At a glance – live consultations and surveys
- Home care contributions – closes 27 September
- Off-street parking – closes 9 September
- Willow caterpillar competition – closes 28 August
- Rook's Nest Wood proposals – closes 16 September
- Homelessness – closes 31 August
- Road weight limit – closes 3 September
- Development sites – closes 1 September
- Development charges – closes 7 September
- Cycle lane TROs – close between October and January 2027
- Update – Covid Memorial Woodland opens
- Other chances to have your say – adult social care in the UK
- Other chances to have your say – Woodley Town Council Strategy
 Paying for care in the community
Do you, or does someone you know, receive care in the community, which is arranged by us? If you do, we’d like to hear from you.
We’re proposing to increase the age at which borough residents qualify for the highest level of the Minimum Income Guarantee (a minimum amount of money someone must be left with each week to live on, excluding any contribution to their care costs).
The proposed increase, from age 60 to 66, would bring us into line with most other councils and with national guidance. If it increased, some borough residents, who receive care in the community arranged by us, may need to start paying more towards their care.
Whether you receive care in the community yourself, or you care for a friend or family member, your views will help us understand the potential impact on affected residents. Give your views until 27 September.
 Off-street parking proposals
You can give your views on proposed changes to off-street parking in the borough. The Traffic Regulation Order consultation includes plans to:
- Simplify charging periods
- Standardise overnight parking costs
- Reduce the no-return period in short-stay car parks to two hours
- Introduce more flexible season tickets for hybrid workers
We’re also proposing to reopen Shute End Eastern car park to the public, helping improve access to Wokingham town centre, local businesses and nearby services.
At Ashenbury Park, a £2.50 daily parking charge is proposed to support the park’s ongoing management, maintenance and future improvement. The charge would apply to parking only. Entry to the park would continue to be free.
The proposal forms part of our long-term vision for Ashenbury. The park would remain a valued green space, but with improved access, enhanced wildlife and modest facilities suitable for it.
Give your views until 9 September.
 Naming Dinton’s caterpillar – vote for your favourite
A giant, living willow caterpillar at Dinton Pastures Country Park is looking for a name.
In July, you answered our call and gave us more than 500 ideas as part of a competition. Our park rangers have now reviewed them and shortlisted 10, for you to pick your final winner from.
You have until midnight this Friday (28 August) to vote for the name you think should win.
The caterpillar has become a popular park feature and can be found near the children’s play area at Dinton Pastures. It was carefully shaped, woven and restored by rangers, volunteers and local students.
The person who suggested the winning name will receive a family visit to the park, a photo with the caterpillar, a handmade willow tree grown from caterpillar cuttings and a family boat hire session at Dinton Activity Centre.
 Proposals for nature park
Residents can comment on proposals to more than double the size of Rook’s Nest Wood nature park, near Barkham.
If approved, an expanded park would provide visitors with more opportunities to enjoy walking, cycling and nature. The plans include:
- New surfaced footpaths
- A new cycleway
- New woodland and wildflower grassland
- An extension to the existing car park
Rook’s Nest Wood was first developed in 2011 and also borders Arborfield and Finchampstead parishes. It’s approximately 2.5km south-west of Wokingham Town centre.
The site is identified in the borough’s Local Plan Update – on track to be adopted early next year – as a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace in support of smaller housing developments. All work at the park would be paid for by developers.
Find out more and give your views until 16 September.
 Pictures courtesy of the Centre for Homelessness Impact
Have your say on homelessness – last chance
Nobody should have to worry about losing their home or not knowing where they’ll sleep tonight.
Yet, over the last five years, the number of borough households needing help from our homelessness services, because they’ve either become homeless or are at real risk of becoming homeless, has almost doubled.
Rising housing costs, relationship breakdowns, illness and other life events can all push people to crisis point.
It’s your final chance to help shape how we prevent and respond to homelessness and the risk of becoming homeless in the borough. Our survey closes at midnight on Monday (31 August).
Your views will help us understand if our new strategy has the right priorities.
 Weight limit proposal for Sandford Lane
You can comment on a Traffic Regulation Order proposing to introduce a three-tonne weight restriction on Sandford Lane in Woodley and Hurst.
The proposal would restrict heavy, commercial vehicles over three tonnes from using a section of Sandford Lane. Give your views until Thursday 3 September.
 Woodlands Avenue restrictions trials
Double yellow lines are being trialled for six-month periods along four parts of Woodlands Avenue in Woodley. If you regularly use the road, we want to hear your views about the proposed restrictions’ impact.
They’re part of work to create a new cycle lane linking Woodley town centre with Palmer Park in Reading. Give your views on any of the four sections of Woodlands Avenue in the trial.
 Call for development sites closes next week
The Government has changed the planning system to increase the number of homes that local councils need to plan for. As a result, we must start work on our next local plan sooner than anticipated.
The first stage of producing a new local plan is allowing landowners, developers and other interested parties to suggest sites that could be considered for development in the borough.
This ‘call for sites’ is currently open, but it closes at midnight on Tuesday 1 September. Information submitted will help us understand where development could take place.
Our current local plan is on track for adoption early next year and will guide planning decisions, while work on our next local plan continues.
People can have their say on proposed changes to charges that help pay for improvements to local infrastructure. The proposals include introducing charges for purpose-built student accommodation, hotels, and industrial and warehousing developments. You can find out more and respond by midnight, Monday 7 September.
 Update – Covid Memorial Woodland opens
The Covid Memorial Woodland opens tomorrow (Thursday 27 August), with an early evening commemoration from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
Join residents, volunteers, partners and members of our teams and recognise the community effort behind the woodland, while spending time reflecting on the pandemic’s impact across the borough.
Some of you answered our call to volunteer and attend tree planting sessions for the woodland, which is near California Country Park, last spring.
Tomorrow’s commemoration will include an introduction to the site, a short reading and moment of reflection, a commemorative watering and time to walk through the woodland as the sun sets. All are welcome.
Full information about parking, accessible paths and facilities is available on our website. Please RSVP below if you plan to attend.
Other chances to have your say
The Government is inviting people to have their say on the future of adult social care in the UK, in ‘The Big Conversation on Care’.
Part of an Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, The Big Conversation on Care will help the Commission understand the problems people face and begin to build a consensus on how the care system could work better for millions of people, now and in the future.
People’s views will help inform the Independent Commission’s recommendations to Government. You can join The Big Conversation on Care until April 2027 (after clicking through, click ‘Log in’ in the top right corner of your screen and create an account to take part).
Do you live in Woodley? If you do, Woodley Town Council wants to hear what you think about their new draft council strategy. As it plans for the future, the strategy will guide priorities in line with the town’s needs.
It covers services and spaces the town council provides, including parks, buildings, allotments, leisure facilities and community events. A survey, which is open until 20 September, asks residents what they think the town council's priorities should be.
What you might have missed
Below are three of our other newsletters you might like to sign up to:
See our full list of newsletters you can subscribe to.
If you need help taking part in a survey, call our customer service team on 0118 974 6000 or visit a borough library.
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