Kentwood Meadows world war 1 memorial park out of bounds

The rather poor park at Kentwood Meadows is now out of bounds following our periodic visit from the travellers. They appear to have left behind materials that the council advise are biohazards.

I feel sorry for the workers who have to clear up the mess and I am shocked that the travellers have not only illegally parked themselves in this park but have vandalised the "park" in this callous way.

When will proper defences to these incursions be put in place? Who knows?

When will the council tax paying public be allowed back in? Who knows?

Who will pay the bill for the clean up? Yes we know the answer to that, it's probably part of the inflation busting 4.6% council tax increase this year.

Hopefully next year some of these new householders who will be living on what was lovely meadowland will help keep the council tax increase below inflation. Oh look there's a flying pig if it is politically correct to use the pig word.

And the gypsies are back at World War 1 gardens or Kentwood Meadows

Can't say it is a great place anyway with the @wokinghambc sop of a small "park" so that they can build all over lovely green natural pastures (Kentwood Meadows) right next to the motorway spur dual carriageway but now the gypsies (or travellers if you are politically correct ish) are back again as at Saturday 29 July 2017.

No doubt fences will be down again, all litter all over the place, legal fees to be paid by council tax payers. This will probably take a couple of weeks and we the council tax payers will be shelling out again.

Not content with 4.6% increase in my council tax this year this will no doubt increase even more next year with the same lack of provision to stop this 3 times yearly incursion into what tax payers pay for.

However the devastation of the gypsies will not be as bad as that caused by @Wokinghambc with their building over lovely open fields with their expensive bland little boxes. Welcome to the new world, money money money...

Wokingham is not the place it was even 2 years ago, sadly going downhill faster and faster...

Tickle casts his vote

Not really but it was nice that the people at the voting station allowed him in. He was well behaved too!

He would vote for anyone who feeds him!

SW Trains bridge of sighs

If you catch the 16.35 from Waterloo to Reading then expect to get stopped for at least 5 frustrating minutes outside Wokingham station while a GWR train gets priority.

When will SW Trains get priority please, just once a week would be a start.

Here is the view I get every single weeknight!

Are you sure Shell?

Used to get my fuel from Shell along the London Road but after these numerous and obnoxious notices I am reconsidering my custom.

If I can't pop in for some milk or a coffee without fear of a hefty fine then I think I will get my fuel from BP now!

Pole axed

 This pole although clearly vandalised seems to have had its day.

Having paid a whopping 4.6% increase on my council tax this year (over twice the rate of inflation) can we expect service at twice the speed?

Looking forward to the new pole by the end of June 2017 @wokinghambc

Not fine with me!

If you are caught driving your car whilst using your mobile phone the fine is £200.

However if you let your dog foul the footpath then the fine is £2500!

So when you are doing something that could potentially kill somebody the fine is £200 but if your dog fouls the footpath where presumably you will not kill anybody the fine is 10 times as much?

We always clear up our dogs mess and take it home with us or put in the bins provided.

But come on @wokinghambc haven't you really gone way too far over the top (yet again) this time?

Meadow memories

Take a look at this picture isn't it beautiful?

But this is the last time you will see it like this as @wokinghambc has given planning permission for some unwanted new box like homes. At Warren House Road.

So make the most of 2017 and its fast disappearing rural views around Wokingham. We will not be able to enjoy the views our ancestors clearly did.

And they call this progress?

Tracks of my fears

It has started up at Warren House Road. The beautiful meadow is now about to be bulldozed into our memories. It is now the first week in June 2017, and what all of our predecessors could enjoy will be covered over with little boxes which no one seems to want.

Thanks for nothing @wokinghambc 

Why does Wokingham get the cast offs?

South West Trains are currently trialling some new class 707 trains as this picture this week at Staines shows. 

The current trains on the Reading route will be phased out to be replaced by? No not the brand new trains. These are for the Windsor route. The Reading route will get the current Windsor trains.

Why can't we on the Reading route not have the new 707's rather than the Windsor line cast offs? The journeys from Waterloo are a lot longer than Windsor too....

Ashridge Farm gentrification

The is a planning permission notice on the gates to the barns courtyard area of Ashridge Farm. 

It is beautiful as it is in a tumbling down sort of way and it will be good to see what the new dwellings are like.

Here are a few photos of the old buildings in May 2017.

Cantley Park before someone builds on it

Lovely to see some of the unspoilt parts of Cantley Park on a sunny Sunday May afternoon in 2017.

Enjoy it while you still can, at the rate @wokinghambc is building over it this greenery will soon be gone🙁

Cantley Park act of vandalism 3

Where there was grass and greenery @wokinghambc have built a cycle path that serves no one. 

I go to Cantley Park quite a lot and I have yet to see one cyclist. What a great decision a cycle way that goes from nowhere to nowhere that no one uses.

Brilliant - if it's green, natural and beautiful it won't be for much longer thanks to @wokinghambc

Cantley Park act of vandalism 2

A few years ago @wokinghambc planted some lovely wildflower beds in Cantley Park, they were a delight and the council put up some signs that reflected their pride in these.

Today in May 2017 most of this wildflower bed has gone ripped up by the vandals who authorised and built the new tennis courts for the few. Spoiling nature for the many.

And this Sunday afternoon when it was bright and sunny no one was using the new areas of tennis courts.

How about being really brave @wokinghambc and dig up the areas of unneeded tennis courts and giving greenery and nature back to the many?

Will you listen? Judging by your recent actions and activities of the past two years or so I very much doubt it.

Cantley Park act of vandalism 1

Someone has taken out some lovely unspoilt grass and scrub areas and put up prison fencing and lights to stop the vandals getting out.

Another part of our lovely countryside lost forever.

More mismanagement and shortsighted planning.

The worlds worst negotiators?

Do you remember a couple of years back when we were all able to take the tax disc stickers out of our cars? Now all you lucky @WokinghamBC council tax payers have another sticker to replace it!

Just get rid of one sticker in the car windscreen and @WokinghamBC add another.

As the Council could (and two others) could not negotiate a deal with a neighbouring council, @WokinghamBC has to have an extra scheme (yes, we pay for this) to keep our naughty neighbours out. It seems to me that we now pay extra (4.6% increase in my Council Tax this year, over twice the rate of inflation) for the following extras:

1. Marketing material for a "new company" Re3 - badges on the tip, telling us Council tax payers all about their failure etc.

2. A man on the gate of the tip checking we have a sticker in our windscreen

3. Paying for the stickers.

4. Paying for a camera for the man on the gate in case he is abused. Not his fault he is just carrying out his job where the council failed to negotiate with a neighbouring council(s).

And who is paying the bill for this failed negotiation?

Yes, as ever, it is the Council Tax payer...thanks again....

Can you charge us even more please (not)

Is it just me or are we being charged and charged again for the clearing of our rubbish?

In the past we just put all of our rubbish in a dustbin and it was all cleared by the local council in the charge for the rates (now called Council Tax).

So to be clear - charged once and collected efficiently.

Now it is a charge over and over again. @WokinghamBC charge for the following:

1. Rubbish collection once a week in a stupid plastic sack - you pay for this through your Council Tax - mine went up 4.6% this year, over twice the rate of inflation.

2. Garden waste - no longer collected by the Council in the council tax / rates. This costs extra if you want it collected, but at least you get a wheelie bin. An add on cost.

And if you don't want to pay this add on cost, well you can get in your car, drive to the local tip. Quite a lot of the waste at the tip is from the garden at this time of year (May 2017). How much does it cost the environment with all of this additional car etc traffic going from our homes to the tip - both in terms of pollution and costs of road repairs?

3. DIY waste - the Council has now informed us that they no longer have to accept this at the tip. Big charges for this (see photo) and a man asking us if we have DIY waste at the tip now (I expect we pay for him to do this) and at least another couple of guys collecting money from people who have DIY waste.

Pay, pay and pay again now.

So what was all in your old rates / Council tax is extra for garden waste and DIY waste. Lovely.

Just waiting for the @WokinghamBC rubbish money grabbing scheme.
Thank you so much, not.

@WokinghamBC charge for our own car park plan fail

Wanted to quickly pop into town yesterday (20 May 2017) on a Saturday and took a chance that we could park in the Wokingham BC car park. Have not been there since they introduced the charges.

At 10.30am (the time we arrived) when it was free it was a devil to find a car park space on a Saturday. Often went elsewhere. Do not fear, there is now plenty of space!!!

In addition to the 4.6% Council Tax bill increase this year, @WokinghamBC no longer do the good neighbour bit of allowing us to park in our own car park for free at the weekends. I hope that the people who work at WokinghamBC and use the car park during the week pay for their perk too?

Sad to see this empty car park as it means that the traders in the town too are suffering with less traffic and custom caused by this shortsighted and very petty / unpopular policy of @WokinghamBC

Bring back the free parking for our own car park that we already pay for through the Council Tax. Shame on you.

Thank you!!!

Thanks to whoever put up this mural outside the station, very nice.

But no thanks to the complete arse who decided to spread graffiti across it. Why do people (are they people?) do this and spoil it for everyone else, particularly if you have helped to pay for it?

But now some very kind person has cleaned it up! Thank you!

Would be nice to see all the graffiti cleared up in town! Or better still not put there at all.

Before and after photos:

Fantastic Fish (and Chips etc.)

I pop into the fish and chip shop next to the level crossing by the station once every couple of months. Nice fish and chips with mushy peas.

Worth checking out!

More Art at Sainsbury's in Winnersh

I do like the cakes and patterns in the supermarkets. I am more a biscuits fan, but here are some more patterns and tasty treats for you!

Look Down

Sometimes we don’t look down at our feet, but I noticed this post at the end of Rose Street and thought I would bring it to your attention!

Front of the Arcade

This is the current view (May 2017) of the demolition site of the old Arcade on Peach Street in Wokingham. It will be a view that will disappear quite quickly I hope and the two lanes in the traffic will open too. Pictures taken in May 2017.

Back of the Arcade

These pictures will soon just be a snapshot in time, so please enjoy looking at these views of Peach Street through where the old Arcade used to be before the new buildings are constructed. Looking forward to the new shops etc., the old Arcade was a bit tired and scruffy.