Happy New Year to all! As we start 2026, I wanted to share with you some highlights of what your Conservative councillors achieved in 2025. Away from the Council Chamber, your local ward councillors deal with lots of smaller issues which might not grab headlines but make a big difference to people locally.
In January 2025, residents were raising concerns following accidents at the Reading Road/Howth Drive junction in Bulmershe and Coronation Ward. Cllr Yusra Salman’s intervention on residents’ behalf led to the Executive Member relenting and examining the site himself and road safety measures being completed. After that Highways have implemented a couple of Junction approach warning signs, 30mph signs and refreshed lining of Howth Drive & Wroxham Road junctions. Bus stop markings will be improved this year. Cllr Salman also called for Woodley’s parking charge revenue to be ringfenced to fund precinct infrastructure and revitalise the town centre.
In Thames ward, Cllr Sam Akhtar regularly organises and leads litter-picks across Sonning and Charvil, removing over 120 black bin liners’ worth of litter from public spaces, pathways, verges and recreation areas. He has also been working hard on issues relating to road safety. After engagement with residents, parents and Council officers, he secured the long-requested reduction in vehicle speeds outside Sonning Primary School and new safety improvements at Milestone Avenue (used by pupils going to Piggott Secondary School), improving road safety for children. Cllr Akhtar and his fellow councillor Wayne Smith hosted an in-person ward drop-in during the summer, providing residents with the opportunity to raise concerns directly across a wide range of topics—from planning and highways to community safety.
Moses Iyengunmwena, my councillor colleague in Hillside ward, has been working with residents to restore car park lights at Lower Earley Asda supermarket that had been out of use for several years. Among his other activities, he has been assisting a resident to understand the steps to take in dealing with tree roots likely to affect the structural integrity of their property.
Following hot on the heels of her by-election win in December 2024, Cllr Jackie Rance had a busy year in Shinfield ward. In 2025, she helped a number of residents with specific issues, including a couple living in Council housing where repairs were badly needed but were not being carried out. After much pursuing of the Council, they finally carried out the work 8 months after the couple had originally raised it with the local authority.
Cllr Vishal Srinivasan, also in Shinfield ward, has been using social media to help residents highlight issues of concern in the area. He started ‘Ward Question Thursday’, which helps to identify what questions he should ask about ward matters at Council meetings. Among the issues raised so far are concerns about rubbish in Shinfield and about safety in the area which has resulted in a promised meeting for Cllr Srinivasan with the Council. More information on Ward Question Thursday can be found on the ‘Shinfield Community Page’ on Facebook – which has over 15,000 members.
This is just a small fraction of what your Conservative councillors are working on every week on your behalf. If there’s anything they or I can do to help, you can find your local Conservative councillor online on Earley and Woodley or Wokingham Conservative Association websites.
I wish you all health and happiness in 2026.
By Cllr Pauline Jorgensen
