 Concerns with Mayor’s plan to scrap travelcards
We’ve written to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to express concerns about the proposal to withdraw day travelcards when using trains into the capital.
If the plans were to go ahead, the cost for residents commuting from the borough to London would increase by up to 29 per cent.
Wokingham Borough has six rail stations, five of which directly link to London, with Twyford Station being served by the Transport for London Elizabeth Line.
Cllr Paul Fishwick, executive member for active travel, transport and highways, said in his letter we shared the vision and ambition of the mayor’s Transport Strategy.
But he believes the proposal to withdraw day travelcards will go against the ideal of a seamless experience.
It would leave leaving residents travelling from the borough having to buy multiple tickets, making journeys less convenient.
 Update on grass cutting
Have you noticed that grass around the borough is a bit long? We’re a bit behind schedule with our grass cutting but working hard to get caught up.
The ground was so wet in March and April that we weren’t able to follow our normal schedule as the heavy machinery was damaging the ground.
We’re working hard to catch up and expect to be back on schedule by the end of this month.
Our grass cutting cycle for most of our verges and informal open spaces is more than four weeks between cuts, and even less frequent for our rural verges.
This allows smaller plants such as daisies and birds-foot-trefoil to flower, providing a food source for bees, butterflies and other insects.
In our larger open spaces where we have a more frequent need to cut the grass, such as football pitches, we will often have designated areas of long grass which is cut annually, helping to provide food and shelter for wildlife.
 Funding to support TV and film production talent
Funding has been secured to help train and develop production crew in Berkshire.
The British Film Institute (BFI) has awarded £600,000 to the Berkshire Skills Cluster, an initiative led by Resource Productions CIC and its partners including Shinfield Studios and the University of Reading.
We have been working closely with these key local partners, seeking to support the industry with the skills and talent it needs to thrive, and ensure local, accessible training and employment.
More and more film and TV productions are being attracted to our region, and the Berkshire Skill Cluster aims to build a larger local skills base and help people find viable routes into the industry, while providing effective career development support.
The BFI funding is part of a wider scheme to offset a major skills shortage in the film and TV production industry across the UK. The Berkshire Skill Cluster is the only project under the scheme which is specific to a single county.
The Cluster has been made possible thanks to the ongoing support of Berkshire Film Office by councils in Berkshire.
Last reminder – don’t forget the Woodley volunteer recruitment fair on Tuesday (6 June) next week. Find your first, or next, volunteer role by visiting Woodley Library and speaking to a number of local charities and voluntary organisations
 Last chance to shape cost of living support
The Hardship Alliance is running a survey to see how the cost of living crisis has impacted you and your families.
There’s a few days left to respond. Your feedback will help shape support in the months ahead and next winter.
And if you need cost of living help now, apply for £100 grant from our partners to help with the cost of food, bills or other essentials.
 Free events to support carers
The Wokingham Carers Partnership is organising a series of free events to celebrate Carers Week 2023 (5 to 11 June).
The theme for this year’s national campaign is about recognising and supporting carers in the community. This reflects the role of the many unpaid carers who look after a friend or relative, often without seeing what they do as caring.
During the week, carers will be able to find out more about the local services they can access to get help and support. Events include:
- Monday 5 June, 7pm to 8pm – An online information workshop for all carers about the Wokingham Wellbeing Service with MIND in Berkshire
- Tuesday 6 June, 9.30am to 12noon – Citizens Advice bus at Tesco on Finchampstead Road in Wokingham
- Tuesday 6 June, 11am to 1.30pm – Information and advice event at Coronation Hall in Woodley
- Wednesday 7 June, 12noon to 2pm – Carer’s lunch at the Bradbury Centre in Wokingham
- Thursday 8 June, 1.30pm to 3pm – ‘You said, we listened’: A chance to have your say at the Charity and Community Hub at Waterford House in Wokingham
- Thursday 8 June, 7pm to 9pm – Carer’s relaxation evening at WADE Day Centre in Wokingham
For more information, or to book a place for an event, call 07708 471756 or send an email.
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