COVERING WOKINGHAM, FINCHAMPSTEAD, EARLEY, WINNERSH, SHINFIELD, WOODLEY, TWYFORD & SURROUNDING AREAS
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH
WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Thursday, May 7, 2020 No. 260
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Covid-19 cases in care homes revealed EXCLUSIVE By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokinghampaper.co.uk
DOCUMENTS detailing the spread of coronavirus in borough care homes have been leaked to Wokingham.Today.
Last week, the borough council announced it would no longer accept patients discharged from hospital into care homes without guaranteed Covid-19 testing — a decision made to protect the most vulnerable. But just how vulnerable care home residents have been was unknown. Until now. Wokingham.Today had previously asked for the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases and deaths in homes across the borough. The leaked report states that: “Twelve [care homes] are a priority, so have Covid-19.” But the total number of Covid-19 related deaths in borough care homes is not known. This is because testing is not happening in all cases, and a death is only attributed to coronavirus if those reporting the death believe it to be the cause or contributory factor. In Austen House — a Lower Earley care home — there have been 21 deaths in the last month. But only five of these have been confirmed as a Covid-19 death. The document leaked to Wokingham.Today said: “Austin House is still at the top of the list. 21 deaths, five confirmed as Covid-19 — most of the others must also be connected. 20 residents tested positive for Covid-19, however not known whether these included those who have sadly passed away.” Clive Jones, Liberal Democrat councillor for Hawkedon, said he thinks as many as 17 deaths in the Kilnsea Drive home were due to the coronavirus. “There’s usually only one or two deaths each month,” he said. “Many will have had other complications too.” � Continued on page 19
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‘LEAVE OUR VILLAGE ALONE’
Shinfield residents fight new development plans EXCLUSIVE By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokinghampaper.co.uk
SPENCERS WOOD residents have called for developers to leave their village alone, after plans for a 34 home development was submitted.
On Friday, March 20, Oakford Homes of Buckinghamshire applied to build 34 new homes with 96 parking spaces and a play area on the 7.3 acres of land adjacent to North Lodge, on Basingstoke Road. The plans include a two-storey block of flats, as well two, three, four and five bedroom detached and semi-detached houses. And four flats and 11 houses will be
allocated for affordable housing. But since the application was processed, more than 50 residents from Spencers Wood have opposed the plans. Many were frustrated that the developer had made a second application for the site, after the previous plans were refused. Stanbury Park resident, Richard Alan Crowe said: “Just over a year ago I was pleased to receive notification that a Planning Application for 39 dwellings on the land adjacent to North Lodge had been refused by WBC. “Unfortunately a revised plan has now been submitted for the erection of 34 dwellings on the same parcel of land but in my opinion nothing material has
changed and the application should again be refused.” Residents criticising the plans have cited traffic congestion, loss of green space, noise and pollution, and inadequate infrastructure as reasons for the borough council to reject the plans. Included in those is Jim Frewin, independent councillor for Shinfield South. Speaking to Wokingham.Today, Cllr Frewin said: “My main concerns are that over 70% of Wokingham borough development in the last five years has been in Shinfield. “The village has tripled in size.” � Continued on page 5
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