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There were some important details missing from the first version of this newsletter earlier today. We've now added details about the road closure timings for the Wokingham Winter Carnival . Apologies for any confusion.
 Take part in the reverse advent calendar appeal
There is still time to take part in the reverse Christmas advent calendar appeal. The appeal is being supported by Wokingham Borough Mayor Cllr Caroline Smith to help the Wokingham Foodbank, her chosen charity of the year.
People who are able to take part need to donate the items before 3 December, in time for Wokingham Foodbank to collect and distribute them to local people in need before Christmas. The appeal is open to all.
At the last full council meeting, the Mayor collected 154kg of donated items for the appeal from borough councillors and personally delivered the items to the Wokingham Foodbank. She launched the appeal for councillors and the community earlier this month.
You can take part by downloading the reverse advent calendar, filling a bag or box with the items listed. You can donate the items before:
- Friday 2 December at our council office reception area at Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1BN. Donations are accepted Monday to Friday between 9am to 5pm
- Saturday 3 December at Wokingham Foodbank, 498 Reading Road, Winnersh, RG41 5EX. Donations are accepted on Mondays and Fridays, 10am to 12 noon. A special collection will take place at the same opening times on Saturday 3 December
 Holiday fun for children across the borough
Our Holidays, Activities and Food (HAF) programme is back for the Christmas holidays, with football clubs, activity clubs, laser quest, bowling and pantomimes all on offer for under 16’s this December.
The HAF programme is funded by the Department of Education and provides free activities and a healthy meal for children. It’s open to those in school years from reception to Year 11 who are in receipt of means-tested free school meals or referred by a professional.
To sign up, you first will need to register for the programme which will provide you with a unique code for future bookings. You can then book sessions online for the Christmas break, and Easter and Summer breaks when they become available nearer the time.
To make it easier to learn how to sign up and book, we have made a video showing you all the steps, and if you want to get a flavour of what HAF has to offer, watch our videos:
 Christmas events in the weeks ahead
Wokingham town centre will be closed to traffic this coming Sunday (27 November) for the annual Wokingham Winter Carnival.
Held since 1994, the Winter Carnival raises money for funds for local charities and hosts over 125 stalls selling gifts and goods, food and drink, street entertainment, fairground rides as well as a chance to visit Father Christmas in his grotto.
For most of the day (up to 9pm) the following road closures will be in place:
- Peach Street - from Easthampstead Road to Marketplace
- Denmark Street - from Marketplace to Denmark Street car park
- Broad Street - from Marketplace to Shute End/Rectory Road
Woodley town centre will hold its annual Christmas Extravaganza on Sunday 4 December from 10am to 3pm.
There will be rolling road closures for the annual Reading Toy Run, also on Sunday 4 December. It starts at 2pm and runs from Shinfield to Wokingham, via Lower Earley, Showcase Roundabout and Winnersh.
 Revised plans for Arborfield district centre go public
Following an initial exhibition in April, Crest Nicholson will again be consulting on revised plans for a district centre with a supermarket, shops, a pub, village green, relocated community centre and more for Arborfield.
These will be displayed in the main hall at the community centre off Princess Marina Drive between 3pm and 8pm on Thursday 8 December. They've been revised since last time, based on residentsfeedback and talks with our planning officers.
The scheme will still be built in the same place off Nine Mile Ride Extension, near Bohunt School and Arborfield Green Leisure Centre, but the layout and access have changed slightly including new pedestrianised areas.
Application expected in new year
Crest is arranging and running this exhibition, and we are pressing the developer to submit a planning application to us once it has taken feedback on board.
The development is acceptable under an outline permission we gave for housing in this area, with only finer details to be agreed.
It will also provide, through a separate application, a new pavilion at Arborfield Green cricket ground to replace the outdated one plus new cricket and football facilities.
What you might have missed
Our emails newsletters keep you up to date with what’s going on locally. Register for more on our newsletter sign up page. Here’s everything from the last week:
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