COVERING WOKINGHAM, FINCHAMPSTEAD, EARLEY, WINNERSH, SHINFIELD, WOODLEY, TWYFORD & SURROUNDING AREAS
THEWOKINGHAMPAPER
THE VOICE OF THE BOROUGH
WOKINGHAM.TODAY
Thursday, July 23, 2020 No. 271
70p
LAB’S VITAL WORK P8 DURING LOCKDOWN
‘Job fears have tripled’ EXCLUSIVE By JESS WARREN jwarren@wokinghampaper.co.uk UNEMPLOYMENT enquiries have tripled during the last five months as a result of the pandemic. Citizens Advice Wokingham helped 363 people worried about their work between Thursday, March 19 and Wednesday, July 15 — three times the number helped over the same time period last year. The charity’s chief executive, Jake Morrison said that many people calling were concerned about the terms and conditions of their contract. He said: “People are phoning up and asking ‘can they make me do this?’ when it comes to their job, especially in regards to working from home or the office.” And with the Government encouraging people to return to work from Saturday, August 1, Mr Morrison’s team have been explaining people’s rights, and the requirements their boss should meet. � Continued on page 2
Council’s plan to tackle virus outbreaks IF A CORONAVIRUS outbreak occurs within Wokingham borough, the council has pledged to act swiftly to prevent it spreading. It has published a draft of its outbreak control plan setting out what it would do should two or more people test positive for Covid19. It is expected to be presented to a meeting of the Executive Committee on Thursday, July 30 for discussion and voting. Last week, the Government said that local authorities would be able to action their own local lockdowns in a bid to prevent another national shutdown. � Continued on page 8
NEW SCHOOLS TO BE OPENED P2
Volunteer Zoe Maynard smiles with her harvest, which will be donated to families across the borough Picture: Freely Fruity
FEELING GREEN: Growing fresh food for the community P12
WE COULD QUIT RE3
NEW LOOK FOR HISTORIC PUB P6
38 NEW FLATS GET GREEN LIGHT P2
Council leader’s call for new recycling deal
EXCLUSIVE By PHIL CREIGHTON
news@wokinghampaper.co.uk IT’S A PARTNERSHIP that has sorted out the rubbish for the past 14 years, but next year could be its last.
Since 2006, Bracknell Forest, Reading Borough and Wokingham Borough councils have worked together
on their waste management strategies, forming re3. But at a meeting of the Joint Waste Disposal Board held earlier this month, Wokingham Borough Council leader Cllr John Halsall warned that we could “part company” with the other two councils if they can’t reach agreement on the future direction of waste and recycling in the years ahead.
He made the comments ahead of a vote to elect a chair and deputy to the board, which met virtually on Thursday, July 9. Cllr Halsall argued that the board should defer the votes to allow “officers and members an opportunity to consider the best path and the issues”. � Continued on page 4
NINE MILE RIDE REOPENS AFTER WATER WORKS P7