News – Winter 2014ShinfieldParish Council

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Wokingham Rural Crime ActionGroupTHE WOKINGHAM Rural Crime ActionGroup, which aims to reduce rural crimeacross the borough, and which includesparish councils and other stakeholders,came runner up in the South EastRegion of the NFU Mutual CountryCrime Fighters Award.

So far over 5,000 people have signedup to Country Watch and the ThamesValley Alert system, receiving messagesfor their areas regarding crime andassociated information. Anyone whowould like more information shouldcontact PCSO Susie Carr at LoddonValley Police Station on 101.To register for free neighbourhoodalerts, visit thamesvalleyalert.co.uk

Shinfield North community flatDecember at the community flat is

pretty busy, with a trip to the panto,supporting the annual Santa sleigh visitfrom Reading Lions, festive cooking andcraft activities (giving inspiration forfood and gifts!) and supportingWokingham Borough Council’s ‘WinterFriend’ initiative to ensure moreisolated and elderly residents are safeand well at this time of year.

During 2015 the CommunityDevelopment Project will continue tosupport the Community Club for 8–12year olds and the Teenage Group foryoung people aged 13–16. Weeklysurgeries from tenant and children’sservices, housing, rent and familyworkers will continue to run from thecommunity flat. We are also veryexcited to be able to offer activities freeof charge at Loddon Valley LeisureCentre in 2015 – please contact Cherishfor more information:

Cherish Risi-Elford,Community Development Worker,mobile number 07885 983 396 or emailcherish.risi-elford@wokingham.gov.uk

THE SHINFIELD Parish AllotmentHolders’ AGM was held on 30 Octoberand around fifty allotment holdersattended. Both novice and longer termplot holder prizes for the best keptallotments were awarded. Inthe novice section, first prizewent to Colin Tyler, with otherprizes to Jenny Prior andLeanne Penn-Greenaway. Inthe longer term plot holdersection, first prize went toHenry Plowden, with otherprizes to Morris Powell, NoraMuir and Renford Robinson.

A special award was given to BrianThomson, in recognition of thesignificant work he carried out at theArborfield Road allotment site.

Allotment holders’ annual general meeting

Colin Tyler(top), HenryPlowden(middle) and Brian Thomson, all with Ian Clarke

SEVERAL HUNDRED people attended theRemembrance service at School Greenon Sunday 9 November. Poppy wreathswere laid by many local military andcivilian groups, including local schoolsand community organisations. TheReverend Bernard Metcalf gave a shortsermon and representatives of theRoyal British Legion read the names andepitaphs of the fallen.

After the service, members ofCrosfields Chamber Choir sang a medleyof World War One songs as we tuckedinto currant buns generously donated byWarings Bakery in Spencers Wood, withteas and coffees served by the ladiesfrom Shinfield Baptist Church. TheShinfield and District Local History

Society information on thoseremembered on the war memorial andthe Wokingham Remembers bannerswere on display in the hall, which wasbeautifully decorated with table flowersfrom the Women’s Institute andShinfield OAP Club.

The parish council would like to thankeveryone involved in the organising andrunning of this annual community event.

Remembrance service

Chairman’s Christmas messageThe Chairman, councillors and staff would like to wish all residents ofShinfield Parish a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperousNew Year.

2015 will be a year of new building works and change within theparish and we look forward with anticipation to the challenges ahead.

Shinfield Parish Community Volunteer Award

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Adopt-a-verge schemeRESIDENTS ARE invited tonominate people working withinShinfield Parish who, throughvoluntary efforts, are enhancing oraiding the community in someway. Last year’s winner, EddieBrown, was very influential insetting up, and continues tomanage, the volunteer car schemeand the parish council is looking

for nominations for other localunsung heroes.

The closing date for the 2014award, to be presented at thecouncil’s Annual Parish Meeting on23 April, is 31 December.Nominations forms are availablefrom the parish office and from thecouncil website.

DOES LITTER on verges and in ditchesoffend you? The parish council has hi-visvests and litter-picking sticks for freelong-term loan and can offer advice onroadside safety and rubbish disposal.The Adopt-a-Verge scheme will be re-launched in the spring in time for theborough-wide Community Litter Pick on28 and 29 March. Thank you to thosealready looking after verges and parksnear where they live.

Community project to improve Grazeley Road pond

OVER SEVERAL weekends in Septembera group of local volunteers set to workto improve the pond, clearing theoverflow and outlet pipes. Water waspumped from the pond into the stream,enabling the removal of duckweed andrubbish. A wide array of rubbish wasfound, including road signs, drain coversand even an electric scooter! The bankof the pond was cleared of brambles

and several dead trees were cleared byRichard Heartwood and his team fromHeartwood Tree Surgery and HedgeSpecialists.

The group is keen to continue tomaintain and improve the pond andlooks forward to seeing the return ofducks. There are plans to remove thealgae, dig out silt from the pond andinstall a new litter bin.

A big thank you to all the volunteerswho have helped in the project so far, aswell as to Heartwood Tree Surgery. Ifanyone is interested in getting involved,please contact the parish council, weare particularly looking for someonewho may be able to help with a diggerto remove the silt!

Shinfield Voluntary Car ServiceSHINFIELD VOLUNTARY Car Service was set up in May 2010 to help thoseamongst us who find public transport a struggle. If you or someone you knowcould do with help reaching medical appointments and shopping, register now.Medical journeys of any sort made by bus pass holders are paid for byWokingham Borough Council. A donation to cover drivers’ fuel costs is requestedfor non-medical journeys.

Over its four years, the annual number of journeys made has grown from 603to almost two thousand, with the number of drivers increasing from six tofifteen. Critical to the success of this flourishing service is the team of volunteers.

To register or to find out more about volunteering opportunities, visit theirwebsite www.shinfieldvoluntarycarservice.org or call on 0118 988 3400.

Spring Gardens Lunch Club has beenproviding home-cooked meals tolocal elderly residents for 27 years.The members enjoy a freshly-cookedtwo-course meal plus tea or coffeeand a raffle, as well as theopportunity to socialise with friends,old and new.

The club now needs newvolunteers to save it from closing. Ifyou could spare one Wednesday amonth, from 10:00 to 14:00, wewould love to hear from you. Thework is not too arduous and there’salways time for a coffee break!Anyone interested should contactAngela King on 0118 988 8220.

Volunteer at SpringGardens Lunch Club

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A shortage of qualified referees is a bigproblem in children’s football and thishas been exacerbated by the rapidgrowth of girls participating in the sport,bringing the need for more femalecoaches and referees. Over the past 18months, Shinfield Rangers Football Clubhas been working to encourage 14 and15-year-old boys and girls to becomequalified referees. A grant from theparish council has enabled the club tofund places on refereeing courses runby Berks and Bucks Football Association.In addition to the qualification, thecourse aims to teach the trainees totake responsibility, become moreindependent, develop a good work ethicand give back to the community. It alsoenables them to earn a small fee fortheir services.

“For me, the benefits are that I feel Iam a valuable member of thecommunity and enjoy the level ofresponsibility refereeing has given me.The fact that I get paid to do it, is anadded bonus!”

Sam Swinerd, SRFC Under 15s team.The community benefits greatly, as

for each referee, many children are ableto participate in properly managedgames. To date, thirteen young people,including four girls, have completed thecourse and qualified as referees and arenow using their skills in the widerWokingham borough. Two of the girlsrecently refereed matches in the verysuccessful Shinfield Schools Cup.

Young referees in ShinfieldTHIS YEAR, Wokingham & DistrictCAB was awarded a grant of £1,860by the parish council to provideinformation and support services toresidents of Shinfield Parish,particularly in the areas of welfarebenefits, debt management,consumer issues, employment,housing, legal issues, relationships,tax, utilities and community care.

Part of the grant will go towardspiloting three outreach sessions atShinfield Health Centre on26 January, 23 February and30 March. Look out for posters formore information.

Wokingham CitizensAdvice Bureau (CAB)

Parish council grants

THE PARISH council sets aside a sumof money each year and invites localorganisations and voluntary groupsworking in the Shinfield area toapply for funding.

Applications are considered on aquarterly basis throughout the year.

SPECIMEN

2nd Shinfield Brownies opened in SeptemberThis year, a grant

was awarded by theparish council to helpestablish the 2ndShinfield Browniespack, who meet atShinfield Parish Hall.The grant has helpedto fund storage, rent,materials and theGirlguiding Census,

as well as the purchase of a cameraand games parachute.

The unit gives an opportunityoutside of school for girls from 7 to 10years to develop their skills andbroaden their horizons.

Contact Hannah Chaffey by email atShinfield-Brownies@outlook.com formore information.

Contact the parish councilOur office and postal address:Shinfield Parish CouncilShinfield Parish Hall, School GreenShinfield, RG2 9EHTel 0118 988 8220Email clerk@shinfieldparish.gov.ukThe office is open to local residentsfrom 09:00 to 12:00 Monday to Friday.

Sign up for news from theparish councilTHE PARISH council has two websites:www.shinfieldparish.gov.ukNews updates,information on theparish council andcommittee meetingsand minutes fromthese meetings,details of your local councillors andinformation on local organisations.www.shinfieldplan.orgInformation on the on-goingdevelopment of some 3,000 new homesthroughout the parish and developmentof the Shinfield Parish NeighbourhoodDevelopment Plan, which will becomepart of local planning policy for allfuture developments.

You can register on both websites tobe kept up-to-date with the latest newsby email.

Development update

Published by Shinfield Parish Council – December 2014 | Design and layout by Gillian Steedman

www.facebook.com/ShinfieldParish

twitter.com/ShinfieldPC

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WORK IS scheduled to starton the Eastern Relief Road,pictured, on 5 January withcompletion expected in thespring of 2016. Thecontractor, Hochtief, isholding a drop-in exhibitionat Shinfield Parish Hall onFriday 12 December from17:00 to 20:00 where theplans will be displayed andyou can ask questions.

Early in 2015 work willstart on the South of CroftRoad development byTaylor Wimpey and DavidWilson Homes. This will bethe first stage of the newhomes across SpencersWood and Three Mile Cross.

The remainder of the Manor site inShinfield has now been sold and work toclear the site of derelict buildings isexpected to start soon.Langley Mead SANG off Hyde End Road,will open in the spring with footpathsfrom the newly constructed car parkrunning down to the River Loddon.Initial work on the Park and Ride atMereoak, off the A33, has started andwill continue into 2015 and is expectedto complete in the spring.

Waste collections schedule for Christmas and New Year

Normal collection date Will be collected on

Thursday 25 December Saturday 27 December

Friday 26 December Monday 29 December

Monday 29 December Tuesday 30 December

Tuesday 30 December Wednesday 31 December

Wednesday 31 December Friday 2 January

Thursday 1 January Saturday 3 January

Friday 2 January Monday 5 January

Monday 5 January Tuesday 6 January

Tuesday 6 January Wednesday 7 January

Wednesday 7 January Thursday 8 January

Thursday 8 January Friday 9 January

Friday 9 January Saturday 10 January

A normal service will be provided on all other days. For further information,check the parish council or borough council websites.

Zip wire at Spencers Wood recreation groundA SUM of money allocated from new local housing developments has been usedto install a zip wire and cycle rack at the recreation ground off Clares GreenRoad.

Work began during the autumn half term and was completed over thefollowing weeks. These add to the existing facilities on the site which include theskate park, adult gym equipment and a refurbished children’s playground.