The Parish Council was pleased to welcome Jim Gallagher, from Finchampstead Baptist Church, who reported that progress is at last being made on reaching an agreement with Wokingham Borough Council on the new Community Facility at Gorse Ride.

The Chairman, Councillor Roland Cundy, reported that the Remembrance Day service at the War Memorial had gone extremely well, with at least 200 people of all ages attending, reflecting an increasing community spirit.  It was agreed that the Parish Council would write to Wokingham Police to thank them for their efficient traffic management.

The Planning Committee has received two huge tomes from CEMEX UK, the gravel extraction company, which wishes to excavate to the west of Longwater Road.  Councillor Gordon Veitch heroically ploughed through the information and presented a summary.  The Parish Council recognises the necessity for gravel extraction and is broadly in favour of the plan, but is concerned that the treatment plant will remain to the east of Longwater Road for several more years than expected.

The Planning Committee has invited Heather Thwaites, Head of Planning at Wokingham Borough Council, to attend its next meeting in order to discuss some matters which give rise to concern, namely, enforcement (or lack of it), backland development, Thames Basin Heath (where are we with this?) and staffing issues at WBC.

The Amenities Committee reported that the Autumn Newsletter had been dispatched to WBC distribution centre and would shortly be delivered to every household in the parish; look out for its arrival!

Hopefully, we will be able to have hanging baskets at California Crossroads next summer.  The Clerk has managed to source a small water tank and long spray, and we may have a volunteer.

And finally, Cllr Pam Hughes reported that Bracknell Tip is to undergo modernisation, and therefore will shortly only be open to the public at weekends. Apologies for not having exact dates: suggest you check with Wokingham Borough Council web-site.

Cllr Chris Driver

The date this page was last altered was December 28, 2007.

Copyright © 2003 Finchampstead Parish Council