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Moving Around the Borough

Don't fall prey to parking fine scammers

We've had a spate of calls from concerned residents after they received scam texts which claimed to be from us, chasing them for a parking fine.

These texts included a link to a fake Government website (pictured above) which repeated the false claim alongside a vehicle registration number.

To be clear: we only serve parking fines - officially called Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) - via tickets on the windscreen or by post to the registered keeper.

If you receive a text like this one, do not click on any links or give any of your personal details to the sender as it's definitely not from us.

If you've received a genuine PCN from us and think it was issued incorrectly, you can make an appeal and we'll look at your case on its merits.

If you think you may have shared your details with so-called "phishing" scammers, please check this advice from the National Cyber Security Centre.

Check before tapping to avoid contactless crooks

Our colleagues in the parking industry have warned us about a scam that's happening on ticket machines in other parts of the country.

Scammers have been sticking fake contactless readers (above) over real ones, allowing them to steal card details and take large unauthorised payments.

There's no sign of this happening in Wokingham Borough, but you should check carefully before tapping and report anything suspicious to us immediately.

As we've previously warned, watch out for fake QR code stickers on parking machines, which is another scam that's happened elsewhere.

We don't use QR codes in any of our pay-and-display car parks, though we do use them on some of the letters that we post to households.

Don't forget - as we reported in last week's newsletter, there are less than two weeks remaining until the first road closures in Wokingham as part of the ongoing South Wokingham Distributor Road project.

Coloured wooden tracks mark railway bicentenary

A colourful community artwork has been unveiled at Wokingham station to mark 200 years of Britain's railway network.

It was overseen by artist Jo Werrett, of adult social care provider Optalis, working with the Wokingham Learning Disability Partnership Board.

Contributors, including members of the CLASP self-advocacy group, painted toy wooden railway pieces in different colours and designs.

The CLASP community choir then sang outside the station, which opened in 1849 - almost 25 years after the country's first railway service launched.

The three organisations are working to make local rail travel more accessible through measures like an Easy Read station guide.

The unveiling was led by Wokingham Town Mayor Cllr Louise Timlin, who supports CLASP as her mayoral charity, and supported by South Western Railway and the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership CIC.

Youngsters get summer ticket to ride for less

We're funding a discount to let children and young people get around by bus more cheaply during the holidays.

Anyone aged five to 18 will be able to buy a £1 single or £2 return ticket at any stop in Wokingham Borough, regardless of journey length, on any date in August.

This applies to all local bus services provided by Reading Buses, Thames Valley Buses and Carousel Buses.

Earlier this year, we spoke to young people and were told that bus travel can be too expensive, which stops them getting out and doing things.

We're funding the discount as part of our Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), with the money coming from the Department for Transport.

Please note that young people won't be able to change buses using this offer, nor buy discounted tickets from bus stops that aren't in the borough.

Train and bus passenger numbers both continue to increase after dropping during the 2020 pandemic. Both are a convenient, eco-friendly way of getting around, so why not find out more on our My Journey Wokingham page?

Enjoy regular trips with children's cycling group

If you've got children and want to enjoy a safe bike ride with them, you might want to check out the borough's Kidical Mass group.

They organise regular family-friendly outings to help participants feel confident riding together, including the children's route in the annual Wokingham Bikeathon.

Children are welcome on bikes, trailers, seats, cargo bikes, trikes and tag-alongs, and rides are suitable for all ages or abilities.

There's also cake and fun activities at the end! The next ride sets off from Maiden Erlegh Nature Reserve in Earley at midday on Saturday, 2 August.

Other rides will take place on:

• Sunday 14 September
• Sunday 19 October
• Sunday 26 October
• Sunday 7 December

Shared goals to improve active travel links

The group also champion the need for better cycling infrastructure, which we're working to provide through a series of long-term strategies.

That includes our Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which outlines how we'd like to improve routes across the borough in the long term. 

Are you an adult who wants to learn to ride a bike, or brush up your confidence after a long period out of the saddle? Our My Journey team are running some adult training sessions - drop them a line to find out more!

Upcoming roadworks

As part of our annual road and footway maintenance programme, we'll be closing the following roads for improvement works next week:

• Greensward Lane, Arborfield - Monday 14 (8am) to Wednesday 16 July (5pm)
• Spring Lane, nr Swallowfield - Tuesday 15 July, 8am to 7pm
• Portway, Riseley - Tuesday 15 July, 8am to 7pm
• Part Lane, nr Swallowfield - Tuesday 15 July, 8am to 7pm
• Forges Lane, nr Eversley - Wednesday 16 July, 8am to 7pm
• Wood Moor, Finchampstead - Wednesday 16 July, 8am to 7pm
• Lower Sandhurst Road, Finchampstead - Wednesday 16 July, 9.30am to 4pm
• Shepherds Way, nr Crowthorne - Wednesday 16 July, 8am to 7pm
• Lower Wokingham Road, nr Crowthorne - Thursday 17 July, 9.30am to 4pm
• Linkway, Crowthorne - Friday 18 July, 8am to 7pm
• Manor Park Drive, Finchampstead - Friday 18 July, 8am to 7pm
• Heath Close, Wokingham - Friday 18 July, 8am to 7pm
• Flamingo Close, Wokingham - Friday 18 July, 8am to 7pm
• Norfolk Close, Wokingham - Friday 18 July, 8am to 7pm
• Devon Close, Wokingham - Friday 18 July, 8am to 7pm
• Walmer Close, Crowthorne - Friday 18 July, 8am to 7pm

The following works may also be of interest, though all disruption is listed on our interactive roadworks map:

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Multi-way lights - Hatch Farm Way
Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 July, 9.30am to 3.30pm

There'll be multi-way traffic lights at the junction with Rhodes Close while BT carry out fibre optic works. See more on the map.

Keeping up to date

• For planned and emergency roadworks, follow us on Facebook
• To find out about roadworks near you, visit our interactive map
• For active and sustainable travel, visit MyJourney Wokingham 
• Visit our major new roads page for plans and updates
• Find out more about resurfacing and repairs including potholes
• Report any issues with roads and streets online - including street lights, problems with traffic lights, potholes, damaged street furniture, problems with road markings and removal of dead animals. 
• Find out more about parking and permits including car park locations and costs, resident permits, park and ride services and appealing a parking fine
• Our transport and travel page includes applying for a senior citizen's or disabled person's bus and train pass, as well as public transport information
• The blue parking badges page has information on applying for, using, replacing and returning your blue badge