Welcome
This Friday's Residents' Round-up includes information on arrangements for Her Majesty The Queen's committal service at Windsor on Monday (19 September) as well as services affected locally.
The nation will observe a two-minute silence when the Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey draws to a close at about 11.55am on Monday. This follows a one-minute silence taking place at 8pm the night beforehand.
Please take care if you're thinking of travelling - and whatever you and your families have planned, we hope you have a restful and reflective weekend.
 Her Majesty The Queen's funeral - travel to Windsor
Following the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, 19 September, which has been declared a Bank Holiday, the coffin will travel in procession from Westminster Abbey to St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Anyone wishing to visit Windsor to pay their respects during the period of national mourning is offered the following advice from Thames Valley Police and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. Further guidance will also appear on the borough's Facebook and Twitter feeds where necessary.
The Windsor area has been exceptionally busy in recent days so it's important to plan your journey and allow extra time. Police will be stopping travellers arriving by car and train while community wardens will patrol the town centre.
Several town centre car parks and on-street parking areas are closed or suspended so please check before setting off. There will also be several road closures and reduced access throughout the mourning period.
Please also see the Royal Family website for official guidance on mourning and condolence arrangements at royal residences.
Getting there by public transport
The two railway stations at Windsor Eton Central (Great Western Railway) and Windsor and Eton Riverside (South Western Railway) could be extremely busy and there will be queuing systems at key stations en route. See National Rail Enquiries for the impact on the wider network.
Reading Buses' services will run to a Sunday and Bank Holiday timetable where applicable. Routes like the Lion 4 and X4, 21, 13/14 and the Leopard will continue but others will not, including the 19, Wokingham town services and those serving the Wargrave, Shinfield, Swallowfield and Riseley areas.
More details about the procession
The procession to Windsor Castle along the Long Walk will start at 3.10pm and will include members of the armed forces, emergency services and Her Majesty’s personal staff, with the committal service starting at 4pm.
It will take in Albert Road and the Long Walk and there will be no ceremonial move through Windsor town centre.
There will be public viewing areas on The Long Walk, including clearly marked disabled access with stewards, plus water stations, toilets, catering and waste facilities, and viewing screens showing the service at Westminster Abbey.
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has published further guidelines and restrictions. It would like to assure visitors that crowds will be managed appropriately, with dignity and respect, in partnership with other agencies.
 Bank Holiday Monday service changes
Our waste and recycling collections will continue but crews will start an hour earlier at 5.30am, so please put out your waste and recycling overnight. The crews will pause at 11am for 30 minutes to pay their respects.
Re3's household waste and recycling centres in Reading and Bracknell will be closed until 2pm. Existing bookings will be honoured after 2pm that day or any other day that week. Please keep your booking reference on hand when you visit.
All sports and leisure venues in the borough will be closed, including all centres operated by Places Leisure. Please contact your local centre with any queries.
Sports pitches run by the council and the BXGFIT boxing studio and Cantley Park Café in Wokingham town will also be shut. Please email sport@wokingham.gov.uk for a refund if applicable.
All council-run classes and activities including SHINE over-55s exercise classes will be suspended and anyone affected should have received a credit refund. Please email shine@wokingham.gov.uk if you have any questions.
Our country parks including Dinton Pastures and California Country Park will be open for those wanting to get some fresh air, as will the cafés, but organised activities like those run by the Dinton Activity Centre will be cancelled.
All our libraries will be closed, as will our civic offices at Shute End in Wokingham town, and normal hours will resume on Tuesday.
All council-owned car parks in the borough will be free to park in, with the exception of our country parks, though all other rules apply. We can't update our ticket machines but there will be clear signs wherever this applies.
Reading Buses' routes will run to a Sunday and Bank Holiday timetable where applicable. See the operator's website for details of affected services.
 Local covid clinics coming back to borough
The local covid vaccination clinics are returning to the former Wokingham town library in Denmark Street.
You can book in advance, although walk-ins are also accepted. Please wear a face covering and bring your NHS number if possible.
The clinic will provide autumn booster vaccines to people aged 65 and over and health and social care workers, as well as vaccines to children aged five to 11.
 Secondary school applications now open
Applications for secondary school places in Wokingham borough are now open through our Citizens Portal Online service.
If your child was born between 1 September 2011 and 31 August 2012, you can now apply for a secondary place to start in September 2023.
We've got plenty of information to help with your application, including:
- Information about different types of schools
- How to make your application
- Schools in your catchment area
- Admissions policies for secondary schools
- Available support for children with special educational needs and disabilities
- How to apply for a school out of borough
Applications must be submitted by 31 October and National Offer Day takes place on 1 March 2023. You will then be able to discuss the results of your child's application and formally accept or decline an offer.
A parents' guide to starting secondary school is also available on the page.
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