Councillors say thank you

I write to express my gratitude to the residents of Bulmershe and Whitegates ward for electing me as their councillor in the recent elections. It is a great honour to be trusted as their representative and I hope I am able to justify that trust.

Cllr Tony Skuse, Labour councillor for Bulmershe and Whitegates, Wokingham Borough Council

I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the residents who re-elected me at last Thursday’s local elections.

In the Sonning and Warren area we have many issues to tackle and I look forward to taking up these on your behalf with the Borough Council, such as traffic and planning issues.

It is an honour and privilege to represent the residents of Sonning and Warren Ward with meetings starting as early as this week.

Whatever happens, I will always strive to do my best to represent you all.

Cllr Michael Firmager, Conservative councillor for Sonning and Warren Ward, Wokingham Borough Council

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your support and your vote in the recent local election for Loddon ward in Wokingham Borough Council. Your participation in the democratic process is greatly appreciated, and it means a lot to me to have your support.

As an elected member, I am committed to working hard to represent the interests of our community in Woodley and to make a positive impact in the lives of our fellow citizens.

I take this responsibility very seriously, and I will do my best to serve our community with dedication, integrity, and compassion.

Thank you again for your support, and please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions.

I look forward to working together to make our community an even better place to live, work, and thrive. Cllr Abdul Loyes, Conservative councillor for Loddon Ward, Wokingham Borough Council

I would like to thank all the residents who have placed their trust in me during the recent local election. Promise to work hard and keep residents interest first.

I would like to thank Rachel Burgess and Norreys team for electing me as their candidate and supporting me.

Cllr Nagi Nagella, Labour councillor for Norreys West, Wokingham Town Council

I would like to thank the people of Norreys East Ward who took the time to vote for me on Thursday. I feel it is a privilege and am really looking forward to representing the interests of Norreys East residents on the Town Council.

Cllr Margaret Lucey, Labour councillor for Noreys East, Wokingham Town Council

On behalf of all the Woodley Town Council Conservative candidates, I would like to give a great big thank you to the voters of Woodley for continuing to put their faith in Woodley Conservatives.

It is vital that residents come out to vote to ensure democracy continues. Regardless of who you voted for your local councillors are there to help you so if you have a problem please do contact them. The new composition of Woodley Town Council is now 17 Conservatives; 5 Labour, 2 Liberal Democrats and 1 Independent.

Despite the imposition of Voter ID, the Borough election turnout across Woodley went up by 1.7% and the Conservative share of that vote went up by 4.5%.

Labour share of the vote also went up by 2.6%.

In direct contrast the Liberal Democrats share of the vote went down by 7.2% possibly reflecting the disagreement around the loss of weekly bin collection; higher parking charges and a real terms cut in the road maintenance budget.

Unfortunately, results across the rest of the Borough were not similar so all those three things will now happen. But that is democracy.

Woodley is a fantastic place to live and work. Both myself and my fellow Conservative Town Councillors are passionate in putting the wants and needs of both Woodley residents and its local Businesses as priorities.

So thank you to all residents who have bestowed the honour on all of us the represent you as Town Councillors.

Cllr Keith Baker, Conservative

councillor for Coronation Ward on Wokingham Borough Council and leader of Woodley Town Council

We would like to thank the residents of Maiden Erlegh ward for electing such a strong team of Liberal Democrats to represent and serve them on Earley Town Council and Wokingham Borough Council. We really appreciate the confidence and trust that you have placed in us and are totally committed to helping and serving you through our work on these bodies.

With our thanks and best wishes Cllrs John Eastwell, Geoff Littler, Stephen Newton, Irene Khayinza, Tahir Maher, Mike Smith, Nicola Brock and Al Neal

I would just like to say thank you to all the residents of Norreys East who voted for me as one of their Labour councillors for Norreys East ward on Wokingham Town Council. It is a great honour and I look forward to doing my best for our area.

Cllr Andy Croy, Labour councillor for Noreys East, Wokingham Town Council

I’d like to thank the residents of Norreys West for voting me in as one of their Wokingham Town Councillors. I’m looking forward to starting this work, and hope myself and fellow Councillor, Nagi Nagella, can honour your faith in us as we work hard as part of the Labour group.

Cllr Barrie Callender, Labour councillor for Noreys West, Wokingham Town Council

I should like to thank everyone involved in the running of the elections on Thursday and the count on Friday.

As a first-time candidate, it was genuinely moving to see the process of local elections take place in realtime and the commitment and care that the poll workers showed for each individual voter at the poll stations and later their vote at the count.

Seeing the votes laid out on the table at the count itself made me even more determined to represent and act for all the residents in the ward I was fortunate enough to be elected to.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on WBC to make sure that the Council works for everyone.

Cllr Marie-Louise Weighill, Labour councillor for Norreys, Wokingham Borough Council

I would like to thank all the Coronation ward residents who voted for me last week. I was humbled and delighted to receive such strong support. I will continue to work hard to serve all residents, however they voted, as their re-elected borough councillor.

Many thanks also to the council officers for their work which ensured that the election period, poll day and the count ran smoothly.

Cllr Alison Swaddle, Conservative councillor for Coronation, Wokingham Borough Council

Thank you to the residents of South Lake, Woodley, for re-electing me for a third term.

I’m certain my re-election, which bucked the national trend, was due to residents knowing how negatively the Lib Dems’ decision to increase parking charges and extend into the evenings and Sundays would impact Woodley precinct.

Thank you to the shops that hosted the Conservatives’ petition against these changes and gained more than 4,000 signatures. The Lib

Dems ignored this but residents know Conservatives will continue to stand up for them.

Cllr Laura Blumenthal, Conservative councillor for South Lake, Wokingham

Borough Council I am very grateful to the residents of Shinfield South ward who voted in the local election last week. I feel privileged to represent and serve everyone who lives in the ward on Wokingham Borough Council. I will do everything in my power to improve the services we receive and the infrastructure we rely on, and make Shinfield an even better place in which to live.

Thank you

Cllr Catherine Glover, Liberal

Democrat councillor for Shinfield South, Wokingham

Borough Council ■ To the residents of Wescott

I am writing to Thank you for placing your trust in me as a borough councillor at the recent elections. I have lived in Wokingham for over 20 years and brought up my children Katie and Ben here.

I have always been actively involved in the local community from the school PTA and governing body for over 15 years to coaching my daughters football team for six years.

I consider the journey I am about to embark on to be a real privilege and I promise to give my best to all in Wescott.

Cllr Jane Ainslie ,Liberal Democrat councillor for Shinfield South, Wokingham Borough Council

Christian Aid Week May 14-20

Each year for one week during

May people from churches across Wokingham collect donations for an international development agency called Christian Aid.

Christian Aid works with partners across the globe to support some of the poorest people on the planet. They’ve been around for a while – almost 80 years, in fact. (In case you’re wondering, Christian Aid works with anyone in need – whatever they believe.)

Their work ranges from responding to natural disasters through to helping people buy livestock to generate income (so their kids can go to school). Sometimes it’s as simple as building a well so women (it’s usually women) don’t have to walk for six hours each day just to collect water. Like many other charities, they’ve been supporting people fleeing Ukraine, and rehabilitating people suffering from the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. They help people get access to health services and education.

A lot of work involves providing skills to local communities so they can become independent and manage their lives without help from others.

Their longer-term goals are to get people out of extreme poverty and help them make the most of opportunities, such as being able to sell their produce for a fair price. This year Christian Aid Week is looking at countries like Malawi where, due to climate change and huge price rises in basic ingredients, millions of people are struggling to get enough food and water.

We’d love it if you could support them. Anything you give will

(literally) save lives and change them for the better. For more details go to: www.justgiving.com/page/ wokinghamchristianaid

Thank you.

Peter B, Wokingham

Drive on without a fine

Re: Drivers’ concerns over councils, including Wokingham, having powers to fine them for moving traffic offences

You might want to mention that if drivers aren’t breaking the law then there will be no consequences whatsoever.

As they readily admit in the article to breaking the law clearly action to change that behaviour is required, the suggestion to leave it in the police’s hands is merely said to maintain the status quo, eg they are getting away with it.

I believe you are incorrect in saying that no enforcement will take place in the first 6 months, my understanding is that drivers will get a warning letter for the first offence and a fine for any subsequent transgression, this may or may not be per location.

Name and address withheld

Watch your mental health

We know the cost of living crisis is affecting the mental health of millions. From soaring energy bills, to rising food prices, or increasing rent or mortgage payments, it’s all adding to the mounting pressure and worry about how we’ll get by.

We’re hearing from people who are experiencing crippling anxiety because they’re being forced to question every penny they spend. Others have become more lonely and isolated because they just can’t afford to see their friends who they rely on for mental health support.

For so many of us looking after our mental health is often last or buried in our busy lists. That’s why, this Mental Health Awareness Week (May 15-21) , we’re encouraging anyone who may be struggling with their mental health to seek support.

If this speaks to you and your readers, speak to Mind. We know we can’t fix the cost of living crisis but we can help each other to cope and we are here for you. Thank you.

Sarah Hughes, CEO of Mind

Please help Malawi

I’ve just returned from Malawi, with a team from the international disaster relief charity ShelterBox. The flooding and mudslides caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy have scarred the hillsides, where enormous car sized rocks destroyed everything in their path.

Whole homes have been consumed, washed away or severely damaged, and many of those still standing aren’t habitable or structurally safe.

That’s why ShelterBox will be providing thousands of people with emergency shelter and other essential items to help them return home once the floods have subsided, with local partners and groups.

The cyclone, which could be the longest-lasting and most powerful on record, claimed lives, homes, and livelihoods.

More than 650,000 people have been displaced and are now living in crowded rooms, camps, schools, and community centres.

The lack of adequate shelter and mosquito nets are leaving people exposed to malaria, which is already a high risk, and the spread of waterborne diseases is a growing concern.

The aid we’re providing might not seem much, but it will help people, families, and communities start their road to recovery.

People will be able to use the tarpaulins, shelter kits, and timber to construct a shelter that offers protection from the elements and provides privacy.

Kitchen sets, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lights, sleeping mats, and water filters will give people, who fled unable to take any belongings with them, the essential resources they need to help protect their families.

To find out more about the work of ShelterBox across the world, visit shelterbox.org.

Melanie Hughes, ShelterBox

response team lead

Elderly with dementia forgotten

Alzheimers/Dementia are forgotten in two towns I know of.

They are all alone and afraid of going out, the street lighting is not good and the MPs do not seem to worry and say the usual answer that the government are doing enough for them this as always is words no action or visits to these people.

I am talking about Wokingham and Bracknell. They must have some compassion though Labour councillors and Tory do not show it at all and certainly not the two MPs, they don’t really care.

Victor Rones, Bracknell