•  From Tuesday 2nd August, the 12 and 15 inch water main through Finchampstead will be relined by SE Water's contractors Pipeway, in the following sequence:
   
  Wellingtonia Avenue
  The Ridges 
  Jubilee Hill
  Longwater Road
   
  These pipes carry water between reservoirs and don't form part of the normal 3 - 6 inch domestic water distribution system (which was relined about 10 weeks ago), so interruptions to supply are not generally anticipated. With 3.5km of pipes to be relined, this task will take 5-6 weeks. Inevitably, temporary traffic lights will be in use at times.
   
  To compound the potential traffic disruption, from Monday 15 August the A327 at Eversley Street (southwards from Bluebeckers), is to be completely closed (by Hampshire County Council) for up to 8 weeks to allow for major road repairs. Although some HGV traffic will be diverted, we can expect significant volumes of extra traffic to use Fleet Hill/The Village and also Longwater Road (and hence other Finchampstead routes), in their attempts to find alternative routes past the closure. This closure will be featured on TV news programs to alert drivers.
   
  Clearly, there will be 4 weeks where these works overlap. WDC will closely monitor the situation.

   

•  Finchampstead now has a PCSO, Jenny Beckford, who is supporting the local beat officers PC Dave McKay (her mentor) and PC Andy Roberts.

  Jenny, 31, lives in Reading with her partner and four children: three girls aged 10, eight and six, and a nine-month-old son. She lists her hobbies as changing nappies, washing, ironing …

  Jenny’s parenting experience will be invaluable when talking to youngsters as she patrols the streets of Finchampstead. Rowdy youths won’t faze Jenny – she used to be a door supervisor at Yates wine bar in Friar Street, Reading!

  To find out more about what a PCSO is click here and click here to see a picture of Jenny and Dave.

   

•  Planning permission for the O2 telecoms mast at California Ratepayers Hall has been REFUSED.

•  You will have seen from a previous news item that the Parish Council was organising a petition opposed to the O2 telecoms mast at California Ratepayers Hall. A petition with 425 signatures was handed into WDC. A special thanks goes to Rusts, Jats Pharmacy and Cresswells Garage for assisting in signature collection. We also have the support of our local MP, Andrew MacKay who said "I think it's an entirely inappropriate place bearing in mind the number of people who use the hall and the library. I hope it is turned down."

•  To find out more information on the Finchampstead Design Statement please visit the website that has been set up specifically for it www.welivehere.org.uk.

•  Objection to the proposed O2 telecoms mast & equipment at California Ratepayers Hall.

  Please help reject the application from O2 to construct a 12.5m (40 feet) phone mast together with associated equipment immediately adjacent to the bus shelter at California Ratepayers Hall (TL/2005/3968).

  Objections are based on

  1. health issues due to the proximity of the mast and equipment:

  • to the bus shelter and hall which is used by many local residents including children. It is a pickup and drop off point for many school buses.

  • to other community resources such as Red Oak Stores, Post Office, Rusts and the new container library which are frequented by many local residents including children.

  • to where many local residents including school children will either walk past or pass close by (around California Crossroads area).

2. loss of visual amenity. The area is open with low level buildings.

3. lack of proper consideration and consultation on possible alternative less impacting sites. Proposed site was supposed to be Wick Hill.

SIGN THE PETITION NOW....THIS WEEK!

Petitions are situated in Rusts and Cresswells Garage

•  A new chapter for residents in Finchampstead is about to start as the new container library opens its doors on Wednesday November 3 at 9.30am for a trial period of four months. Click here to find out more details including opening times.

•  October 2nd - Click here to find out more about the meeting to be held on the 8th of October. Key speakers will be Andrew MacKay, MP and Jim Dunning, Planning, WDC. For further details on the meeting please call Mr. Sydney Paulden on (0118) 979 3277

•  June 16th - Finchampstead Annual Village Fete. 1pm-4pm Saturday 10th July at the Memorial Park.

•  June 16th - Local election results for Finchampstead can be found by clicking on the link to the left.

•  May 30th - DON'T FORGET THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS. Polling day is Thursday 10th June. Polling hours are 7am to 10 p.m. Your Polling Station will be detailed on your Polling Card. For details on the Finchampstead Parish elections click on the link to the left.

•  May 21st - Finchampstead Police Liaison Group - Public Meeting. Wednesday 9 June at 7.30pm in Gorse Ride Infant School.

•  April 3rd - Jubilee Tree dedication is to take place on the 25th April at 3 p.m. on the green between Finchampstead Church and the Queen's Oak public house. There will be Morris dancing and the pub will be open.

•  March 11th - Finchampstead Parish Council Annual Gathering on Thursday 18th March at 8pm at the Finchampstead Memorial Hall. This is your chance to meet the Parish Council and find out what they have been getting up to over the last year. Click the link to see the agenda.

•  March 9th - Parish Office days open have changed. Opening times are now : Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 10.00am to 12.00am each day.

•  February 25th - State-of-the-art vehicle speed signs have been placed at the junction of Kiln Ride and Nine Mile Ride. The Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) flash up the speed limit with a "SLOW DOWN" warning if drivers are going too fast.

•  February 4th - Wokingham District Council has decided to sell off ground leases it owns at Hogwood Lane Industrial Estate in Finchampstead to help fund £2.6 million expansion of Maiden Erleigh School. For the full story click here.

•  January 15th - Appeal for witnesses following road traffic incident - Finchampstead. To find out more click here.

•  January 7th - The Police now have a new single 24-hour non-emergency number 0845 8 505 505. To find out more click here.

•  December 23rd - Blackwater River footpath between Longwater Road and Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve has now reopened following repairs to the flood damaged section.

•  December 10th - 30MPH & 40MPH speed limits to be introduced along Finchampstead Road and Barkham Ride.

  • 30MPH. Finchampstead Rd - from a point approximately 43 metres north of its junction with Washington Gardens to a point approximately 59 metres southwest of its junction with The Dittons. Barkham Ride - from point approximately 75 metres northwest of its junction with Woodside Close to its junction with Windsor Ride.

  • 40MPH. Finchampstead Rd - from a point approximately 59 metres southwest of its junction with The Dittons to a point approximately 194 metres Southwest of its junction with The Dittons.

   

•  December 10th - an article(267KB) appeared in the Wokingham Times about the need for a permanent library in Finchampstead. If you live in Finchampstead and have a view please send in your suggestion or an email.

•  December 2nd - the Parish Council will be producing a News Bulletin from time to time and this is to be distributed to those who subscribe.

•  December 2nd - if you have a minute please complete a survey by clicking here.

•  December 1st - 193 bus service has been reinstated after pressure from Finchampstead Parish Council and local residents. A leaflet describing the new service is available here (2093KB). To look at the new timetable click here (19KB).

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

Copyright © 2003 Finchampstead Parish Council