 Last chance to shape priorities for next five years
There’s only two days left to respond to our consultation on our draft Council Plan, which sets the priorities for the work we do for the next five years.
Hundreds of people, including partner organisations and residents, have been involved so far to get the plan to the draft stage. Our proposals are ready for your views, but you’ve still got time to shape the final plan.
The consultation closes on Thursday (6 March) and it’s your last chance to have your say. We want it to meet your needs, so tell us what you think.
 Building a new road with nature in mind
We know some people have expressed concerns about the tree and hedge clearance works taking place along the route of the new South Wokingham Distributor Road.
We completely understand this and reassure everyone that the completed project will include a significant amount of replanting and natural landscaping.
In the long run, it's required to provide a biodiversity net gain with more habitats for wildlife than existed before it was built – including new nature parks.
We've also been working with ecologists from the outset, and an independent ecologist is still checking the site daily for nesting birds and roosting bats.
Both we and our partners at Balfour Beatty are legally obliged to protect any nesting birds, and we take this responsibility extremely seriously.
We'll be looking in more depth at how we're managing the ecological and environmental impacts in a future South Wokingham newsletter.
 Making electric vehicle charging accessible for all
We've agreed to adopt an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Strategy to make it easier for everyone to make the switch.
It aims to fill any gaps left by the private market, creating a fair charging network for all residents and businesses.
The strategy was produced following a detailed survey to help us understand people's needs, and will form part of our new Local Transport Plan.
As well as helping to reduce vehicle emissions, which supports our air quality and climate emergency goals, it'll put us in a strong position for the upcoming national ban on sales of petrol and diesel vehicles.
Future installations will be funded mostly by grants from the Department for Transport, along with fully-funded models from chargepoint operators.
We'll prioritise residential areas with no off-street parking, as this makes it hard for people to install a home charger, and focus on land and car parks that we own.
 Groups team up for tree planting
The Rotary Club of Wokingham co-ordinates several voluntary organisations to plant a native hedgerow in Howard Palmer Gardens.
Wokingham Town Council helped to organise the planting of hundreds of trees at its site.
Members of the Rotary Club of Wokingham, with volunteers from the Friends of Howard Palmer Gardens, Freely Fruity, Holt Copse Volunteers Group and Wokingham Community Garden planted 270 wild harvest whips, provided by The Woodland Trust.
Pupils from Shinfield St Mary's Junior School provided hazel, blackthorn, crab apple, elder, dog rose and rowan trees for the area, which will provide food and shelter for wildlife when they mature.
We supported the project by providing stakes and tree guards to support the planting.
Local Plan Update moves to next step
Our Local Plan Update has been sent to the Government for examination by an independent planning inspector.
The Local Plan Update includes a vision, objectives and strategy for development and growth in the borough. We know we have to plan for more housing, which is always a complex and controversial subject.
We also need to plan for new employment, schools, roads, parks, shops and community facilities, which are necessary to create places people want to live, work and do business.
The inspector will consider the soundness and legal compliance of the plan, based on national criteria and regulations, taking into account the representations received during the latest consultation on the plan, which took place in the autumn.
To find out more about the process and next steps, visit our Local Plan Update examination webpage.
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