Barkham Parish Council

02/11/2026

Solutions Being Planned: Manhole Covers, Road Crossings and Site Clearance

From noisy manhole covers to safer crossings and tidier public spaces, here are the local issues where solutions are now being assessed or costed.

Our Community Infrastructure Log records who is responsible and tracks each local concern from report to action.
This update covers concerns that the responsible organisations have accepted and are now assessing, with solutions being developed or quotes obtained.

Solutions are being planned for 13 issues we have raised. These include:
 Noisy Manhole Covers: The covers near Sainsbury’s on Nine Mile Ride Extension are a longstanding noise nuisance, and quotes are being obtained to replace them.
 Infirmary Stables Area: The historic infirmary stables at the top of the future village green are surrounded by redundant fencing and rubbish; quotes are being obtained to clear the area and secure the stables.
 Road Crossings: Two new crossings—on Nine Mile Ride Extension near Sheerlands Road and on Biggs Lane near Commonfield Lane—are awaiting final approval from Wokingham Borough Council.
 Sign Removal: Now that Rowcroft Road is open to traffic, the redundant no-through-road signs need to be removed.

Next: We’ll share the latest issues reported by residents and explain how they are being taken forward.

👉 Is there a local issue we have missed? View the live Community Infrastructure Log and full project details. To add an issue, email [email protected]

02/11/2026

🐶 Dog Waste Bin Update 🐶

We have been informed that Paws and Friends are unfortunately no longer able to provide the dog waste bins located near the crossing by Remount Drive on Nine Mile Ride Extension and at the closed-off end of Sheerlands Road. The bins will be removed this weekend.

The good news is that the Parish Council has already arranged for replacement bins to be installed. These have been ordered, and we are currently waiting for the contractor to confirm a delivery and installation date.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation while we make these arrangements. We will provide a further update once installation dates have been confirmed.

Please remember to take any dog waste home with you or use alternative nearby bins until the new bins are in place.

02/11/2026

Please see the following post from The Link Visiting Scheme.

Would you like some company this Christmas Day?

Christmas can be a wonderful time of year, but it can also feel especially difficult when you are on your own.

The Link Visiting Scheme is holding a Christmas Day Lunch for people aged 60 and over who would otherwise be spending Christmas Day alone. It will be a warm, relaxed and friendly day, with good food, festive cheer and, most importantly, company.

Please don’t feel that you have to spend Christmas on your own. You’ll receive a very warm welcome and the chance to enjoy Christmas Day with others.

Places are limited, so please get in touch with The Link Visiting Scheme to find out more or reserve a place. 0118 9798019 or visit our website www.linkvisiting.org/Christmas

We are also particularly keen to hear from anyone who could volunteer as a driver on Christmas Day.

29/10/2026

You Reported It: New Local Issues Added for Action

See which new road-safety, access, signage and green-space concerns residents have reported—and what happens next.

Barkham Parish Council records residents’ concerns in the Community Infrastructure Log, sends each one to the organisation responsible and tracks the agreed action. Resident reports also highlight local problems that the site visits we make with developers may miss.

Resident feedback keeps the log accurate and highlights local problems that site visits may not identify.

New issues reported by residents:
* Crossings and Footpaths: Dropped kerbs on Princess Marina Drive; path reinstatement near Sainsbury’s; steep tactile paving near Weaver Avenue.
* Roads and Pavements: Loose manhole cover and poor surface in Oak Drive; sunken footpath near Nine Mile Ride Extension.
* Redundant Poles and Signs: Rusting poles near the playing fields; old “new road” signs on Sheerlands Road and the A327; broken Baird Road street sign.
* Street Furniture: Two old concrete benches remain near the cricket pitches.
* Play Park Safety: Holes left by tree stumps are a hazard near Princess Marina Drive.

Next: We’ll focus on three longstanding issues where we are pressing for action: sports-area parking, the bus stops near Sainsbury’s and the Waterman’s Lake road bridge.

👉 Is there a local issue we have missed? View the live Community Infrastructure Log (https://sdl-issue-log.shareables.ai/) and full project details. To add an issue, email [email protected]

26/10/2026

Work Under Way: Reduced Street Clutter and Usable Open Spaces
Fewer redundant signs and more usable open spaces: here is the latest update from Barkham Parish Council.

Barkham Parish Council raises concerns identified through site visits and residents’ reports with the responsible developer, estate manager or Wokingham Borough Council team, then agrees and tracks the action required through its Community Infrastructure Log.

Work is progressing on 11 items we have raised, including:
 Removing Street Clutter: Work orders are in place to remove around 20 redundant developer and construction signs across Biggs Lane, Nine Mile Ride Extension, Princess Marina Drive, Eversley Road and the A327.
 Baird Road Allotments: Final preparations are under way for the handover to Arborfield & Newland Parish Council.
 Opening Green Spaces: Some fencing around the sports area has been removed; more will follow where possible, while enough will remain to protect the newly seeded football pitches.
 Play Parks: Removal of fencing will allow the multi-sports court and play park off Whitehall Drive to open.
 West Court Car Park: Work is well under way on the car park at West Court Nature Park.

Next: We’ll cover the issues where solutions are now being assessed or costed, including noisy manhole covers and new road crossings.

👉 Is there a local issue we have missed? View the live Community Infrastructure Log and full project details. To add an issue, email [email protected]

26/10/2026

Solutions Being Planned: Manhole Covers, Road Crossings and Site Clearance

From noisy manhole covers to safer crossings and tidier public spaces, here are the local issues where solutions are now being assessed or costed.

Our Community Infrastructure Log records who is responsible and tracks each local concern from report to action.

This update covers concerns that the responsible organisations have accepted and are now assessing, with solutions being developed or quotes obtained.

Solutions are being planned for 13 issues we have raised. These include:
* Noisy Manhole Covers: The covers near Sainsbury’s on Nine Mile Ride Extension are a longstanding noise nuisance, and quotes are being obtained to replace them.
* Infirmary Stables Area: The historic infirmary stables at the top of the future village green are surrounded by redundant fencing and rubbish; quotes are being obtained to clear the area and secure the stables.
* Road Crossings: Two new crossings—on Nine Mile Ride Extension near Sheerlands Road and on Biggs Lane near Commonfield Lane—are awaiting final approval from Wokingham Borough Council.
* Sign Removal: Now that Rowcroft Road is open to traffic, the redundant no-through-road signs need to be removed.

Next: We’ll share the latest issues reported by residents and explain how they are being taken forward.

👉 Is there a local issue we have missed? View the live Community Infrastructure Log (https://sdl-issue-log.shareables.ai/) and full project details. To add an issue, email [email protected]

22/10/2026

Work Under Way: Reduced Street Clutter and Usable Open Spaces

Fewer redundant signs and more usable open spaces: here is the latest update from Barkham Parish Council.

Barkham Parish Council raises concerns identified through site visits and residents’ reports with the responsible developer, estate manager or Wokingham Borough Council team, then agrees and tracks the action required through its Community Infrastructure Log.

Work is progressing on 11 items we have raised, including:
* Removing Street Clutter: Work orders are in place to remove around 20 redundant developer and construction signs across Biggs Lane, Nine Mile Ride Extension, Princess Marina Drive, Eversley Road and the A327.
* Baird Road Allotments: Final preparations are under way for the handover to Arborfield & Newland Parish Council.
* Opening Green Spaces: Some fencing around the sports area has been removed; more will follow where possible, while enough will remain to protect the newly seeded football pitches.
* Play Parks: Removal of fencing will allow the multi-sports court and play park off Whitehall Drive to open.
* West Court Car Park: Work is well under way on the car park at West Court Nature Park.

Next: We’ll cover the issues where solutions are now being assessed or costed, including noisy manhole covers and new road crossings.

👉 Is there a local issue we have missed? View the live Community Infrastructure Log (https://sdl-issue-log.shareables.ai/) and full project details. To add an issue, email [email protected]

22/10/2026

20/10/2026

Fixing and Improving Our Public Spaces

A new road crossing, reopened paths and improved public spaces: here is the latest update from Barkham Parish Council.

We work with Crest Nicholson and other developers, Premier Estates (formerly Pinnacle) and Wokingham Borough Council to raise residents’ concerns, agree action and track improvements.

We identify issues through residents’ reports and site visits with developers and Council officers, then follow up with the organisation responsible for putting them right.

Our live Community Infrastructure Log shows each issue, who is responsible, the agreed action and its current status. Issues resolved so far include:

* Farley Hill School Crossing: New zebra crossing installed on Biggs Lane, funded by Barkham Parish Council.

* Waterman’s Lake: Permanent handrail installed to replace a “temporary” scaffolding pole.

* Road Signs: The degraded Princess Marina Drive street sign has been replaced, and redundant developer signs around Nightingale Fields have been removed.

* Dog Waste Bins: We have installed additional bins around the sports area.

Current position: 24 Arborfield Green issues are in progress or have solutions planned, and 15 new concerns have been added. Coronation Fields has 12 logged issues, with a joint council site visit being arranged.

Over the next two weeks, we’ll explain what has been resolved, what is under way, what is being planned, what residents have recently reported and where we are still pressing for action.

Next: We’ll look at the local improvements already under way, from removing street clutter to opening up green spaces.

👉 Is there a local issue we have missed? View the live Community Infrastructure Log (https://sdl-issue-log.shareables.ai/) and full project details. To add an issue, email [email protected]

24/09/2026

Between Monday, 28 September and Friday, 9 October residents of some of the new developments in Arborfield Green and Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead may be visited by door-to-door travel advisers working on behalf of My Journey Wokingham’s active travel team.

The campaign seeks to help our residents get around by promoting potential low carbon, more sustainable travel choices available locally - including walking and cycling routes, public transport services and car-sharing opportunities.

Residents in the targeted area have been sent letters advising them of this project.

The Personal Travel Planners and My Journey Team will also be running an event on 3 October at: My Journey and Dr Bike outside Stables Cafe, Arborfield Green