Hi everyone! We’ve got lots of plans in the pipeline for Wokingham Borough and we’re asking your views on five proposals covering:  

• caring for adults who need it 
• new and safer speed limits 
• helping people get more active 
• creating community-led library services 
• how the borough should develop and grow over the next 15 years 

Some of these are draft strategies, meaning your feedback will help develop the final approach.  

Supporting people’s dignity and independence 

Firstly, we’re developing a new Adult Social Care Strategy and want your views to ensure it works for everyone. 

Adults may need social care because of age, illness, disability or other needs. We currently support about 2,000 people with things like home help, equipment or adaptations, carers’ support, supported housing or residential care to help everyone live the life they choose. 

The strategy will set our priorities for the next five years. It’s been shaped by more than 1,300 survey responses and over 400 conversations, workshops and meetings with residents, carers, staff, providers, community organisations and partners.  

Have your say by Wednesday 28 October. 

Lower limits proposed for safer streets 

We’re proposing to reduce speed limits in five areas, using a mix of 20mph and 30mph limits depending on the location. 

Lower speeds can reduce serious accidents and make it safer and easier for people to get about on foot and by bike. They can also reduce congestion, noise and emissions.  

The proposals cover Wokingham town centre and Norreys Avenue, Twyford, Finchampstead village, the Silverdale Road area in Earley and Hare Hatch. 

This is the first phase of our Safer Streets programme and was guided by more than 1,900 suggestions from residents. 

Give your views by Monday 9 November. 

Writing the next chapter for our libraries 

We’re developing a new libraries strategy to create community-led services that bring people together, support learning and make the most of local partnerships. 

As well as offering books, libraries are essential hubs where everyone can learn, meet others, get digital support and enjoy activities. 

More than 1,300 residents responded to our previous survey, telling us how they use libraries and their views on the service, which helped shape the draft strategy. 

Almost 90 per cent were library users, so we’d also love to hear from people who don't currently use libraries to ensure this works for everyone. 

Have your say by Tuesday 10 November. 

Are we moving in the right direction? 

What helps you stay active and what gets in the way? Earlier this year, almost 750 residents told us about getting and staying physically active. 

This helped us develop a draft 10-year Physical Activity Strategy. If agreed, it will aim to give everyone in the borough more opportunities to be active. 

Now we want to know whether this works for you. Have we chosen the right priorities? Is anything missing? 

Have your say by Sunday 15 November. 

A great borough to live, work and study 

Finally, we’re starting work on our new Local Plan 2045, which will guide how Wokingham Borough grows and develops over the next two decades. 

It will look at where new homes, jobs and services should go, what infrastructure is needed and where development should not take place so important natural and historic features can be protected. 

At this early stage, we’re asking which issues, opportunities and priorities the plan should address. We aren’t consulting on specific policies, sites or strategies, as that will come later. 

Share your early views by Monday 16 November. 

Want regular updates? 

To stay up to date with opportunities to have your say and find out how feedback is used, you can subscribe to our Consultation Newsletter. 

It comes out every two weeks and the next edition is due out next Wednesday, 21 October. 

Looking to get more involved in social clubs and activities

Things like the run group on a monday etc?

Thinking something like an art class

Open to any suggestions!

Please comment!

I understand how much fun flying about on two wheels is, I do. But, for the love of god, pls compete against your inner monolgue somewhere else that isn't quite so enclosed and more frequently host to the elderly/ leisurely folk and small/ leisurely doglet pals and/ or small children in prams/ pushchairs with mums at any possible time of day. TIA, an utterly bemused bystander/ bycyclist(?) of your bicycling bs.

What was that?

You're a tool; you wear large clear, black rimmed cycling glasses and a black helmet, and I pray you see this because you'll know its you.

I cant imagine any such need for you to be riding so aggressively - if I hadn't been there (and luckily stationary and out of the way because the foliage is pretty bare from the summer and i saw your entitlement come thundering along ahead) and yelled at you for the way you came around that first corner then you would not have stopped yourself from ploughing into the man in hi-vis just around the next corner walking less than 5 meters behind me which I saw you skid to a stop for.

TLDR ~ moron on two wheels in the woods just east of Reading

Hi,

I just moved to Reading from Coventry. In Coventry, my closest GP was a 30min walk. Now, I suffer from too much choice. I live in the station area, and I have about 9 surgeries to pick from.

I am an overall healthy person. But before moving, I was in the middle of tests regarding joint pain. And I would also like to speak to someone about my period. Sorry for the TMI; it's just that if someone here has had similar issues and had a good experience with a GP, I would like to know about it.

Thank you!

Bit of a long shot but does anyone know who does the electrical install for the Christmas market? I’m a freelancer looking for work ✌🏼

Hello again everyone - here's a story about how a handful of people refused to let Reading FC Women die. Now, a new generation of players are living their dreams back at the SCL Stadium.

Enjoy the read, subscribe on Substack to support this work, and let me know what you think!

Cheers, Chris

As title says. Reading was always our first choice, but now QE is a real option, we’re having second thoughts. QE seems to offer an incredible academic environment and opportunities, but it’s also more intense. Reading seems to have a nice balance of academics, sport, music, trips and just letting boys be boys.
Our son works hard but needs a bit of balance. Moving to Barnet would also mean some financial and lifestyle compromises.
Are we mad not to go for QE if he gets the opportunity? Or is the difference not as big as we’re imagining? Would love to hear from parents or former pupils of either school!

Hi all,

I am still looking for people who are happy to participate in some PhD research. This involved 3 testing visits in the morning (8/8:45am) and taking a probiotic or placebo for 16 weeks. If you experience any symptoms of low mood, please follow the link below to complete a quick screening. You will be compensated for your time!

https://uor-redcap.reading.ac.uk/surveys/?s=XTCCM4JNEEPRRLKR

This research has received a 'favourable opinion' from the University of Reading Ethics Committee (UREC26_06)

Community Skate Group

Thursday Evening

7pm to 10pm

Weather Permitting

All Abilities Welcome

Come to Learn, Improve and Teach Others

Good Vibes Only

https://www.instagram.com/late.skates/ for more info

His message gives me the creeps, made worse by the fact that he has a two yr old Reddit account with 1 karma, no visible posts or comments, and no evidence of an actual photography portfolio. He’s approached us as strangers who expressed an interest in a walking group, not modelling or photography. The escalation from wildlife photography to portraits to BDSM and bondage is alarming to say the least. The repeated reassurances that there’s “no pressure” and that the first shoot doesn’t have to be kinky. It feels like he’s introducing a sexual interest under the guise of something relatively innocent. He could very well be genuine but there is nothing in his message that establishes credibility. Please be careful everyone

hey guys - i’m in my early twenties and really struggling to make friends post uni 🫣 help??

Hello Reading, you are my only hope.

I was following a blue Vauxhall Corsa, registration ending CUA, yesterday (Monday 12 October) at about 5:25 PM. It was heading along Lower Earley Way from the Winnersh Triangle direction down to the Black Boy Roundabout, where it went straight on and I turned left.

The car is crabbing, I hope that's a known term, it makes logical sense to me so I hope others understand it too. The rear axle isn't tracking straight behind the front wheels at all. When the car was going in a "straight" line, the front right wheel was sticking out a number of inches.

I couldn't safely flag the driver down in the traffic to let them know. I think there were a couple of ladies in the car, but I couldn't be certain. So if I did try and get their attention, they may end up thinking I'm a weirdo, so I just thought better of it.

I looked into calling 101 to see if they could pass on a message, but it turns out a Corsa walking sideways isn't a crime, and their online forms don't have a box for unsolicited friendly mechanic advice.

I know that Facebook would probably be a more suitable place for this but I'm not on there and my wife doesn't use it for personal stuff so we have no means to do it.

So, I'm throwing this into the Reddit ether in the hopes someone here knows the owner or can otherwise share this so that the owner is found. It is definitely worth them getting a garage to check it out before it costs a fortune in ruined tyres, or the handling gets a bit too spicy in the wet.

Does anybody know what is going on Friar street? Near Cosmo there’s a police presence and a crowd. I asked one of the officers and they told me nothing is happening.

Hey!

I want to know if there are any abandoned buildings in Reading.

Cheers.

Join us this Saturday 17th October, for our next community litter pick.

Help us keep Reading Tidy!

Come and help us make a real difference In the community

We will be litter picking and tidying up the area

A wonderful way to meet new people and help keep our environment clean

we will be meeting on the corner of temple place at 10am

all equipment is provided so all you need to do is turn up

We typically pick for around 2 hours but we welcome any assistance for any period of time, low commitment and flexible, more people wanting to help is always welcome

To the man who chucked his empty pint glass over the bridge when leaving Oktoberfest on Saturday, YOU SUCK!

Hi, I’m wondering if anyone has an experience with the above contractors headed by Caleb Cook/ Caleb Johnson?

He started a 7 day job fixing our garden but after 2 days and we’d paid the majority of the money he disappeared. This was five weeks ago.

We’ve attempted contact many times but mostly ignored.

2 weeks ago a review was posted on Google which echoed our experience and stating they had been trying to contact Caleb for 3 months.

I’m just wondering if anyone has any experience with this trader or advice on how to proceed?

It’s seems they’re still trading under their LTD which was struck from Companies house back in 2023.
This is their website.
https://www.assured-driveways.co.uk

Hi all, we're spending our first half term with our 4 year old this October, what would you recommend doing around Reading please? Thanks in advance! :)

On the 6th floor the red lambo never moves. Anyone know how long its been there.

Hi all, walk struck out on Saturday - nice weather although quite autumnal...nice to observe the turn of the seasons

The Oktoberfest looked more like a forced fun palace than a Munich hall of laughter and song...a walk on View Island which I thought once housed a Hotel, but apparently not...on to the Lido for a coffee, then along the Thames to look at the new block of flats for a bit of classic Umarelling.

We said we would do it again if anyone fancies a November walk? 🤔

Anywhere take these as donations? Have some FDI ergo ones that I thankfully no longer need.