I attended the consultation and presentation of plans for a development of around 100 new homes in Burghfield Common.
I encouraged them to increase the proportion of affordable homes for sale with the affordable section of the plans, and favoured styles and finishes for the houses that blend with local styles.
I joined the Mayor and various Town Councillors at the Fun Day.It was well attended in good sunshine. I am grateful to the Council for putting it on to provide family entertainment.
The funeral will take place of Amy Redwood at 9.45 am on June 8th 2018 at Easthampstead Park Crematorium near Crowthorne. Her friends and relatives will be most welcome to join us on that sad occasion to remember her and commemorate her life .
Highways England came to see me to explain their plans to widen the M4 out to Junction 12 under their so called Smart Motorway project.
The aim is to provide a 33% increase in capacity by making a 3 lane a side highway into a 4 lane one. There need to be bridge works, new emergency reservations have to be constructed, a new central barrier installed, and new sensors and signs to regulate traffic flows and speeds.
Most of the work will take place at night. The motorway will be tackled in sections, starting in the west. Whilst works are underway on a section there will be 50mph narrower lane operation for traffic, with closures overnight when needed.
Works will start later this year, with completion of the whole motorway J 3 to J12 by March 2022
I stressed the importance of putting in the promised new noise barriers and noise reducing surfaces for the road.
I also stressed the need to keep the motorway flowing as freely as possible during the works, as this motorway is crucial to constituents travel plans and daily lives.
I recently held a meeting with the Aviation Minister to encourage the government to do more to reduce aircraft noise over the Wokingham constituency.
I reminded the Minister that the changes NATs put through in 2014 concentrating more flights in a narrow Compton Gate without consultation or discussion increased flight noise over the constituency. It has led to many more complaints.
I asked for progress on
The Minister explained that there are changes underway, with consultation, on how to manage the airspace going forwards. She promised to come back to me on consideration of these and the other points I made at the meeting.
I have to bring sad news. My Mother Amy had a severe stroke on Thursday evening, and died overnight in hospital.
I will provide more details for her friends when things are sorted out.
In one of my regular review meetings with the Chief Executive of Wokingham Borough Council last week I raised the issue of potholes again.
I asked her to make sure the policy of the government and the Councillors to get the potholes filled is carried out. I lobbied the government for extra money, and the government did announce additional monies for Councils including Wokingham and West Berkshire specifically for potholes, on top of the annual sums sent for road maintenance. I reported this at the time on this website. I do not know of any Councillor seeking to block this.
We know the Council has some money for this purpose, so will they please spend it on a clear priority of the public.
Yesterday I was invited to meet the Area Manager of the Stonegate Pub Company, to view the changes they have made to the former Molly Millar near Wokingham station.
I did meet the local Manager who showed me the new facilities and told me they are now trading successfully following the re opening. The pub has been renamed the Station Tap to remind people that it is opposite the station, and now has a door on the side facing the trains. It has a range of food, hot and soft drinks as well as the usual range of alcoholic drinks. Some of the new trade comes from people arriving home at the station, or wanting something to eat and drink before catching a train in the morning. They are open from 7 am for breakfast, and have extended opening until 2.30 am with sports tv and various weekly events.
If you are going by car remember to take £2 for the car park, as you have to pay to stay but there are reclaim arrangements if you buy drinks. The driver better stick to the coffee.
I found on the doorsteps a welcome wish to talk about the local matters our Councillors decide for us in the run up to last Thursday’s election.
The Conservative loss of three seats in Wokingham itself seemed to be related to the delays in finishing the town centre, the disruptions to the roads brought on by building work, and the general pressures on services created by fast development and the level of congestion.
I will be talking to the Council about what more can be done to improve the congestion and development problems, and how the impact of building works can be mitigated more. The Council has embarked on a major highways construction programme to ease the lack of capacity as more homes become available, and has put in extra secondary school capacity with the provision of Bohunt.
Reading Grammar was seventh placed school nationwide for exam performance in the latest tables, with sister grammar school Kendrick in 26th place.
Holt was our best performing comprehensive, ranked in 176th place, followed by Maiden Erlegh at 337.
Congratulations to all the teacher s and pupils for doing well academically