The December meeting of the Parish Council took place at the California Ratepayers’ Hall on Thursday, 21 December.

A number of residents braved the freezing fog to express their objections to the proposed opening up of Gorse Ride as a through road.  This forms part of the Baptist Church/Wokingham District Council plan to provide a new Community Centre at The Rides, but has proved to be deeply unpopular with the majority of residents, who welcome the overall plan, but wish to see the road remain as two cul-de-sacs.  The residents were advised that both Wokingham District Council and the Baptist Church would take their objections very seriously, and would endeavour to produce a plan which would be enthusiastically received by all residents.

The rest of the meeting was concerned with routine matters:-

·        The Paddling Pool may be open for longer next summer.

·        We have two new Parish Council notice boards – one to be located near St James’s Church, and one near Belmont Stores (junction of Kiln Ride and Nine-mile Ride).

·        The Welcome Packs will be ready early in the New Year.

·        The Parish Council may restore the old water pump in the village.

·        No progress yet on allotments.

The Parish Council was delighted to learn that two of our primary schools gained first and second places in the local league tables and that Wokingham District came second in the national tables.  The Clerk was asked to send the Parish Council’s congratulations to Nine-mile Ride Primary School and Finchampstead CofE Primary School

Lastly, we said goodbye to Councillor John Dewhurst, who has served on the Parish Council for many years, and who has now decided to retire.  John was presented with a shrub by the Chairman, and we know he will enjoy spending more time in his garden, but we shall miss his sage advice and good humour.

Best wishes for 2007 from all on the Parish Council.

Cllr Chris Driver

The date this page was last altered was March 11, 2007.

Copyright © 2003 Finchampstead Parish Council