 Have your say in shaping planning issues
If you live or work in Wokingham Borough you can help to ensure you’re given a say in all aspects of how its land is used.
We’re seeking feedback on our draft Statement of Community Involvement, which sets out how we’ll involve people in a range of planning matters and decisions for many years to come.
This includes any updates to our Local Plan, a long-term strategy that guides our borough’s future development - including how sites for new housing and infrastructure should be allocated.
The draft statement sets out how you can give feedback on planning applications, how we’ll support communities in producing their own neighbourhood plans and much more.
It also proposes extending the consultation period for major planning applications from the 21-day statutory minimum to 28 days, giving you more time to read the details and respond.
Our consultation closes at 5pm on Monday 16 October, and you can find out more or share your views on our Engage Wokingham Borough page.
 Secondary school applications open today
Our applications portal for secondary school places next year is now open. If you have a child due to start secondary school in September 2024, you can apply online via our citizen portal.
There are 10 secondary schools within the borough you can apply for. You can also apply for schools in neighbouring boroughs. You can apply for up to four schools and we would recommend that you do this.
Many of our schools regularly have more people apply than there are places. They will use their oversubscription criteria to allocate spaces and we can only consider you for schools you have named on your application.
Most of the schools will have their own admissions criteria, which you can find on the admissions arrangements webpage. Their criteria may include things such as whether your child has a special need or disability, or whether they have a sibling at the school.
Applications must be made by 31 October and offers of places will be sent out on 1 March 2024. For more information read the parents’ guide on our website.
 Be inspired by other residents' Planet Pledges
Have you taken part in our ambitious Planet Pledge campaign? A Planet Pledge is a promise that someone makes and then honours throughout the year to help tackle the climate emergency.
More than four years ago, we declared a climate emergency which commits us to doing as much as we can to become carbon neutral by 2030.
We have received many Planet Pledges from borough residents who are changing their habits to help the environment. Below are some sustainable food, drink and garden pledges we are spotlighting this month:
- Growing food at home and sourcing produce locally
- Installing a water butt to collect rainwater to water plants
- Digging a pond to provide habitat for wildlife
- Using peat-free soil in the garden
- Avoiding buying plastic water bottles
- Reducing meat consumption to two meals a week
- Using local refill and zero waste shops
- Using local apps to minimise food waste
Tell us what you or your family are doing to help tackle climate change.
 Old laptops can help get someone else online
Have you got an unused laptop which could go to a new, happy home?
Wokingham Lions’ ReTec scheme takes used laptops, wipes them clean and then provides them to people who need them, like people in financial hardship.
The team runs the project jointly with First Days Children’s Charity and SHARE Wokingham, and with the help of Wokingham Borough libraries.
All laptops are completely wiped, cleaned, refurbished and tested, then reset to be like new before being offered to others.
You can drop laptops off at our libraries, Wokingham Charity and Community Hub (RG40 2YF) or any SHARE Wokingham site.
 Community volunteers wanted to help run libraries
If you are passionate about helping your community, we are currently recruiting volunteers for our libraries in Arborfield, Spencers Wood and Wargrave.
Our library service has regularly used volunteers to help customers and we hugely value the passion and engagement that this brings.
Volunteers would be required to open and close the library, undertake daily health and safety checks, shelve books and tidy. This is a great way to get involved in your community and you would be supported by our libraries team, with a minimum of six weeks' training.
There will always be more than one volunteer on site to ensure you are supported and you can choose to volunteer weekly or monthly. Applicants must be at least 21- years-old.
What you might have missed
- Did you know you can opt out of junk mail via Royal Mail? You can apply to stop receiving leaflets or unaddressed promotional items which also helps reduce waste
- Now children are back at school - don’t forget to note school term dates for the year ahead, and check your child’s school website for inset days
- We’ve got more than 30 vacancies to join us - check our jobs pages for the latest vacancies
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