Spring Newsletter 2023
You are invited to a AGM & SOCIAL EVENING – Earley Home Guard Social Club All Residents Welcome
VIP Speaker– your local MP Matt Rodda
Wednesday, 29th March, 2023. Doors Open 7.45pm. Start time 8pm.
Meet your neighbours, the committee ,your councillors and your MP. Express your concerns. Get your questions answered. Relax in an informal setting with complementary tea, coffee and snacks. Bar open.
Details and agenda for the formal part of the evening overleaf.
Speeding – Local action
ACER has sponsored the purchase of a hand-held radar for use by Speedwatch groups. This device is available on request by a SpeedWatch coordinator primarily for local use. All we need now are more volunteers! Speedwatch is overseen by the Police and is independent of ACER
WBC did set up temporary flashing speed warning signs in local hotspots which have since been removed. We await the outcome with interest!…
2023 Big Litter Pick
ACER is supporting the Earley Town Council BIG LITTER PICK on Sunday 26th March. Meet 10 am on London Road (South) service road by junction with The Drive. Bring Gloves. High viz and litter pickers are available. Bags will be provided. ACER continues to work with local councilors and EASI to organize litter picks and vegetation clear-ups throughout the year. Dates will be on the website and the notice boards. Reminders will be sent via Google Groups. Please contact chair@acerwhitegates.org.uk if you are aware of an area that needs attention.
ACER actions on behalf of Residents during the last year:
- Vegetation clearing and litter picking working parties including Town Lane and Bulmershe Park.
- Assisting planting new trees in Bulmershe Orchard. Plans for trees at the perimeter of Bulmershe Park are now approved and funded, including maintenance of the trees by WBC
- Detailed comments were submitted on WBC revised Cycle Lane proposals through Whitegates, connecting Woodley to Reading
- Reviewing 40 Planning Applications affecting Whitegates and commenting on 21 of them which appeared to deviate from WBC policies and guidelines, and/or adversely affect parking for neighbours.
- Submitting proposals for revised Parking Standards to include HMO’s, to limit on-street overspill parking.
- Responding in detail to the WBC Parking Survey in Whitegates (called Hilltop Road Area Parking Survey)
- Obtaining replies from the Chief Executive of Wokingham Borough Council concerning unanswered queries on seven different issues raised with WBC going back to November 2020
- Setting up a Scams Awareness Evening which was open to all Earley residents with funds obtained by ACER from Police Community Funds – obtained from selling convicted criminals’ assets!
- Regular liaison with Wokingham Borough Council, Earley Town Council, Maiden Erlegh Residents Association, EASI (Earley Adopt a Street Initiative) and the police via Earley NAG (Neighbourhood Action Group)
- Following up concerns raised by residents in the 2022 Residents survey
- ACER Newsletter distributed to all 1600 households in Whitegates. Spring, Summer and Autumn issues.
All the above referenced proposals and survey responses can be read in full on the ACER website
The current Committee has struggled to keep up with all the above activities due to vacancies for Secretary and Communications Officer in particular, but any assistance as a Committee Member would be welcome.
ACER: The Whitegates Residents’ Association
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AGENDA
Wednesday, 29th March 2023. 7.45 for 8pm at Earley Home Guard Social Club, 22 Pitts Lane RG6 1BT
| Welcome / Apologies for absence Chair’s Report Treasurer’s Report Election of Officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer) Election of Other Committee Members Appointment of Scrutineer Proposal: Change of Membership Year from July to end of January to coincide with financial year. Proposal: Colour Magazine Produced jointly with Maiden Erlegh Residents Association To replace 3 issues of Whitegates Newsletter To be limited to paid up members instead of all Whitegates Residents | Due to the current paid membership level, recommended donations will increase from £2 per household to £3 per household to cover the cost of the magazine (approx. 32p each) One Annual Report issue of the existing ACER Newsletter will still be produced and distributed to all 1600 Whitegates residents prior to the AGM. Agreement of membership fees 2022/23 Any Other Business Including Topics from the Floor and Questions to Councillors Guest Speaker Matt Rodda MP: Support to constituents, Relevant Parliamentary issues affecting Whitegates. |
Please come along
All Whitegates residents welcome to attend – Refreshments will be served before the meeting
As you see by the list on the previous page, ACER has achieved much this year, as it has over the past seven years. As in any voluntary association, success depends on the willingness of members of the public to participate and share the tasks. In particular, ACER cannot function to improve our area as successfully as it has done in the past without new key committee members. We are looking for a new Secretary, and Communications Officer in particular. New members of the committee will be fully supported by current active committee members and by past officers. Please do come forward to seek more information. A description of ACER Committee roles and the time commitment needed can be found on our website under ABOUT ACER. Tasks, if shared, are very manageable for volunteers and you would gain much from your participation:
ACER members currently comprise a wide age group plus members of all political and religious beliefs.
PLEASE GIVE WHATEVER HELP YOU CAN!
PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH: Urgent messages and notices are sent to members via e-mail. To be included PLEASE E-MAIL ACER at chair@acerwhitegates.org.uk and ask to be put on to ACER Google Groups. This information is GDPR compliant and will not be passed on to any other organisation. If you do not have an e-mail, we will deliver a note.
ACER CONTACTS – email: chair@acerwhitegates.org.uk Committee: Tim Marsh (Chair), Siôn Williams (Treasurer), Mary Bather, Naomi Cambridge, Jenny Carr, Graham May, Jenny Lissaman.
Local Wokingham Borough Councillors: Shirley Boyt Shirley.boyt@wokingham.gov.uk Carl Doran carl.doran@wokingham.gov.uk; Shahid Younis shahid.younis@wokingham.gov.uk;
Local Earley Town Councillors: Gurdeep Bhangra gurdeep.bhangra@earley-tc.gov.uk; Sheena Matthews sheena.matthews@earley-tc.gov.uk 07766 424098, Marion Shaw marion.shaw@earley-tc.gov.uk;
If you have a local street representative, they are: _______________________________________ at _________________________________
