 New powers will keep you safe on the roads
Our application to take on enforcement of moving traffic offences has been approved by the Department for Transport (DfT).
We can now increase our existing enforcement work to include things like driving through "no entry" signs, driving in lanes for buses and taxis only or turning at junctions where signs forbid it.
By taking this on we can make our roads safer and more accessible, whether pedestrians, cyclists or drivers, while reducing congestion.
We'll start in September and mostly use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to send penalty charge notices to owners of offending vehicles. Drivers will get a warning in the first six months, but only for their first offence.
When we consulted on taking these powers from the police, most of you supported it. Our priority is safety and we're bound by DfT rules which only allow us to invest surplus income in public transport, highways and the environment.
 School to become co-educational next year
The Forest School in Winnersh has confirmed it will be welcoming girls from Year 7 in September 2024.
Following a meeting with the Department for Education's (DfE) approval committee and the Regional Schools Commissioner last week, the secondary academy's proposal to go co-educational has been accepted.
Members of the school community had a chance to share their views before the application, and most responses were in favour.
The school says it welcomes the news as co-educational teaching will prepare children for adult life, improve educational standards, address a local shortage of places and make best use of the site's capacity.
Until then, it has promised to keep its focus on boys from Years 8 to 11 and invited anyone with concerns or wanting to find out more to get in touch.
 Park and ride service to Heathrow Airport
From this week, the Rail Air coach service from Reading to Heathrow will add a new stop to its route at the Thames Valley Park and Ride.
The air-conditioned coaches depart up to every 30 minutes from 2.49am to 11.03pm every day of the week and a day return costs £23.
Thames Valley park and ride is located at Thames Valley Park, west of the roundabout between the A3290 and Thames Valley Park Drive and offers a convenient and more sustainable way to travel to the airport without having to worry about parking when you get there.
This fast service along the M4 stops at Terminal 5, the Compass Centre, as well as Terminal 2 and 3. Free bus and train connections are then available to Terminal 4.
If you are leaving your car at the park and ride, charges must be paid at on-site parking machines and apply to all users. Parking is £1 an hour for up to 4 hours or £4 for over 4 hours. Multi day tickets and annual season tickets are also available.
Park and ride to Royal Berkshire Hospital
Did you know Reading Buses offer a hospital park and ride service from Thames Valley park and ride?
The service runs to Royal Berkshire Hospital around every 20 minutes from 6am and 7pm, Monday to Friday. Check the timetable on the Reading Buses website.
A similar services runs from Mereoak park and ride, south of the M4 near Three Mile Cross.
 Plan for new key worker housing agreed
Up to 18 new affordable homes could be built close to Wokingham train station.
The proposals would see up to 18 energy-efficient one and two bed apartments built on vacant council-owned land at the corner of Wellington Road and Station Road in Wokingham.
The homes would be affordable with five of the apartments used to home care leavers, helping offer support as they move-on from the care system into wider life.
The remaining apartments would be prioritised for eligible key workers, including teachers, NHS staff, professional carers, police officers and social workers.
In addition to supporting those providing an essential service, the subsidised rent will also help attract staff to roles which are traditionally hard to recruit to in the local area.
 Thinking of applying for planning permission?
We’re consulting on an updated version of our Local Validation List, which explains what supporting information we need when you submit a planning application to us.
This covers the scope and level of detail required, which can vary between different applications depending on what exactly you're proposing.
All local planning authorities are required to publish this list where everyone can read it, and review this every two years.
Quite a lot of time has passed since we last did this and we're now proposing a number of changes, so we’d like to know what you think.
Find out more on our Engage Wokingham Borough page and send comments back to us before midnight on Thursday, 17 August.
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