Frequently in this paper we talk about big decisions taken at Council meetings. These meetings are important and affect issues residents care about like planning or the council’s finances.
There is another aspect to the work of councillors that gets less attention but is also valuable and can make a real difference in the lives of residents.
Every week my Conservative colleagues and I are out talking to local people, hearing their concerns and taking action to resolve issues.
In Finchampstead, Cllrs Rebbecca and Charles Margetts and Peter Harper have led campaigns to get WBC to put proper road markings at California Crossroads and to get compensation for businesses harmed by the works there. They have asked the Council for parking restrictions on Nashgrove lane to combat bad parking, and wrote to Thames Valley Police seeking speed checks on Nine Mile Ride. In recent months, they have represented residents’ concerns on planning applications at 31 Barkham Ride, 33 Barkham Ride, 6 Johnson Drive and Longwater Road. They have also pressed the Council to set up a management committee to coordinate development on Barkham Ride.
In Wokingham Without, Cllr Sèona Turtle worked hard to get the Council to undertake work on the much-used footpath leading from New Wokingham Road to Crowthorne Station that years of neglect had rendered impassible for much of the year. Following the gas line replacement along Nine Mile Ride, Cllr Turtle worked tirelessly to get the streetlamps on the roundabout and northern end of New Wokingham Road fixed. More recently, she liaised closely with Countryside Services, Thames Water Environmental Officers and the representative from the Environment Agency to help expediently resolve a raw sewage issue near Heathlake Park.
In Hawkedon ward in Earley, Cllr Rohit Ahlawat, helped residents on Tinwell Close to get faulty street lights fixed, and got the Council to step in re-fit drain covers in Southwold Close that had come loose and were causing problems for people living in the street.
Sometimes Conservative councillors are working with individuals on very specific situations. For example, Cllr Jackie Rance in Shinfield wrote to the Council to help a young mother with two autistic children facing eviction to secure accommodation. She also aided two families in another part of her ward to get the Council to address their concerns about anti-social neighbours.
Conservative councillors also seek to ensure your voices are heard on the Council. As well as the many petitions we have brought on behalf of residents – including a recent petition from Cllr Peter Harper on California Crossroads – we also try to provide you with more direct input. Ahead of Full Council meetings, Cllr Vishal Srinivasan posts on the Shinfield Community Page on Facebook asking residents which issues he should raise as Ward Questions. So far, this has led to him asking about topics such as safety issues in Shinfield, as well as street cleaning and rubbish being left in the streets.
As you can see while we have no magic wand, it is often possible for us to raise your issue. If there is anything you need from your local Conservative councillors, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our details can be found on the Council’s website, and we are out regularly knocking on doors across the Borough.
By Cllr Pauline Jorgensen
