MAY began with the launch of a search for an internationally-renowned artist to create a breathtaking sculpture for the new Carnival Leisure Hub development.
Arts 4 Wokingham wants to find a landmark piece of art for the development, which will be a gateway for the regeneration project.
Applications were invited from all over the world, and the panel have been whittling them down.
A shortlist of five has been created and in next week’s paper, we will reveal who they are. Wokingham Today editor Phil Creighton will be part of the final judging panel when they meet next month.
Thames Valley Police held an awareness day for drivers in Finchampstead, stopping those who were a little too close to cyclists for comfort.
More banking changes were announced for the borough. HSBC’s Wokingham branch was to switch to cash machines for in-branch banking rather than a counter service, a move that the bank said would make it “sustainable and fit for the future” and “virtually all other services the branch previously offered will be maintained, it just might be done in a different way”.
And Santander announced the closure of its Broad Street branch. It had previously closed the Woodley branch, forcing customers to head to Reading town centre if they needed to visit a branch.
Covid rates continued to drop, with the rate reaching 22.6 per 100,000 Wokingham people at the start of the month, while restrictions would ease again and see people allowed to hug once more. Also allowed would be indoor events, including exercise classes, cinemas, and service inside for pubs, restaurants and cafes.
Outdoor sporting arenas could host to a capacity of 1,000 people, while outdoor events would be limited to
a maximum of 4,000, and up to 30 people would be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as other life celebrations.
As the month went on it reduced further, reaching 11.7 by May 11, and many people got used to the new regime of home tests twice a week.
One group that started returning to practising was the OBJ Morris. The side had been rehearsing via Zoom, but given the dances mainly involve whacking sticks together
and jingling bells, it wasn’t quite the same remotely.
An issue that has reared its head during the pandemic was access to doctors’ appointments. A special report looked at problems readers had with Wokingham Medical Centre. Sir John Redwood said he had spoken to then health secretary Matt Hancock about the issue.
“I have been getting complaints where a surgery requires someone to ring at a single specified time each day to see if they can get an appointment that day,” he said. “In the worst cases, there is great difficulty in getting through at all.”
The governing CCG apologised for anyone having difficulty speaking to staff and said: “The surgery is receiving a higher number of phone calls that usual”.
Ultimately, the medical centre has 13 GPs for 22,764 patients or 1,751 patients per GP. The national average is 1,751 patients per GP.
Thursday, May 6 was local elections day and, as Wokingham Today comes out on polling day, our letters page was packed with pictures of readers’ pets rather than political views.
Due to covid, the results were counted not overnight on Thursday, but during Saturday daytime. Tellers were socially distanced in bubbles at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre, with the press (well, Wokingham Today) up in the gallery looking down and safely out of the way.
In the end, it was a good day for the Conservatives who retained control of the council, taking the scalp of Wokingham Labour leader Andy Croy in the process. Not every result went their way: in Emmbrook, UllaKarin Clark lost to the Lib Dems., one of three seats the party gained on the night. The Tories saw seven new faces elected, some coming in after previous councillors retired.
Among the fresh intake was Rebecca Margetts, the wife of fellow councillor Charles.
The new make-up of the council was 31 Conservatives, 18 Lib Dems, three Labour and two independents. This has since changed to two Labour and three independents, after Carl Doran resigned from the party.
All parties will feel bullish about their chances in the forthcoming local elections in May 2022.
On the same day, the Police and Crime Commissioner elections were held, with Conservative candidate Matthew Barber winning the seat for the Thames Valley.
We love reporting on the various charity initiatives that readers get up to. Six-year-old Daya Gill from Earley raised £446 for the RSPCA by running 30km around Reading and Whiteknights lake, including a time when she ran dressed as a dog.
Wokingham gained a new tap room in the form of Outhouse Brewery. Owner Peter Rhodes promised readers that it would be a one-of-a-kind venue where customers would be drinking in the brewery itself.
Around the corner, in Elms Field, there was an insect invasion as new wooden animals, carved from trees chopped down for the regeneration, were installed.
They included a caterpillar and a beetle.
The Winnersh Relief Road opened, taking traffic off the Reading Road and running behind Sainsbury’s. However, it was not without controversary as motorists were expecting to be able to turn right on it but unable to do so. There were a number of accidents on opening days, but it has since settled down.
The council also revealed it was motoring on with a hi-tech solution to easing traffic congestion across Wokingham borough. A new real-time information system would lead to intelligent traffic schemes. It will then help motorists choose unblocked routes to reach their destination.
Another housing project was given approval: 1,600 homes in the South Wokingham Major Development scheme. The land will include the South Wokingham Distributor Road, and include two primary schools, parks and play areas.
A third of the scheme will be affordable housing.
The big story of the month was Binfield FC – the Moles – reaching Wembley for the FA Vase Final. We printed a special poster, as well as a cut-out-and-keep rosette and DIY Moles scarf to wear to show support. We joined villagers as they lined the streets to watch the team coach drive through Binfield before heading to the stadium. Sadly it wasn’t to be victory, but it was still a great day out, and we can all be proud of the team.
Thames Valley Police were to be subject to investigation following their handling of an escaped cow. The frightened animal ran through streets of Woodley, onto the A329m and was eventually run over close to The George pub. It was then put down by a vet. An outcry included a vigil by animal rights protestors angry with the force, but police and crime commissioner Matthew Barber said he was satisfied the police had acted correctly.
Dabbawalla opened in January, but due to lockdown was unable to welcome customers in person. That was finally put right in May with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Wokingham borough mayor Cllr Malcolm Richards, in one of his last engagements prior to stepping down.
And the new borough mayor, Cllr Keith Baker, unveiled a mural in Wokingham town centre hours after he had been installed as the first citizen of Wokingham. The mural is a colourful map of the town, with many special touches including images of wildlife, buildings and hints to Wokingham’s heritage. It can be seen in Erftstadt Court, off Denmark Street.
