Latest News & Forum Actions
Keep your property safe this winter - leave a light on when the house is empty in the evening. Simple light manual light timer switches can usually be purchased for under £10 and are easy to set. Remember also to ensure that all doors and windows are locked.
Beware of recent scams - There have been a large number of fake TV licencing emails and HM Revenue and Customs emails, texts and calls recently. Please be suspicious of any unsolicited emails or calls from either of these organisations. More details on www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk
The current local policing priorities are Speeding and Antisocial Behaviour:
Speeding:
Thames Valley Police have set up a ‘Community Speedwatch’. Volunteer residents are trained to monitor speeds in roads identified to be of concern. Warning letters are sent to any drivers found to be over the limit. Woodley Town Council also has its own ‘Speedwatch’ equipment which trained volunteers can use to monitor speeds and record registration of relevant cars.
The Community Forum is working with the police and Woodley Town Council to ensure that speeds are monitored in any roads reported by residents to be of concern. Roads of concern should be reported to the forum who will then notify the Community Speedwatch team and the Woodley independent Speedwatch team. The Speedwatch teams will send volunteers to monitor speeds and thus quantify the extent of speeding on the reported road. Speedwatch will report back to the forum who will in turn notify the Neighbourhood Policing Team if further action is needed.
Antisocial behaviour:
Reported levels of antisocial behaviour in the area, and particularly in Woodley Precinct, are relatively low and were much lower than predicted over the 2018 summer holidays. However, the local police continue to work with the families of a small number of young people who can sometimes cause problems.
Over the past months the forum has considered a number of issues, these include:
Motorists are asked to remember:
Parking on the pavement can cause inconvenience to pedestrians. It can create hazards for visually impaired, disabled and elderly people or those with mobility scooters or pushchairs. Parking on the pavement can also damage the curb, the pavement or the services underneath. Such damage can create more hazards for pedestrians and can be costly to repair.
Pavements are for people – please don’t park on them
Beware of recent scams - There have been a large number of fake TV licencing emails and HM Revenue and Customs emails, texts and calls recently. Please be suspicious of any unsolicited emails or calls from either of these organisations. More details on www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk
The current local policing priorities are Speeding and Antisocial Behaviour:
Speeding:
Thames Valley Police have set up a ‘Community Speedwatch’. Volunteer residents are trained to monitor speeds in roads identified to be of concern. Warning letters are sent to any drivers found to be over the limit. Woodley Town Council also has its own ‘Speedwatch’ equipment which trained volunteers can use to monitor speeds and record registration of relevant cars.
The Community Forum is working with the police and Woodley Town Council to ensure that speeds are monitored in any roads reported by residents to be of concern. Roads of concern should be reported to the forum who will then notify the Community Speedwatch team and the Woodley independent Speedwatch team. The Speedwatch teams will send volunteers to monitor speeds and thus quantify the extent of speeding on the reported road. Speedwatch will report back to the forum who will in turn notify the Neighbourhood Policing Team if further action is needed.
Antisocial behaviour:
Reported levels of antisocial behaviour in the area, and particularly in Woodley Precinct, are relatively low and were much lower than predicted over the 2018 summer holidays. However, the local police continue to work with the families of a small number of young people who can sometimes cause problems.
Over the past months the forum has considered a number of issues, these include:
- Cycling in Woodley Precinct – Cycling is not permitted in Woodley precinct. There are clear ‘no cycling’ signs at the main entrances and cycle racks are provided for those who travel to the precinct by bike. The majority of cyclists dismount on entering the precinct. The Community Forum, in response to safety concerns voiced by pedestrians, has been working with the Town Council, The Town Centre Management Initiative and the local police to ensure that all cyclists behave responsibly when in the precinct, though regular patrols of PCSOs, work with young people and education in the schools.
- Illegal encampment – The forum has worked with the local police and Wokingham Borough Council to increase the number of posts and extend the bund around Bulmershe Open space and thus prevent illegal encampment. WBC has also modified the access to the Woodley town centre carparks in order to deter illegal encampment.
- Cycle Theft – There had been a spate of cycle thefts locally. The local police have been successful in apprehending offenders and as a result the number of thefts has fallen. The police and the forum continue to promote marking of bikes and have organised bike marking schemes in the schools and in the town centre.
- Prevention of burglary and scams – Residents had expressed concern about risk from burglaries and scams, including rogue traders and internet fraud. As a result, the forum asked Thames Valley Police to organise an information event at the Oakwood Centre in May 2018. This was well attended and it is hoped that another event can be organised for 2019.
- Theft from Motor vehicles was an issue but has now much reduced. Motorists are reminded to ensure that they lock their cars at all times, including when parked in their own drives.
- Inconsiderate parking – inconsiderate parking, including blocking of drives and obstructing pavements and cycle ways is an issue in parts of Woodley and N Earley where houses have limited driveways. Parking which causes an obstruction should be reported to the police, unless there are also double yellow lines in which case it is a matter for Wokingham Borough Council as part of the Civil Parking Enforcement.
Motorists are asked to remember:
Parking on the pavement can cause inconvenience to pedestrians. It can create hazards for visually impaired, disabled and elderly people or those with mobility scooters or pushchairs. Parking on the pavement can also damage the curb, the pavement or the services underneath. Such damage can create more hazards for pedestrians and can be costly to repair.
Pavements are for people – please don’t park on them