Category: Wokingham and West Berkshire Issues

The government has confirmed to me additional money of £3,426,328 for Wokingham Borough in 2015-16. This money is to assist the Council with the additional costs coming from new homes, and as a reward for identifying sites for them.

I am pleased to report that following discussions between myself, the Conservative Council, the public and the Post Office, there is now firm agreement to open a new Post Office at Maiden Place on March 11th.
There will be longer opening hours, with the Post Office alongside the rest of the shop (Petfayre). I reproduce beneath the text of the Post Office letter to me confirming all the details of their decision.

“Maiden Place Post Office®
Unit 11, Maiden Place, Lower Earley, Reading, RG6 3HA
Decision – move to new premises & branch modernisation
I’m writing to confirm that we will be proceeding with our proposal to move the above Post Office branch to Petfayre, 1 Maiden Lane Centre, Lower Earley, Reading, RG6 3HD, where it will operate as one of our new local style Post Office branches.
We have received a number of comments from customers and local representatives during the local public consultation period, mainly all in support of the move. The majority of customers were pleased that Post Office services are being restored locally. However there were some concerns about space and the size of the premises.
I was pleased to learn of customer’s support and we are delighted that Maiden Place Post Office is part of the modernisation plans for our network, offering Post Office services that will meet customer needs whilst helping to provide future sustainability. We already have over 1461 branches offering Post Office services in this new way and customer and operator feedback has been very encouraging.
However, it’s clear that the Post Office plays an important part in the lives of customers, particularly to elderly and disabled customers and we want to make our services as accessible as possible with level access at the entrance. Inside, the new branch will be in line with Post Office specifications, making sure there is sufficient space for the new style local Post Office to operate alongside the retail offer. The new operator will be making alterations and we will be working closely with them as they finalise the internal layout.
Some fixtures and fittings will be re-aligned or removed to make sure there is adequate room for customers, aisles have sufficient width and are kept free from obstructions with adequate space provided for customers and wheelchair users to move around the store. The new layout will also ensure that privacy is provided at the Post Office serving points with clearly marked queuing arrangement for Post Office customers.
Like many other high street retailers, we’ve had to develop a more flexible approach to the way we provide Post Office services. The local style branch planned for Maiden Place Post Office is aimed to increase customer convenience through longer opening hours, a simplified face-to-face service, and refurbished branches; meeting customer needs, whilst providing future sustainability for the branch.
The service is designed around following simple processes for handling transactions that are to be as straightforward and as quick as possible; this helps to minimise queues and provides an efficient and speedy service. While a very small number of transactions that are more time consuming or complex such as the Passport Check and Send service won’t be available at the new branch, I’m pleased to confirm that the new branch will offer an enhanced range of products. This means that customers will still be able to transact manual banking, Transcash, and Parcelforce International Services.
I have carefully considered our original proposal and the feedback received during the public consultation period. I am confident that the new branch is suitably located and that this new way of offering Post Office services will meet customer needs, whilst helping to provide future sustainability for the branch.
Details of the new service are provided at the end of this letter together with a product list, which lets you know which services which will be available at your new branch.
Posters will now be displayed in branch to let customers know about this decision. We’re currently making the final arrangements for the move and further posters will be provided in branch soon to let customers know the actual date the move will take place.
You can also find a copy of this letter on our website at postofficeviews.co.uk. When entering the website you will be asked to enter the code for this branch: 23893999
Full details of the new branch are provided at the end of this letter together with a list of the products and services which will be available.
Thank you for considering our proposal.
Yours sincerely
Julia Marwood
Regional Network Manager
How to contact us:
Please note this is the full address to use and no further address details are required
Maiden Place Post Office information sheet
Address
Petfayre
1 Maiden Lane Centre
Lower Earley
Reading
RG6 3HD
Post Office opening hours
Mon
08:30 – 17:30
Tue
08:30 – 17:30
Wed
08:30 – 17:30
Thu
08:30 – 17:30
Fri
08:30 – 17:30
Sat
08:30 – 17:30
Sun
Closed
Distance
60 metres, away from the previous branch, along level terrain.
Accessibility &
accessibility works
Access and facilities
Access will be level with a wide door entrance. Internally, there would be a hearing loop and space for a wheelchair.
Parking
Large free car park within 90 metres from the branch, with four dedicated disabled spaces.
Retail
Pet Accessories store”

I have now had an answer from government to my requests for better noise reduction measures on the M4 to protect constituents close to the motorway. I have been seeking noise reducing surface materials when the motorway is resurfaced, and more sound barrier.

“DEFRA identified seven important areas (noise hot spots) between junction 10 and junction 12 of the M4 motorway.  The Noise Action Plans for these important areas propose low noise surfacing as the mitigation strategy. We will use low noise surfacing to resurface lanes one  and four of the project.

In addition we will provide two short stretches of additional noise barrier between junction 10 and junction 12. These are located where the motorway passes over Mill Lane near Sindlesham.”

This is welcome progress. I will keep up the pressure for early and sufficient use of noise reducing materials and barriers.

The government has agreed finance for the new Arborfield secondary school as part of the second Thames Valley Growth deal. Money will also be made available for additional superfast broadband provision, and for extra projects to assist in teaching science and technology based courses.

I have worked with the Minister, Greg Clark who handles the government side of these deals.

Today’s employment and unemployment figures show further improvement in Wokingham. Last month there were 356 people on Jobseekers Allowance, down by 184 on a year earlier and down by 10 on November.

Wokingham is the 11th best constituency for low unemployment, with a rate of 0.6% of the working age population on Jobseekers Allowance. I am glad most have found jobs. The local labour market offers opportunities for those still looking for work.

I have received this email from Scotia Gas Networks (SGN):

“Following my call to your office earlier today, here’s some more information on the gas supply incident we are managing in the Burghfield Common area.

We were called to James Lane, Burghfield (RG30) yesterday evening after our gas main was damaged by a third-party contractor.

Our engineers have been working throughout the night to establish the extent of the damage and make the situation safe. Work continues to repair the damage and ensure gas supplies remain on for the local residents.

We are bringing in specialist equipment to carry out this particularly complex repair today. It is difficult to estimate exactly how long it will take to complete the repair at this point.

To assist us with our on-going work we have sent a letter to local residents to ask that they reduce gas usage wherever possible from 4pm this afternoon through to 10pm. We appreciate the difficulties this may present at this time of year.

Portable electric appliances for heating and cooking are available for customers who are elderly, disabled, chronically sick or other special needs. These can be obtained from our Emergency Centre or by calling 0800 912 1717 or contacting our staff on site.

Our Emergency Centre at Burghfield Community Sports Association, James Lane will be open until 10pm tonight and our staff will be happy to assist with any questions.

We will keep you informed of progress and updates will be available on our website www.sgn.co.uk.

If anyone is experiencing low gas pressure, a loss of gas or have any concerns about gas safety, please ask them to call the National Gas Emergency Number on 0800 111 999.”

The government’s Start up loans scheme has helped 25,000 new small business so far. They now wish to treble that number to 75,000 up to 2020. In the South East there have been over 2000 loans made worth more than £11 million. 14 of these have been in the Wokingham constituency.

If you are a UK citizen planning a new business or with a new business less than two years old and are over 18 you may be eligible for a loan. They can be up to £25,000, and up to 5 years before repayment, at an annual interest rate of 6%. You also qualify for advice and mentoring from someone with plenty of past business experience as part of the package.

Just google startuploans if you are interested.

A few hospitals this winter have had to put a temporary stop to some non urgent work in order to cope with the large numbers of people arriving at A and E. Fortunately this has not happened to our local hospitals.
There are, however, pressures on the A and E departments of most hospitals. Demand is surging for a variety of reasons. Some find it difficult to get an appointment with their GP, so they think it is easier to admit themselves to A and E who have to look at them when they turn up, and treat them if necessary. Some are not well informed about their GP and his or her arrangements, but know the local hospital. Some want to go out of hours or at the week-end, when A and E might be the most obvious available option. Some visitors or illegal migrants to the UK may go to A and E because they are not normally asked about their entitlement, but might well be if they tried to get on a doctor’s list.
Each of these cases requires a different solution to reduce numbers sensibly. In an ideal world only people with a clear need for emergency treatment would turn up at A and E. If you have been in an accident then of course A and E is the place for you if you have anything other than a minor injury. If you are suddenly stricken by an unknown condition that seem serious, which may include a stroke , or heart attack, then again A and E is for you as quickly as possible.
The government is examining what it can do to relieve pressures. Can some GPs be attached to the local hospital to handle some of the cases? Can GP surgeries be strengthened to offer more hours of service? Can more use be made of the walk in centres?

All those interested in the project for a new school at Arborfield are invited to put their views to the Council and hear the Council’s latest thinking on this project on 21 January. There will be a meeting about it at the Henry Street Garden Centre, Swallowfield Road, Arborfield at 7pm.

Wokingham and West Berkshire Councils have a problem with the money allocated for social care next year. A change of government requirements and a change in the funding system has left both short of cash.
I had a meeting with the Secretary of State with my Parliamentary colleague from Newbury to put the case for the Councils, stressing that the problem had been foreseen during the passage of the new legislation and it had appeared Ministers were going to sort out the issue for West Berks and Wokingham.

Mr Hunt has promised to study our case and come to an early decision given the time pressures to agree next year’s budgets.