 |
Earley Town Council |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
MESSAGE FROM WBC. 15/01/08 Any people currently displaced due to flooding and who were displaced in the July 2007 flooding should go to WBC website or phone 974 6008 for information on possible assistance. |
|
Simply click on the news heading to read the story
For Some Old News Stories please click here TOWN COUNCIL SUPPORTS YOUTH FESTIVAL The Earley Youth Festival, running between 3rd August and 9th August, and organised by Wokingham Borough Council is being supported by Earley Town Council. the purpose of the Festival is to encourage local youngsters to engage with the Council's Community Wardens, Police Community Support Officers, the Just Around the Corner Street Workers and other Agencies. The 4th August is earmarked for a Fishing Competition which will take place at the Town Council's Maiden Erlegh Lake. Commencing at 10.30am, this is an opportunity for newcomers to the sport to receive professional tuition. Town Council Water Bailiffs will be on hand to assist the youngsters in proper fishing practices. Maiden Erlegh Lake is a prime fishing location, having been commended by the Environment Agency as the best stocked and well maintained fishing lake in the area. Members of the Town Council see the fishing day, together with the other activities organised throughout the week as a major contribution to providing appropriate activities for young people in Earley. REVAMPED PLAY AREAS AT SOL JOEL PARK The newly re-vamped play area at Sol Joel Park is now fully open for children to use. All the new items of equipment and the safety surfaces have been completed and the re-located sandpit is already available for use. This will mark the completion of Phase 1 of the improvement to the play area. Grass seed has gone down in the toddler play area and needs to grow through. There are plans for further enhancement to the equipment under Phase 2 and this will include items that can be used by older children and also equipment especially designed for senior citizens. This follows the decision of the Amenities & Leisure Committee to proceed with items which, although specifically designed for senior citizens, are also of a robust nature and can be used by all ages. Members were reminded that a similar facility had been installed in Greater Manchester attracting national publicity as “Pensioners’ Playground”. Since then other councils have considered installing items of play equipment suitable for the more senior members of our society. Members were informed that representatives of local senior citizens organisations had been consulted and nobody had rejected the idea. When completed, the new play park facilities will cater for all ages and be fully DDA compliant. They will be installed in a way which also contributes to an environmentally friendly outcome with respect to all of the old items and foundations which will be removed.
Click Here to return to the list of news stories Last year it was decided that a wood carving representing the world and conservation would be erected on Swan Island, which is in the middle of Maiden Erlegh Lake. The Town Council is supporting this project, which is being undertaken by local artist, Andy Noyes. The work, depicting a duck carrying the world on its back, is progressing and it is expected that the carving will be completed by the summer. The successful design was drawn by a pupil of Maiden Erlegh School, Anna Zavialova, and the school, together with the Maiden Erlegh Residents’ Association, have been collaborating with the Town Council in this project. The Maiden Erlegh Residents’ Association have been sponsoring the sculpture, but now completion is close, there is the question of how to transport the finished sculpture to its final location on Swan Island. Various options were discussed at a recent meeting of the Council's Amenities & Leisure Committee, including the hiring of a crane or possibly building a raft. The first option could be very expensive but whether a raft is possible may depend on the final weight of the artwork. Members also considered the possibility of involving the Army, but their response is still awaited. Click Here to return to the list of news stories COUNCIL PEDALS SLOWLY TO NEXT STAGE IN CYCLE TRACK PROPOSAL There was a packed public gallery at the Earley Town Council Meeting held on 25th June as members of the public came to express their views concerning a proposal for a cycle track, suitable for BMX users, on the open space bordering Lower Earley Way at its junction with Paddick Drive. Because a number of members of the public wished to express their views, the normal period allowed at the beginning of the Council Meeting of 20 minutes for members of the electorate to ask questions was extended to 35 minutes by the presiding Chairman, Town Mayor, Councillor Andrew Bradley. This allowed the members of the public a full opportunity to make their points of concern about the proposal to site a track at this location. Leading Town Council Members answered the points and indicated quite categorically that no decisions had yet been taken on the proposal, nor had their been any formal consultation and this would certainly occur before the Town Council would consider moving to a Planning Application.
All comments were welcomed by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Chris Edmunds, who said that the points made would be taken into account when the Council would next consider the proposal at the Amenities & Leisure Committee to be held on Wednesday, 2nd July. At that meeting, Councillors will be asked to consider the possibility of a wide consultation to see if the views expressed at the Town Council Meeting were typical or otherwise. It was also stressed that, although a decision to proceed to this next stage may be taken, it is very much a measured progress towards what will be a considered decision, taking into account all points of view. The members of the public were informed that the final decision on whether to proceed with the project would be taken by the Full Town Council and not a Committee.
Click Here to return to the list of news stories At a recent meeting of the Amenities & Leisure Committee of Earley Town Council, the Committee Chairman, Councillor David Chopping, praised the work done by the Water Bailiffs at Maiden Erlegh Lake. Seven Bailiffs were appointed for the season and they carry out, on a voluntary basis, a considerable amount of work at the Lake. Not only do they regulate fishing by checking permits, they also give advice and tuition to newcomers and support the various angling competitions that take place through the fishing season. Also, the Bailiffs do a considerable amount of work around the lake in maintaining the fishing platforms and the general environment. Bailiffs can be seen around Maiden Erlegh Local Nature Reserve on a regular basis, particularly at weekends and, for their services, only receive a small honorarium to compensate them for all the work that they do. For more information about how to become a Water Bailiff or for details of the fishing competitions, the public can contact the Town Council on 0118-9868-995.
Click Here to return to the list of news stories TOWN COUNCIL RECOGNISES COMMUNITY RESPONDERS At a meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee of the Town Council, the local representatives of the Community Responders in Lower Earley made a presentation in support of a request for financial support from the Council. The Community Responders are people who volunteer to help save lives in their local community. They aim to arrive to serious life threatening incidents before an ambulance can get to the location. The volunteers are trained by the Ambulance Service and are called out by them when a 999 call is received and there is a life threatening emergency. Because they respond more quickly they are able to administer life saving treatment until an ambulance arrives. Members of the Committee voted to give the Lower Earley Community Responders a grant of £400 towards the cost of the necessary equipment and protective clothing that they need to provide to support their activities in Earley. The Responders are also very keen to recruit more volunteers and would be interested to hear from people who are prepared to give up their time to assist in this life saving activity. There Co-ordinator locally, Rachel Meston said that there were plans to visit some of the local summer fairs and other local fund day activities in the area in order to raise awareness and to seek further volunteer help.
Click Here to return to the list of news stories TOWN COUNCIL PLANS BMX TRACK FOR LOWER EARLEY At a recent meeting of its Amenities & Leisure Committee, the Town Council considered plans for a BMX Track in Lower Earley. Members were informed that a number of sites had been considered but the most likely one would be at the bottom of Paddick Drive at the corner of Lower Earley Way. An Architect had drawn up detailed plans for the site and Members looked at these at the meeting. The plans reflected the initial consultation which had taken place with the Borough Council’s Highways Department particularly in relation to parking provision and further consultations were currently being undertaken with the Parks Department, Community Safety Officer and the statutory Youth Workers. A further consultation process was proposed with members of the public particularly residents who lived in the nearby housing developments. Consequently, an informal meeting to explain the Council’s plans took place on Wednesday, 4th June in the Council Offices. Attended by approximately 70 residents, this was a lively meeting at which the members of the public who lived near the proposed site expressed some concerns. However, the Chairman of the Amenities & Leisure Committee, Councillor David Chopping, explained this was an initial consultation on an informal basis before the Town Council made any final decision and, certainly, before any planning application would be submitted to Wokingham Borough Council for its consideration. The Amenities & Leisure Committee will next be considering the proposal at its forthcoming meeting to be held on the 2nd July at 7.45 pm in the Council Chamber. Click Here to return to the list of news stories At the Annual Meeting of the Town Council, held on 7th May 2008, the Councillors elected a new Town Mayor to replace the retiring Mayor. The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Norman Jorgensen, who now becomes the immediate Past Mayor, handed over the Chain of Office to Councillor Andrew Bradley. Councillor John Armstrong was then elected as the Deputy Mayor. Councillor Bradley presented Councillor Armstrong with his Badge of Office. Following these proceedings, Councillor Armstrong then presented the Past Mayor Chain and lapel badge to Councillor Norman Jorgensen. During the course of the meeting, appointments were made to the Standing Committees, who will be chaired by the following Councillors: Amenities & Leisure Committee Chairman – Councillor David Chopping, Vice Chairman - Councillor Michael Firmager Planning Committee Chairman – Councillor Pauline Jorgensen, Vice Chairman – Councillor Tim Chambers Policy & Resources Committee Chairman – Councillor Norman Jorgensen, Vice Chairman – Councillor Shakeel Khan The Town Mayor and the Deputy Town Mayor, together with the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Committees will serve for the Municipal Year up to the Annual Meeting in May 2009. Click Here to return to the list of news stories LOCAL MAN RECEIVES TOWN COUNCIL AWARD At the Annual Town Electors’ Meeting of Earley Town Council on 7th May 2008, the outgoing Town Mayor, Councillor Norman Jorgensen, was pleased to present the Service to Earley Award for 2008 on behalf of the Town Council to Mr Tony Henty. Mr Henty was a qualified and registered Volunteer Scout Assistant at Earley St Peter’s for 18 years. He also served as Treasurer to the Scouts and, additionally, he organised a Parents’ Committee for fund raising for the Scout Group. The Committee organised several fund raising events, including jumble sales. Currently, Mr Henty is a volunteer driver for Earleybus, a post he has carried on for 4 years. In presenting the award, Councillor Jorgensen commended Mr Henty for his long and dedicated service as a volunteer and, also, as an ambassador for Earley, because Mr Henty also helped with the Sea Scouts in other parts of Berkshire.
Click Here to return to the list of news stories At a meeting of the Amenities & Leisure Committee on 2nd July, attended by a number of interested residents, Councillors agreed to proceed to a further consultation on proposals for a BMX cycle facility in Lower Earley. The first choice site is an area within the open space at the corner of Paddick Drive and Lower Earley Way. Many of the residents who were in the public gallery were from that area and were concerned about the impact of a facility like this, should it be installed on the field. A representative of the residents voiced the concerns on behalf of the members of the public present. The Leader of the Council, Councillor Chris Edmunds and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Matthew Deegan, both then went through the points that had been raised both in the meeting and by correspondence. The Town Council had considered a number of sites and, using a points scoring system, concluded that the site at the bottom of Paddick Drive was the most suitable for this type of facility. Having said that, the Chairman of the Amenities & Leisure Committee, Councillor David Chopping, made it clear that no decision had yet been taken and it was important that the widest consultation possible should take place before Councillors reach a conclusion as to whether to proceed with the proposal or otherwise. Click Here to return to the list of news stories TOWN COUNCIL SUPPORTS EARLEY FUN DAY The Earley Fun Day organised by the Woodley & Earley Lions Club will take place on 12th July 2008 between 12 noon and 5 pm at the Events Field, Kilnsea Drive, Lower Earley. As has been the case in previous years, the Town Council is offering its support to the Lions Club in providing transport and on-site marking out and other facilities for disposal of litter. The Town Mayor, Councillor Andrew Bradley, will attend and support the official opening at 12.30 pm. This year all money raised will be pledged to the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Appeal. The Town Council is pleased to announce that it will be organising its own stand, for the first time in the new Town Council gazebo. Face painting for children will be offered with all proceeds also going to the hospice appeal. Within the gazebo, members of the public will find displays showing the Town Council's activities and plans for the new pavilion at Sol Joel Park. Also, the Council will take a further opportunity to informally talk to people about a proposed BMX facility in Lower Earley. Councillors will be on hand to answer questions from the visitors to the stand. As always, Councillors hope that the Lions Club will have a successful day and that the weather will be good. In the event of poor weather, the Town Council has already agreed to underwrite losses that may occur
06 March 2008
Click Here to return to the list of news stories
|
|
|
