Category: Wokingham and West Berkshire Issues

If a septic tank is waterlogged and will not drain, consider the following options:
Immediate actions:
– reduce water use in the home where possible to reduce the volume of effluent
produced, for example by only putting full loads of washing in the washing machine.
Continue to do this until the ground is no longer as waterlogged
– block septic tank outlet (provided it is safe to do so) to prevent release of the effluent
into the drainage area and tanker the effluent away as necessary. This is unlikely to be
a sustainable long term solution due to costs and risks
– consider hiring temporary portable services
Short term actions:
– ensure there is no surface water or clean water connections to the dirty water system.
This will reduce effluent volume. It is usually acceptable to dispose of clean surface
water via a soakaway or stream without treatment
– keep away from the septic tank drainage area, as standing water/wet ground/ponded
water may contain untreated sewage, and avoid doing any works until the ground is
‘back to normal’
After the flooding event:
– inspect the system for signs of damage and to determine if removal of silt or debris is
required, then take any actions required.
Long term actions:
– consider connecting to the public foul sewer if this is possible
– keep your system well maintained, so it’s better able to cope in extreme weather
– consider more appropriate siting of the septic tank and soakaway, away from areas
associated with flooding / waterlogging if these are available
– consider an improved treatment option which can be discharged directly to surface
water, removing the need for an infiltration system
07 January 2014

 

The Environment Agency have sent the following information:

 

Location of Flood Warnings:

 

River Loddon and River Blackwater at Swallowfield including Swallowfield Park

River Loddon at Arborfield and Shinfield

River Loddon at Lower Earley and Sindlesham including Earley

River Loddon at Winnersh and Woodley including Whistley Green, Berkshire

 

River levels are continuing to rise on the Blackwater and Loddon rivers following the recent rainfall.

 

Flooding of some low lying properties closest to the river is expected from early this evening (Saturday)onwards in the Arborfield, Shinfield, Swallowfield, Lower Earley, Sindlesham, Winnersh Triangle, Winnersh and Woodley areas.

 

River levels on the Loddon are currently forecast to reach a similar level to that seen on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2013. River levels on the Blackwater are currently forecast to reach a slightly higher level than that seen on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2013.

 

The latest weather forecast suggests that there will be rain throughout this afternoon which will be heavy at times. It is expected to turn drier later this afternoon and into this evening but more rainfall is expected on Sunday.

 

In all four flood warning areas, our incident response teams are in attendance. Where appropriate and safe they are clearing trash screens.

We continue to check flood defences and closely monitor river levels. We are in close contact with our professional partners; these include the Surrey and Thames Valley Local Resilience Forums.

 

Our Area Incident Room in Wallingford remains open and will stay open as the situation develops. We will continue to monitor the flooding closely and we will do all we can to warn people about the risks.

 

We would be grateful if you could encourage local residents to remain vigilant and keep a close eye on media reports and weather forecasts.

 

If you or your constituents would like more information about our river flood warnings and current river levels please visit our website: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/34678.aspx?type=Region&term=Southeast&from=fl, call our Floodline on 0845 988 1188 or follow us on Twitter (@EnvAgencySE).

 

To sign up for our flood warnings click here:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/38289.aspx  or call our Floodline.

 

 

           I have travelled around the constituency yesterday and today to see how places are withstanding the torrents of water. The main roads are passable, though you need to drive with care as some of the puddles are deep and sometimes cars approaching in the other direction are over the mid point of the carriageway to avoid deep water. Mill Lane Sindlesham is closed.

          I have had various past meetings with the Council, Environment Agency and  Network Rail to try to get ditches and rivers cleared of obstacles on a regular basis and to put in anti flood measures where needed. If constituents are experiencing serious problems again please let me know and I will pursue the cases further.

 

           I am glad the Borough Council has withdrawn their planning application for the Town redevelopment. I have sent in constituents’ views about how the vision could be improved, and recommend that people with views on the future of the shopping area and Elms Field should contact the Planning Department with their thoughts as then Council considers how to improve the plan.

 

            The Foodbank opens on Fridays at 1.30pm. On Friday December 20th when I at last had a Friday in the constituency after a run of unusual Fridays with the EU Referendum Bill to attend in London, I went to visit.

            I would like to thank the helpers and volunteers who work there, and those who have given  to help pay for the facility. The organisers  would welcome more assistance.

            The purpose of a Foodbank is to offer some supplementary help to the very considerable sums available through social housing and the benefit system when people in financial difficulty need something extra to put food on the table. It is not a substitute for the many actions government undertakes to try to help people out of poverty and into better and more stable lives. The Food bank can give people some  food on three different occasions to top up benefits or low pay when the family budget is in crisis.

            I am keen to support the many government initiatives that are designed to offer long term help to get people out of financial difficulty. The best way is to help those of working age into a job. There are also programmes to help people off drugs and alcohol, as addictive behaviour is often at the base of family financial crises and contributes to the break up of families. Local Wokingham Social Services and Housing can help people in need, as can the Department of Work and Pensions through Jobcentres.

                 None of this is a new problem. I was told the main cause of trouble in Wokingham is unemployment. It is therefore good news that the unemployment rate is now very low and there are jobs available to help  those who are struggling with the family budget.

                The Foodbank has its own website and is at 10 Rose Street, Wokingham.

 

           On Saturday I enjoyed my evening with the Wokingham Choral Society at All Saints. From the opening strains of In dulci Jubilo to the closing bars of “We wish you a merry Christmas” the choir put in a spirited seasonal performance.

             Benjamin Woodward, the organist, and Alexander Chaplin, the Conductor, performed an amusing duet, with Benjamin having to perform one Christmas piece in the spirit of Wagner and Alexander another in the mode of Bach.

             The Church was full to hear the concert, and the retiring collection was for three excellent local charities. I would like to thank all involved for a great evening.

I have had the following reply from West Berkshire Council to queries raised on behalf of constituents over road maintenance and standards of road works and road cleaning:

 

(email from West Berks highways)

Reading Rd, Building site next to Tesco

 

Following the trenching works in May 2013, a warning notice was issued in July 2013 informing Thames Water that the temporary reinstatement was failing. A proposal from Thames Water to permanently reinstate the trench was received on the 7 August 2013 and then cancelled on the 8 August 2013. Following a formal defect notice on the 23 October 2013, Thames Water carried out a reinstatement on the same day, however, following a telephone conversation with Thames Water, it was established that the reinstatement they had undertaken was permanent. As the reinstatement was not to the appropriate standard, a second defect notice was issued yesterday and we will continue our dialogue with Thames Water to ensure that this trench is permanently reinstated to the appropriate standard.

 

 

Reading Rd – j/n Hollybush Lane

 

I can confirm that the Reading Road from the Goring Lane double roundabouts to Hawksworth Road and Holybush Lane from Reading Road to the joint near the Leisure Centre is still provisionally programmed for

2014 as detailed in previous emails. Arrangements have also been made for the junction to be inspected and any defects found will be actioned in accordance with Council policy.

 

 

Sweeping of c/way junctions.

Loose material (buckets off it) in every bell mouth

I can confirm that an officer from the Council’s waste team and the Street Cleansing Supervisor from our contractor Veolia conducted a joint visit of the site in question on the 2 December 2013. During their inspection, they found some build up of detritus (e.g. leaves, stones

etc) but nothing that required a sweeper to be deployed to clear prior to the scheduled cleanses over the next fortnight.

 

I can also confirm that the scheduled cleanses will be jointly checked to ensure that they are completed to the appropriate standard and that spot checks will continue to ensure these levels are maintained. 

 

Jaques Lane/Bottom Lane.

 

I can confirm that Jaques Lane from Folly Lane to Bottom Lane is provisionally programmed for 2014 for resurfacing as discussed at the Sulhamstead Parish Council meeting. We will also continue to maintain the slow and uneven road signs and monitor the site on a routine basis to ensure it remains in a safe condition.

 

 

      The   Christmas feelings  for me begin with the bells of the sleigh and the noise of the hooves  in Leroy’s music. Played each year by the  Berkshire Maestros at the Loddon Schools Carol concert, Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride  stirs the heart and memories of Christmas.  The Mayor’s turning on the lights in Wokingham is the traditional  start of the Christmas activities,  but   the seasonal music  at Loddon  quickens the tempo and brings forward the joy of another Christmas.

         This year the primary school choirs were in great voice. We heard tellingly there was no room at the Inn. The news was “told out” strongly by hundreds of young voices. Santa Claus came to town to the sound of much announcement.  The swinging shepherd had his blues moment, alongside the more traditional strains of Silent Night. Many of the children’s voices were passionate and up for the challenge of singing to a large audience of parents and wellwishers.

         Berkshire Maestros put on a very  polished performance, though the christmas count of flashing lights and tinsel on instruments seemed  down a little on past years. The soloists asked to pick out tunes did so with humour and aplomb. The trumpets sounded, the violins provided the continuity and the percussion thundered to tell us the stories.

           As always the friendly enouraging presence of James Baker brought out the best in the singers and the instrumentalists. I just want to say thank you to all involved. Christmas would not be the same without the Loddon event. I feel the season has started.

Today I met representatives of Post Office management at the Commomns.

I pointed out that Wokingham POst Office now regularly has long queues of people wishing to use the services. There are insufficient counters in the front of the building. The working conditions in the sorting office at the back, part of the Royal Mail business, are not modern. The site is very constrained for the vans.

It might be possible to redevelop the site at the back of the Post Office main building on Broad Street, make a property profit, and use that money for a modern sorting office with decent vehicle access away from the town centre. The front could remain in the traditional building, with more counters added to deal with customer service problems for the Post Office. There is also public money currently available to modernise Post Offices.

The Post Office promised to look into this and let me know what they think of the idea.