 By-election called for Winnersh Ward
If you live in Winnersh make sure you are registered to vote ahead in the upcoming by-election on Thursday 6 February.
The deadline to register is Tuesday 21 January. It only takes five minutes and you will be asked for your National Insurance number, but it is still possible to register without one.
Following national changes to elections and voting, residents are also required to bring suitable photo ID when they vote. You can see accepted forms of ID on our website.
Other deadlines to be aware of are:
- Postal vote applications – Wednesday 22 January at 5pm
- Voter Authority Certificate applications – Wednesday 29 January at 5pm
- Proxy vote applications – Wednesday 29 January at 5pm
The candidates for the by-election will be confirmed on Monday 13 January and be announced in this newsletter the following day. The votes will be counted overnight following the close of the polls at 10pm on Thursday 6 February.
To find your ward or local councillor, visit our website.
Nomination process
Nominations are being accepted until Friday 10 January at 4pm. Nomination papers can be found on the Electoral Commission website and must be hand delivered to the Electoral Services Team at our Civic Offices in Shute End, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. You will need to make an appointment to deliver your papers by emailing the Electoral Services Team. More information can be found on our website.
 Bin collection changes this week
Changes to bin collection days, including garden waste, will continue this week.
Our crews will work this Saturday (11 January) and start earlier at 5.30am. Put out your waste the night before to avoid being missed. Normal collections resume on Monday 13 January.
Check the revised collection schedule below. Please note garden waste collections follow the same revised schedule:
Usual collection day
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Revised collection day
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Tuesday 7 January
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Wednesday 8 January
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Wednesday 8 January
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Thursday 9 January
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Thursday 9 January
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Friday 10 January
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Friday 10 January
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Saturday 11 January (earlier start at 5.30am)
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You can find your bin day on our website by entering your postcode, including your adjusted days for waste, recycling and garden waste.
Get reminders
If you’d like reminders sent to you, so you don’t have to check:
 Weather warnings and flooding updates
Weather warnings have been issued for Wokingham Borough for the days ahead.
Temperatures are due to stay low until the end of the week, getting as cold as -4°C at night. Snow and ice are also forecasted by the Met Office for the area.
This is the latest advice:
- Check on any vulnerable family or neighbours during this time
- Follow the NHS keep warm, keep well advice
- Gritters will continue to run regularly to keep roads safe
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Emergency accommodation available for homeless people due to cold weather until Friday (10 January). Call (0118) 974 6000 Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, or 0800 212 111 at other times to report someone who may need help
- Check for travel disruption before setting off on journeys – some local roads are closed due to flooding
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Get cost of living help if you’re worried about keeping your home warm
Useful links
 Entrance works to start at Barkham Solar Farm
Works to create a site entrance at our new solar farm in Barkham are set to start on Monday (13 January).
The new entrance off Barkham Ride will offer improved access to the site, allowing vehicles to get onto the site when preparatory works start later this year. This will help to minimise the traffic on surrounding roads.
Works are set to start on Monday with two-way traffic lights in place to allow the work to be carried out safely. The new entrance is expected to be complete by the beginning of February.
 Primary school applications close soon
The application window for children due to start primary school, or transfer to junior school, this September closes next week.
If you have a child born between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021 then you can apply for a place in reception. You can also apply for a junior school place for your child if they are currently in year two at an infant school.
You will need to apply for your child’s school place before 15 January.
Applications received after this date will be considered late which may affect which school we are able to offer for your child.
To submit an application or for further information visit our school admissions hub.
 Nominations open for Jones trophy
If you know someone who makes a significant voluntary contribution to the Finchampstead community, you can nominate them for a Jones trophy - in memory of Colonel Alfred Stowell Jones.
Nominees should be a person or persons who have made an outstanding voluntary contribution to the Finchampstead community. They could be from outside the Finchampstead area. The nominator must be a Finchampstead resident.
To nominate, visit the Finchampstead Parish Council website and fill in the Jones Trophy application form. Nominations close on Friday 31 January at 12 noon.
What you might have missed
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