 Add your voice to our vital call
The Government will soon decide on changes to local government finance that could see almost £50 million of Wokingham Borough council tax effectively redistributed to other areas, over the next three years.
Under the current Government proposal, we would be one of many councils facing very significant financial challenges, with an effective loss of real-term funding that would hit local services.
So, we’re asking residents to support our calls for a change to the Government proposals – to protect us and other worst hit councils.
Our call is for a minimum basic annual increase of four per cent per year, in overall funding for unitary and top tier councils (those which are responsible for adults and children’s social care), providing a safety net for all councils that would help protect existing services.
 Proposal to renew car cruising Protection Order
Residents are being encouraged to have their say on a proposal to renew a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) tackling ‘car cruising’.
The PSPO would extend an identical, existing order, which has been successful in reducing reported incidents of car cruising in the borough – by 41 per cent annually.
Car cruising is a term which describes drivers who meet to race or show off their vehicles. The anti-social behaviour includes dangerous driving, racing, and aggressive acceleration and braking.
Under the existing, three-year order, introduced in 2022, more than half of reported incidents of car cruising resulted in offenders receiving a fixed penalty notice of up to £100.
 Final call for your say on Winnersh Library
It's your last chance to tell us what you think should happen to Winnersh’s library.
The current facility, within The Forest School, is closing, so the school can use the space to accommodate more students.
We’re putting forward three options to Winnersh residents:
- Close the current library, without providing a new one in Winnersh
- Close the current library and following a delay, provide a new one at Winnersh Community Centre
- (Our preferred option) Close the current library and provide a temporary one at Rainbow Community and Children’s Centre, before providing a permanent one at Winnersh Community Centre
The closing date to have your say on proposals is next Wednesday, 15 October.
 Take travel survey for a chance to win £100 voucher
We're inviting you to tell us about your commute to work, and help shape the borough’s transport network.
By letting us know, we’ll be able to pinpoint potential priorities for improving the transport network – be it for residents walking, cycling, driving, or using public transport to get to work.
An anonymous, annual survey is open for anyone living or working in Wokingham Borough until Tuesday, 21 October.
After completing the five-minute survey, you can enter a prize draw and be in with a chance of winning a £100 Love2shop voucher.
We're asking Charvil residents to give their view on a draft neighbourhood plan for Charvil. It’s been drawn up by the parish council and lays out a framework for managing housing developments in the area, home to more than 3,000 people. Charvil residents can have their say on the plan until this Monday, 13 October.
 Speed limit proposals to protect cyclists
We’re inviting your views on proposals to lower speed limits to 20mph, along three roads in the borough.
The proposals are part of wider work to build a new walking and cycling lane linking Woodley and Reading early next year.
A short, two-question survey on each proposal is open for you to have your say until Monday, 20 October.
The proposed 20mph speed limits are in response to safety concerns, primarily to protect cyclists, and would be introduced on:
- Culver Lane in Earley, from east of its junction with Palmerstone Road, heading west for 250 metres
- All of Palmerstone Road in Earley
- Woodlands Avenue in Woodley, from west of its junction with Fairwater Drive, heading east for 720 metres
The new walking and cycling lane will link Woodley town centre precinct to Palmer Park in Reading. Previously, from as early as 2021, you have fed back on this project and raised your concerns, which have since helped shape final designs.
Six town and parish boundary changes are the leading recommendations of a Community Governance Review. The recommendations would update the boundaries of Arborfield Garrison, Arborfield Green, Crowthorne, Finchampstead, Lower Earley, and Wokingham town. You can have your say on our Community Governance Review until 13 November.
 Covid Memorial Woodland – update
In March this year, with the help of many volunteers, we planted our Covid Memorial Woodland, just north of California Country Park.
After originally aiming for a 2025 opening, we’re now planning to open the woodland in 2026, to give it the best possible start and ensure it thrives for years to come.
This year’s hot, dry weather – we had our driest spring in the UK since 1974 – made it especially difficult for young trees to establish, despite extra watering and care.
This winter, our teams and contractors will replant trees where needed, sow more wildflowers, and continue preparing the site. This extra time will allow the woodland to grow into a healthy, resilient, and peaceful space for reflection and remembrance.
We’ll share further updates with you as the woodland takes shape.
Other chances to have your say
Healthwatch Wokingham Borough is asking for your views on the NHS App.
The app is described as ‘a simple and secure way to access NHS services’, and there are plans by 2028 for it to be ‘a full front door’ to our National Health Service.
But how have you got on with it? You might not have ever even used it. You might not use apps at all.
If you live in Wokingham Borough, Healthwatch is keen to hear from you, so it can most accurately understand the app’s use, alongside any barriers.
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