heroes programme, which launched after the First World War. Helen Evans, chair of the G15 — a group of London’s largest housing associations — said: “Essential workers on the frontline of this crisis are often among the lowest paid in society. Homes for Heroes is about

giving these people a safe, secure and genuinely affordable home to live in.

“With the collaboration of government and the housing sector, both private and social, we should bring forward a once-in-ageneration number of new homes for our essential workers, including those not eligible for traditional keyworker housing.

“Homes should be well designed, with private outdoor space, in convenient well-connected locations for healthcare facilities, schools and other employment hubs.”

Cyclist assault: police call for driver to come forward AN APPEAL has been launched to find a motorist who could help police following an assault in Wokingham last month.

The driver is said to have stopped and filmed the incident, which took place on London Road around 7pm on Thursday, April 16.

Thames Valley Police said that the victim was a man in his twenties, who had been riding a bike along the road.

Two men caused him to fall off the bike and the resulting verbal altercation turned physical – a screwdriver was used to cut the neck of the victim, who also sustained a shattered elbow.

He was taken to hospital and has since been discharged.

Two men from Wokingham have been arrested and released on bail until Wednesday, June 3, in relation to the alleged attack.

One is 20 and was arrested

on suspicion of section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a controlled drug of class B. And a 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent.

Investigating officer, PC Paul Roche, based at Loddon Valley police station, said: “We have been sent a video of this incident that was captured at the time by a motorist who stopped and filmed what happened.

“I am appealing for this motorist to come forward and speak to us as we believe you may have information that could help us with the investigation.

“Anyone with information can contact police by making a report online quoting reference 43200115240.”

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Wokingham vicar dies aged 91

Ken Humphreys is with his great grandson Toby

By VIC ANGELL

A WOKINGHAM Church of England vicar whose counselling skills touched thousands of peoples’ lives has died at the age of 91.

The Revd Canon Kenneth Humphreys, better known as Ken, first arrived in Wokingham in 1975 when he was appointed curate at All Saints’ Church while working at the No 5 Counselling Service in Reading, at a time when counselling was in its infancy.

Over many years he was part of the counselling team at Reading Festival.

He had arrived in the town from Compton, where

he was vicar and then rector between 1970 and 1975.

It was while serving as vicar of Compton that his counselling work really took off and he was instrumental in setting up the Samaritans in Newbury.

When at Compton he and his wife Hilda filled the vicarage fostering babies and teenagers and two of these teenagers were Nigel and Nick, who to this day continue to be loving and important members of the family.

While at All Saints, he trained and counselled teachers and headteachers for Berkshire County Council.

His counselling work did not stop there, for

he helped counselling a large number of clergy in the Oxford Diocese.

In recognition of this work the Bishop of Oxford in 1991 appointed him an honorary canon of Christ Church, Oxford, an honour which he greatly valued.

In 1981, he was asked to take on a non-existing parish, St Mary and St John at California in England, which he built up over 14 years, where services were held in the hall of Gorse Ride School and because of his inspirational ministry the school had to be extended to enlarge the church.

While at California, Ken set up the training of a team of counsellors who went on

to help a wide range of people, many being referred from the doctors’ surgery.

From these times he maintained many close relationships.

One of his relaxations was gardening. He was passionate about the clematis and he was extremely knowledge on this plant and gave a number of talks to local groups in the Wokingham and Reading area in the 1980s, showing slides of the different varieties he had in the garden at the vicarage.

Born in Edmonton, he met Hilda through an operatic society, and they married when she was 18.

He did his National Service in the RAF. They started married life in Tottenham and Ken was a salesman for a large greenhouse business.

Then he joined Hoover as a servicing engineer and while visiting households they were asked to encourage housewives to buy more products.

Ken was so good at the selling side he was promoted to a salesman and eventually became area manager, moving from London to Marlow.

It was while living in the Buckinghamshire town that he decided to train for the priesthood.

His wife died nine years ago and, in recent years lived in Kennet Court, a sheltered housing complex in Wokingham, where he

enthusiastically entered into all of the activities with gusto.

Although Ken retired in 1995, he continued to work well into his 80s, taking funerals and acting as an “ecclesiastical locum” for parishes which needed services to be taken.

He regularly took services at St Nicholas’s Church, held in Emmbrook village hall.

He died at Sunrise Living in Bagshot on Wednesday, April 15. A funeral service was held at Easthampstead Crematorium, where he himself had conducted services on hundreds of occasions, on Monday, May 4.

His daughter Paula Ashley said: “Looking through the huge number of cards and letters that I have received since my father passed away there are words and phrases that are repeated in so many of them — “Kind, caring, generous, special person,” “A real servant of God shown by his care and love of his fellows,” “A great salesman for God” and “He has left behind thousands of people who now have their lives removed of fear and shame.”

At least six men and women were encouraged by him to train for the priesthood. � A memorial service is planned at a later date.

Contact A B Walker and Sons on 0118 957 3650 for more details.

Trio’s Everest challenge on their stairs THREE FRIENDS are taking on the challenge of climbing Mount Everest, from the comfort of their own home to raise money for three charities.

Eight-year-olds Harry, Lily and Zack have set out to climb the equivalent of the world’s tallest mountain — requiring them to climb their stairs 3,871 times each to reach the summit.

And they plan to complete the challenge by Friday, May 29.

The trio, who met when they were just a few days old, decided to donate all funds raised to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and The Armed Forces Charity.

Zack’s mother, Hannah MacIndoe, said: “It started out as a joke and it has become reality.

“At bedtime I often say to my son ‘what would you like to do tomorrow?’ And totally as a joke he said ‘climb Everest’. I had seen lots of charity fundraisers going around and we developed the idea from there.

“The three of them got thinking and decided to go ahead with the idea. And fast-forward two weeks and he and two friends are spending May going up and down their stairs 3,871 times each to coincide with

the 63rd anniversary of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s achievement.

“They have known each other since they were a few days old, so are raising money for the hospital in which they were born, as well as the SSAFA Armed Forces charity.

“Zack was born in the Royal Berkshire Hospital and his two friends were born in Northampton.

We were in the same antenatal group together.

“Harry’s dad was in the RAF so we decided to choose the Armed Forces charity as well.”

And they have already smashed their initial target of £300, rasing £1,165 so far.

“They are all absolutely ecstatic with the donations,” added Ms MacIndoe. “They are checking it everyday, multiple times a day. So often new donations are coming in and they are delighted by that.

“They thought a target of raising £100 each would be a huge amount and that would have been brilliant so they love to see the fact that the percentage of donations has now gone way above that.” � To donate, visit: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/everestexplorers

Zack, and his two friends Harry and lily have been climbing the height of Everest between them.

Picture: Hannah MacIndoe

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Air Ambulance called after bikers spook horse causing serious injuries AN AIR AMBULANCE was called out on Sunday, after a horse rider was left with serious injuries in an incident in College Woods, Goring Heath.

The 41-year-old woman was riding her horse on a bridleway between noon and 1pm when five off-road motorcycles, who were also in the wooded area, caused the horse to bolt and throw her off.

The horse fell and landed on top of the rider, causing her serious and life-changing injuries.

Police arrested a 22-year-old man from Earley on suspicion of driving a vehicle while over the prescribed limit for drugs and possession of class B drugs.

And a 22-year-old man from Woodley was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving a vehicle whilst unfit through drugs.

But both have been released under investigation.

Five off road motorcycles and a white Ford Transit van have also been seized in connection with the investigation.

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the incident.

Investigating officer PC Chris Weatherley of the joint operations unit for roads policing, said: “We are looking to establish if the bikes that rode past the horse caused it to bolt.

“We also need to establish if the bikes were using the bridleway or footpaths, which would be a public place, or whether they went deeper into the woods, which would have been more private.

“I am appealing for anybody who witnessed the incident at the time who may have seen the horse and rider or off road bikes, to please make contact with police.

“The injured woman was treated at the scene by the air ambulance medical professionals, but was transported to hospital by land ambulance.

“She remains in hospital at this time in a serious but stable condition.

“Anybody who has any information should make a report online, or if you are unable to access our online services, by calling 101, quoting reference number 43200145217.”

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY / THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Thursday, May 21, 2020

Double win for borough in national cycling training awards

By TAZ USHER tusher@wokinghampaper.co.uk

THE BOROUGH council has been awarded for its commitment to promoting active and sustainable travel.

Earlier this month, it was presented the Bikeability Trust’s Local Authority Partner of the Year 2020 Award for its My Journey Wokingham programme which aims to reduce congestion, improve local air quality and increase activity levels while training young people to ride bikes.

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport at WBC, said: “The fantastic cycling training scheme our My Journey team runs for primary school pupils sets them up to love cycling for life.

“Training them to ride safely on the road means they will be far more likely to travel by bike in their leisure time, use it for exercise or to help them get to school.

“It also helps the council towards its carbon neutral by 2030 goal, improves air quality and, vitally, reduces congestion on our roads.”

Bikeability — the Department for Transport’s national provider for cycle training in England — has also praised the council for their efforts to deliver as much cycle training in the borough as possible, recognising it as the best local authority in the country

for Bikeability cycle training for young people.

Successes of the training programme include 100% of the borough’s schools receiving cycling training for its year 5 and 6 pupils of which 78% ride independently in just two sessions. The sessions are also regularly adapted to include special educational needs and disabilities provision.

Wokingham parent, Anne-Marie Lansley said: “My daughter has autism and ADHD. Without the support from the Bikeability instructors she would never have learnt to ride a bike.

“The instructors were patient, they supported her, gave her confidence and made it fun to learn to ride.”

The My Journey project also includes Doctor Bike events, adult cycle training, the Wokingham Bikeathon, workplace events and lunchtime rides, bike maintenance training courses, family rides and women-only confidence rides which run throughout the year.

And success is also being celebrated by Shinfield’s St Mary’s Junior School which was named runner-up in the category of Most Proactive Primary School.

Driven by its vision of enabling every child in the school to ride a bike, the school has funded a Bikeability instructor to run Learn to Ride sessions before and after

Students across the borough have been trained in independent cycling through the scheme. Picture: Stewart Turkington

school, purchased a range of bikes and helmets for use by pupils from disadvantaged families, and installed a bicycle hub and bike racks.

Matthew Lappin, head of PE at the school, said: “Shinfield St. Mary’s CofE Junior School is overjoyed to be recognised as one of the leading schools in the country when it comes to promoting positive cycling opportunities for primary-aged children.

“The parent engagement towards

Couple celebrate diamond wedding anniversary

Patrick and Gill Allen celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary at home

IT WAS NOT the celebration with family and friends they started planning last Autumn – just the two of them at home in isolation.

Patrick and Gill Allen were married on Cup Final day at St Mary’s church, Wollaston, Northamptonshire in 1960 — which was not very popular with some of the guests.

And on Thursday, May 7, the couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary at home, although they wished their son, daughter, and three

grandsons could have joined in.

They they moved to Wokingham in 1970.

Patrick joined Wokingham Lions Club in 1987 and has held many positions including president twice, and is still actively involved.

He was also a volunteer driver taking patients to hospital and the doctors and also taught adults with severe learning difficulties to use computers at a nearby centre.

In 2009, Patrick was awarded a Wokingham Town Council

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Thursday, May 21, 2020 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER / WOKINGHAM.TODAY

Civic Award for his volunteer work in the local community.

And Gill is involved with All Saints Church and has delivered parenting courses, bereavement counselling, is part of the Prayer Ministry team and is coordinator for the Mother’s Union. In 2011, Gill was also awarded a Wokingham Town Council Civic Award for her volunteer work in the local community.

They hope to celebrate their Diamond Wedding Anniversary plus one next year.

cycling in the school has been overwhelming and we are very fortunate to have so many families who have shared our vision from the start.

“Our aim of creating confident and competent cyclists of the future continues to be met and we, as a school, are extremely proud of this.” � For more information about Wokingham Borough Council’s My Journey programme log on to www.MyJourneywokingham.com/ events

Community foundation gifts £450,000 to 100 charities in pandemic

By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

A FUND set up to help charities across the Thames Valley affected by the coronavirus pandemic has handed out more than £450,000.

Berkshire Community Foundation launched a Vital for Berkshire Coronavirus Appeal aimed at helping small charities and voluntary groups who are working at the sharp end of the crisis.

More than 100 beneficiaries include groups protecting people at risk of domestic violence, supporting young carers, children with additional needs, helping to combat the effects of poverty and charities that support isolated older people.

More than £500,000 has been donated and the Foundation is also distributing funds from the National Emergencies Trust.

Jon Yates, chief operating officer at the Foundation, said: “We have had tremendous support so far from companies and existing donors but we are looking to widen this to other organisations and the general public.

“We are receiving approaches in respect of many needs so anything people give will be put to good use.

“The picture is changing all the time and a lot of groups now need support for basic running costs to ensure that they can continue to meet the needs of their communities in the coming months.” � To Support the Appeal visit www.berkshirecf.org, alternatively, text VITAL to 70085 to donate £10. � Groups wishing to apply please visit www.berkshirecf.org

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GPs still open for use DOCTORS are encouraging people to continue visiting surgeries for any serious health concerns.

Across Berkshire, doctors are reminding patients that surgeries are still open, after Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that people must not avoid seeing their GP as this could create more serious issues.

There are fears that the coronavirus pandemic has deterred people from seeking help for issues including suspected cancers, heart problems and stroke.

But many of these problems need detecting early so appropriate treatment can be put into place.

Dr Abid Irfan, clinical lead for Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “There’s been a lot of publicity advising people about coronavirus symptoms and the need to contact NHS 111 and self isolate.

“We’ve also been urging people who have suspected symptoms to stay away from surgeries to prevent the spread of the virus. And, on the whole, people have been acting very responsibly.

“Our concern is that in the midst of all this, people who don’t have coronavirus symptoms, but are obviously very unwell, are not getting in touch with their GPs. “This, coupled with a pause in screening programmes as the NHS tackles the virus, means serious problems like cancer could go unchecked.

But the sooner we identify these sort of serious health problems, the more likely they are to be managed and treated.”

Dr Irfan encouraged anyone who notices lumps, changes in moles, blood in their urine and stools and unintentional weight loss to contact their GP. “This message is also an important one for parents and carers of children,” he added. “Our message is that your local GP surgery, along with the rest of the NHS services, are still here for you — for people with maternity appointments, children’s vaccinations, those needing mental health support and other important healthcare issues.”

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY / THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Thursday, May 21, 2020

‘The coronavirus is now being better controlled in care homes’ EXCLUSIVE

By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokinghampaper.co.uk

THE LATEST figures show that there have been 52 reported Covid-19 deaths in care homes across the borough, but the leader of the council is confident the virus is being better controlled with new measures.

Last week, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) had recorded more than 50 Covid-19-related deaths across the 53 residential and nursing homes in the borough.

And the leader of the borough council said he is more comforted in the control of the virus, due to the health care task force created.

“The taskforce initiative has now been copied across England and Wales,” said Cllr John Halsall. “The task force goes into care homes and makes sure that any problems that have existed are not recurring.

“We don’t have the authority to do this, we can only do this with the agreement of the care provider, working with them.

“Health care colleagues visit our care homes to assess and support their readiness to take and manage positive cases, and also to ensure they receive all the support they need.”

At the time of writing, the task force had visited 14 care homes.

Cllr Halsall added: “We are proposing to cover all 53 homes and all 162 care points in the borough.

“We are more comforted that the virus is being controlled now. But we are not on top of the problem of the virus yet. We don’t know a lot about it, and we are managing a situation

that hasn’t happened before.”

Cllr Lindsay Ferris, leader of the Wokingham Liberal Democrats praised the local task force response, but condemned the Government for “a lack of coordinated thought” when managing the coronavirus in care homes.

He said: “They didn’t think of the consequences of moving people out of hospital and into care homes without testing. Care homes have not had priority from the beginning and there has been a lack of acknowledgement from Matt Hancock — he is an utter disgrace.”

And Cllr Clive Jones, deputy leader of the Wokingham Liberal Democrats added: “ONS statistics have revealed more than 44,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the UK. Of these, 9,980 Covid-19-related deaths took place in care homes in England and Wales. There are 52 deaths registered in Wokingham related to Covid19.

“Deaths in care homes are being understated. I am sure that deaths in care homes in the UK are at least 20,000.”

When the Government announced the plan to discharge hospital patients into care homes without testing, MPs across the borough lobbied for the decision to be re-thought. But these calls were ignored for a number of weeks.

Cllr Jones added: “The Government has failed to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our society from coronavirus.

“For ministers to now try and claim they put a 'protective ring' around care homes is not only false, but will be regarded by many as an only adding further insult to all

those grieving the loss of a loved one.

“Government ministers must now be frank with the British public. They must not only explain how this was allowed to happen under their watch, but how they are going to ensure that we step up the level of protective equipment as well as the system to test, trace and isolate so that they can get a grip on the crisis and prevent further deaths.”

But Cllr Halsall praised the borough council staff and the voluntary sector in their coordinated response to the pandemic and lockdown restrictions at a local level.

“We had planned for the pandemic in the sense that the borough council could click into gear almost immediately in the response, as could the voluntary sector,” he said.

“We plan for all sorts of risks, but having said that, every emergency has its own uniqueness. And these unique things hadn’t been considered.

“We didn’t have a big pile of PPE, but should we have done?

“We couldn’t have anticipated the virus would be transmitted in the way it has been. We can’t cover every eventuality and be right all the time.”

And the borough council has now published a report on the Covid-19 situation across the borough.

“What we’re trying to do here is to put the facts out and tell people as much as we possibly can,” explained Cllr Halsall.

“It seems the right thing to do to get the information out there.

“I don’t know of other authorities doing this.”

The report includes data from Wokingham borough and the five other local authorities in Berkshire.

It shows that Wokingham comes in second for the number of Covid19-related deaths in care homes, despite having the largest number of care homes in Berkshire.

West Berkshire had most recorded Covid-19-related deaths, at 54 in their 46 care homes. And Bracknell Forest had the fewest, with four recorded Covid-19-related deaths in their 14 care homes.

Call to close schools and nurseries if Covid-19 clusters appear THE LOCAL Government Association (LGA) has warned that councils need the power to close schools or nurseries if clusters of new Covid-19 cases appear.

A spokesperson from the LGA said: “There are concerns about how schools will be able to impose strict social distancing measures, particularly with younger and more vulnerable children, which pose a potential threat to staff and other children’s families if they take the virus home with them.”

The organisation is calling for local flexibility to allow some schools to make their own decisions about reopening in consultation with their councils.

Councils are also calling for the Government to urgently publish the scientific evidence to reassure parents, pupils and teachers that it is safe to return from Monday, June 1.

Cllr Judith Blake, chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said: “We know parents are anxious about sending their children back to school or nursery.

“Plans to re-open schools and early years settings must focus on reassuring parents that it will be safe for children to return to school.

Publication of the scientific advice is vital to help provide that reassurance.

“The safety of staff, parents and families is absolutely paramount.

“Councils need to be able to close provision where testing indicates clusters of new Covid-19 cases and it is vital that schools have the resources to provide staff with necessary protective equipment, as well as soap and hand sanitiser for cleaning.”

Thursday, May 21, 2020 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER / WOKINGHAM.TODAY

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Church launches pop-up foodbank for families

The Church are collecting donations for families in need across Shinfield

EXCLUSIVE

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokinghampaper.co.u

SHINFIELD BAPTIST Church has set up a pop-up foodbank to support families in need during the pandemic.

The church is collecting donations from the community including food, nappies, shoes and other essential items that may be required.

Sallyann Hunt, associate pastor of Shinfield Baptist Church, said: “There are some families that we deal with that have very specific needs, whether that be nappies or anything else.

“We have a team of local

volunteers who help us to drop off the food parcels to individual families.

“Every week, one of the volunteers takes a huge car load of what we've collected to one of the two food banks and they are very grateful because I believe their donations have really dropped.

“I've been blown away by the generosity of people donating things, it's been incredible. It's really positive.

People really want to do something to help.

“We help out around 25 households. And then we have roughly 20 bags of food items that get donated to the foodbank each week.”

The Church only set up the foodbank a few months ago, as the coronavirus began to take hold in the UK. “We call it the pop-up foodbank; it wasn't in existence until this season we are in,” added Ms Hunt.

“In our village there is a lady who came to our toddler group who runs a national group called Helping Hand which is all over the country.

“They provide things such as school shoes for families — people post what they need and then others can respond with specific items to send to help struggling families.

“We joined together with her because there were a number of families that

Visitors to the 2019 Twyford Beer Festival enjoyed a pint for a good cause

Charity beer festival cancelled

By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

A MAJOR event in Twyford’s social calendar has been cancelled for this year, as a result of the coronavirus.

The Twyford Beer Festival had been due to take place on Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13, but has been pulled.

Organiser Ian Wisdom announced the news on social media earlier this week.

The note said: “Sorry folks. In view of the ongoing situation we will not be running the

festival this year.”

It had been hoped that as the event was outdoors, it would have been possible for it to have taken place.

Bands booked included the PFJ and Big Audio Twynamite.

There would also have been a selection of craft and locally brewed real ales, gins, perries and ciders.

It would all have been in aid of the male cancer charity Orchid and have taken place in Stanlake Meadows.

Last year’s event raised £10,000 for the charity.

needed help with food. We decided to set up a pop-up foodbank.

“We come in every day to the church, we have our welcome flag outside and a box on the doorstep and have communicated through Facebook to the local community.

“People have been incredible. They've donated amazing amounts of food, nappies, and washing powder.

“The best thing for people to do if they want to donate is to regularly check the website. They put on what is needed, so that changes fairly regularly.” � For more information, visit: www.shinfieldbaptist.org.uk

NEWS | 7

Community garden planted in Woodley town centre

By MARIE WILLIAMS news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

A COMMUNITY garden is being planted in Woodley in the hopes of smartening up the town centre.

It is being created around the trees outside Waitrose, near the Crockhamwell Road car park, by removing the current paving slabs.

It is a joint project between Woodley town council, the town centre management initiative and Wokingham borough council, and aims to solve the problem of potential trip hazards around the four trees due to their roots dislodging paving around them.

The raised community garden — which is going around the trees — removes the restrictions on the tree roots and will provide an area for the community to enjoy.

And a brick retaining wall will be used following feedback from residents to the town council.

New seating will also be installed in the area for visitors to the town centre, as well as a notice board in the same style as those in Woodford Park. Pedestrians will still be able to walk on either side of this new garden to get to the shops.

Work began on Monday and will take around three weeks, carried out by a contractor on behalf of the borough council.

Access to all shops which are open will be maintained.

Cllr Keith Baker, leader of Woodley Town Council, said: “This long standing issue of trip hazards

Farol

has now been addressed by a highly innovative solution.

“For Woodley residents it not only makes this area safer but it also provides a visually attractive scene including new seating areas for them to sit down and rest, meet friends or simply to eat their lunch.

“This is the third piece of the regeneration of the public space in the precinct and will enhance the area considerably.”

And Brian Fennelly, Woodley town centre manager, said: “Woodley town centre management have been concerned for some time about the uneven surface around the trees in the town centre and, while we don’t want to see the trees removed, the proposed plans for the garden are a good solution to the current trip hazards.

“We are also keen to get active involvement from the local community with planting and maintenance of the garden.”

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport at Wokingham Borough Council added: “We are working to help kickstart our local economy during Wokingham borough’s response to the pandemic and investing in town centres and high streets like Woodley’s is one of the ways to do this.

“This will also solve a historic problem with tree roots in that area of the precinct as well as creating an area for the community to enjoy for many years to come.”

8 | NEWS

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY / THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Thursday, May 21, 2020

FROMTHECOURTS � A MAN who harassed a woman has been given an eight-week suspended sentence.

Dean Martin, of Kings Common Close, Binfield Heath, pleaded guilty to sending private photographs of his victim, who lived in Woodley, to two other people over a three-day period last July.

He was convicted of harassment without violence when he appeared at Reading Magistrates Court on March 10.

In addition to his jail term, which is suspended for 18 months, he must undertake 180 hour of community service, pay £122 to victim services and £85 costs at a rate of £10 per week.

Martin has also been ordered not to contact his victim except through social services or solicitors. � A WOKINGHAM man who failed to provide a breath specimen when ordered to by police has been ordered to undertake 60 hours’ worth of community service.

Samuel Peters, 21 and from Jeffery Close, appeared at Reading Magistrates Court on March 11, where he pleaded guilty to the offence, which took place in Wokingham on November 2 last year.

He also pleaded guilty to obstructing or resisting arrest.

Peters was banned from driving for 18 months, ordered

Cases heard in Reading and Slough Magistrates Court in recent weeks Officers found that he did not have a valid certificate of insurance. For this he was fined £333.

For not having a valid MoT he was fined £166.

No separate penalty was found for the third offence: officers found that he had a child under the height of 135cm sitting in the front of the vehicle without a booster seat.

The child was only wearing the lap part of the seatbelt and officers determined that this involved a danger of injury to any person.

Boswell was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £33 to victim services.

to pay £85 costs and £90 to victim services at a rate of £20 per month. � A BRACKNELL man has been sent to prison for 26 weeks for three thefts.

Jamie Paul Barrett, 31 and from Lindenhill Road, appeared before Slough Magistrates Court on March 11, where he was found guilty of stealing cash from a BP service station on Wokingham Road, Bracknell and stealing cash from the Market Place branch of the Co-op in Wokingham.

Both incidents took place on January 22.

Magistrates felt that he had to go to jail because Barrett had a ‘flagrant disregard’ for court orders and for people and their property, as well as his previous record. � DRUG driving has seen a Charvil man banned from getting behind the wheel for 12 months.

Yashwa Theo Bovell, 23 and from Mendip Close, admitted the offence when he appeared before Reading Magistrates Court on March 12.

Officers had stopped him in Royal Avenue, Calcot, on October 10, last year. A drug test found that he had Delta-9Tetrahydrocannabinol, a form of cannabis, in his blood stream.

In addition to his ban, Bovell was fined £120, ordered to pay

£85 costs and £32 to victim services at a rate of £30 per month. � A TEENAGER from Wokingham has been ordered to undertake 80 hours of community service after pleading guilty to assault.

At Reading Magistrates Court on March 12, Danielle Corio, 18 and from Harmer Close, pleaded guilty to assault by beating on August 13 last year: she assaulted three people, one of whom was a police officer.

She must pay her victim £100 compensation, £85 costs and £90 to victim services.

At the same sitting, Corio

pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in Market Place, Wokingham on January 9 this year, and assaulting two police officers in Lower Earley on the same day.

For these offences, she was given two 80 hour community service sentences. � DRIVING without insurance, an MOT and without safely securing a minor has seen a Shinfield motorist given a six-point driving conviction.

Simon Michael Boswell, 28 and from Gloucester Avenue, was stopped by police officers by the Black Boy roundabout off Shinfield Road on November 20 last year.

� AN EARLEY man who pleads not guilty to two thefts has been remanded on bail until June 3.

Leon Florenzous Sofroniou, 51 and from Ramsey Close, made the plea when he appeared at Reading Magistrates Court on March 16.

He is accused of stealing five kitchen cabinets worth £150 on November 25, 2019, and stealing two drawer clips, worth £164, both from B&Q in Reading Retail Park on November 26, 2019.

As Sofroniou pleads not guilty, he faces a trial at Reading Magistrates Court, which is scheduled for June 3. � A DRUG-DRIVER from

Reading was stopped by police on the A329 on July 5 last year.

Kamal Mustada, 21 and from Basingstoke Road, pleaded guilty to having 2.2ug/L of Deltra-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, a form of cannabis, in his bloodstream.

For this, Reading Magistrates Court banned him from driving for 12 months, ordered him to pay an £88 fine and £32 to victim services, at a rate of £20 per month. � A TEENAGER has been given four points on his licence for speeding.

Ben Christopher Webb, 19 and from Dowles Green, was stopped by officers on the A33 Reading Relief Road on November 23 last year.

He was travelling at a speed greater than the 40mph limit.

In addition to the fine, Reading Magistrates Court determined he should be fined £300, which should be repaid at a rate of £50 per month. � A TWYFORD teenager has been given a community order after stealing a bike wheel from the village’s railway station.

The theft took place on September 17 last year.

Jahrad Michael May, 19 and from Anchorite Close, was given a 100-hour community service order, ordered to pay £100 compensation, £85 costs and £90 to victim services at a rate of £10 per week.

Schools may delay opening if not ready for June date � Continued from front page

The statement notes that: “This will not affect the eligible children that have been continuing to attend schools since school closures on Friday, March 20.”

The leader of the Labour group in Wokingham Borough Council said that safety must come first as more children return to school.

Cllr Andy Croy said: “Wokingham's schools have never closed. Teachers and school staff have been providing in-school education for key workers and vulnerable children all through the crisis as well as supporting children at home.

“Many teachers have not had a break as schools stayed open through the holidays.

“Everyone, especially teachers, want all children back in school but only when it is safe to do so.

“It must be safe for children, teachers and staff and everyone’s household.

“The guidance provided by the government has not been helpful,” he added.

“They have tried to rush school heads into increasing attendance by creating an artificial deadline of Monday, June 1 while at the same time providing guidance which simply does not work in the real world.

“As it is just guidance and not statutory, it is right that heads and teachers assess their own situation and do as they think fit and not be bound by a Government which has already made far too many mistakes.

“The expectation set by the Government is also unfair on parents and children.

“The guidance is clear that this is the earliest schools can open. It is fine for schools to open later — safety must come first.

“Wokingham Borough is right to reject the unworkable and dangerous demands of the Government even if they are shy about saying so.”

Cllr Croy added: “What is deeply worrying is that by the end of June the Government expects all primary children to be back at school. Social distancing and the government guidance issued to schools are simply incompatible.

“Again, unreasonable pressure is being put on our heads and teachers.

“In this context, Monday, June 1, is the thin end of the wedge to pressure schools into having all children back on site — with the risks of Covid-19 infection rates increasing in the community."

And the deputy leader of the Wokingham Liberal Democrats is concerned that there will not be enough teachers to support the children going to school.

Cllr Clive Jones said: “The main issue is relating to class sizes — now referred to as bubbles — that should only be 15 children.

“That works fine for reception, and year 1 and 6, but how can the rest of the children return when there won’t be enough staff?

“There are not enough teachers, and that will not be good for children. They need confidence from someone they know.

“So bringing in more supply teachers — if there are even enough — may cause additional problems.

Cllr Jones added: “We support the council in working with schools and governing bodies to get a safe opening of schools for staff and children.

“But the Government needs to work out what incentive they will offer for retired teachers to return to work, this shouldn’t be left to the local authority.”

Thursday, May 21, 2020 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER / WOKINGHAM.TODAY

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NEWS | 9

RESPONSE: Councils, charities and churches continue to work together to help vulnerable

MP’s praise for Borough’s community hubs

By ANGELA GARWOOD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

C

HARITIES and organisations across the borough are continuing to work hard as they support the community during the pandemic.

Those working together include the Wokingham Borough Community Hub, Wokingham Borough Council, First Days Children’s Charity, Citizens Advice Wokingham, Link Visiting Scheme, Wokingham Foodbank, the Wokingham Volunteer Centre and Involve Community Services.

Bracknell MP James Sunderland praised the work in parliament: “Within Wokingham borough, the hub at St Crispin’s Leisure Centre has been a beacon of community spirit and I’ve been privileged to deliver food myself to families who cannot venture out.

“So well done to everyone at the Wokingham Citizens Advice Bureau, Link, and all of the volunteers who have done so much.

“And in Bracknell many others have come together to support Healthwatch Bracknell Forest and involve Community services.

“Thank you to them and both Wokingham Borough Council and Bracknell Forest Council for underwriting this vital provision and for their fiscal responsibility.”

Mr Sunderland lauded individuals on the frontline and expressed his condolences to the many who’ve lost loved ones: “Given that so many people remain on the front line, I wish to pay my own tribute to key workers right across the UK and beyond who continue to serve others.

“I also wish to pay my respects to the families and friends of those who’ve been so gravely affected.

“In my own constituency, I’ve been proud to witness the superb provision of life support to those in isolation.”

Mr Sunderland also gave his views on how central government has addressed the crisis: “There has been a commendable and entirely conditioned based approach to the pandemic.

“The word unprecedented is often overplayed but it is quite true that there is no policy precedent for Covid19 and the Government has rightly needed to feel its way on medical and scientific advice.”

Mr Sunderland warned against the imposition of a 14-day quarantine upon entry to the UK by air, stating that it would have “a devastating effect on individuals, businesses, our global ambitions and the airline industry.”

He also emphasised the importance of re-stimulating the economy: “Getting our children back into schools and our staff back into work is essential.

“If people are given the personal responsibility to ensure that the virus does not spread then we will all be able to carry on with our lives as before.”

One Front Door Over the last eight weeks, Citizens Advice have helped more than 1,850 households through One Front Door, which signposts people to get the help they need. Of those households, more than 540 are classed as extremely vulnerable.

Wokingham Community Hub help A breakdown of age ranges supported by the council and charities

The organisation, which has 85 volunteers working from home, offers guidance and support on a range of issues from benefit and employment enquiries to food and prescription requests.

Jake Morrison, the charity’s chief executive, is encouraging people to contact Citizens Advice if they are in need: “If you are at a financial cliff-edge, worried about getting into debt, reach out to us now, rather than waiting for it to get worse.”

The charity is continuing to work with the borough council to map out their plans to support people when lock-down is lifted.

Citizens Advice has also created a supermarket list detailing opening times, when the dedicated slots are for specific groups of people, limits on purchases, and more key information.

And Wokingham borough council have compiled a list of meal delivery services, also available on the Citizens Advice website.

Anyone needing support should call Citizens Advice on 0300 330 1189 (entering 0118 978 7258 if prompted) Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm. Or visit citizensadvicewokingham.org.uk/ coronavirus/ and complete the online form.

Volunteer Centre The Wokingham Volunteer Centre is helping vulnerable people get their prescriptions from pharmacies. With approximately 55 volunteers across the borough, the organisation is working hard to ensure clients receive their medication as quickly as possible. Staff report the centre is receiving around 20-25 requests a day and have delivered more than 680 prescriptions since they started.

Volunteers are currently doing between one and four drives a week and are able to respond to demand efficiently.

In addition to delivering prescriptions, the volunteer centre is discussing plans to re-introduce other ways of supporting shielded individuals.

Nick Fellows, chief officer at the Wokingham Volunteer Centre said: “We are looking to plan how we can bring back some of our other services, such as our gardening service. “Older and vulnerable people need their lawns mowed and their hedges cutting. We will continue to follow advice on social distancing.”

The centre is working together with Wokingham Borough Council and reports that most referrals come from Citizens Advice, with some from the council, The Link Visiting Scheme and others through self-referral.

For updates on specific roles, visit: wokinghamvolunteercentre.org.uk

The Link Visiting Scheme The charity is currently running a telephone buddy system offering social support and friendship over the phone, and is encouraging anyone who is feeling lonely to give them a call.

The organisation has more than 1,900 people on their records for a fortnightly call and 315 on their telephone buddy system for calls two or three times a week.

Staff at the Link have said they need telephone volunteers in the coming months — DBS checks are required.

Marjie Walker, manager at the Link said: “We’re keen for people to keep volunteering in the long-term, post crisis. We want to keep the volunteering momentum going.”

Volunteers making fortnightly welfare check calls have said how well organised the service is and praised individual staff members.

One volunteer said: “I have found Jo Mason, who I’ve communicated with throughout, incredibly responsive and supportive and that has been an enormous help, plus the weekly feedback has been really good.

“The information for making the calls in the first place. I think the way the whole system has been organised is excellent.”

Another said: “I’m enjoying the phone calls as it is clearly of benefit to the recipient and they feel reassured that they are cared for and that people are there to help them.

“It may be that they do not need help now but they are concerned about the future and it helps to know that there is someone who can assist them if they need it.”

Staff at the charity are coming up with alternative ways to help ease loneliness in the community. Various groups have set up virtual gatherings and Link is encouraging anyone who is feeling lonely to sign up to one and get involved. If you are aware of an online group that welcomes newcomers, contact the charity, details below.

The charity is in need of help with its Goody Bags, introduced to help cheer people up.

The Wellbeing Goody Bags are being put together for vulnerable older people and families who seek support during social isolation. People can support their community by putting together a bag of goodies and treats in supermarket bags for life.

To nominate someone to receive a Goody Bag visit the Link website.

Donations can be delivered to the Wokingham Borough Community Hub in the outside bins at St Crispins Leisure Centre Monday to Saturday, 9am to 3pm and at Lower Earley, Twyford and Woodley libraries on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 10am and noon. They will then be safely distributed.

The charity asks that those donating create a full pack and label the type of household it’s most suitable for, such as a family, lone person, older couple, teen household or new baby.

Suggested donations for older people include hand wash, hand cream, puzzle books, jigsaws, magazines, handwritten notes/letters, wool, colouring books, pencils, hamper style goodies and sweet treats.

And for families: Hamper style goodies, colouring books, pencils, jazzy pens, magazines, drawing paper, sketchbooks, sweet treats including gluten free and vegan treats, puzzle books, educational books and little games.

To refer someone for support or to apply to be a Link volunteer visit www.linkvisiting.org or call 0118 979 8019 on weekdays from 9am until 5pm.

Wokingham Community Hub The Wokingham Community Response’s distribution hub, which is run by First Days Children’s Charity, has fed more than 2,300 people, making 3,239 deliveries to 857 households over the last eight weeks. They have 446 households on their repeat delivery books, with 165 staff and volunteers working six days a week on this service.

Based at St Crispin’s Leisure Centre, London Road, the hub is taking donations of both fresh and nonperishable food, toiletries and other living essentials and delivering them to people unable to leave their homes.

Staff report they are currently running low on cat and dog food, hand soap, washing up liquid, tinned vegetables, cereal/porridge, pasta, rice, baby milk, nappies — especially sizes 5/6/7, crisps, snacks and special dietary requirement foods such as gluten free and vegan. Donated must be unopened.

Donations can be left in boxes outside St Crispin’s Leisure Centre, Monday to Saturday between 9am and 3pm and at Lower Earley, Twyford and Woodley libraries on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 10am and noon.

To contribute financially to the response visit the Justgiving page: w w w. j u s t g i v i n g .co m /c a m p a i g n / WokinghamBoroughCV19 All money raised will go to fund food parcels and any funds left over once the food hub has closed will be distributed to the voluntary sector organisations involved in this combined response.

For more information and the latest updates visit: www.facebook.com/ wokinghamcommunityhub And the Wokingham Lions Club, which has raised more than £2,760 for the Wokingham Community distribution hub, hold a virtual pub quiz every Thursday at 8pm, visit www.facebook.com/WokinghamLions/ for more information.

Earley Community Hub Churches in Earley and Lower Earley are working together to help those most affected by the Coronavirus.

With support from Earley Town Council, the Earley Help Hub links volunteers with vulnerable people in the area.

The hub currently has more than 30 volunteers, who are mainly from across the churches, and help with practical and social support, such as collecting shopping and prescriptions or a friendly chat over the phone.

If the service cannot help with a particular matter, they are able to signpost people to the most appropriate agency who can.

Churches involved in the project include Trinity, Brookside, Lower Earley Baptist, St Nicolas, Bright Hope, Our Lady of Peace and Earley St Peter’s.

The service recently helped a 78year-old counsellor get hold of her medication.

Christine Ledger, who lives with her husband aged 81, was unsure whether to contact the hub due to her good health, but does not regret her decision.

“On the one hand I am perfectly capable of going and collecting my prescription. On the other, I am in the vulnerable group, so don’t want to take risks,” said Mrs Ledger.

“As quite an independent person, I ‘ummed and ahhed’ to use Earley Hub. But then thought as a registered and practising counsellor I am eagerly offering support to the NHS frontline staff with The Counselling Crisis Support Service and probably there are folk in the community who are only too eager to help.

“So I took a jump and the service was excellent. Within a few hours of my email to the hub, I had received an email from Anita Prince (a leader at Brookside Church), and given the name of the person who would collect my prescription and was told she would phone me.

“The volunteer phoned me and I gave her the necessary details and she told me the time when she would drop the prescription round.

“This arrived as arranged, with a ring at the door. The volunteer stayed until I opened the doorand my prescription was on my doorstep with a little red card which was such a thoughtful touch saying ‘Love you neighbour. We’re in this together (1 John 4:19)’.

“The whole process ran very, very smoothly – in fact it was brilliant and I wouldn't hesitate to use it again.

I highly recommend its efficiency.”

To volunteer or access the service, contact 07493 784 091, email earleyhelphub@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/earleyhelphub

NEED HELP? Call 0300 330 1189 (entering 0118 978 7258 if prompted) 9am-5pm Mon-Sat

10 | BUSINESS

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY / THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Thursday, May 21, 2020

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Strong foundations

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokinghampaper.co.uk

STAFF at an Earley-based digital solutions company are celebrating after it was named as one of the country’s best places to work.

Foundation SP won the Medium-sized business category of this year’s Great Place To Work awards.

And it’s not all that unusual for the company: it has previously scooped the accolade four times Based at the Enterprise Centre at the University of Reading’s Earley Gate campus, it has been recognised having been crowned as winners of the Small Business category in both 2016 and 2017, finishing as runners-up in 2018.

Simon Grosse, chief executive officer of Foundation SP, was delighted with the accolade.

“We are a business that puts our people first and commits to be the best we can be.

“Every day we all care passionately about living our values and doing the right thing.

“We share a relentless pursuit to be better every day, delivering success and positive outcomes.

“When I co-founded this business in 2012 with Simon Walker, the most important thing was for it to feel great and to build an organisation where trust is the currency in everything we do.

“We have reached another key milestone, and we continue on this amazing journey to build FSP into everything we have wanted to achieve.

“Thank you to each and every one of you who supports us.”

Foundation SP also has offices in Barcelona, and aims to enable organisations to positively engage employees with technology that makes their working lives less complicated.

It is a Microsoft Gold Partner and says its digital solutions deliver improved collaboration and communications, enhance digital business processes, and help organisations make realworld use of emerging data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

Property market begins to emerge from lockdown BUSINESS FOCUS

By TAZ USHER tusher@wokinghampaper.co.uk

INDUSTRY experts are warning that it could take up to a year for the property industry to fully recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Last week, the Government allowed estate agents to reopen and construction work to begin again.

It estimates that more than 450,000 buyers and renters had been unable to progress their plans to move since March, while a survey conducted by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) recorded an significant increase in buyers and sellers cancelling transactions in April.

Addressing the figures, which also reflected a decline in new buyer enquiries and properties being listed for sale, chief economist Simon Rubinsohn said: “Not surprisingly, the latest survey

shows that housing activity indicators collapsed in April reflecting the impact of the lockdown.

“Looking further out, there is a little more optimism but the numbers still suggest that it will be a struggle to get confidence back to where it was as recently as February.

“Critically, to ensure the housing market can begin to operate in a more functional way and that developers have the confidence to continue building in these very difficult circumstances, further specific interventions from Government are likely to be necessary.”

Rachel Gaylor, head of residential property at The Head Partnership Solicitors, said: “Luckily, as conveyancers can work remotely we have been actively been able to help people complete property transactions throughout the lockdown. Now our property peers can return to work, we are looking forward to helping clients who have had to put their plans on hold”.

And supportive of the new measures – which will observe the two-metre social distancing and protective equipment guidelines – she added: “People still need to move because of job changes, upgrades to a larger premises as their family grows, or first time buyers wanting to take advantage of the current record low interest rates.

“It is predicted there will be

an increase in would-be homebuyers planning to move to more rural towns as people conclude home working is here to stay, or dream of a different pace of life.”

One major housebuilder which has begun a phased re-opening of its construction sites in Berkshire is Barret Developments, parent company of David Wilson Homes.

Although its sales centres and show homes remain closed, David Wilson Homes says it has developed a set of working practices and protocols to ensure safety is a priority across all of its sites.

Changes have affected signage, site welfare facilities, site access, walkways and training, as well as the introduction of Social Distancing Marshals who will be present on all sites to ensure compliance with health and safety measures.

Managing director at David Wilson Homes Southern, Paul Crispin, said: “Our first priority is the health and safety of our employees, sub-contractors and customers.

“In line with our commitment to put our customers first, we will be prioritising the completion of those homes that our customers have already exchanged or reserved.”

Mr Crispin added: “As a business committed to doing the right thing we have been supporting the NHS and our communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have donated PPE to local NHS services and defibrillators to St John Ambulance from our sites across the region and are working with charities and organisations to help local communities.”

Persimmon Homes has also

announced the re-opening of its sites across England.

Development work will run from Thursday to Monday each week.

Ben Felton, director in charge of Persimmon Homes Thames Valley, said: “We are delighted that we are now in a position to be re-opening our new developments and showhomes.

“Our sales advisers have worked extremely hard to help existing and new customers during this difficult lockdown period and continue to be able via phone and email.

Reservations and completions have, in fact, remained strong despite no face-to-face contact.

“Even so, being able to meet with househunters, albeit at a safe distance, is an important step forward and will be a help for many people. Looking around the showhomes to see the type of properties on offer is also valuable for many people.

“We look forward to welcoming people in the days and weeks to come.”

Changes to sales trends were also felt by Padworth-based Westbuild Homes who commented on the effect of the lockdown.

Managing director Guy West said: “The lockdown prevented a quarter of our houses from being sold on our Arborfield Green development.

“Fortunately the development is surrounded by open spaces, so recent interest in the remaining house has been very encouraging.

“We expect sites such as this, and ours in Barkham to be of more interest, given buyers’ recent desire for garden space and close proximity to countryside.

“We are also now finding fibre optic/ ultrafast broadband higher up buyers’ necessities.”

Call to help independent breweries MORE should be done to help small breweries during the coronavirus pandemic.

That’s the view of the industry’s trade body.

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) said that beer sales have fallen 82% as a result of Covid-19 and the subsequent closure of pubs.

And with the reopening not expected until July at the earliest, there are concerns that the help is not enough.

The group had previously written to the Prime Minister outlining their concerns,

warning that “without assistance during and after this crisis, many breweries will simply not reopen”.

And James Calder, SIBA Chief Executive, says that the partial awakening of its sector, which includes taprooms, is still at least eight to 12 weeks away, something he says is “a huge amount of time”.

“In that intervening period our sector requires continued direct support from the Government to ensure that the one million jobs in pubs, brewing and supply chain

are preserved,” he said.

“We will put pressure where it is needed to ensure our sector has a fighting chance of survival.”

SIBA released a survey last month that showed that eight out of 10 brewers did not believe the Government is doing enough to support them with more than half (54%) of the UK’s 282 independent breweries who belong to SIBA being unable to access any Government support.

Nearly a third (29%) are now considering redundancies.

Thursday, May 21, 2020 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER / WOKINGHAM.TODAY

NEWS | 11

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PLEA: ‘We need more Crisis Houses’

Think of a letter

Call to boost housing stock for homeless

SEND a little bit of happiness: that’s the call from the council this Mental Health Awareness Week.

They are hoping that youngsters across the borough can take some time to send letters and drawings, and even create podcasts, to help spread some joy with some everyday acts of kindness.

The missives will be delivered to self-isolating residents as part of the Wokingham Borough Community Hub deliveries.

Letters will also be distributed with the help of The Link Visiting Scheme, which befriends vulnerable people in the borough, and staff in Housing Services and Adult Social Care.

Cllr Charles Margetts, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services, said: “We’re delighted to be getting involved in Mental Health Awareness Week with our own intergenerational activity.

“It’s so important that vulnerable residents, especially those who are elderly, stay connected during the ongoing pandemic.

“That is why we are encouraging local children to write letters and draw pictures, which will undoubtedly spread kindness in the process.”

To take part, send contributions to: Nicola Owens, Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN.

EXCLUSIVE

By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokinghampaper.co.uk

THE FOUNDER of the Wokingham Crisis House has warned that there is not enough provision for people who are homeless and mentally ill within the borough.

Pam Jenkinson set up the Wokingham Crisis House 30 years ago to provide support to mentally ill people who became homeless.

But during the last decade, Pam and her team of volunteers have turned their work to drop-in support, due to a loss of funding.

The house in Station Approach – which provided beds for the homeless for 20 years – used to be supported by the borough council.

But austerity measures in 2010 meant the council could no longer continue their funding support to the Crisis House and a number of smaller charities across the borough.

Ten years on, Ms Jenkinson is concerned that support for the most vulnerable people has dropped off, as more organisations have been forced to close their doors.

“We used to be more focused on homelessness when we had beds,” she explained.

“We would frequently have a mentally ill person who was homeless come in, and they would spend time here sorting themselves out.

“And they could stay for up to two years, after that point we said it was no longer a crisis, so they would go into another form of accommodation.

“But while they were staying, we could observe their capabilities to see if they would cope in a selfcontained flat, or would need more specialist housing.

“Unfortunately, the accommodation we often got them into doesn’t exist anymore.”

Ms Jenkinson explained that her team used to refer people to housing in two specialist mental health hostels on London Road.

“They had a high and a low support option,” she said. “People would often go into the high support section, and they were trained up in how to cook, and manage their washing and cleaning and all sorts.

“And then when they were ready, they could move into the low support option next door, which was self-catering.

“And then if they did well there, they could progress into a flat in the community.

“But they closed down. First they took away the night staff, then the day staff and then it closed completely, and the current residents were given flats in the community.

“But since it closed, there has been no new provision for people to access a similar kind of support.”

Ms Jenkinson explained that it used to be more straightforward to help vulnerable homeless people to find a home.

“It was much easier to get people with mental health issues into council homes,” she said. “There was a points system and the more vulnerable you were the higher you went on the list.

“People used to come to us homeless, settle in and then we would go with them to the Shute End offices and help fill in the forms to register for housing. Within a couple of weeks they got a flat, and that wasn’t uncommon.

“But during the 20 years we were doing this, the length of time waiting for a flat kept getting longer and longer.

“Some people were with us for 18 months to two years.

“There was a deterioration in the availability, because they sold off a lot of the housing.

“There’s not really any kind of accommodation for mentally ill homeless as far as I can see.

“In our experience, homelessness has increased because places that used to be available for people no longer are.”

And Ms Jenkinson believes there isn’t enough specialist support in the housing options.

“We had one severely mentally ill person, who we tried to get mental health accommodation for,” she explained.

“And the council offered a deposit and rent advance scheme. This meant they had to find their own place to live.

“They were incapable of finding a place, it was unlikely a landlord would accept someone in that position, and they wouldn’t have coped at all living on their own without support.

“But the council said they had discharged their statutory duty to them, because they offered that deposit and rent in advance.

“There’s a real lack of places for vulnerable and mentally ill people to live, these people are not suited to a single bed flat on their own.

“Even Prospect Park Hospital, which focuses on mental health support, offers more acute treatment to get people out quickly.”

Ms Jenkinson hopes that more crisis houses will open in the future for communities across Berkshire.

She said: “We don’t need bigger crisis houses, we need more of them.

We need a couple in Reading and Bracknell and they need to be appropriate and tailored to the needs of the community.

“I am sure if you went around Berkshire, there would be plenty of redundant buildings like ours used to be.

“You just need the imagination to set it up.”

Have you herd the news?

THERE’S no kidding about this picture – this is Wokingham.

Lockdown is having an amazing effect on nature, with animals enjoying the peace and quiet caused by fewer vehicles on the road.

And no more so than in Bell Foundry Lane.

On Sunday, one reader did a double take as they enjoyed their daily exercise.

Out for a walk along Cantley they spotted these goats enjoying a muddy

field close to the Thames Water site.

And in scenes similar to ones in Llandudno, north Wales, the goats were oblivious to all and sundry.

“We watched them for a good five minutes,” the reader told us. “They were having a whale of a time nibbling bushes, sunbathing and playing together.

“I’ve never seen the goats there before, but they probably live on the nearby farm and went for a bit of a wander.”

Staying at home helps rebuild the roads WORK to improve the borough’s roads has been brought forward as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this week, Wokingham Borough Council said it is to invest £8 million in the work, with plans to resurface or treat just under 100 roads. Originally planned to start this month, work got under way in April after road usage halved, and utility companies’ works dropping by a third.

Big projects include the Showcase roundabout in Winnersh, the A4 Bath Road in Sonning, Finchampstead Road and Molly Millars Lane in Wokingham and Thames Street in Sonning.

More than 50 roads will be fully resurfaced, up from 20 last year, while improvements are planned for Nine Mile Ride in Finchampstead/Wokingham Without, Butts Hill Road in Woodley, Eversley Road in Arborfield, Basingstoke in Swallowfield,

Betchworth Avenue in Earley and Old Forest Road in Wokingham.

And £1 million will be spent repairing potholes. Work is expected to take place during off-peak daytime hours — 9.30am-4pm — across the summer, although some will take place overnight and some roads were planned for winter, but delayed by the wet weather.

All projects have used or will use appropriate social distancing measures and affected residents will be notified in advance.

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport, said: “Investing in our highway network is a top priority for us and our residents so we made the most of the lockdown period to accelerate our maintenance work, when road usage dropped off significantly, helping us to reduce disruption.

“This programme of improvements across almost 100 roads in our borough, with a

significant spend on key transport routes, ensuring our residents are safe and their journeys are smooth when travelling in their own vehicles or by public transport.

“Our comprehensive surveying of all of the borough’s roads by our highways teams means works are not allocated on a ward-byward basis and guarantees we spend money on the roads which most need our attention.

As always we will minimise disruption on busy roads by working at night or outside peak travel times during the day as far as possible.”

The council said it is spending £124 million on its major highways programme this year, which includes new or improved park and ride car parks and services across the area.

And it also intends to invest £20 million in tackling congestion over the next five years.

For more, visit wokingham.gov.uk and search for “Roadworks and Outdoor Maintenance”.

12 |

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY / THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Thursday, May 21, 2020

WHAT WE ARE DOING DURING THE CRISIS Wokingham Borough Community Response

Volunteering The sense of community throughout this crisis has shown

Wokingham Borough Council is continuing to work with voluntary and

how important it is for people to

community groups to deliver care and support to the more vulnerable people

come together and help others. Key

in the borough. Citizens Advice Wokingham continue to provide the helpline

workers and volunteers continue to

for people to access the Wokingham Borough Community Response services.

go above and beyond to offer their full support to our more vulnerable residents.

Food Parcels – Distribution Hub

We are keen to increase the number of volunteers we

We will continue to be here to support residents to meet their food needs.

forward after COVID-19.

The supermarkets have recently come up with some new ways of getting shopping to their customers, so that you can access your usual wide range of items. Some of our local charities also have programmes to help residents with their shopping.

have signed up, so that we have an expanded pool moving

Hundreds of volunteers signed up to help at the start of the pandemic. Many of those volunteers will now be going back to work or have other obligations that mean they may soon not be able to volunteer as much time as they have been.

Contact us now through the Wokingham Borough Community Response

If you want to get involved and volunteer, check The Volunteer Centre’s portal for recruitment posts

service and we will help

www.volunteerwokinghamborough.org.uk

you find the way that

You can also stay up to date with the latest information,

works best for you. If

which is available on our social media sites, news website

none of the new ways

and through partner organisations.

work for you, we can still provide food parcels.

The distribution hub will be relocating in mid-June in order to free up the current location for when the school reopens.

We continue to work with the voluntary sector to provide a COVID-19 response service, including Citizens Advice, who are organising this helpline.

TO GET HELP YOU CAN: VISIT www.citizensadvicewokingham.org.uk EMAIL admin@citizensadvicewokingham.org.uk CALL 0300 330 1189 Make sure you stay up to date with the latest accurate information @wokinghamboroughcouncil @wokinghamBC www.wokingham.gov.uk

Thursday, May 21, 2020 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER / WOKINGHAM.TODAY

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14 | VIEWPOINTS

THEWOKINGHAMPAPER NEWS WITH A HEART FOR THE BOROUGH

When is it right to reopen schools?

IF THERE were an easy answer to this, we are sure that those advising the Government would have made it clear.

Like all responses to this pandemic, each must be informed by clear evidence — the science.

As there are different Covid-19 infection rates around the country, the reopening of schools must be done with confidence that it is the right decision at the time.

Not one date for all.

The clear difficulty is managing the spread of an invisible virus. How can students, teachers and the world at large stay alert to something they cannot see?

The Government argument is that people must stay alert to changes in the infection rate as they climb or drop. But for this to happen, there needs to be testing.

First was the goal of 100,000 tests per day, and then then refreshed goal of 200,000 each day by the end of May. Yet there is a lack of transparency over how these numbers are being reached, and how regularly.

In order to manage school openings resonsibly and safely, clear data on the spread and level of contagion must be avalibale to all institutions, whether local authorities or schools themselves.

Most importanly, each stage of reopening must be carefully considered.

The Local Governement Association is calling for councils to be given the power to manage outbreaks in schools, care homes, businesses and communities if new clusters of the virus appear. Whether this will be granted is unclear.

What is clear is that a universal approach would disregard the science.

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Your letters

Send your thoughts to letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Positivity for the mind

HAT are you feeding your mind on lately?

I recently was on a video call with work colleagues and we took the time to get to know each other a bit better by sharing what new things were we watching during this lockdown.

It was interesting to hear one by one how all the shows they’d been watching seemed dark, full of violence or just weird and how it affected their sleep and disturbed them afterwards.

It seemed no one really had found anything new that was uplifting and positive while isolating. Eventually, it was my turn to share and I told them about an amazingly, positive, uplifting and hope building show I found. Best of all it was free. The show I was speaking of is The Chosen. You can watch all eight episodes ondemand now from season one on YouTube or via its own app on www.thechosen.tv/app.

The story chronicles how each follower of Jesus, was “Chosen” despite their character flaws, vices and bad choices that put them in difficult and dark places in their lives. This is a modern interpretation of the first century Roman occupied Palestine, from the eyes of a Godfearing Pharisee, a much hated local tax collector on the autism spectrum, a get rich quick fisherman and a lady from the “red light” district, who are all trapped by their past and present. I find the characters endearing and Jesus words fascinating, penetrating, yet hopeful and inviting. Simply brilliantly portrayed and fitting for the whole family.

If you’ve had enough of TV show reruns, acid reflex violence, and the sleep stealing psychos offered up by the many “originals” on the internet, then it’s time to reset your hope in that which is good and give your mind something truly original — The Chosen.

Wes Wisham from Kings Church, writing on behalf of Churches Together Wokingham

I WOULD prefer to write something positive this week, but regarding the Covid-19, which all of us wish desperately would go away, I am obliged to warn everyone that there are too many male idiots not abiding by health protection advice.

In Wokingham, I note many cases of not ‘avoiding others’ by the recommended 2 metres or 6ft 6in on the streets, and even worse in one of the local supermarkets.

Some of the arrogant offenders will just charge into others. Conversely as females of all ages seem to behave with such care and consideration, I have been forced to ‘admonish’ several who have walked into the road rather than be too close to me. Now that may be a good idea or a hint I am considered a threat, but seriously, all the cases that have occurred is where the traffic is flowing from behind them – highly dangerous even though so thoughtful.

The tendency to ignore the rules by so many, is a threat to our survival and the potential need to avoid any return to close down.

The physical threat many present, is also illegal in the criminal sense, as it can be called ‘threatening behaviour’. Where are the police when we need them?

A totally different subject but one that applies to many unsuspecting people – it concerns auto renewals

W

We love to hear from you! Send us your views on issues relating to the borough (in 250 words or less) to The Wokingham Paper, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS or email: letters@wokinghampaper.co.uk We reserve the right to edit letters Views expressed in this section are not necessarily those of the paper

Everyone benefits from good scrutiny TERRY Pratchett said once that questions don't have to make sense but answers do but that only works in a system that allows questions to be asked in public forums like the council’s scrutiny panels.

No individual, be they a resident, a councillor, a council officer or a member of a ruling political party have all the answers so the more of us who can contribute the better the final outcome.

Scrutiny is a tool which if used properly can give confidence to the organisation who uses it (the council) and to those it represents (all of us). The current council executive model is not my favourite democratic model. As a system it can create a big power imbalance and like all power imbalances it can be abused hence the need for good scrutiny.

Reflective, self-critical and willing to be challenged and to challenge others while continuing to look at different ways of improving things is the key to successful scrutiny.

Leadership is more than the ‘door is always open’. Leadership must relish the opportunity to be scrutinised. Leadership is also the recognition that public criticism is being part and parcel of operating in a political institution.

The pandemic is a steep learning curve for the council along with the rest of us and its good to see them moving in the right direction.

In the current emergency scrutiny must not be delayed, forgotten or kicked into the long grass. It must be the tool to be used to deal with the Corona Virus emergency now. Everyone benefits from good scrutiny. Stay safe.

Cllr Gary Cowan, Independent Borough Councillor for Arborfield at Wokingham Borough Council.

CHURCH NOTES

WOKINGHAM.TODAY / THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Thursday, May 21, 2020

Watch out

An independent local press is essential for democracy Since its launch, The Wokingham Paper has without bias, fear or favour acted as the eyes, ears and on many occasions, the voice of residents, businesses and traders throughout the borough.

It was especially good therefore to learn of its much-deserved recognition by Press Gazette for the quality of its journalism.

The fact I believe that since coronavirus lockdown, a number of staff have been on furlough, much of its production has been achieved remotely, makes the fact that it has appeared every Thursday without fail even more remarkable

and praiseworthy.

An independent local press is essential if

eg insurance policies. Many organisations hide this in their ‘small print’, probably why it is sometimes difficult to read/find.

An example is my notification of a policy renewal for my cat insurance – the company cleverly just sent an email last week to give the date renewal is due.

What they did not mention of course, is that the premium is going up by70% to nearly £50 per week.

I have told them that I do not accept auto renewal – that leads to threats to cancel the policy, because they do not allow non auto renewal.

As far as I am concerned that contradicts contract law, unless the renewal agreement is clearly stated – eg as in the case of British Gas for safety reasons – such that increases are notified in advance and preferably that a client agrees in writing to such to a policy auto renewal.

So, please be aware of the sharp practices, especially by foreign organisations in this country. Check where you stand on all or any annual liabilities.

Lastly, I would like to praise Reading Buses – how can they continue to operate such a good and reliable regular service, with very few customers? Well done.

Reg Cliﬞon, Wokingham

Reinventing oneself IT IS amazing how politicians will reinvent themselves for whatever reason. In the latest line of complaints about house building in particular areas of the Borough Cllr Gowan exemplifies a politician reinventing himself.

Why do I say this you might ask? Well the councillor with full responsibility for the local plan that resulted in all those houses Cllr Cowan complains about was none other than Cllr Cowan himself.

From at least January 2018 (and probably before) until its adoption Cllr Cowan was the Executive Member for Planning with the responsibility for

democracy is not to be swept under the carpet of local government secrecy and lack

producing the new local plan.

Nothing was put into that plan without the approval of Cllr Cowan, subsequently approved by the Executive and then Full Council, including the houses in Arborfield and Shinfield that he constantly complains about.

The local plan was adopted in January 2010 and Cllr Cowan in his foreword that appeared in the document promoted the sites like Arborfield and Shinfield with the comments: “The key message from the community was that development should be concentrated in a few locations.”

He went onto justify this approach by saying: “This will enable the character of the existing communities to be high quality and infrastructure rich”.

These are not my words but his in a publicly available document.

While the Local Plan was adopted in January 2010 he remained as Executive Member for Planning until April 2012, over two years after his plan was adopted.

All the time, between 2008 and 2012 he was being paid approximately £10,000 a year for the responsibility of developing, adopting and implementing the Local Plan.

I wonder precisely where on the “road to Damascus” he discovered he had made a mistake and his plan was the wrong one? When he realised this did he ever give the residents of Arborfield and Shinfield a heartfelt apology for what he has inflicted on them?

Everyone is allowed to change their mind but please be honest with these residents and own up and apologies not blame it on everyone else all the time.

Cllr Keith Baker, Conservative councillor for Coronation Ward at Wokingham Borough Council

The human life-cycle IT WOULD be easy, to criticise, Boris Johnson, and his Government, with regard to their handling, of the coronavirus crisis, but, before doing so,

of transparency.

Congratulations!

JW Blaney, Wokingham

one needs to consider whether anyone else, could cope better. I doubt it.

With this crisis, there are no, perfect, solutions. I don’t think that the Government, even expected, total success, with the lockdown.

Instead, they set out to get, as much control of the pandemic, as could be achieved. Nor is the easing of restrictions, expected to achieve, perfect, results. Many dilemmas persist.

Getting children back into school, gradually, for instance, is, far from ideal, but it is the best, that can be done, in the circumstances.

We have one member, who will have to self-isolate, long-term, because he is diabetic, and so, in the ‘vulnerable’ group.

We are supporting him, by telephone, delivering his shopping, and medication, and giving any other support, required, but while social isolation, protects his physical health, it makes his mental health, worse.

Every, individual, death, from coronavirus, is, of course, very sad. One of our members, had a son, who has died, aged – only 48; he had, serious, underlying, health issues, and, as his grieving mother described it, ‘He lost the battle.’

Looking at the wider picture, the statistics, are significant. For children, the risk, of dying, from the virus, is only two, in a million.

For those, under the age of 25, the risk is only, 17, in a million. Then, the risk rises, incrementally, with each decade – those, in their 90s, being at the greatest risk of dying.

The death rate, for people who are suffering from dementia, and so are in care homes, is very high.

One wonders then, is this all, something, to do with nature? Is it her way, of controlling, the earth’s population?

Add to the statistics, the fact, that, no sooner have the scientists, got on top, of one virus, than a new one, emerges, causing another pandemic, and can one,

then conclude, that Mother Nature, is saying, that she doesn’t want people, to be kept, artificially, alive, and suffering, from dementia, for years on end?

She would prefer, that they pass away, naturally.

One of our members, has actually said, that, as she looks back, it would have been better, for her late husband, if he had died, from the pneumonia that he contracted, at the age of 88, rather than, due to modern medicine, recover, and then endure, two further, wretched, years of life – suffering from dementia, and, being unable, to recognise his family.

Yet another member, whose sister died, recently, at the age of 95, expressed things, poignantly.

He said, ‘She was only, a quarter here, anyway.’ If, very old people, are fit and healthy, and still able to enjoy life, that is one thing.

But, if they are barely, in this world, anyway, could it not be better, to let, wise old, Mother Nature, have her way, and, allow them, to pass away, naturally – instead of compelling her, to resort to drastic measures – such as, the current, coronavirus pandemic?

Flowers, start as seeds; then they become buds; they reach full flower; they become over-blown. Then, they start to fade, and, finally, they crumble, away to dust – all, in the course, of a set, timespan.

Perhaps, human beings, are meant, to follow, a similar life-cycle. Interesting questions.

Pam Jenkinson, The Wokingham Crisis House

We will have our tomorrows

WITH ALL the mixed messages being sent out over the coronavirus and the UK government's latest Stay Alert, Control The Virus and Save Lives message has been getting some very unfavourable comments.

Indeed the Stay Alert message [England only], is being contradicted by the devolved Scottish and Welsh parliaments who are keeping the Stay At Home, Protect The NHS and Save Lives message that the vast majority of people have adhered to and got used to and was very clear in its meaning.

So, I thought well, what additional message would I want to send out to people?

I have come up with the following slogan which I think is a different message and indeed has been very well received on the local Wokingham and area Facebook groups after I posted at the weekend.

"For All Our Cancelled Plans Today, We Will Have Our Tomorrows --- Save Lives" This echoes a wartime theme [indeed, we are still at war over the coronavirus], but gives hope to people as well.

Thank you and stay safe everyone.

Ian Hydon, Wokingham

We still need houses WE BRITISH tend to want to own our own houses and gardens, but we rightly want to protect our beautiful countryside.

Not all councils are able to rise to this challenge for the benefit of their residents. South Oxfordshire Council refused to face reality, dithered and tried to scrap their local plan until the Government intervened.

James Sunderland

Picture of the week

WESTMINSTER DIARY Pragmatic solutions to the pandemic

Walking through the Community Garden, I happened to notice a strange clump of unworldly pale coloured plants in among all the rampant greenery. \ I consulted my wife Mary who has all the green fingers in the family and she told me that their informal name is Lamb's Ears because of the shape of the leaves and their pale colouring. Picture: Harry Atkinson Now they are stuck with a plan they don’t like.

Wokingham has known for the best part of the last decade that it needs an agreed local plan. Yet it drags its heels. Its current leadership thinks demand for the delivery of housing will decline.

I say WAKE UP. The Government has clearly pinned all its hopes for economic recovery on the housing market.

Young people who need houses will still be here after the pandemic and their lockdown experiences in rented, cramped or gardenless accommodation

are going to make them clamour to move up the ladder quicker than before.

Increased home working will allow commuters to move further down the trainline, swapping urban for space.

In not tackling this challenge, in not having a plan (quite literally), WBC is endangering our green belt everyday and making it more likely that it will be built all over.

Wokingham doesn’t want to end up like South Oxfordshire.

Name and address supplied

TONYJOHNSON A questionable week for democracy

T

HIS was a week when Wokingham took a new lead in Local Democracy - ‘parting company’ with one of its Councillors.

It was a week in which the Government failed to publish transcripts for six of the seven daily briefings by ministers.

And it was a week in which even deploying The Gove-ster failed to convince the public that the government knows what it’s doing.

Why did he have to go?

WBC announced last week that Cllr Ian Pittock was no longer a councillor, leaving a vacancy for Finchampstead South until elections can be arranged, currently forecast as May next year.

Allegedly, Cllr Pittock’s term of office had automatically expired under the six month rule in section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.

However, the true cause of Cllr Pittock’s departure bears further investigation…

Until then, what’s clear from a simple google search is that Sandwell Borough Council, Oadby-Wigston Borough Council and South Norfolk District Council all thought about this problem and took action to waive the six-month rule before government partially woke up on April 6 to say “Remote attendance by members counts for other purposes such as the six-month-rule on attendance, and for allowances” Even mighty Rudgwick Parish Council noted on April 13 that “The new

meetings regulations do not deal with the six month rule.

This may be because government doesn’t see it as an issue that needs to be addressed given that remote meetings are now permitted.”

By April 30 at least three other councils, Shropshire CC, Allerdale BC, Harrow BC had all announced or taken action to suspend the six month rule during the emergency.

The Government appears to have suspended the six month rule in Wales by passing a separate piece of legislation — but it doesn’t apply to England.

WBC just cancelled all the meetings, including that of Full Council on March 19, tantamount to removing Cllr Pittock’s last chance(s) of salvaging the situation.

Meanwhile, despite being deprived of their councillor, WBC continues to raise taxes on the citizens of Finchampstead.

One wonders if they’ve forgotten the consequences of the phrase “No taxation without representation” ?

Government gives up Accessing the Government's transcripts of the daily Coronavirus Briefings proved somewhat tricky, so the “Is there anything wrong with this page?” feature was used to provide the following feedback: Apart from one transcript from Mr Shapps' speech on Thursday, May 14, there were no transcripts from Boris Johnson on May 11, Alok Sharma on May 12, Robert Jenrick on May 13, the Health Secretary on May 15, Gavin Williamson

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Thursday, May 21, 2020 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER / WOKINGHAM.TODAY

on May 16 and Alok Sharma on May 17.

Why has this service been suspended — is someone unwilling to keep a public record of the actual words used by Ministers of the Crown when they were briefing the public on live television ?

It will be interesting to see how (if) they respond.

Poor Gove-he-meant If you witnessed Michael Gove being interviewed by Andrew Marr on Sunday you’d have seen a fine performance of didactic discourse; felicitatious frankness; blibberwit blame-casting; all delivered with such punctilious pomposity that even the most ardent of Gove-he-meant supporter(s) might be rosy cheeked.

Mr Gove managed to turn the word ‘yes’ from a straightforward answer to a question — into a word which acknowledged that a question had registered in the Gove-brain, and ‘yes’ was being deployed temporarily in order to sound agreeable, before something immaterial, irrelevant, irritating, “or both” (Gove-speak remember) got trotted out.

When quizzed about extra deaths [in care homes] the Gove-he-meant blame-casted this onto individuals who hadn’t presented themselves at hospital.

The mere thought that it could be anything to do with a government policy that had disastrous consequences didn’t even begin to cross the Gove-brain.

Perish the thought. And perish it did.

Houses for Heroes As the Government’s discovering, in

an emergency, civilisation doesn’t depend on politicians and their bureaucrats, it depends on socalled ‘frontline staff’: doctors and nurses; hospital porters, orderlies and cleaners; waste collections by dedicated bin men; care home staff etc.

This week, “Gavin” was sent in on what’s only his second daily briefing 'do'.

As Education Minister he’s finding that teaching assistants are reluctant to put their health at risk by going to work for just £9.51 per hour.

So it was heartwarming to see WBC’s planning committee approving the development of five luxury detached houses in Swallowfield this week — which saw the developer offering a contribution of £215k “in lieu of two affordable units”.

The ‘affordable units’ have to be built by someone else, somewhere else — as the site isn’t suitable.

There’s one small snag — you can’t even purchase the land for two 'units' around here for under £250k, let alone have any cash to spare in order to actually build said 'units'.

So when (and where) are the houses for the front line heroes going to be built?

What the neighbours said The neighbours’ parrot has taken to squawking mournfully from time to time but nobody understands what it’s saying, locked in its gilded cage so that it can’t be got at. Excepting ‘quid finitimi dixerunt’, that was week nine of the lockdown — that was. caveat.lector@icloud.com

I

have been reliably informed by several senior MPs that the last three months have been unprecedented in terms of workload, casework and enquiries from constituents.

I can certainly vouch for this and the current tempo shows no sign of abating. As the ravages of Covid-19 continue to affect every aspect of our lives, there is at least some comfort that the mortality and infection rates have begun to fall but we must be more careful than ever to ensure that a second spike does not develop. Providing essential support to those who need help remains my priority and my team continues to work flat out in support of the people of Bracknell, Crowthorne, Sandhurst, Finchampstead and Wokingham Without.

As I stated in Westminster this week, the efforts of our key workers right across the UK are the stuff of legend. In my own constituency, I have been proud to witness the superb provision of life support to those who have needed to isolate.

Within Wokingham Borough, the hub at St Crispin’s Leisure Centre has been a beacon of community spirit and I have personally been privileged to deliver food parcels to families who cannot venture out. So well done to everyone at the Wokingham Citizens Advice Bureau, Link and all the volunteers who have done so much to contribute, not least from the First Days charity. And in Bracknell, many others have come together to support Healthwatch and Involve Community Services.

Thank you to them and to both Wokingham Borough Council and Bracknell Forest Council for underwriting this vital provision and for their ongoing fiscal responsibility.

Opinions do vary of course on the role played by central Government, but my view is that there has been a commendable, pragmatic and entirely conditions-based approach to the pandemic. The word unprecedented is often over-played but it is quite true that there is no policy precedent for Covid-19 and the Government has rightly needed to feel its way on medical and scientific advice. Now is not the time for media hysteria or for political point-scoring – indeed the time for a public enquiry will come and the benefit of hindsight is a powerful weapon – but it is time for an incremental approach to easing the lockdown which is based upon common sense. It is not down to the Government to regulate every aspect of people’s lives and nor is it for the media to seek definitive clarity on every permutation of what we can and cannot do.

It is in fact for us as individuals to follow the guidelines, robustly maintain social distancing, respect others and hence prevent more loss of life.

As for the future, I have urged the Government to think carefully about further mitigation in key areas.

Firstly, imposing 14 days of quarantine upon entry to the UK by air will have a decisive effect upon individuals, business, the airline industry and our global ambitions, particularly in areas like Bracknell which are close to major airports.

We need to do more to assist those who face job losses at British Airways, and we must not allow the pandemic to be exploited in an opportunistic manner

by CEOs for restructuring or fulfilling previous ambitions. A more formalised testing regime also needs to be rolled out into care homes.

And lastly, with our primary schools due to open soon, we must do everything possible to assist our governors, teachers and staff in providing a safe environment for our children. For some, coming out of lockdown may prove to be as difficult as embracing it in the first place but I remain clear that collective responsibility is needed from all of us, in the face of managed risks, to send our children back to school and to get our country going again.

16 | NEWS

NELLIE KNOWS

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Opening a magical door

WOKINGHAM.TODAY / THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Thursday, May 21, 2020

How do you do a lo

Nellie Williams www.nelliewilliams.co.uk

Putting in the distance

S

AFE to say that last week I had lost my mojo.

Do you know how many definitions of mojo there are? Loads, but for the purpose of this column I had lost my oomph.

The only way I could think of to find my mojo was to put some distance between me and nomojo. So walk I did. Last week I walked longer and much further covering 10-12 miles a day, doing 25,000 steps and burning 1300 to 1800 calories.

On my walks I have listened to Clover Stroud’s My Wild and Sleepless Nights, Matthew Hall’s The Black Art of Killing, Jane Fallon’s Faking Friends on Audible and Spotify playlists of choice and randomness. It’s been bliss. On Monday I thought I would do a shorter walk, a run even! I was so happy to be back in one of the places I ran and missed, but I didn’t feel it so there I was all gear and no idea, in the end I ran and walked just two miles.

A few evenings ago I went for a walk in my favourite woods and the sunset was a welcome sight. It’s so weird. Early March I would saunter around in circles on a walk and then dash around on a run not clocking how far I had moved, mid May I am walking in loops and looking out for footpaths and byways counting my steps and getting excited when I see the breakdown on Strava.

Since lockdown I’ve been walking more infact I have now walked 185 miles and by the end of the month I will most definitely have walked the equivalent of walking to Anglesey. Wow. Originally I planned on pretend walking to Crickhowell via Chepstow.

Whilst on my walks that I realise I am fortunate to live near to and am in good health to be able to do I have noticed how forgiving nature really is with the canopies of leaves over paths and lanes, the scents of plants is strong, the verges don’t look grubby and the colours are sharp and vibrant.

Walking on sunflowers THAMES HOSPICE is inviting supporters to remember loved ones and take on their own unique Sunflower Walk on Saturday, June 6.

The Sunflower Walk is one of the Hospice’s major annual fundraising events, which raised £30,000 last year. But it can’t take place as normal this year due to the coronavirus.

Now, Thames Hospice is calling on supporters to remember a loved one by taking on a local route covering a distance of either 2.5k, 4k or 10k — while following social distancing guidelines.

Alison Evans, head of events and community fundraising, said: “We rely on the generosity of our community for the majority of our funding, and with many fundraising events cancelled or on hold, we have never needed our wonderful supporters more than we need them now.

“Please encourage friends, family, colleagues and neighbours to take part and help us raise much needed funds, so we can continue to support local families who desperately need our care.”

Each person who signs up for the walk must raise a minimum sponsorship of £25 each. And everyone who signs up to the walk will have an opportunity to write a special message for their loved one, which will be placed on the Hospice’s memory tree. � To sign up to the Thames Hospice Sunflower Walk, visit: www.thameshospice.org.uk/sunflower-walk

FOR many, lockdown has sparked a new-found love for walking and exploring the countryside.

And getting the kids excited about their daily walk has become even easier with creative additions to the countryside such as this fairy tree located in Highwood Nature Reserve.

The artistic display features drawings, bunting, painted pebbles and handwritten messages created and added to the tree by passersby. Keep an eye out for it next time you are walking through Woodley.

Samantha’s fundraising has really gone to pot

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokinghampaper.co.uk

A POTTERY expert has been throwing her heart and soul into fundraising for healthworkers.

Samathan Robertson teaches ceramics at Bracknell and Wokingham College’s Woodley Hill House base in Earley and has been using lockdown to create some special pieces that are sold in aid of the NHS. She is one of a number of artists who have taken part in the scheme, which launched this month.

They all give up the first of the month to create the pieces — Samantha created some cacti and herb planters in her home studio.

These were then placed for sale on her Instagram page. Everything sold on the first day, along with some extra planters which she had in stock, and she raised more than £100 for NHS Charities.

Now she is planning to do it all over again on Monday, June 1.

Samantha, who is a ceramics lecturer and Learning for Leisure coordinator at Activate Learning

which runs the college, said: “I am part of a local volunteer group called Bordon Buddies who are supporting elderly and vulnerable people who are self-isolating at this time.

“In my spare time I am collecting prescriptions and food shopping, but I wanted to do more specifically for the NHS as I have friends and family who are nurses working on the front line.

“I saw a post on social media for Throw for the NHS and thought it was a perfect opportunity to combine my passion for making ceramics with the positive benefits of raising money for NHS charities.

“The campaign launched on May 1, so I spent the day throwing planters and am now busy getting them finished ready to sell and start raising some money.”

And Samantha said that she felt privileged to be part of the initiative.

For more details, or to buy a piece of pottery, visit Samantha’s Instagram page sjr_ceramics or to see all of the potters’ work search #throwforthenhs.

So that’s why Mike has been giv MANY of us have used lockdown to take it easy: solving the odd jigsaw, catching up on reading or even having a sort out.

But not Mike Richards.

He’s been giving Santa a helping hand.

No, he’s not been in the workshop making toys, but visiting Hare Hatch-based Riverways Farm to help look after its herd of 18 reindeer.

The animals, not quite from the North Pole, came via Norway. The youngest is two, and the oldest 12.

The names of the reindeer follow a similar winter theme: Artic, Glacier, Lightning, Flash, Storm, Frosty, Snowy, Cloudy, Avalanche, Tornado, Baltic, Iceburg, Jett, Hurricane, Blizzard, Chilly, Hail and Foggy, and they’re owned by Riverways Farm’s Andy Cardy.

Mike said: “We share the responsibility (to them). I give as much time as I can and I thoroughly enjoy it, this is right back to the grassroots level and it's so fulfilling,.

“These reindeer were going

to be culled over in Norway.

“Andy got mention of it and he already had two old reindeer coming towards the end of their life, so he wanted to see what he could do with a whole herd of them.

“I spoke to Andy and asked if I could help out after he told me all of his veterinary students had to go back, he has around 50 students each year to help with the day-today running.

“They showed me the ropes and what to do. It's become a community thing.

“Everyone seems to love the reindeer and they are usually the main attraction.

“The feedback from the community has been tremendous every time I post about them (on social media) and that gives me confidence in what we are doing.

“We have 18 reindeer, three born in captivity, five were rehomed from people who could no longer look after them.”

Mike said he gets a lot of satisfaction from looking after

Thursday, May 21, 2020 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER / WOKINGHAM.TODAY

Lockdown, week seven

ockdown campfire?

Members of 1st Hurst Guides have been enjoying virtual meetings organised by teenager Emma Vaughan (left)

EXCLUSIVE

By SUE CORCORAN news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

A NIGHT around the campfire is a staple of any Guide troop, but thanks to the coronavirus, it’s not possible right now.

Well, almost.

A bright teenager from Hurst has ensured that her friends have been able to keep calm and firepit by going virtual.

Members of the 1st Hurst Guides have been belting out favourite songs like Ging Gang Gooley, Alice The Camel and You’ll Never Go To Heaven together despite not being able to hold their normal meetings.

And they’ve also been toasting marshmallows during the online catch-ups.

It’s all thanks to the efforts of the Guides’ young leader, 16-year-old Emma Vaughan. The student at Ranelagh School in Bracknell rose to the challenge of organising the fun through an online video session.

“It went really well. I wasn’t sure how it was going to work because of

the time lag you get with these sessions. Repeat after me songs worked really well,” she said.

“The Guides shared the singing with their families at home – either with a campfire in the garden or a candle indoors.”

Emma is volunteering with the Guides as part of her work towards a coveted gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

“It’s quite hard volunteering at the moment,” she said.

“I asked if there was anything I could do and one of our leaders, Wendy Gribble, suggested the virtual campfire singing.

“I sent the song words round in advance and each Guide chose a song to sing.”

The Guides are planning to hold more online gatherings.

It’s not the only virtual singalong that Emma has taken part in in recent days: just a few days before the campfire singing, Emma was practising online with fellow members of the Berkshire Youth Choir.

ving Santa a helping antler the much-loved reindeer at Riverways.

“Their antlers fall off in early January and take 10 weeks to re-grow,” he said.

“Most of their food is carrot based, they also enjoy apples.

“To see these reindeer grow into a beautiful beast from what at the moment looks like a wreck with the coat coming away.

“It will be a great achievement not only for me but the whole community.

“Within the next eight weeks they will get their serious antlers and by Christmas they should be around two feet high.”

And Mike is full of praise for Riverways Farm: “It's amazing the amount of effort Andy puts into the whole area, the reindeers go to schools, Round Table and garden centres for Santa's grotto.”

However, Mike’s being tight-lipped as to which one has the red nose.

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Twyford-based poet Lorna Minton has been reflecting on life in lockdown for this verse.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

No, it’s some super spoons SPOONS, it seems, are all the range.

Earlier this month, we brought the news that Spoonville had sprung up in Winnersh.

In fact, you could say it was quite the scoop. Spoons - scoop? No? Just us then…

The idea is simple: people can get a wooden spoon, decorate it and then add it to the growing collection.

There’s been everything including a recreation of the pop band Queen.

It’s been such a popular idea that it’s spread across the world, including a Spoonville that was launched Down Under. Thankfully, the spoons are the right way up, otherwise that would be … different.

And another spoon village has been set up closer to home near Whiteknights School.

It’s rather super. Or it’s rather full of superheroes.

Some of the first spoons to be placed on site include depictions of the Incredible Hulk and Superman or Superspoon, we should say.

There is also a special area dedicated to those real life superheroes, the wonderful people working in the NHS, care homes, schools and other key workers.

Michelle, who contacted Wokingham.Today about the town, said: “It’s growing slowly and we have some wonderful spoons added from friends, family and neighbours.”

Get walking for this puzzler Grab a map for this week’s quiz – or you could get in a lot more than your 10,000 steps and do it on foot.

Follow the routes to discover a topical phrase of six letters.

The shape of each route “writes” a letter – you may need to “turn” the letter afterwards. There’s a space between letters three and four.

Letter one: Woodley Start at the junction of Pearson Way and Southlake Crescent. Head north along Southlake Crescent, following that road round to the east, then south, then west, then north to reach junction with Pearson Way again.

Letter two: Wokingham At Coronation Square, head north along Norreys Avenue, and follow that road round to Mylne Square.

Letter three: Wokingham Start west end of Benning Way. Head east along Benning Way as far as you can, turning south into Shefford Crescent, following Shefford Crescent as it turns west and then north to meet Benning Way again. Turn round and head back south down Shefford Crescent, taking first right into Headington Drive. Take first right into Bowyer Cres, stopping where it heads south.

Space

Letter four, Arborfield From Arborfield Cross, head north east, up Sindlesham Road and Mole Road to Sindlesham.

Turn right into Bearwood Road and head south to junction with Barkham Road. Turn left to finish at Wokingham station.

Letter five: Wokingham.

At junction with Ellerton Close, head south down Rances Lane to just north of junction with Waterloo Road. Turn round to face north and go back on yourself until junction with Tattersall Close. Turn right into Tattersall Close. Shortly, turn left at T junction and head north.

Go to the road’s end and turn round. Go south to the other end of Tattersall Close.

Letter six: Woodley In Hudson Road, start at the junction with Millbank Crescent on the east side of the crescent. Head round Millbank Crescent until you meet Hudson Road again. Turn right into Hudson Road. Follow Hudson Rod until T junction with Colemansmoor Lane. Turn right.

Continue on Colemansmoor Lane until junction with Chaffey Close.

That’s it, you’ve finished. Well done. You should now know the phrase!

And, if you’re still struggling with last week’s ditloids quiz, here’s the answers: 1. 101 Dalmatians; 2. 50 States in the United States; 3. 1215 Magna Carta was Signed; 4. 64 Squares on a Chess Board; 5. 1 Day at a Time; 6. 13 Unlucky For Some; 7. A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Words; 8. 8 Days a Week by The Beatles; 9. 12 Signs of the Zodiac; 10. 26 Letters of the Alphabet; 11. 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse; 12. 501 Levi-Strauss Jeans

The country is in lock-down, it seems to go on for ever, It would have been unbearable, were it not for lovely “wevver”!

We venture out just once a day to stretch our pent up limbs, By walking round the park or woods; No point in going to gyms.

We need fresh air to fill our lungs; the medics recommend it, But this won’t happen if all we do is find a chair and sit on it.

My favourite place is Ruscombe Wood, the bluebells there are magic, But I can’t help feeling all the time, that life for some is tragic.

‘Tis Friday May the eighth today; a bank holiday is decreed, To mark an anniversary; the end of World War Two indeed.

The country had intended to celebrate in style With parties, plans and shows, and processions by the mile.

But lock-down stopped all this as social distancing became the norm, And to carry on as planned would be reckoned as bad form.

Instead we put up bunting and most folk switched on TV To observe two minutes silence, and be thankful just to be.

One bonus about this knock-down is doing things unusual, Like taking up old hobbies, or dressing very casual, For no-one’s going to visit; doesn’t matter how we look, We can slouch down in an armchair and read a recipe book, Then up we get with inspiration to go and makes some cakes, Or brew a pot of yoghurt which will be ready when we wakes, Then of course there is the garden sprouting weeds in every place, But I fear that tackling these is a soul destroying race!

The Government give us briefings every day at roughly five, To tell us who has died today and who is still alive Just languishing in hospital, or worse in I.T.U., But the NHS is wonderful they treat all, no matter who, They go about their business dressed in shields from top to toe, And simply do their utmost for those people feeling low.

We cannot be more grateful; our respect for them is boundless, And any adverse comments should be ditched forthwith, as groundless. � Have you written any lockdown-inspired verse?

We’d love to be able to share them with our readers, email news@wokingampaper.co.uk

What’s in a name?

Like many of us, one reader has been using his furlough to have a bit of a clearout.

Among the gems, he came across this old tape (remember them?): Teach Yourself Praise Guitar by Jo King.

Certainly, he says, his guitar playing would raise some titters, but they’d be laughing at him, not with him … � Seen something funny? We’d love to share it!

Email news@wokingampaper.co.uk

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Where’s the blooms?

Wild? No, I’m livid!

By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokinghampaper.co.uk

A KEEPHATCH resident is calling for the council to take responsibility in managing biodiversity.

Hedge cutting on Tywford Road

Wildflowers at Cantley Path

Strimming in Eldridge Meadows

council should take some responsibility for the decision making process on which areas are cut or preserved.

“They put out this call to residents last year, but what if you didn’t see the article?” she said.

“The council needs to use their common sense a bit when it comes to mowing these areas.

“I can understand parks, but not all verges and roundabouts.

“They say they're helping the climate, but do the opposite. And they’re asking people to leave parts of their garden uncut for the insects, but they’re cutting it on their land.”

A spokesperson from WBC explained the reason for cutting more verges at the moment.

They said: “Particularly at the moment, we are conscious that a shorter grass verge may help to make it easier for residents to maintain social distancing and follow

Government guidance.

“We are committed to improving wildlife habitats and are in the process of introducing wildflower areas in some of our parks and open spaces in Wokingham, Twyford, Woodley and Arborfield.

“We would welcome any suggestions for suitable locations, so we can work with residents to expand these areas and provide much needed habitats for our bees, butterflies and other invertebrates.”

But Mrs Hurwitt said that wild flower meadows don’t have to be specifically planted for them to be valuable.

“They’re not recognising what wild flowers are,” she said. “All of these verges are full of wild flowers and grasses, but they’re cutting them down.

“Last year in Cantley, there were beautiful sunflowers growing in the wild, and a few days later they had all been cut down.”

Plan for new 3G pitch at Cantley FOOTBALL teams across the borough are one step closer to a new training pitch at Cantley Park.

Last month, Neil Jones, senior construction project manager at the borough council applied to build a new 3G Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) at Cantley Park recreation ground.

The plans also include floodlights, a viewing balcony and cafe, 39 new car parking spaces and improvements to existing grass pitches.

The existing pavilion would also be refurbished to create new changing facilities.

If approved, this will be the fifth 3G pitch built in the borough.

Currently, there are 534 active football teams across the

Ludgrove helps get the grub from the hub to the home Emily and Sophie Barber load some lunches into a car ready to be taken to families helped by Norreys Church’s Grub Club

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokinghampaper.co.uk

A SCHOOL and a community initiative have joined forces to help deliver more than 300 lunches to vulnerable families.

EXCLUSIVE

Juliet Hurwitt wants Wokingham Borough Council to better care for British insects, and stop cutting green verges full of wild flowers.

She said: “At a time when we’re trying to help our endangered bees and butterflies, and gardeners are asked to leave an area of their gardens for nature, why has the council mowed most of the verges that were full of wild flowers that insects rely on?

“It was unnecessary and has greatly put the bees and butterflies' survival at risk.

“I can understand mowing in parks where people walk, sit and play, but to decimate the verges that aren’t in anyone’s way is inexcusable.”

Instead, Ms Hurwitt suggested that the green spaces could be managed as miniature nature reserves.

A spokesperson from Wokingham Borough Council said: “We are really keen on helping to improve our biodiversity which is why we made a call to our residents in the previous Wokingham Borough News, Winter 2019 issue, requesting suggestions for suitable areas to introduce long grass and meadows.

“As with most things it’s important we get the right balance when we change grass cutting frequency as we are keen to keep recreation space available and the borough looking presentable, which can be a particular challenge regarding grass verges in suburban areas.”

But Ms Hurwitt said the

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borough — but not enough training facilities.

Earlier this year, the council said that an additional nine 3G pitches are needed as teams often left to travel outside the borough to use football pitches and winter training facilities.

And in December, Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure, said that the park needed modernising as it is used so frequently.

But the application has already attracted criticism.

Benning Way resident, Ian Rodwell has objected to the plans via the council website.

He said: “There is already an all-weather pitch and why should more green space be given over to cars?

“How about, just for once, considering the views of people wanting green spaces preserved and not built over.

“You have already decimated Cantley Park in recent years, the awful tennis courts with searchlights, the numerous green areas now blighted with footpaths and yet more lighting.”

Mr Rodwell said he was concerned Cantley Park would look “as bad as the Elms Field development” if the plans were approved.

And Wokingham Town Council has asked for the consultation end date on Friday, May 29 to be extended until Thursday, June 4 — after a meeting of its Planning & Transportation committee.

Originally set up to help Norreys residents over the summer holidays last year, The Grub Club has been offering food donations from caterers during the coronavirus pandemic. It runs out of Norreys Church.

Earlier this month, it teamed up with pupils from Ludgrove School in Wokingham to deliver more than 300 lunches.

Lisa Hookway, from the Grub Club, said: Through my link and partnership working as Community Engagement Officer for Wokingham Borough Council my manager was contacted by Ludgrove School with an idea to make and deliver meals to families, who attended The Grub Club in summer of 2019.

“I have been working with Sarah Humphries from Ludgrove School to identify families who would benefit from receiving these meals twice a week. We have managed to identify 35 families with a number of over 300 meals being produced and delivered.”

The Grub Club has really moved on since it launched to help families who usually have free school lunches.

Ms Hookway said: “The original project ran two days a week for six weeks and offered not just food on the day but also activities and additional food supplies from Fare Share which the families could take away and use themselves.

“During the course of the project we supported around 100 people each week.

“This was the little acorn that then grew into the oak tree that is now the Grub Club Food Hub. At the start of the Covid 19 situation the Grub Club team were approached to offer their expertise in the area of food supply to families in Wokingham – conversations were had and meetings held

about who might need help and how we could address it.”

And, as we’ve reported in recent weeks, it has received support from supermarkets including Morrisons, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Lidl, as well as a visit from Reading Football Club.

“Cook! in Rose Street also got on board with the project and kindly donated 50 ready meals a week,” Ms Hookway added.

“We have received great support from Reading Football Club too as well as many other individuals and other contacts.”

It has since been supplying food parcels to more than 100 families every week and has also been helping Wokingham Foodbank to source 50 fresh fruit and vegetable parcels.

And financial help has come from Wokingham in Need.

20 | NEWS

Woodley stars in TV advert THE TEAM at the Woodley NatWest branch have been featured in the bank's latest TV advert.

The commercial features staff filming themselves from their homes to show customers how they can continue banking during lockdown — and the Crockhamwell Road shopping precinct also plays a star role.

A shot of Broad Street in Reading gives way to the deserted Woodley town centre with the caption ‘things are a bit quiet here right now’.

Brian Fennelley, Woodley town centre manager, said: “It is great to see good old Woodley feature in the NatWest advert.

“The town centre does look better with the shops and restaurants open though and we are looking forward to the normal hustle and bustle resuming as soon as possible.”

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Dog walkers become vigilant over concerns of potential thefts EXCLUSIVE

By SUE CORCORAN news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

DOG OWNERS are worried their pets may be stolen from their gardens or grabbed as they’re taking them for a walk.

Reports of a man taking photographs of dogs and even following people home, have spread through the Twyford, Charvil and Wargrave area.

Owners fear the photos may be passed to dog thieves who could make rich pickings, selling young pedigree dogs which can cost over £1,000 to buy.

Hurst Village Society has warned residents to be on the watch.

“It only takes a few seconds to steal your dog from outside a shop, from in your car or in your garden,” wrote the society in its online magazine which goes to hundreds of homes.

Hurst had suffered a spate of burglaries or attempted break-ins, said the magazine, adding: “The police have asked us all to be vigilant and report/take pictures of anything suspicious.”

A Twyford resident said a man with a rucksack on his back had been seen photographing dogs going for a walk with their owners.

Incidents had been reported in Wargrave recreation field, at Charvil and in Twyford, at Hurst Road, King George V playing fields and Stanlake Meadow.

The resident said he had seen a man aged 25-30, 5ft 10ins to 5ft 11 ins tall, wearing a rucksack and an anorak, with his hood up on a hot day, in one open space, standing close into the hedge as though he didn’t want to be seen. The man had then walked out into the field.

He said the man matched the description given by others of someone photographing their dogs.

Numbers witnessing this were “getting into double figures.” The man even followed some owners to their homes.

People’s fears had been fuelled because about four years ago around 15 dogs had disappeared from the area in a short period.

“I am very, very concerned. The message to people in Twyford and surrounding area is that they need to be very careful at the moment,” said the resident, worried the photos could be passed onto thieves who might steal dogs from gardens or even grab them when being walked on a lead.

It is understood some owners are

now varying their walking times and routes.

Another resident has contacted the police.

Thames Valley Police said they received a report of a man acting suspiciously at around 5.30pm on May 13 in Hurst Road, Twyford.

Officers were made aware and searched the area but there was no trace of the man, said the spokesperson. � Anyone seeing suspicious behaviour should report it to Thames Valley Police via their website: www.thamesvalley.police.uk/tua/tellus-about/soh/something-youve-seenor-heard

Villagers line the roads in tribute to former Hurst parish councillor

By SUE CORCORAN news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

SCORES of villagers lined roads and lanes to pay tribute to a man devoted to helping his community.

The funeral of Hurst Parish councillor Howard Larkin took place at Easthampstead Crematorium last Friday.

Villagers who, in normal times, would have attended Mr Larkin’s funeral were instead able to pay a moving tribute in the roads and lanes of Hurst.

They stood outside their homes, socially distanced, as the funeral started at Easthampstead. One bell at St Nicholas Church, Hurst, tolled six times. Then there was a one minute silence for everyone to remember the man known as a “true gentleman”.

Mr Larkin died, aged 77, peacefully at his home. He was married to his wife Janet for 53 years and was a Hurst Parish councillor for about 35 years.

Council chair Wayne Smith said: “Our village would not be the place it is today without the hours of dedication Howard devoted to preserving the community of Hurst.”

Mr Larkin, who lived in Hurst for 40 years, became a planning expert, representing the village

Howard Larkin died, aged 77, peacefully at his home

at hundreds of planning appeals and committees.

He was a keen supporter of Saint Nicholas Primary School, Hurst horticultural show, and many other village events.

A civil engineer, he worked for many years at John Mowlem in Bracknell.

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The church minister who fell in love with art after sight loss EXCLUSIVE

By TAZ USHER tusher@wokinghampaper.co.uk

A CHURCH MINISTER has shared her experience with art, faith, mental health and disability in the latest episode of Grayson Perry’s Art Club.

Emma Major, from Earley Saint Nicolas Church, shared her journey on Channel 4 earlier this week.

Ms Major said she was contacted by their production team who stumbled across her poetry collection, Little Guy and were keen to find out more.

She explained that her first conversation with award-winning artist, Grayson Perry took place over Zoom last week.

She said: “The video call was a treat. I’ve always been a fan of Grayson Perry which was obvious from my excitement when talking to him.

“I love Grayson because he’s just him. He enjoys art, is interested in people and is fabulous at what he does.

“We spoke for 20 minutes about various things such as the creative processes I go through when making a piece of art and the theme of this week’s episode which is a view from a window.”

Ms Major — who lost her sight four years ago — added: “When I draw I usually base my work on what I can remember from when I could see. So if I’m drawing a tree in front of me and can see the outline I fill in the gaps with my memory of what a tree looks like.

“Grayson, however, was interested in knowing exactly what

A lighthouse mosaic, crafted with coloured tiles that Emma (circle) created. Pictures: Emma Major

I can see now and asked me to do a pen sketch of it.”

The pair also discussed how the coronavirus crisis has proven an ideal time for practising creativity and helping individuals to overcome the feelings which accompany isolation.

Drawing on her experience of living with Functional Neurological Disorder and having to isolate herself long before the pandemic, she said: “Before I lost my sight I was useless at art. Since then I have found my passion for creativity and have learnt to embrace the process

without worrying that it is going to look bad.

“For me, art is relaxing and something I enjoy doing, not something that needs to be beautiful, amazing or published.”

Ms Major’s art collection consists of mosaics, needle felting, drawings, paintings and sculptures, all of which are crafted from her dining room table.

Her most recent project is a 25strong collection of poems and drawings which tells the story of an ink silhouette called Little Guy and his journey through hope, trust and

self-discovery.

The book — featuring her own poetry and drawings — was published on Friday, May 1 in electronic format, with audio description for those who require it.

Ms Major explained the importance of technology to her, as she struggles to get up close to artwork in a gallery.

She said: “The internet is so useful to me as it allows me to zoom in on photos and artwork and appreciate it in a way that I wouldn’t be able to do with physical pieces.

“Visually impaired or not, I’d encourage anyone to make the most of the internet for creative inspiration. There’s so much out there and now is the perfect time to give something artistic a go.”

And offering her advice to those considering taking up an artistic hobby to keep them occupied during lockdown and beyond, she said: “Just go for it and don’t worry about how it is going to turn out. Even if it’s just with a pen and paper, have fun with it and see what happens.

“Art is so valuable to our mental health as it stops us feeling constrained and gives us a new way of finding ourselves. Since becoming disabled, art has freed me up and made me fall in love with something I’d never considered in this way before.” � To watch the show, visit www.channel4.com/programmes/ graysons-art-club. And Ms Major’s Little Guy book can be accessed at: www.ionabooks.com/product/littleguy-downloadable-book

Wokingham pub gets a royal refresh

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokinghampaper.co.uk

ONE OF Wokingham’s busiest pubs has been given a slight makeover during lockdown.

Back in March, pubs around the country were forced to close their doors due to the coronavirus outbreak.

And thousands of businesses across the food and service industry are losing out on trade, with no date currently known to when they may be able to re-open for business.

But Carol Williams, landlady of The Queen’s Head has been keeping busy by making improvements to the pub, including a lick of paint for the benches outside, which are

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usually a popular destination for Wokingham residents to enjoy a selection of cold drinks during the summer months on the bank.

Ms Williams said: “Because of lockdown I've been painting everything so that when we do re-open, everything will be nice and lovely and fresh.

“It's not a refurbishment as such as we wanted to keep everything exactly the same. “With old buildings such as ours, it takes time to keep them looking the same.

“It’s good for me to keep busy while the pub is shut.

“It has been frustrating, we’re eager to get reopened especially as the weather has been so beautiful which means we've missed out on so much trade.

“But it is what it is. We haven't had any kind of indication of when we might be allowed to re-open, only that we’ll be one of the last, if not the last sector to re-open.

“We're hoping for July, but realistically I'm expecting August or September.”

The Queen’s Head landlady, Carol Williams makes improvements to their terrace

NEWS | 21

22 | NEWS

Walking charity gets people moving in May

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokinghampaper.co.uk

A NATIONAL walking charity is encouraging people to keep active during lockdown.

Living Streets is urging the public to participate in the Try20 campaign which encourages people to walk for 20 minutes every day throughout the month of May to help improve physical and mental health.

The tips are accompanied by a podcast, which has well-known personalities talking about the benefits of walking, including Olympic champion Chris Boardman MBE, and Professor Shane O’Mara – author of In Praise of Walking.

Jenni Wiggle, interim chief executive of Living Streets, said: “Many of us are appreciating being able to get out for a walk at the moment.

“It remains incredibly important to keep active, both for our own wellbeing and to avoid storing up massive health problems for ourselves and the NHS in the future.

“Walking is one of the most accessible ways to stay active. Just 20 minutes can help improve our wellbeing and connect us with what’s around us.

“This pandemic is making us all realise how much public space is given over to individual car use rather than walking and cycling.

“Narrow footways, inappropriate speed limits and cars parked on pavements are all impacting on our ability to exercise safely.

“Now more than ever, we need to make sure there’s enough space for people to get out and walk.”

Chris Heaton-Harris, walking minister said: “Walking has always been a great way to keep fit and active, but now more than ever it can help us all get some fresh air and boost our physical and mental wellbeing.

“This challenge will encourage people to safely stay on the move, and hopefully inspire people to develop new active travel habits that will last a lifetime.”

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY / THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Thursday, May 21, 2020

Hospice nurse painted as part of national ‘NHS Heroes’ celebration

By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokinghampaper.co.uk

A HOSPICE nurse has been immortalised in oil paint as part of a nationwide art project celebrating health heroes.

Megan Davies, who works at the Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice in Tilehurst as a nursing associate was painted by an artist who wanted to pay tribute to those on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis during lockdown.

Thomas Croft, from Oxford, launched the Portrait For NHS Heroes movement on Instagram, offering to paint a free portrait for the first healthcare worker to reply.

But he received so many requests, he was able to match hundreds of key workers with professional artists across the UK. Ms Davies recently completed an adult nursing degree at Oxford Brookes University to become a fully qualified nurse.

After completing a number of university placements in palliative care, she knew it was an area she wanted to specialise in.

She said: “When my Nana was poorly, she didn’t get the death that she deserved.

“I think I always remembered that and knew I would do everything I could to make sure that it didn't happen for anyone else.

“I’m still quite new to the

Peter Keegan used a photo of Megan to create the painting in his home studio

profession, but Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice is such a lovely place to work.

“Everyone that comes into the building is there for such a lovely reason and I think it is so wonderful to see everyone pulling together to get the best outcome that they can.

“All the messages of support we have received have been amazing and I think everyone is trying to stay

very positive during this time.”

Ms Davies was tagged in the #PortraitForNHSHeroes Instagram post by a friend, and was then paired with local professional artist Peter Keegan, director of The Courtyard Studio in Buckinghamshire.

The process began with a couple of conversations over Facetime where he found out more information about her, her work and

how she's managing working for the hospice during this time.

Mr Keegan also discussed the type of artwork she liked and shared some good tips on taking a photograph of herself for him to paint from.

He then created the 70x60cm oil painting on canvas, which took him about four hours to complete.

It is hoped that it will feature at an exhibition alongside other portraits completed as part of the project to celebrate the work done by a wide range of NHS and key workers.

Having seen the portrait, Ms Davies said she was proud to be included in the project.

She said: “I was absolutely blown away, it’s amazing. Peter is so talented and was lovely to work with throughout the process.

It’s something I will cherish forever and it makes me very proud to be a Sue Ryder Nurse.”

Thursday, May 21, 2020 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER / WOKINGHAM.TODAY

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INTHECOMMUNITY

NEWS | 23

News from your community groups, clubs and societies Send your reports to news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Life Drawing society launches Virtual Pub Scrawl

Virtual award presentations for Wokingham Horticultural Society spring show

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DAPTING TO the new normal like many other groups, the Wokingham Life Drawing Society have taken their sessions online.

Organised by Mick McNicholas, society members can tune into two drawing sessions each week to keep their skills up and their artistic community together.

“Zoom is quite a funny one,” said Mick. “It can be quite chaotic, with people talking and sometimes a lag, but it’s been successful in terms of bringing a community of artists together.

“We’re doing our usual life drawing sessions each Monday, and then on Thursdays we are alternating a portrait session and the Pub Scrawl.”

The Pub Scrawl — usually run in pubs around Wokingham — is a social evening where society members can enjoy a drink with friends, and tackle quick poses from clothed models in the venue. And now it’s been taken online.

“Even though we’re separated in person, drawing somebody from life is still massively different to drawing from a picture,” explained Mick.

“There’s a connection, and even though it is simplified, because the model has already been flattened for you, it’s still a living, breathing person in front of you. It’s still a challenge.

“I think drawing the figure is one of the hardest challenges when it comes to drawing.”

And Mick said the virtual sessions are open to new society members too.

“With Zoom, you can get 100 people in each session, but in real life we can only get a maximum of 30 in the room, so that’s great.

Some of Mick McNicholas’ drawings from their recent virtual sessions.

New members are welcome to join in the free and paid sessions.

“I was concerned initially about people exploiting the model’s privacy, but because the Monday sessions and the portrait sessions are charged, it helps to avoid that.

“And all the emails sent out state that screen grabbing of images is strictly prohibited, it’s about respecting the model and the group.”

But Mick said that for those who are interested in life drawing and can’t afford to tune in to each

session, there are plenty of free resources available online.

“BBC Two did a life drawing session the other week, and Sky has been running portrait drawing lessons. And the Croquis Cafe has hundreds of free videos of life models doing timed poses — there’s plenty for people to access.” � For more information about the Wokingham Life Drawing Society, visit: www.facebook.com/ wokingham.life.drawing.society

COATS team get on their bikes

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HE COATS Centre for seniors in Crowthorne is closed until further notice due to the covid-19 epidemic.

All of the regular visitors have been in isolation in their homes or with their families for more than eight weeks and are missing their friends and the staff at COATS. Two of the intrepid care staff Julie Chaplin and Donna Corney-Gibbons decided to use their daily exercise to pay a visit to a selection of their members around Crowthorne.

They spent the morning cycling around the village saying hello to a small selection of the seniors who would usually be spending their day at the COATS Centre.

Julie said that everyone was very happy to see them and social distancing was observed at all times.

The pair were even able to lead a chorus of Happy Birthday for one of the regulars with a number of the residents of the senior citizens complex at Copenhagen Walk.

If the good weather continues, they plan to do this on a regular basis. Unfortunately at the end of the visits Julie suffered a puncture and had to walk the two miles to her home in Sandhurst.

David Wilson, COATS

(From left) Julie Chaplin with one of the COATS members, and fellow colleague Donna CorneyGibbons on their cycle around Crowthorne village

Denise Frewin smiles as Lynn Forbes, then town mayor presents certificates virtually AS ONE of her last mayoral duties, handicraft section in week four. on Saturday, May 2, Wokingham town The Frewin family were all round mayor, Cllr Lynn Forbes virtually winners. Graham's bird in flight photo presented certificates to members was spectacular, Denise proved herself of Wokingham Horticultural Association an ace photographer with three flower on completion of their Virtual Spring photos taken in her garden and got most Show. votes for her colouring in for two The show ran over four weeks from of the four weeks.

Saturday, March 18 – the date of the And eight-year-old Josh in year 4 cancelled Spring Show. at Winnersh primary school came out And Cllr Forbes said she was very tops in the Young Exhibitors' section with impressed by the technical expertise his rainbow drawing, the chocolate in setting up the show at very short brownies he made, his design for notice, and congratulated the virtual a honeypot label, and a sailing ship. show committee.

The Hibbs household also did well, Congratulations went to Sally Ballard with Mike getting most votes in two who entered each week and was voted classes, beating his wife Lynne and top in 13 classes overall. daughter Jane who each won one class.

Pauline MacBrayne and Sheila And Rachael Norwood was the runner McKeand up, winning three classes in the

24 | LEISURE

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Wood-fired pizza that pleases all Little Reds Pizza 07415 029530 littleredspizza.co.uk

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F YOU’VE been at one of many outdoor festivals across the borough in recent years, you will no doubt have seen Little Reds Pizza’s pop-up stall.

In it is nestled a wood-burning pizza oven, creating some of the best pizza known to … well, my fussy eight-year-old daughter. But more on that in a moment.

Little Reds usually focuses on large social gatherings, such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and street food: but with lockdown a reality, the Finchampstead-based company has changed its business model. Good news for Wokingham borough residents.

With more than 35 years’ experience, Little Reds owner Darren Witney says he has a passion for simple food, cooked well “there’s nothing better,” he says.

Launched six years ago in Finchampstead, Little Reds offers more than just wood-fired pizzas: charcuterie boards, bruschetta, salads and desserts are part of its offerings.

For lockdown, it has launched a home delivery service, which Darren says helps it to “deliver high-quality catering to your door, in line with guidelines”.

To ensure smooth delivery, Little Reds has an efficient ordering system: call between 9am and 6pm on Tuesday to book a slot on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. They’ve been very popular though, with many going quickly.

There’s a weekly menu, with plenty of options to choose and the pizzas are available in 9in or 12in sizes.

Darren can meet many dietary requirements.

The first thing that struck me about Little Reds’ pizzas was that everything is made freshly and by hand, using Caputo flour is made to form the dough and Italian tomatoes in the sauce.

The vegetarian option toppings are mushroom, charred spring onion, feta, olives and truffle oil, a 9in is £7 and 12in is £9.

It is a fantastic combination of flavours: The creaminess and saltiness of the feta blends with the sharpness of the olives, crunchy spring onions with

(Clockwise from top left)cheeseburger pizza, mushroom, charred spring onion, feta, olive and truffle oil pizza, margherita pizza and a custom chicken, jalapeño and pepper pizza.

Pictures: Claire Worsfold

the sweetness of the tomatoes and the perfect amount of mozzarella.

Little Reds has its unique cheeseburger pizza, again £7 for a 9in and £9 for a £12in.

This sees the base topped — but not overloaded — with ground beef, gherkin, burger sauce and spring onion.

With the perfect amount of ingredients to not make it too heavy, the

beautiful home-made burger sauce tops it off.

My 13-year-old said that it was “so much better than High Street takeaway”.

Keeping it simple was my daughter.

She normally leaves her crusts behind but devoured her 12in margheritaa (£8, 9in £6). This is the highest possible praise from her.

Just to be different, my husband

requested his own toppings, creating a 12” Chicken, jalapeños and peppers on top of the sauce for £9.

He was well pleased, calling it amazing. As a family we were hugely impressed with Little Reds Pizza. If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re missing out.

We hope the delivery service continues after lockdown.

CLAIRE WORSFOLD

LEISURE | 25

26 | SCHOOLS

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At school? This is the page you can write! We welcome your articles, poems, pictures and stories for this page. Send your articles to news@ wokinghampaper.co.uk

News from schools | Stories from pupils

HARRY’S WORLD

Blue Coat raise more than £4,000 for NHS workers

Harry Bradley

It’s cool to be kind

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HIS week is Mental Health Awareness Week, which seems fitting as there cannot be a more relevant time to be thinking about our state of mind.

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, which seems fitting as there cannot be a more relevant time to be thinking about our state of mind. Don't you agree?

Not only is it a good time to be checking in with our own mental health but also those around us. It's a tricky time.

Our 'normal' is gone and life has most definitely changed.

Perhaps even more appropriate to wellbeing is this year’s focus on kindness and the positive impact that acts of kindness can have on our mental health in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

I'm not a carer, keyworker or work full-timer. I'm a full-time student trying to get through the first year of my A levels.

I’m lucky that I have a great family and we're all there for each

other. Now more than ever I appreciate those around me.

Clearly I’m no expert but what I would say, as a 17-year-old, is that when it comes to mental health, be kind and stay positive.

Despite Covid-19 separating us all, a sense of kindness has been brought out in each of us.

The weekly clapping for the NHS, neighbours helping one another with the weekly shop, and the focus on helping the planet heal through eco-friendly practises.

Social distancing doesn’t seem to be separating us, it’s bringing us together through these acts of kindness and humility.

But it’s not just being kind to others that is important during this time.

Being kind means showing kindness to yourself.

Taking some time for self-care and supporting your own wellbeing seems to make sense right now.

Allowing yourself to take the time to destress and relax is as important as ever.

WOKINGHAM.TODAY / THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Thursday, May 21, 2020

Foundry College mark Mental Health Awareness Week with drawings of thanks

By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Mark Rowland, of the Mental Health Foundation, recently said: “We want to start a discussion on the kind of society we want to shape as we emerge from this pandemic.”

This made me wonder what kind of person I want to be when I come out of this. Maybe it’s worth us all thinking about.

If we all emerge from lockdown being kinder to ourselves and those around us, surely that’s a positive step.

And positivity is something we should all keep hold of right now.

We could all give in to negative thoughts because just like that, things we knew for certain are now unclear.

Life at school, my plans for university, my part-time job.

Nothing seems straightforward. But negativity is unhealthy and it’ll only bring us down.

As my Dad always says, “the only constant is change”. How true and in these times of change we need to stay healthy, stay positive and be kind.

P

UPILS from a Sonning-based school have been on the right foot over the past week, after taking part in an epic fundraising challenge.

The youngsters from Reading Blue Coat School have been walking a virtual length of the UK — and the keenest have been running, rowing, skipping, marching and even dancing.

The aim has been to raise at least £3,500 for the NHS by covering a total distance of 874 miles (1,406km) - the same distance between West Cornwall NHS Hospital in Penzance to Dunbar NHS Hospital in Scotland. And like the painting of the Forth Rail Bridge, once the distance as been completed, they started again: in all the have raised £4,665.

The event was organised by the school’s student-led outreach department, The Aldworth Partnership, and the School's Foundation Office to help raise vital funds for the NHS. Director of Foundation, Mrs Victoria Fangen-Hall, said: 'While the school is closed and social distancing is still very much in place, many events and opportunities to come together as a school community have been postponed so we thought it would be wonderful if we can bring our community together, albeit virtually, to take on a challenge, while raising funds for the NHS.” � For more details, search for RBC4NHS on Facebook or on justgiving.com

BENNY’S CONFLICT

By James Lomax Part 18 of 26 Finally, after all this confusion and all these detours, Benny’s path is now clear. Along with Carlos and Shana, he plans to land on the prison planet, find Carlos’ parents and help them escape, with the aid of some hacking to the system done by the late Izen. What could possibly go wrong?

A

S the ship slowed down and moved towards the poles to be let in, Benny began to have some doubts about the whole mission.

He had originally intended to leave Carlos there with his parents, to convince himself that he wasn’t doing anything against the law, but now that ship had sailed, and for all he knew authorities somewhere where looking for him. So Carlos had altered the plan, and instead of just dropping him off on the planet they were going to rescue his parents.

He didn’t know how, but Carlos said he had a few tricks up his sleeve.

Another complication was Shana. Obviously, Izen had not added her to the system, and the ship would be scanned as it entered the planet. The only way Shana could get in was if she wasn’t on the ship. Benny looked over at the spacesuit they used for repairs, and an idea formed in his mind.

The Golden Dawn finally arrived at the North Pole, where the sensors were ready and waiting. There were no human staff on the planet, as everything was done electronically, with Androids as guards. The force field flickered and turned off to allow entrance, and the sensors turned on, coating the ship in a thin wave of green light. It registered and accepted Benny and Carlos, and allowed the ship to pass. The force field started flickering on again.

Benny looked behind and saw Shana, wearing the maintenance spacesuit, hanging on by a cable to the back of the ship. She gave a thumbs-up, and began using the cable to pull herself back towards the airlock door. However, the lights were starting to flicker, signalling the return of the force field. Benny watched as Shana frantically began pulling herself closer

LAST FRIDAY, the primary and secondary students of Foundry College came together to create a range of artwork and posters.

It was in response to a shout out by Wokingham Borough Council, who asked pupils to support Mental Health Awareness Week UK 2020, by producing letters, postcards and drawings for isolated residents as part of goody bags or essential deliveries.

This year the theme is

kindness and in true Foundry fashion, we rolled up our sleeves and started getting creative and crafty.

Our resident poet and artist CC acknowledged the work of our NHS staff and our solidarity with them in a beautifully designed poster in which a nurse’s uniform is given a Superman makeover with the message that we are in this together.

Foundry College

towards the ship, but struggling in the lack of gravity.

She gave one last tug, and curled herself into a ball just as the force field flickered back on.

Benny fearfully glanced over, expecting the worst.

He saw Shana, still in a ball, directly in front of the force field. The outer layer of the sole on the boots had been sliced off. If she hadn’t curled into a ball she would have been cut in half. She gave another thumbs-up, and pulled herself until she held the handle of the airlock, and Benny breathed a sigh of relief as he let her in.

Although it was still recognised as a planet, X45-owl9 had become more man-made. On the outside, it was completely covered in grey rock, with the air toxic to humans. However, the original planet had been covered in lush vegetation. The entire planet had been terraformed so it was uninhabitable, so if any inmates escaped they had nowhere to go. All the prison magic was underground, carved into almost the entire interior. The only entrances were hatches that could quickly be opened and closed to allow ships to enter, or keep ships in. You only left the planet if the system wanted you to.

One small hatch opened up to allow the ship to enter, and a team of security bots were waiting for them. They were tall and sturdy, with smooth metallic plates covering hidden lasers under each arm.

The Golden Dawn set down on a circular platform, and the ramp opened to allow them to leave. The bots took no notice of Shana, but nodded at Benny and took Carlos with them for processing. Unfortunately, the plan required Carlos to be temporarily in custody.

He looked back at Benny one last time before the door closed behind him.

Benny looked over at Shana, “OK. Let’s search the system. Carlos’ parents have to be here somewhere."

As he walked through brightly lit corridors towards the nearest computer terminal, he remembered something, “You said you wanted something on this planet too, Shana. If it’s someone specific we can kill two birds with one blast.”

“I actually need Carlos’ parents, too,” she answered, “We’ve known each other for a long time, and there’s some loose ends I need to tie up.”

“Well then,” said Benny, “This just got a whole lot easier.” To be continued…

Thursday, May 21, 2020 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER / WOKINGHAM.TODAY

IN THE KITCHEN

Getting children into gardening

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HILDREN love being outside and getting their hands – and everything else – dirty so introducing them to their first steps on the gardening journey isn’t too difficult.

They love growing plants and love being in the garden but can often be impatient, wanting to see instant results.

Which is why National Children’s Gardening Week, which runs from Saturday, May 23 until Sunday, May 31 takes place in the ‘warm’ week at the end of May, when plants grow quickly so that there are instant results to make everyone happy.

Most experts agree that for children to get into gardening a space of their own is crucial – whether that’s a small bed, a grow bag or a terracotta pot.

If it’s a raised bed or plot then keep it small and make sure is has good soil and light.

If your children have grown out of their sandbox, consider converting it into a garden bed.

One of the best plants for children to start with is a geranium.

They come in an array of colours from vibrant red and bright pink through to soft lilac and white with fabulous flower heads, and are robust enough to thrive being cared for by even the most untrained of little green fingers.

The growers from Pelargonium for Europe have some simple tips on how to make sure any geranium is a summer success story.

They do best in full sun or partial shade — in fact the more hours

LEISURE | 27

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Gavin McArdell www.CurryFrenzy.com

Easy Beef Dhansak

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HIS rich Parsee curry with lentils and meat in a sweet and sour slightly hot sauce is a real comfort bowl of food.

This dish is slow cooked until the meat is melt in the mouth tender but it is quick and easy to prepare with the easy cheat using lentil soup.

of sun they get, the more flowers they produce. They need a bit of space to grow – so don’t crowd them into one pot, and don’t forget to water them.

Another must-have is a sunflower – which can grow 60cm in just four weeks – and nasturtiums which are not only fast growers but also pest resistant, which helps to ensure success. Nasturtium flowers are also edible, and are often used to add colour to salads and salsas, along with other vegetables.

Having children begin their gardening experience by growing vegetables is also a great idea and tomatoes, beans, peas and carrots are all pretty simple to get started and have a high success rate, even in containers if you have limited garden space.

If your children’s garden venture

is just part of your bigger gardening space then here are some tips for this month from the Royal Horticultural Society. � Watch out for late frosts.

Protect tender plants � Plant out potatoes � Plant out summer bedding at the end of the month � Water early and late to get the most out of your water, recycle water when possible � Regularly hoe off weeds � Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days � Mow lawns weekly � Check for nesting birds before clipping hedges � Keep an eye out for slugs and other pests � Sow French beans, runner beans, squash, cucumbers and pumpkin seeds outside.

Sara Milne

Petsandvets With Michael Morrow

Ingredients serve four � 800g beef braising steaks � 1 large onion diced � 1 inch fresh ginger peeled and finely grated � 4 cloves of garlic finely chopped or grated � 4 tsp curry powder � 4 tsp garam masala � ½ tsp chilli powder or more if you like it hot � 8 tbsp vegetable oil � 250ml pineapple juice � 400g tin lentil soup � 30g unsalted butter � 2-4 tsp sugar to taste � 2 tbsp tomato puree � chopped fresh coriander leaves (optional)

Method Brown the steaks two

at a time in a hot frying pan without oil on both sides turning after 2-3 minutes and then allow to cool and chop into bite size pieces.

In the same pan without cleaning fry the diced onion in the oil over a high heat until just softened.

This will deglaze the pan and retain the meat flavours for the curry.

Providing personal care for all your pets

Add the ginger, garlic, chilli powder and curry powder and stir fry for 2 minutes until the aromas are released.

Add the beef and cover with the pineapple juice.

Bring to a boil and then simmer for one hour stirring occasionally.

Add the lentil soup and continue to simmer for another hour until the meat is very tender.

Stir regularly and add extra water to top up if needed. Finally stir in the tomato, butter, sugar and garam masalla and simmer for a further 10 minutes.

Taste and season with salt if needed. Serve with boiled rice and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Gavin McArdell www.CurryFrenzy.com

Trusted by you to provide personal care for all your pets since 2005

Some dog breeds can have a predisposition to allergies 0118 979 3200 0118 979 3200 Oaklands Park, Wokingham RG41 2FD

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TOPIC dermatitis (atopy) is an inherited predisposition to develop allergic symptoms after repeated exposure to allergens such as dust, dust mites, grasses, or pollen.

Most dogs begin to show their allergic signs between one and three years of age. A few dogs may show clinical symptoms as early as six months of age. It is also unusual to see clinical symptoms start after seven years of age.

Because the hereditary nature of the disease, several breeds, including golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, most terriers, Irish and English setters, lhasa apsos, dalmatians, bulldogs, beagles, miniature schnauzers, pugs, boxers, American cocker spaniels, and Chinese shar peis are more commonly atopic.

Atopic animals usually rub, lick, chew, bite, or scratch at their feet, muzzle, ears, armpits, or groin, causing hair loss and reddening and thickening of the skin.

In some cases, several offending substances can "add" together to cause an animal to itch where each individual substance alone would not be enough to cause an itching sensation.

These substances include not only airborne allergens such as pollens, but allergens in food and from parasites such as fleas. Itching can also be exaggerated by bacterial or yeast infections of the skin.

Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is based on clinical signs — areas of itching — and often, an initial seasonality to the skin problem.

However, some dogs will have no seasonality to their itching from the onset of their symptoms. In addition,

many seasonally allergic dogs soon begin to scratch and rub year round.

Complete avoidance of the allergic substance may not be practical, but decreased exposure may be feasible. If your pet is allergic to pollen, decreasing the outdoor exposure especially at dusk and dawn is helpful.

Your pet should never be walked through fields with high grass or weeds and should not be outside when the lawn is cut.

Control of house dust or mites in the home can be a major undertaking, consisting of removing carpeting, covering mattresses, regular washing of the bedding, high-efficiency vacuums, avoiding stuffed toys, and frequent damp mopping of the areas most frequented with anti-itch properties may also be of benefit. These by your pet. products will usually need to be applied daily (sprays, Antihistamines and fatty acids are two therapies, gels, lotions), or a few times weekly (shampoos, cream when given in combination that can decrease the itching rinses, leave-on conditioners). sensation in about 10% to 20% of atopic pets.

Desensitisation vaccines can be formulated for your Your pet can be on antihistamines and fatty acids for pet on the basis of results of a skin test or blood test. life with no long-term problems. Steroids (prednisone, After an initial series of injections, periodic boosters are cortisone) can also be used to alleviate the itch.

However, these drugs have potential side effects and are needed (every few weeks) for the remainder of your pets' life. 60% to 80% of animals improve with such reserved for pets for where other therapy is not vaccines. possible, therapy is ineffective or to control a severe itch However, desensitisation takes time. Improvement for a short period of time. may notPark, be seenWokingham for three to six months longer.

Other drugs are available for long term treatmentOaklands – RG41 or 2FD If results are not seen within 9 to 12 months, a your veterinary practice will be able to advise you about reevaluation of the vaccine usage is necessary. these options.

Allergies are a lifelong problem and tend not to just Products applied topically to the skin (shampoos, cream rinses, leave-on conditioners, gels, lotions, sprays) go away. It is very important to work with your

Providing personal care for all your pets

0118 979 3200

Oaklands Park, Wokingham RG41 2FD

veterinary surgeon to try and control the allergy as successfully as possible. � Nancy and Michael Morrow own and run St Vincents Veterinary Surgery, an independent practice providing personal care to pets in and around Wokingham. For more information call the practice on 0118 979 3200 or visit www.stvincentsvets.co.uk

Trusted by you to provide personal care for all your pets since 2005 Oaklands Park, Wokingham RG41 2FD

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY / THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Thursday, May 21, 2020

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PUBLIC NOTICES 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

193411

The Bam, Curlys Way, Swallowfield

Conservation Area

Householder application for the proposed erection of a first floor rear extension including the insertion of 8no. Rooflights, plus changes to fenestration.

200956

Haines Hill Estate, Haines Hill

(Affect setting of) Listed Building

Householder application for the proposed erection of a machinery store.

201023

201052

201068

Old School Hall, High Street, Twyford

The Old House, Lea Farm, Lodge Road, Hurst

(Affect setting of) Listed Building

(Affect setting of) Listed Building

Application for Listed Building consent for the proposed restoration and conversion of existing building into a library, erection of a single storey lobby/link area and a two storey extension to provide multi-purpose community facilities including a cafe, plus associated landscaping and demolition of existing public toilets.

Householder application for the proposed erection of a single storey extension to form a porch, plus changes to fenestration and rebuilding of chimney top on north east elevation, demolition of chimney on the south west elevation, modification of boiler flue, repairs and internal alterations. (Part retrospective)

The Old Swan, Eversley Conservation Area Road, Arborfield

Householder application for the proposed part conversion of existing garage to create habitable accommodation, plus changes to the fenestration.

201069

The Old Swan, Eversley (Affect setting of) Road, Arborfield Listed Building

Application for Listed Building consent for the proposed part conversion of existing garage to create habitable accommodation, plus changes to the fenestration.

201119

22 London Road, Twyford

Full application for the proposed change of use of the ground floor retail unit (Use Class A1) to a chiropractic clinic (Use Class D1). (Part retrospective)

Conservation Area

201145

Century House, Wargrave Road

Conservation Area

Full application proposed erection of a replacement 4 no. bay garage with 4 no. rooflights following demolition of existing 3 no. bay garage.

201162

Rectory Court, 42 Broad street, Wokingham

Conservation Area

Full application proposed erection of fenestration consisting of the replacement of the existing windows and insertion of 4 no. windows to the rear and west side elevations and 7 no. rooflights, plus the creation of bin and cycle storage enclosures.

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 12th June 2020. 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: 21st May 2020 GOODS VEHICLE OPERATOR’S LICENCE

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (KING STREET LANE, WINNERSH) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2020 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: King Street Lane, Winnersh between its junctions with Winnersh Relief Road and Reading Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via A329 Reading Road, B3270 Lower Earley Way North and Winnersh Relief Road or by this route in reverse.

Works requiring this restriction will take place between 8th June and 17th June 2020 between 22:00 and 06:00 The reason for these prohibitions is to allow BT contractors to undertake new customer connection cabling work in safety.

Access for residents and businesses within the boundaries of these restrictions will be maintained at all times.

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.

The restrictions contained in the Order shall come into operation on the 8th June 2020 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.

Dated this 21st May 2020 Mark Cupit, Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL

AUCTIONS Antiques valuations Saturdays: 10am-1pm at Wokingham Town Hall, Market Place RG40 1AP

A1 Loo hire Ltd trading as Loo hire Ltd of Sliver Birches, Highland Avenue, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG414SP is applying for a licence to use Bennetts Commercials, Waterloo Road, Wokingham RG30 3 DA as an operating centre for 8 goods vehicles and 2 trailers.

Tuesdays: 10am-1pm at Holme Grange Craft Village, Heathlands Road, Wokingham RG40 3AW

Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings ) near the operating centre who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Hillcrest House, 386 Harehills Lane, Leeds, LS9 6NF, stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice. A Guide to Making Representations is available from the Traffic Commissioner’s office.

No appointment necessary: our team of Valuers and Specialists are on hand to offer free verbal valuations and offer advice for sale. We cover silver, jewellery, gold sovereigns, furniture, clocks, ceramics & glass, paintings, Oriental items, and vertu.

Thursdays: 10am-1pm at White Lion Antiques, Hartford Bridge, Hartley Wintney RG27 8AE

Call Pascal McNamara on 07446 802450

wokinghamauctions.com

SERVICES

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (COPPICE ROAD AND CLIVEDALE ROAD, WOODLEY) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2020 NOTICE IS HEREBY given that on the 27th May 2020 Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority made an Order under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which is to prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along: 1. Coppice Road, Woodley between its junctions with Loddon Bridge Road and Munro Avenue.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Drovers Way, Crockhamwell Road and Loddon Bridge Road or by this route in reverse.

Works requiring this restriction will take place between 27th May and 8th July 2020.

2. Clivedale Road, Woodley between its junctions with Coppice Road and Keats Road.

The alternative route for all vehicles affected by this restriction shall be via Keats Road, Knowle Road, Drovers Way and Coppice Road or by this route in reverse.

Works requiring this restriction will take place between 27th May and 22nd July 2020 The reason for these prohibitions is to allow Southern Gas Network contractors to undertake gas mains replacement work in safety.

Access for residents and businesses within the boundaries of these restrictions will be maintained at all times.

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.

The restrictions contained in the Order shall come into operation on the 27th May 2020 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.

Dated this 21st May 2020

Mark Cupit, Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL

Wokingham Borough Council Licensing Act 2003 S17 Application for Premises Licence NEWSPAPER NOTICE FRESH WOODLEY LTD of Crumbs, 4 Library Parade Crockhamwell Road, Woodley, RG5 3LX proposes to carry on the following licensable activities at the above premises: Sale and supply of alcohol on and off premises Monday – Sunday 10:00 – 23:00 Representations may be made in writing by any responsible authority or interested party in the vicinity of the premises to the licensing authority - Licensing Team, Wokingham Borough Council, POB 155, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1WW or by email to licensing@wokingham.gov.uk All representations made are open to public inspection.

Representations to be made by : 16th June 2020 This application has been made to the Licensing Team at Wokingham Borough Council where a register of applications is kept and a record of the application may be inspected. Contact 0118 974 6358 or www.wokingham.gov.uk Under S158 of the above act, a person commits an offence if he knowingly or recklessly makes a false statement in connection with an application. A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to unlimited fine

Dated: 21st May 2020

SPORT | 29

To advertise call 0118 327 2662

Thursday, May 21, 2020 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER / WOKINGHAM.TODAY

READING FC WOMEN

PUBLIC NOTICES ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 WOKINGHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL (B3349 BARKHAM ROAD, WOKINGHAM) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF DRIVING) ORDER 2020

Royals skipper Harding takes to the sky for charity

NOTICE IS HEREBY given that on the 14th May 2020 Wokingham Borough Council as Traffic Authority made an Order under Section 14 (1) (a) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which is to prohibit any vehicle from proceeding along:

By ANDY PRESTON

B3349 Barkham Road, Wokingham between its junctions with Oxford Road and A321 Wellington Road.

READING FC Women’s captain Natasha Harding has raised almost £1,500 for three charities ahead of a future skydive.

The Reading and Wales midfielder will be donating to Children with Cancer, Rihanna’s swing in Swansea and the Geoff Smith Foundation.

Harding wrote on her GoFundMe page: “I kindly got given a birthday present last year for my 30th by my closest friends.

“That ‘present’ was a sky dive. So instead of me jumping out of a plane so my friends would enjoy it. I thought I would do it for some great causes.

“I will be doing it for a number of charities that are close to those that mean a lot to me.

“The charities will be Children with Cancer, Rihanna’s swing in Swansea, The Geoff

apreston@wokinghampaper.co.uk

1. The alternative route for all cars and light vehicles (Southbound) affected by the restriction shall be via B3349 Barkham Road, Molly Millars Lane, A321 Finchampstead Road and A321 Wellington Road.

2. The alternative route for all cars and light vehicles (Northbound) affected by the restriction shall be via Station Approach, Reading Road, Station Road, A321 Wellington Road, A321 Finchampstead Road, Molly Millars Lane and B3349 Barkham Road.

3. The alternative route for all HGV’s (Southbound) affected by the restriction shall be via B3349 Barkham Road, Bearwood Road, B3030 King Street Lane, A329 Reading Road and Station Road.

4. The alternative route for all HGV’s (Northbound) affected by the restriction shall be via Station Approach, A329 Reading Road, B3030 King Street Lane, Bearwood Road and B3349 Barkham Road.

Works requiring this restriction will take place on 31st May 2020 between 01:00 and 06:00 The reason for these prohibitions is to allow Network Rail contractors to undertake lifting and inspection work in safety.

Access for residents and businesses within the boundaries of these restrictions will be maintained at all times.

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.

The restrictions contained in the Order shall come into operation on the 31st May 2020 and shall continue in force for a period not exceeding 18 months or until the works have been completed, whichever is the earlier.

Reading captain Natasha Harding in action for the Royals against Manchester United. Picture: Neil Graham

Dated this 21st May 2020

Smith Foundation (providing care for those affected by MS, MND).

“If you could kindly donate and help me help them it would be greatly appreciated by us all.”

The target of £1,500 has almost been reached and was at £1,431 as we went to press.

Harding, who was given the Reading captaincy at the start of the 2019/20 season, said on Twitter: “I know as people we are all donating to amazing causes right now. These charities will undoubtedly appreciate any little help they get “When it is safe to do so, I will be throwing my self out of a plane to raise money for these incredible charities that help so many families.” � To find out more information about the fundraiser or to donate, visit: www.gofundme.com/f/ 1yudtr0u2o

RUGBY

Mark Cupit, Assistant Director – Delivery and Infrastructure Wokingham Borough Council Civic Offices Shute End Wokingham Berkshire RG40 1WL

Advertise regularly and save ££££s Special rates for 4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks

Reach local people We cover the whole of Wokingham borough

Rams U14s raise almost £1,500 for injured players charity

By ANDY PRESTON apreston@wokinghampaper.co.uk

RAMS RUGBY U14’s team have raised almost £1,500 in support of the RFU Injured Players Foundation.

The Foundation has significantly helped one of their former players, Dani Watts.

In 2017, Ms Watts suffered life changing injuries when she broke her back during a tackle.

The Wokingham woman was left with a spinal injury to her central vertebra and

spent six months in hospital.

Since her injury, Ms Watts has received an incredible amount of support from Rams RFC as well as the Rugby Football Union Injured Players Foundation.

She was due to take part in the London Marathon this year in her wheelchair, but instead took part in a series of challenges after the event was cancelled.

These challenges inspired the Rams U14s team to show their support for the RFU Injured Players Foundation,

who supported Ms Watts so heavily in her recovery.

So far, the U14s team have managed to raise almost £1,454 in a sponsored walk and run.

Rams U14 manager Mark Pett-Ridge, said: “As our end of season tour to Wales was also cancelled due to the current lockdown, the boys came up with the idea of running from Sonning to Swansea and back, with a personal target of 10 miles.

“The squad and coaches completed the trip to

Dunvant RFC and back and raised £1,454 for the RFU IPF. “Not only were we able to raise funds for one of the club's charities, but also the way for the boys to keep doing things as a squad.

“They’re all keen to get back to playing rugby next season as year 10s.

“We will restart when allowed and I look forward to welcoming them back as well as any new players to Old Bath Road.” � For more information, visit: www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/mark-pett-ridge1

Get your business seen!

Email advertising@ wokinghampaper.co.uk (Left) Dani Watts playing for the club before her injury, and (above) the Rams RFC Under 14’s.

Picture: Paul Clark

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WOKINGHAM.TODAY / THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Thursday, May 21, 2020

Thursday, May 21, 2020 THEWOKINGHAMPAPER / WOKINGHAM.TODAY

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PROPERTY | 31

SKYFALL

Royals skipper’s big birthday adventure • P29

TRIUMPH OF THE RAMPANT RAMS

Rams captain Robbie Stapley in action in National League One. Picture: S2S Photography

Rams Director of Rugby Seb Reynolds Published by The Wokingham Paper Ltd, Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading RG1 4LS. Printed at Reach Watford © The Wokingham Paper Ltd, 2020

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