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This is our last Residents’ Round-up of 2023. Thanks for reading this year!
Today’s edition includes everything you need to know for during the festive break including waste collection changes.
We’ll be back in your inbox from Friday 5 January.
 Mayor’s Reverse Advent Calendar success
Families will have a much brighter Christmas thanks to the generous donations received by Woodley Foodbank for its Reverse Advent Calendar appeal, which was supported by Borough Mayor Cllr Beth Rowland as her charity of the year.
The appeal ran from 1 to 24 November and asked residents to donate food and other essential items to help the foodbank provide much-needed support during the festive season.
A donation point was set up at the council’s civic offices at Shute End in Wokingham, the Marc Antoni salon in Woodley and the foodbank’s headquarters at Emmanuel Church in Woodley.
The items donated to the council were enough to make 25 parcels and an additional eight parcels will be made up from £300, which was donated to the Mayor’s appeal.
 Carol concert sees children take centre stage
Children from schools across Wokingham Borough were the stars of the show at a Christmas carol concert, which raised more than £500 for charity.
Around 250 pupils representing 15 schools took part in the event, which was held at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley on Sunday 10 December. It is the first time the concert has been held in person since 2019 following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Led by James Baker, musical director of the Berkshire Music Trust Orchestra, the choir performed a range of songs and carols. The set included Once in Royal David’s City, Do You Hear What I Hear, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town and White Christmas, with a finale of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.
The concert was raising money for the Woodley Foodbank, which is Borough Mayor Cllr Beth Rowland’s charity of the year.
 Waste collection changes during festive break
Regular waste collection dates in Wokingham Borough will be adjusted temporarily over the Christmas and New Year period.
Check the revised collection schedule, before putting out your waste between 25 December and 12 January. Crews will be taking the day off on Christmas Day (Monday 25 December), Boxing Day (Tuesday 26 December) and New Year's Day (Monday 1 January).
The crews will also be working on three Saturdays (30 December, 6 January and 13 January) and starting earlier at 5.30am. Residents are advised to put out their waste the night before to avoid being missed.
Normal collections will resume from Monday 15 January.
Planning a trip to the tip?
Our re3 recycling centres close from 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. They’ll be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
If you’re planning a trip some time during the next few weeks, remember to book your visit online.
And from New Year's Eve (31 December) you'll be able to dispose of small amounts of DIY waste, like rubble, soil and plasterboard, for free at re3 recycling centres. Full details can be found on the re3 website.
 Our office opening hours
We’ve confirmed when our offices will be open for the Christmas and New Year period.
We’ll close slightly earlier than normal today, at 3pm. Our teams will then be available on Wednesday (27), Thursday (28) and Friday (29) next week, before returning to normal office hours from Tuesday 2 January.
You can report a problem to us during the festive period via our website, including missed collections.
Key contact numbers
If you need emergency support out of hours:
Our local map of pharmacies can found through the Community Directory, including links to opening times for each location.
 Our country parks this festive break
Dinton Activity Centre will be closed for the festive season from Saturday 23 December and will re-open on Tuesday 2 January.
Our two country parks, Dinton Pastures and California Country Park, will remain open to public during the festive break.
Cafés in Country Parks
Jacksons' Café at California Country Park will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (25 and 26 December). Opening times of other days may vary. Please check Jacksons' website or Facebook page before you visit.
Coffee Deck and Coffee House at Dinton Pastures Country Park will be closed on Christmas Day (25 December). The two cafés will close earlier on some days. Please check the Dinton Pastures Cafés website for opening times.
 Library opening times
Wokingham, Lower Earley and Twyford libraries will be closed on bank holidays during the festive period.
Woodley Library will also be closed on bank holidays, as well as Sunday 24 and Sunday 31 December.
All other libraries will be closed from Sunday 24 December to Monday 1 January, except for Finchampstead Library, which will be closed from Saturday 23 December to Monday 1 January.
During the rest of the festive period, libraries will be open during normal branch hours.
E-books, newspapers, magazines and music streaming will be available via our website. Further details on opening times and other library services can be found on the council’s website.
Please remind visiting friends and family that they need to register their car at all times in borough car parks, including on bank holidays.
What you might have missed
Here’s everything we’ve sent to residents in the last week in case you missed it:
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