 Last chance: litter bin, street cleaning and grass cuts
Our consultation on potential reduction in litter bins, street sweeping and grass cutting closes on Sunday (10 September). There’s still time to have your say.
We’re proposing the changes due to unprecedented financial pressures including the triple threat of high inflation, continuously low funding from central government and increasing needs in the community.
 New partnership for boxing gym
We’re excited to announce we’ll be working in partnership with Places Leisure, which will be operating BXGFit boxing gym from the beginning of October.
The state-of-the-art facility in Peach Place, Wokingham, opened in 2021. Places Leisure is a social enterprise that has successfully managed our six leisure centres, including our flagship Wokingham Leisure Centre, since 2018.
This change will strengthen and widen the fitness offering that Places Leisure provide to the local community. It will also allow BXGFit to simplify its membership options and offer exciting classes for everyone to enjoy.
Places Leisure has partnered with Boxercise, the industry leader in high intensity interval group exercise classes based on boxing training, to launch a new instructor led timetable.
The classes will continue to cater to all ages including juniors, families, while adding extra for specific community groups, as well as male and female only classes. This will build on our shared commitment to developing healthy communities.
 First glimpse of museum’s plans for Shinfield
Residents can share their views on the Natural History Museum's proposals for a new research centre at Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield – view the full details in our latest Shinfield Parish community newsletter.
The museum intends to submit a planning application to us later this year, most likely November, so it is holding an information event next Thursday (14 September) to display its plans and ask what people think.
This event isn't run by us and is separate from the statutory consultation which we'll hold once we receive the application. You'll have a chance to tell us your views at this later stage, before any decision is made.
However, we're pleased that the museum is engaging with the community. The event is at the Gateway Building (1 Collegiate Square, RG2 9LH) across two sessions: one from 3.30pm to 4.45pm and another from 6.15pm to 8pm.
If you can't attend, you can view the plans online and email the team.
 Reading challenge a real page turner
Members of a local charity had a great time taking part in a reading challenge this summer thanks to help from our libraries team.
CLASP, a self-advocacy group for adults with learning disabilities in Wokingham Borough, took on the Reading Ahead challenge. Members were encouraged to read and give their opinion on six books, but they could also choose audiobooks, newspapers, magazines and poems.
The aim of the scheme is for participants to try something new and discover that reading can be a pleasure, as well as helping to build confidence. A total of 13 members completed the challenge and they were recently presented with certificates at Wokingham Library.
While some enjoyed sticking to their favourite genres and authors, others used the challenge as an opportunity to read something completely different and broaden their interests.
Volunteer at our libraries
If you are passionate about helping your local community, we are currently recruiting volunteers for our libraries in Arborfield, Spencers Wood and Wargrave.
More information on our libraries volunteering pages.
What you might have missed
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