Too many of our children with special educational needs and disabilities have to travel a long way out of the borough for their education.
Last week, we presented our Wokingham Borough Council budget for next year.
Russia’s war with Ukraine has cost the lives of thousands of innocent people and caused many Ukrainians to flee their country for safety.
As I write this, I am preparing for Thursday evening’s budget meeting, at which the council sets the budget for 2023/24.
Local bus services are vital for Wokingham Borough and the wider area. They play an important role for people to access jobs, retail and services, schools’/ further education, business to business connectivity, visiting the hospital/health centres as well as for leisure activities.
After many attempts at persuading the Government to adopt a more common sense approach on housing numbers, both in Wokingham Borough and on a national scale, I’m pleased to see signs that our message may finally have been heard.
The council needs people’s views to help it write a new, updated version of its Local Transport Plan, an official document guiding how it maintains and improves footways, cycle lanes, roads and other transport networks for many years to come.
As the country falls into a cost-of-living crisis, you will have been seeing a lot of communications from the council about how we’re striving to work in partnership to protect those in need. You’ll also be reading a number of articles about the financial challenges the council faces.
The issue we must now address is how to move forward with a New Local Plan, and one that meets, as best we can, the wishes of our residents, including those that need the new housing we must provide.
