Twyford

Twyford neighbourhood update – June by PCSOs Jackie Daniels and Jonathan Stanley

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Chris Caldwell is now fully trained and operational. Chris has been out and about around Sonning, Charvil and Hurst for the past couple of weeks and is now mobile with his bike and is getting to know his area.

PC Chris Harrison is now with us as the Neighbourhood Officer bringing the team up to a full compliment of officers for the area. PC Simon Botham is in his final week with us, but he won’t be going that far away as he is moving on to Loddon Valley to join the response side of policing – we will all miss him and wish him all the best for his next adventure.

We have been asked by Piggott Senior School to help out on their Careers Day on 27th June giving advice and answering any questions the Year 9 pupils have for us about the rewards of career in the Police Service. PCSO Stanley will be on hand to give advice and answer questions.

We will also be busy with the Hurst Horse & Country Show on 28th and 29th June – let’s hope the weather is kind to us this year, as last year we got very wet and muddy.

Complaints are still coming in about drivers parking on the double yellow lines outside Brighton’s Newsagents and the sandwich shop on London Road. We would like to remind drivers that this is an offence and £30 tickets will be issued to anyone parked on double yellow lines.

As the summer is now with us can we just remind people to be extra vigilant in locking up at night and before you go out, by double locking all doors and not leaving any windows open. Most burglars are opportunists, so don’t leave valuables or keys in view, particularly if you have a nice car on the drive.

Lastly on the crime front, the Twyford area has experienced a spate of car number plates being stolen for possible car-cloning and/or to be used in crime.

To prevent these criminals achieving their goal, and possibly prevent you going through a lot of stress and hassle we strongly recommend investing in a Tamper Proof Number Plate – for more advice visit the website www.secureplate.com or visit your local garage.

We can be contacted via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505 or email us at twyfordneighbourhoodteam@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

Thames Valley Police ~ Twyford

This Saturday 28th June at Hurst horse show, is your chance to experience the amazing healing qualities of reflexology. Local holistic therapist, Cleo Hill will be offering 10-15 minute taster sessions of reflexology for the reasonable price of £5.00!

Reflexology is a natural health science & works on the principle that every organ & system in the body has a corresponding point on the feet.
Reflexology brings the body back into a balanced state of harmony & can help with a wide range of ailments. It gives you the strength & energy to deal with the pressure of everyday life! Cleo also specialises in maternity & fertility refelxology. Excellent for for all stages of maternity & infertility problems.

The Haven Healing Retreat, Hayley Green, Warfield, Berkshire. T: 01344 886305

Twyford Village Partnership’s Parish Plan got off to an impressive start at its meeting last Thursday evening, having launched the process at the recent Donkey Derby. As a previous Chairman, I feel proud of its already significant achievements and am convinced the organisation is in excellent and capable hands. On TVP’s website www.twyfordvillage.com you will see the host of suggestions for improvements to the village contributed by visitors to the stand at the Donkey Derby. Also shown are the strategies, stages and exercises involved in developing Parish Plans that can put such suggestions into effect. TVP is led by enthusiastic, dedicated and talented people but their task is substantial. In order to apply for essential project grants, much local information has to be gathered and collated. Detailed preparation is involved. Last Thursday, volunteers came forward to join the various special working groups concerned and already there is an encouraging nucleus of interested people for each. The way forward therefore is assured but I am sure further support would not be declined!

In our everyday lives, frequently we rely on a faceless “them” or “they” to attend both to our personal wants and the affairs of society. “Them” or “they” are the authorities and institutions to which we ascribe the task of making our existences more agreeable. Perhaps we get what we want and sometimes we are disappointed but, with increasing governmental devolvement and decentralization of responsibility, the “them” or “they” to whom we normally appeal has shifted to “you” or “us”. Emphasis for action has changed from impersonal, “top-down” direction to people-centred, “bottom-up” and locally informed decision-making. That is why Parish Plans and Village Design Statements are being urged on villages via community agencies, with the endorsement of local authorities. Miraculously—and surprisingly for Britain—resources have been made available in the forms of both expert guidance and money to help identify requirements and fund schemes. Twyford is eligible for this kind of help—official! Twyford Village Partnership will be the conduit for grants and will receive the assistance of Wokingham Borough Council to expedite capital schemes. Prioritisation of requirements is vital to grant applications and can be achieved only through consultation, planning and diligence in submissions.

If you are prepared to roll up your sleeves (no room for habitual committee agitators here!) and contribute productively to the effort that TVP is making, there is a real chance that you will get what you want for your community. Check out the website, email the Executive Committee tvp@live.co.uk and offer your time and expertise. You will get back what you put in and possibly more! The groups look as though they will be fun to work with. The categories are: The Constitution (governance); Social Issues; The Environment; Our Economy; Friends of Twyford Library; Traffic and Travel.

Cedric C. Gilson

Twyford's Parish Plan was launched at the Scout Donkey Derby on June 1st 2008. This was very well-attended and we had a hugely positive response to the Parish Plan. We were delighted to have 294 entries to the Prize Draw, which was won by Debbie Smale, who took home a bag full of Fair-trade goodies, kindly donated by Waitrose Twyford.

Visitors to our stand were invited to write their views on sticky-notes and stick them to flip charts asking questions such as "What do you like about Twyford?" and "What are your views on social and community issues in Twyford?". The responses to these questions will be presented at our next meeting - open to everyone - which will be held in the Ruscombe Room at Loddon Hall on Thursday 19th June 2008 at 8pm.