 Still time to get a tree to plant for free
Our Garden Forest Scheme closes soon and we’re still looking for people to come forward to claim up to 10 free trees for their land or garden.
The scheme is open to anyone with a Wokingham borough postcode, including businesses or community groups, who either owns sufficient land or has access to land where the owner has given permission for planting.
This is possible thanks to our partner the Woodland Trust, which is supporting the project with a £300,000 contribution from its Emergency Tree Fund.
 Considering stopping work on new 3G pitch plans
Our executive will consider plans to cease further work on a proposed 3G sports pitch at Maiden Erlegh School when it meets later this week.
Our financial position has worsened and costs for this project have escalated since last summer when it was first agreed to consult on these proposals.
If agreed, work on the proposed 3G sports pitch at Maiden Erlegh School in Earley will stop while we develop a Playing Pitch Strategy. Part of this strategy will reassess the needs of Earley and Lower Earley and identify key sites suitable for future 3G sports pitch provisions in the borough.
The new strategy is set to be completed in summer 2023 to replace the outdated strategy agreed in 2019.
Once the strategy has been completed, a full evaluation of 3G pitch provision will take place looking at demand and costs associated with each proposed pitch. The strategy will create a clear plan for the future, providing evidence of where demand for 3G pitches is in the borough.
 Millions spent improving communities
We secured a significant increase in developers' contributions towards amenities like schools, highways and public green spaces in the 2021/22 financial year. We received £92.3million, almost three times the £32.6million total from the year before.
The money was secured through agreements made when giving planning permission for new homes and other developments, ensuring you benefit while reducing pressure on our finances.
This is a priority as we face unprecedented pressures and must balance making savings with building strong communities and protecting essential services like social care.
In 2021/22, more than £27million was spent on transport and highways including active travel schemes, with projects including Nine Mile Ride Extension, the North Wokingham Distributor Road and Winnersh Relief Road.
Other beneficiaries were the Gorse Ride housing regeneration (£14.5million) as well as our Carnival Hub project (about £2.4million) and an interactive play park at Cantley Park (almost £1million), both in Wokingham.
Support calls for sensible housing growth
We also continue to lobby for the borough to take a fairer share of new houses in future – and now we’d like you to add your voice to our campaign.
The Government is consulting on proposals that could let us plan for fewer homes per year than we’ve been required to do in the past. Respond to this before it closes on March 2.
 Keep healthy this winter
Knowing what to do to keep yourself and family well is challenging. Local doctors are under more and more pressure this winter because of this.
Local information shows there were 1,277 calls to one surgery on one Monday recently. This represents one in 13 residents in the area contacting the surgery.
If you are concerned about going to the right place for advice, there is lots of help and support already available through NHS 111 Online.
You can also go to 111 for non-life threatening issues such as fractures and sprains, as well as minor head, ear or eye problems. If someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, they need emergency care and you should call 999.
A well-stocked medicine cabinet also helps you be prepared. You can ask your pharmacist for advice on this and many over-the-counter medicines are available to relieve the symptoms of common winter ailments. Keep your immunity high by getting Covid-19 and flu vaccines if you are eligible.
More NHS support
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