TONY JOHNSON

Views of the news in 2018 January

IF CHANGE were the only constant in life, then 2018 would turn out to be a very constant year. It opened with closures – The Spin nightclub’s hasty departure from central Wokingham in late December, coupled with WBC’s announcement of a programme of 47 road closures for winter drainage works - which even the council admitted could “cause some inconvenience”.

Meanwhile, Mrs May showed her commitment to new homes by popping in to Montague Park resident Laura Paine’s house for a cup of tea.

The PM went on to say: “we want to see homes being built in the right places. It’s important we protect the green belt as far as possible”.

Wokingham’s station toilets promptly closed again, due to vandalism (not Mrs May’s visit).

More new homes were approved in a ‘cunning plan’ – but it was neighbouring Hart Council who’d been cunning, approving a quantity of new houses on WBC’s border without making any CIL contribution (community infrastructure levy) to WBC. Meanwhile over in Woodley, shades of things to come became clear as WBC razed all the trees to the ground on a former Age Concern site.

There was news that Market Place improvements had encountered delays due to some underground issues and the opening date would now be March.

The month closed with an Extraordinary Council Meeting debating the Finchampstead residents’ petition, following which the public were invited to join a traffic group created to address road congestion issues around the borough.

The year was barely a month old as changes in the ruling executive were announced: Chris Bowring was booted out as exec member for Highways and replaced by Keith Baker. Julian McGhee-Sumner took on the Finance role due to illness in the previous incumbent’s family.