Next phase of Bracknell town centre's regeneration has started - Bracknell Forest Council
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Register for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice 1
Winter 2020
Brought to you by Bracknell Forest Council
Next phase of Bracknell town What’s inside
centre’s regeneration has started
Have your say on the
borough’s boundaries
See page 5
Bracknell Forest L ttery
Sign up for the Bracknell
Forest Lottery
See page 5
An extensive makeover of Princess perfect blend of convenience and Cllr Marc Brunel-Walker, Executive
Square started in the autumn as part destination shops and eateries, as a Member for Economic Development
of the next stage in Bracknell town natural extension and next phase of and Regeneration, said: “The work to
centre’s regeneration. the regeneration of the town, which transform Princess Square is another Food waste collection
The work, which is due to be finished saw the launch of The Lexicon just step in the complete regeneration
over two years ago. proposals in response to
by spring 2020, will transform of Bracknell town centre, so I’m
Princess Square into a modern, light,
climate change
A further investment phase, to turn pleased the building work to create
bright and airy centre to house new the old Bentalls unit into a vibrant See page 11
a modern, light and bright space has
brands, as well as give many of the new covered public space to be started in earnest.
current stores a brighter, lighter new known as The Deck, will provide
“This will further build on The
space from which to trade. new food and retail units linking The
Lexicon’s success and enhance its
This major milestone in Bracknell Lexicon directly with the revitalised
appeal as the borough’s much-loved
town centre’s overall regeneration Princess Square. With planning work
already well underway for this phase, social and cultural heart.”
was secured following the signing of
a legal agreement last year between The Deck is due for completion in Rob Morris, General Manager at
Bracknell Forest Council and its 2022. The Lexicon, said: “The plans to
development partner, Bracknell In total, the refurbishment of transform Princess Square are Join in with our survey to
Regeneration Partnership (BRP). Princess Square and development of incredibly exciting and demonstrate win a £20 The Lexicon
The new look Princess Square The Deck represent a further £30m of the ongoing investment being gift card
will provide customers with the investment by the council and BRP. committed to the town centre.” See page 17
www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk
2 Register for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice
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Our next event at Bickerton House
Parkinson’s awareness
Tuesday 11th February 2020, 2pm - 4pm
Join us as we share insights, information and advice to help those
affected by Parkinson’s, and their loved ones.
To find out more or to book your free place call us on
01344 981618 or email tracey.vanzyl@careuk.com
Home
now open Fulfilling lives
Bickerton House care home
Warfield Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 2JB (For Sat Nav, use RG12 2JA)
careuk.com/bickerton-house
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Leader’s welcome Dedicated support
Hello and welcome to the winter service for businesses
edition of Town & Country.
I hope you all had a good break over
the festive period, and enjoyed time
celebrating with family and friends.
You may have noticed this edition of
Town & Country is coming to you later
than usual. Due to December’s general
election, and under election rules, we were unable to issue
Town & Country at the normal time, so unusually that
means the winter edition is coming to you at the start of a
new year.
The end of 2019 was rather uncertain, so it’s great to be
heading into 2020 with a clearer national picture. Closer
to home, we have some exciting developments within our
town centre and surrounding borough.
As you’ll see from the front page, The Deck and the
refurbishment of Princess Square are well underway
and are the next exciting step for our town centre. The
makeover of Princess Square started last autumn and will
transform it to create a modern, light and bright space.
Planning work is also well underway for The Deck which
will be another great addition to our town in 2022.
The Berkshire Growth Hub team in Bracknell has been celebrating a 98
There’s the addition of some fantastic new retailers to per cent client satisfaction rating for its high growth business support
enjoy at The Lexicon with The Works and Phase Eight programme.
opening at the end of last year and Silentnight confirming
Business owners across the borough can access a free
it will open a store soon. The Lexicon is a great place for
service to help them grow their businesses. The Berkshire
bringing people together and spending time with family
Business Growth Hub offers fully funded (no cost), impartial
and friends, and I’d encourage you all to head down there.
business advice and support services to small and medium
As we head into spring, you may be thinking of getting enterpises (SMEs) in Berkshire.
fit. Well, why not sign up for The Lexicon Bracknell Half
Marathon, which takes place on Sunday, 10 May? Have Since it was set-up in 2014, the Growth Hub has been achieving
a look at our advert on page 13 and visit the Everyone positive outcomes for local businesses. The service includes
Active website for more details of the course and how to free advice clinics and workshops on a range of business
register. issues, from cyber security, export and finance to marketing and
social media.
At the start of this new year, I’d like to take time to
commend everyone who worked over the festive period The Growth Hub runs a special high growth programme to
to maintain our vital services across the borough. provide tailored support to fast-growing businesses and
We continue to support vulnerable people within the a dedicated scale-up programme for firms with an annual
community, which is especially important over the winter turnover of over £1 million. For those looking to start their own
months. On page seven, we’ve included some tips for business, there is a pre-accelerator programme to help budding
keeping warm in the winter from our public health team. entrepreneurs turn their ideas into a viable business.
If you’d like to catch up on council news and updates in
between the printed editions of Town & Country, we send The team has already helped over 2,000 businesses with a
out a monthly electronic version called Town & Country range of challenges, from raising finance and devising growth
Extra. You can sign up for Town & Country Extra by strategies to improving productivity and profitability. In fact, the
visiting: bit.ly/TCExtra. Growth Hub has received an excellent 98 per cent satisfaction
rating from clients on its high growth programme.
Finally, I’d like to wish you all a very happy and healthy
new year. A partner of Bracknell Forest Council, the service is funded by
Cllr Paul Bettison, OBE the European Regional Development Fund and the Thames
Leader of Bracknell Forest Council Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership. For further details
on how the Berkshire Growth Hub could help you, visit: www.
berkshirebusinesshub.co.uk.
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Keep these links handy (or bookmarked in your internet browser) to find everyday
and useful information you might need from us.
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Refuse collection dates and recycling - www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling
Brown bins - www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/garden-waste
Leisure facilities - www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/leisure-services
Jobs - www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/jobs
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Bracknell Forest Council About Town & Country
Town & Country is published by Bracknell Forest Council. It is
Instagram: @bracknellforest printed on environmentally-friendly paper.
Town & Country is delivered to more than 50,000 households
in the borough and is also available on our website;
www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk
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may also be obtained.
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Electoral review of
Bracknell Forest
Over the next few months, now open to the public until 16
residents can have their say on March, 2020.
new council wards for Bracknell Chair of the Commission,
Forest. Professor Colin Mellors, said:
The independent Local “Public consultation is an
Government Boundary important part of every electoral
Commission for England is review. The best reviews are
carrying out an electoral review those where residents and their
of the council, which will look communities have given us
at the boundaries of all wards evidence about their area, the
represented by Bracknell Forest’s links between communities and
councillors.
the boundaries that logically
The review aims to make sure
separate neighbourhoods. That
that each councillor represents
is why we encourage anyone
roughly the same number of
who is interested in how they are
voters so the value of everyone’s
vote at local elections is as equal represented to get involved in the
as possible. The commission review.
will also take into account local “We will carefully consider all
community ties as it builds wards evidence that is provided during
that make sense to local people. the review, whoever it is from and
The commission relies on whether it applies to the whole of
evidence from local people and Bracknell Forest or just a small
organisations as it draws up new part of the council area.”
boundaries. The review includes To find out more about the review
at least two phases of public and to have your say, visit: www.
consultation, with the first stage lgbce.org.uk.
Final push for Pride of Bracknell
Local good causes set to benefit Forest Awards nominations
from the Bracknell Forest Lottery Cllr Dorothy Hayes MBE and Cllr Paul Bettison OBE, are
encouraging residents to cast their vote for someone special in
Residents have been snapping the Pride of Bracknell Awards.
up tickets for the new online
The awards celebrate the achievements of the local community, in
Bracknell Forest Lottery.
areas from charity through to sports and education, and recognise
Last year, Bracknell Forest Bracknell Forest L ttery people who make significant contributions to the quality of
Council set up the community residents’ life in the region.
lottery, which is run by specialist Beech Hotel, a three-course
dinner with a bottle of wine for Do you know someone who deserves appreciation for the good
company Gatherwell, to help
two at The Grange Hotel and they have done in the local community? Visit: prideofbracknell.com
raise money for local good
dinner for four at the Tamarind to nominate.
causes. Since its launch, the
lottery has attracted more than Tree restaurant.
614 players, awarded 201 prizes Cllr Peter Heydon, Executive
and raised £4,837 for 65 local Member for Transformation and
good causes. Finance, said: “It is fantastic that
Tickets cost just £1 each with we have had such a positive
60p going towards local good response to the Bracknell Forest
causes and charities. The draw Lottery and it’s great to see
takes place every Saturday local players have been winning
evening and prizes up for grabs prizes.
include a £25,000 jackpot for “Many charities and community
matching a sequence of six groups have already registered
numbers, or smaller prizes of as beneficiaries and we’d
£2,000, £250, £25 or three free encourage even more to get on
lottery tickets. board in the coming months.”
Bonus prizes have included an To buy tickets or to register
overnight stay for two with dinner as a good cause, visit: www. Cllrs Dorothy Hayes MBE and Paul Bettison OBE, are
and breakfast at The Coppid bracknellforestlottery.co.uk. encouraging residents to nominate.
6 Register for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice
Could you make a
Don’t forget your flu jab! Help us difference in your
community?
to help you this winter If everyone took small positive
With a continued drop in (on 31 August 2019) via their my flu jab and I would urge actions to support local people,
temperatures, Bracknell Forest GP practice those eligible to get their free it would add up to make such a
residents who are at higher risk • school children from vaccination as soon as they huge difference. If you want to
of getting and spreading flu reception to year six can.” volunteer but don’t have time for
are urged to get their free NHS a permanent role, the Bracknell
• pregnant women For more information on this
vaccination this winter. Forest Volunteer Pool could be
• health and residential care year’s flu vaccine please ask
just what you need!
Flu is a highly contagious acute workers your GP or pharmacist or visit:
viral infection. While healthy www.eastberkshireccg.nhs.uk/ If you add your name to the
• carers volunteer pool mailing list, you
individuals usually recover your-health/flu.
within two to seven days, for As one of those at higher risk, will be sent email alerts informing
some people who are more Bracknell Forest flu champion you about local events and
susceptible to the effects of and Chair of the Health and opportunities that don’t require
flu, it can lead to more serious Wellbeing Board, Cllr Dale Birch, a big commitment. Tasks can be
illnesses or make existing had his flu vaccine at his local anything from basic conservation
conditions worse. surgery, The Sandhurst Group work to charity collections. This
Practice, with Dr Joynes. way, if you’ve got some free
People who are eligible for the time and see something you like
NHS flu vaccine include: He said: “Getting your
the look of, all you need to do
vaccination is the best way to
• those aged 65 and over is contact the organisers to let
protect yourself against flu. It’s
• those aged six months to them know you’d like to come
an important step in preventing
64 with long-term health along, and you can start making
not only you, but your family,
conditions or learning a difference.
friends, colleagues and those
Cllr Dale Birch with Dr Joynes, Visit: www
disabilities more susceptible to infection
having his flu vaccine at the bracknellforestgetinvolved.org.
• children aged two and three from becoming ill. I’ve had Sandhurst Group Practice.
uk/Volunteer-Pool to find out
more.
Feeling low
or anxious?
Needing support
to get back to
independence?
The Bracknell Forest Community Network
connects people aged 18+ experiencing stress,
anxiety or low mood to develop confidence,
interests and hobbies, life skills, and resilience.
Contact the Bracknell Forest Community Network by:
Tel: 01344 823300 or Email: network@berkshire.nhs.uk
Register for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice 7
The HEAT project
Did you know, Bracknell Forest Council achieves
£3m of funding and works with neighbouring
councils and in partnership with The HEAT Project
and Happy Energy Solutions Ltd, to make residents’
homes healthier, warmer and more energy efficient?
After installing more than 1,000 energy efficient measures into
homes, including heating insulation across Bracknell Forest, the
council has been successful in gaining funding to connect further
homes to gas mains and install gas heating. This follows on from
a previous project working with Affordable Warmth Solutions and
Happy Energy where 487 homes in Warfield Park were converted
from Liquid Paraffin Gas (LPG) to mains gas.
The funding has been secured from UK sources including Warm
Homes Fund, Energy Company obligations and Fuel Poor
Network. It will provide connections to mains gas, gas central
heating system, loft and cavity wall insulation and ground source
or air source heat pumps. All residents in the area can apply to see
if they qualify.
Residents can apply easily through contacting our HEAT the Home
Counties Energy Advisors - heatthehomecounties.org.uk.
Keep warm this winter ROWBERRYS www.rowberrys.co.uk
Email: info@rowberrys.co.uk
SOLICITORS Tel: 01344 775311
Our expert HR and Employment Law
Services in Crowthorne include:
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• Unfair, constructive and wrongful
dismissal
• Grievances and disciplinary issues
• Redundancy
• Discrimination
• Employment Contracts
• Settlement agreements
Cold weather can be seriously bad for our health. That’s why it’s
important to ensure we take steps to look after ourselves and If you would like an initial FREE
others, especially vulnerable relatives and neighbours, during the telephone consultation to
winter months. discuss your situation in
To help you stay warm this winter, heat your home to at least 18°C, confidence please contact:
especially if you’re not very mobile, have a health condition or are
over 65. Remember to keep your home well ventilated, use an Rebecca Ellerbeck
electric blanket if you have one, draw your curtains at dusk to keep Tel: 01344 466353
the heat in and ensure your heating system is regularly checked by Email: R.Ellerbeck@rowberrys.co.uk
a qualified professional. Several thin layers are better at keeping you
warm than one thick layer, so layer up and remove as appropriate.
For additional tips and support on heating your home visit: www.
Rowberrys Solicitors
bracknell-forest.gov.uk/housing/energy-efficiency-home/home-
Sherwood House, 104 High Street,Crowthorne, Berkshire, RG45 7AX
energy-tips
8 Register for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice
PUPS TAKEOVER
THE LEXICON
13 – 23 Feb 2020
Join us for February half-term to see the PAW Patrol characters, and take part
in our PAW Patrol treasure hunt. Find out more at thelexiconbracknell.com
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speed and vehicle load. All models and grades are certified according to the World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), which replaces the New European Driving
Cycle test procedure (NEDC). All CO2 figures quoted are NEDC equivalent. This means the CO2 figures are based on the new WLTP test procedure but calculated (using a standard European calculation
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Register for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice 9
Holly Spring Primary School celebrates official opening
The new Holly Spring Primary School marked
its official opening last term with a ribbon
cutting ceremony. The event was attended
by pupils, past and present staff, governors,
friends of Holly Spring, a Warfield Church
representative, and council representatives
including Cllr Gareth Barnard, Executive
Member for Children, Young People and
Learning.
Following the amalgamation of Holly Spring
Infant and Nursery School and Holly Spring
Junior School, the new primary school now
offers the same high standard of education
to all pupils aged three to 11 within the
local community. In addition, the school
has announced an extension to its nursery
provision, bringing it to 30 hours in total.
The plan to amalgamate the schools was
approved last year after more than 90 per
cent of respondents agreed to join the two
schools together. Cllr Gareth Barnard said:
“We were delighted to celebrate the official
opening of the new Holly Spring Primary
School and are excited for the year ahead.”
A new headteacher, Susan Marsh, was appointment to establish an exciting set of our vision of being an inclusive school that
successfully recruited last April and has values with the staff, pupils and parents. Mrs broadens aspirations and inspires and
worked closely with the school since her Marsh said: “We look forward to realising develops self-belief.”
Ascot Heath Primary School
School
Governors are
celebrate a racing star t to
people like
the new school year
you
Last term, Ascot Heath Primary School received a generous
donation from Ascot Racecourse to mark the opening of the newly-
Interested in influencing the
amalgamated school. future of young people?
New headteacher, Rachel Bradley, received the financial donation
Want to use your skills and
from Ascot Racecourse which went towards providing every child with
a new PE shirt.
This one-off donation was offered to celebrate the launch of Ascot
Heath Primary, which was created through the merger of the previous
develop new ones?
infant and junior schools in North Ascot.
Ascot Racecourse has an active community support programme, if Email: governors.helpdesk@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
you would like to find out more, information can be found on their
website: www.ascot.co.uk/ascot-racecourse-supports.
www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/schoolgovernors
10 Register for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice
‘Attenborough effect’ - have you been influenced?
Since the acclaimed TV series Blue Planet II, the eyes of What happens to our plastics?
environmentally conscious residents are on plastic. Knowing how
important it is to make sure we contribute to solving this issue, All bottles, pots, tubs or trays, such as fruit punnets, margarine
we talked to Cllr Dorothy Hayes MBE, Bracknell Forest Council’s tubs or soup pots are collected and taken to the re3 Materials
Executive Member for the Environment and Chairman of the re3 Recycling Facility in Reading where they are separated from other
Joint Waste Disposal Board, about what happens to our plastic items, squashed and sent for reprocessing to the UK based plastic
and how we can be assured that all the plastic we put into our recycling facility. The plastics are then cleaned and separated by
blue bins gets recycled. type and ground into flakes or beads, which later are melted down to
make new products, such as bottles and food trays but also garden
Have we seen an increase in plastic recycling? furniture or fleece jackets. Re3 audits the reprocessing companies
regularly and we are very fortunate that all our recyclable plastic is
Bracknell Forest residents can be proud of their efforts in plastic turned into finished products in the UK.
recycling. Last year, we not only saw a growing movement of
switching to reusable bags or cups but also saw a significant - almost How can we help to make sure our plastic gets
60 per cent - increase in plastic recycling across the re3 Partnership
recycled?
(Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Borough). This is great
news as recycling saves natural resources, energy and also provides The quality of sorted materials plays a significant role. The re3 sorting
significant savings to the council budget. Recycling is three times facility does a great job, however it also relies on a team of pickers
cheaper than disposal of the same amount of rubbish, and any who perform the quality control and remove all non-recyclable items.
savings achieved thanks to recycling could be spent on services that The most common items are black plastic trays or carrier bags. If
matter to our residents the most, such as social care, education or you’re not sure what can be recycled, we recommend checking
green spaces. our ‘plastic guide’ available on the re3 website and using the free
‘re3cyclopedia’ app.
Are you a small, local trader looking
for an easy and affordable way to
dispose and recycle your waste?
The new trade waste service is available to micro-sized
businesses operating in the re3 area of Bracknell Forest,
Reading and Wokingham that produce small amounts of
waste of a similar nature to householders.
Places on the trial are limited and all interested business
owners are invited to complete the online application form
on the re3 website re3.fccenvironment.co.uk (please search
for ‘trade waste trial’).Register for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice 11
Bracknell Forest Council’s Executive
set to approve food waste collections in
response to climate change
valentinarr/iStock/Getty Images Plus
Anna1311/iStock/Getty Images Plus
Allevinatis/iStock/Getty Images Plus
bluefern/iStock/Getty Images Plus
A dedicated weekly food waste collection This waste would then either be turned in to It would work by:
service could be launched this autumn to renewable energy or recycled in to fertilizer – 1. BFC supplying residents with two special
reduce the borough’s impact on climate making it an environmental win-win. food waste caddies in September 2020,
change by cutting the waste we send to Bracknell Forest Council residents already a 5L one for internal use and a 23L one
landfill by around 50 per cent. recycle 40 per cent of all their waste but with for external use. The 23L caddy will
Executive councillors have been asked to food waste collection that could go up to a be collected each week from October
approve proposals to implement a weekly target of 50 per cent by the end of 2020 and 2020.
food waste collection from October 2020, in 65 per cent by 2030. 2. Collecting blue recycling bins every
response to climate change, as part of their Recent waste surveys have shown that food two weeks. More items have recently
meeting on Tuesday, 28 January. waste accounts for 42 per cent of waste in been added to the list of things that can
The Executive has been asked to approve: green bins. Around 19 per cent of further be recycled in blue bins: https://re3.
• Introducing a weekly food waste waste that goes in residents’ green bins fccenvironment.co.uk/
collection service to all houses in could be recycled, either in the blue bin or 3. Collecting green bins with waste that can
Bracknell Forest from Monday, 5 via one of our numerous recycling banks. only be landfilled every three weeks.
October, 2020. Landfilling rubbish not only wastes money, Household waste and recycling will also still
• Encouraging all residents to reduce, it also contributes to air pollution and the be able to be taken to either Longshot Lane
reuse and recycle everything possible to long-term effects of climate change. The or Smallmead sites free of charge.
cut the amount of waste going to landfill. borough currently landfills 7,800 tonnes a
The brown bin and sack scheme for garden
year; through adding a dedicated food waste
• Maximising performance of the food waste would remain unaffected.
recycling collection the aim would be to
waste collection service by changing Residents who have a genuine and
reduce that by around 50 per cent.
landfill collection frequency to once unavoidable need for extra green bin
every three weeks. If approved, the scheme will launch for all
collections would be able to contact the
houses in Bracknell Forest from 5 October,
If agreed, a weekly food waste collection for waste team well in advance of the scheme
2020. Flats will be looked in to and added at
every house in the borough would cut the launching. The team would work directly
a later date, where possible.
amount of rubbish going to environmentally with those people to ensure they get the
costly landfill sites by around 4,000 tonnes a right collection service and larger bins or
year. extra collections, where needed.12 Register for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice
Free e-books, audio BorrowBox (e-books and e-audio books)
A great range of books for adults, young adults and
books, magazines
children and there are no late fines to pay.
RBdigital (e-audio books and e-magazines)
and newspapers More great books and a specially selected collection
of magazines including Amateur Photographer,
on your tablet or
Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Hello!, Web User,
New Scientist and The Economist. There is no limit to
the number of magazines you can check out or how long
smartphone you can have them.
PressReader (e-magazines and e-newspapers)
For access to hundreds of titles download Hundreds of newspapers and magazines from all
these apps from your device’s app store and over the world. Magazines on offer include BBC
login with your library card number. Then Wildlife, Empire, Hello!, Prima, The Beano and national
newspapers like The Guardian, The Telegraph and The
download a book or publication to enjoy
Independent. You can even listen to some articles and
offline - perfect for when you’re out and get articles translated.
about, long journeys and saving room in your
suitcase. For more information visit: www.bracknell-forest.gov.
uk/libraries/e-books-and-e-audio
The Look Out Discovery Centre
OPEN
10am - 5pm
every day
A great family day out Bring this advert to
whatever the weather! get one free child with
one full paying adult*.
Science and discovery Valid until 31/03/2020
fun - over 90 activities.
*Terms and conditions apply. ✃
T&C
Tel: 01344 354400
Be Amazed...
Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7QW
www.facebook.com/thelookoutdiscoveryRegister for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice 13
Extra
Sign up to Town & Country Extra
for the latest news and events
sent straight to your inbox
The free monthly bite-sized newsletter will be available to anyone who
subscribes to it via: bit.ly/TCExtra
We’ll still bring you three flagship editions of the popular printed
Town & Country every year but for the latest news and updates sign
up for Town & Country Extra today.
Looking for a way to get fit in 2020?
Entries to The Lexicon Bracknell
Half Marathon are now open!
Pavel1964/iStock/Getty Images Plus
iland19/iStock/Getty Images
ElenaMedvedeva/iStock/Getty Plus
Images Plus
To register, visit: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/halfmarathon14 Register for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice
We are proud to be celebrating our 35th year in business specialising in
double glazing, design and installation of windows and doors, in Berkshire,
Oxfordshire, and Hampshlre.
Don’t rush and don’t compromise. Let Thames Valley Windows take the stress
out of choosing and buying your double glazing windows, doors, conservatory
or glazed structure.
From our ‘Essential’ PVC range to our ‘State of the Art’ Passivhaus products,
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something for everyone!
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info@tvwindows.comRegister for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice 15
Winter gritting
As winter rolls on, staff in our • In 2018, we started the gritting season • Salt becomes less effective below minus
Highways team have been preparing with 2,006 tonnes of rock salt in storage six degrees centigrade.
ready for the months ahead. We used 810 • Salt can not stop water freezing if
for some long cold nights ahead if tonnes. temperatures fall below minus 10 degrees
temperatures continue to tumble.
• We use pre-wetted salt - a mixture of salt centigrade.
Our gritting service is a vital part and brine. • During times of snow our grounds
of our winter weather plan to keep • Last winter, gritters salted primary routes maintenance contractor, Continental
our roads and footpaths safe during 51 times. Landscapes help with clearing snow from
bad weather. The team often works • It takes around an hour to get a gritting roads and public footpaths.
around the clock, to ensure the truck ready to go out, and three hours to • Our heaviest truck weighs in at around 26
borough keeps moving throughout treat primary routes. tonnes when fully loaded - so in severe
• In severe conditions, the gritters go out up conditions, it’s not always safe or possible
the colder months.
to four times per day. for gritters to navigate smaller streets.
Did you know? • During the three-day period of snow from • If road users park their vehicles without
• Our contractor, Ringway Infrastructure 31 January 2019 – 2 February 2019, we due care and consideration, there’s every
Services, has three gritters with six drivers used 270 tonnes of salt to treat primary chance the gritter won’t be able to access
working on a rota basis. routes eight times, secondary routes five the road to treat it.
• We have three primary routes covering times and to refill salt bins. You can find more information about
approximately 111 miles of road and 35 • Salt works by lowering the freezing gritting, including interactive route maps
miles of secondary routes. temperature of water and requires the and advice on how you can help yourself
action of cars driving over it to turn it into and others during bad weather, by visiting:
• There are 78 salt bins throughout the
solution. www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk and searching
borough.
‘gritting’.
Road improvement updates
A322 Downshire Way A3095 phasing of the main work ahead of the
Work to widen the A322 Downshire Way Having successfully secured Government summer start. Details of the scheme will
is progressing well. The accompanying funding towards major highway work at continue to be available on the dedicated
greenway scheme is now underway and new both the Hanworth roundabout and Golden webpage, where plans of both the highway
trees and shrubs are currently being planted Retriever junction, final engineering design and greenway work can be found: www.
in the nearby verges and green spaces. work is now being completed in readiness for bracknell-forest.gov.uk/A3095
Planting will continue until next autumn. This a start date of February 2020.
aspect of the scheme will provide visual and While the main construction work will begin
environmental benefits including connected during the summer of 2020 to allow the
Thomas-Soellner/iStock/Getty Images Plus
woodlands and the introduction of new use of the longer hours of daylight, early
habitats for wildlife. The project will provide preparation will include the creation of site
a long-term enhancement for the local compounds and the removal of some trees
community and wildlife. and vegetation. This work will be undertaken
in February and March to avoid the bird
Further details and updates can be found nesting season.
at: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/A322 Local residents and businesses will be
provided with further information on the16 Register for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice
Harmans Water Primary School recognised in Parliamentary Review
Harmans Water Primary
School has been recognised
in a Parliamentary Review for
it’s work in tackling significant
behaviour challenges. Inspired
by the ethos of athletes
competing in the 2016 Olympic
Games in Rio, the school
came up with six core values –
respect, responsibility, resilience,
teamwork, thoughtfulness
and creativity – and a system
to reward pupils for living the
values in their everyday lives.
Since then, the school has seen
an improvement in performance,
being awarded a ‘good’ rating
for behaviour by Ofsted.
Headteacher, Alison Wyld, said:
“Our ultimate aim was to create
a school with a caring and
nurturing ethos where children
developed, but in 2018, core values in their everyday the challenges they face and
felt safe, both emotionally and
the welfare and personal lives.” share their insight. The article
physically. As part of this, we
development work of our for Harmans Water Primary
developed a new inclusion team, The Parliamentary Review is
inclusion team was rated School can be viewed at: www.
who created Flourish, - our a platform for innovative and
‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, theparliamentaryreview.co.uk/
pastoral support programme. progressive UK businesses and
reflecting the great work of both organisations/harmans-water-
schools to be heard, address
“The programme is still being staff and pupils to embrace the primary-school
Community Learning at
Bracknell Open Learning Centre
Courses for adults in computing, arts, well-being and work skills.
Visit www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/community-learning
Check out our new facebook page
www.facebook.com/bracknelladultlearning
Bringing learning to lifeRegister for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice 17
Bracknell Forest Public Town & Country
Protection Partnership reader survey
Shaperstock/iStock/Getty Images Plus
Tell us what you think of Town &
Country by completing our online
reader survey at:
http://bit.ly/TandC2020 and you could
NicoElNino/iStock/Getty Images Plus
win a £20 gift card for The Lexicon!
The survey is open until Saturday,
29 February.
Every day Bracknell Forest residents and Change a child’s life
businesses are protected in ways you may
not even realise. Whether it is the food in
in Bracknell Forest
our schools and restaurants, safety in our Become a foster carer
workplaces or the safety of the products we
buy in our shops or online, the Public Protection We’re seeking caring people to foster full or part
Partnership (PPP) is working behind the scenes time. You’ll need to have a spare bedroom, be in
to protect us all. good health and have time to devote to a child.
The PPP, which is coming up to its third anniversary, is a In return we offer up to £425 per week, specialist
collaboration between Bracknell Forest Council and the training and a huge amount of support.
neighbouring authorities of Wokingham Borough and West
Berkshire. It’s run by a joint committee with councillors
from all three authorities agreeing priorities and ensuring it
provides for the 450,000 residents that live, and the 10,000
businesses that operate, between Crowthorne in the East
and Lambourn in the West. The current service priorities
are based around the shared aims of the three councils
including climate change, protecting the most vulnerable
and improving and protecting health.
To find out more or to contact the PPP, visit: www. Find out more at
publicprotectionpartnership.org.uk www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/fostering
E: fostering@bracknell-forest.gov.uk18 Register
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Want to know what’s on in your area? Then Help
Yourself to all Bracknell Forest has to offer!
If you have an event,
club or organisation you
would like to promote,
these can be featured
on our community
website, Bracknell
Forest Help Yourself.
To be included on Help
Yourself email: Help.
Yourself@bracknell-forest.
gov.uk.
What is Bracknell Forest Help Yourself?
Local community groups and voluntary to meet their needs and interests. It businesses that can deliver meals and
organisations have come together in is a comprehensive online guide so registered care homes for people who
partnership with the council to create people can easily find things to do, no longer feel able to live in their own
Bracknell Forest Help Yourself, an organisations to support them or simply home.
innovative community website that help them to meet like-minded people.
everyone can use to help them stay
fit, healthy and connected to their Features include a community map so
community. There are more than 400 residents can find events and social
organisations currently listed on Help groups available locally, a well-being
Yourself with more to be added over planner to allow people to identify how
Tera Vector/iStock/Getty Images Plus
time. Visit: https://helpyourself.bracknell- they can improve their well-being and
forest.gov.uk. a search tool for those looking for a
particular activity.
The platform has been created to help
ensure people of all ages and abilities Bracknell Forest Help Yourself also
are able to access information on the supports people with social care needs
activities and support available locally with information available on agencies
which provide support at home,
Bracknell Forest Council meetings
JANUARY MARCH
Tue, 28 5pm Executive Mon, 9 5.30pm Bracknell Town Centre
Wed, 29 7.30pm Governance & Audit Regeneration Committee
Committee Tue, 10 5pm Executive
FEBRUARY
Thu, 6 7.30pm Licensing & Safe ty
Committee All meetings will be held at Time Square unless
Tue, 11 5pm Executive otherwise stated. Details correct at time of going to
Thu, 13 7.30pm Planning Committee press.
Wed, 26 7.30pm Council20 Register for a self-service account: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/selfservice
BRACKNELL
FOREST
This year put a spin on your
plastic recycling habits.
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE APP
re3cyclopedia
CHECK OUR
PLASTIC GUIDE
open the camera app
and scan QR code
Search ‘plastic recycling’ on www.re3.org.uk
/re3recycling @re3recycling /re3recyclingYou can also read
