Bracknell

Hundreds of residents are expected to pay their respects to loved ones buried or cremated at Easthampstead Park Cemetery and Crematorium on Sunday, September 3, at the annual Bracknell Thanksgiving and Remembrance service.

The open air memorial service has been running at the Bracknell Forest Borough Council run crematorium for the past 18 years and gives residents the chance to remember loved ones through speeches, prayers and hymns.

Bracknell Forest Mayor Cllr Clifton Thompson will be doing a reading at this year's service while Father John Connell from St Paul's Church in Wokingham, Methodist minister the Reverend Libby Godden and the Reverend Tony Cunningham from St Joseph's and St Margaret Clitherow Churches will also say prayers and readings.

Iris Rhodes from the British Humanist Association will also make a non-religious reading during the 45-minute service.

All residents wanting to pay respects to their loved ones are welcome to attend the service which starts at 3pm.

Cllr Clifton Thompson, Mayor of Bracknell Forest, said: "This event is always very popular and well attended. Not only does it provide residents with time to reflect and remember their loved ones it also brings comfort and helps people remember those family members and friends who are no longer with us."

Donations made after the service will go to the Mayor's chosen charity Age Concern.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Young Bracknell people are being invited to submit bids for cash to pay for activities and facilities they want to see in the borough.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council has received £155,000 from the Department for Education and Skills targeting projects initiated by, and designed for, young people.

Now Bracknell 13 to 19 year olds are being encouraged to apply for cash from the £90,000 Youth Opportunity Fund for projects that focus on new activities, experiences or a one-off event.

They can also apply for money from the £65,000 Youth Capital Fund for improving youth facilities or providing something new. This fund could also be used to pay for giving existing premises a revamp or buying new equipment for events and activities.

All the applications need to be completed by the young people running the projects. Decisions about where the money will go will be made by a panel of young people from around the borough.

The Council's Youth Services team is now inviting young people to apply for a place on that decision-making panel.

Cllr Dr Gareth Barnard, Executive Member for Bracknell Children's Services, said: "This is a great chance for young people to speak up and take the lead in making the changes they want to see.

"They will chose the projects that get the go-ahead and it's their responsibility to pick those that will benefit Bracknell Forest's young people the most.

"I'd urge all young people to grab this opportunity to make a real difference to the facilities and services they use.

"In doing so they'll also be strengthening the voice of young people throughout the borough and I have no doubt they'll learn a lot, develop useful skills in the process and have some fun!"

Information and applications forms are available from Bracknell youth centres, secondary schools, libraries and Connexions.

Forms can also be downloaded from the Council's website at www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/learning/learn-youth-services or by sending an email to bracknell-youthfunds@hotmail.co.uk or tel: 01344 353131.

The closing date for applications is Friday September 29.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Businesses across Bracknell & Berkshire are being invited to take part in an exercise to help them prepare and consider their contingency plans should they be left without key utilities and services like electricity, telephones and water.

Exercise Bright Star is being held at Bracknell Leisure Centre on Wednesday, September 20. It has been organised by the Berkshire Regional Continuity Forum and co-ordinated by Bracknell Forest Borough Council.

It aims to ensure local businesses are prepared for the effect of the loss of utilities and highlights the importance of co-operation between organisations who respond to emergencies including utility and service providers; councils, emergency services and the NHS; and the wider business community.

Businesses including Hewlett Packard, IBM, Yell and the AA have already signed up, but organisers are keen for more local small businesses to take part.

Louise Osborn, Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s Emergency Planning Manager, said: The scenario will be linked to adverse weather conditions like flooding or heavy snow. Just think about how the country is affected when we have a thin blanket of light snow and imagine what the impact of three days of heavy snow could be to your business.

”We want to encourage companies to consider the implications if utilities are compromised and staff cannot get to work; and work together to find solutions to enable them to keep their business running.”

Cllr Peter North, Executive Member for Bracknell Public Protection and Services, said: Exercise Bright Star is a practical business exercise and networking opportunity to understand the potential impact of losing key utility supplies and how to prepare if it ever happened.

”If you do not have a business continuity plan, ask yourself what you would do if this happened to you. If you do not have an answer, come along and learn from those who do.

"No one in business should underestimate the impact that power and water play or the impact of losing them, even for a while. If you haven't been to one of these exercises, I would urge you to attend.”

The aim of the Berkshire Regional Continuity Forum is to encourage businesses in the community to work together, allowing them to share expertise and knowledge and developing shared resilience to disasters in the event of a major emergency affecting Berkshire.

Backed by the Emergency Planning Society and the Business Continuity Institute, the Bracknell forum also provides members with an arena in which to develop professional and personal skills in continuity management.

Membership to the forum is free and open to any businesses in Berkshire. For more information about the forum or Exercise Bright Star, email emergency.planning@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

Bracknell Forest Borough Counci

Students at Bracknell Forest Borough Council's schools are celebrating their best ever GCSE results.

Provisional results released today reveal the number of Bracknell students achieving five or more passes at the top A* to C grades has rocketed to a record 60% from last year's previous record high of 54%.

Results have improved at all six of the Council's secondary schools with Brakenhale School almost doubling the number of students gaining five A* to C grades.

This year 43% of students at the Rectory Lane school achieved five A* to C grades, a huge increase on 22% in 2005.

Garth Hill College saw a 12% increase, up from 43% last year to 55% this year. Easthampstead Park School, Edgbarrow School and Ranelagh CE School also reported their best ever GCSE results.

And, in the National Curriculum Tests at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 provisional results show that Bracknell Forest pupils look set to remain above national average figures in every subject.

The figures also show improvement on last year’s figures in most subjects.

At Key Stage 1 (seven year olds) pupils improved by 1% on last year’s performance in maths with 94% achieving the expected level 2 or above.

At Key Stage 2 (eleven year olds) the results for English showed the greatest improvement with 85% now achieving the expected level 4 or above. Results in science and mathematics also improved.

Finally, at Key Stage 3 (14 year olds) 84% of pupils achieved the expected level 5 in mathematics, representing a significant improvement of 5% on last year’s figure. Results also improved in science by 3%.

Tony Eccleston, Director of Bracknell Education, Children’s Services and Libraries, said: "This year's results are excellent.

"GCSE results have been improving steadily over the past few years but to have all of our schools reporting record pass rates in the same year is a major achievement.

"We'll continue to support our schools in keeping up the momentum and building on this year's results.

"Well done to all the children who took examinations this summer on their outstanding success."

Cllr Alan Ward, Executive Member for Education and Libraries, said: "GCSE students have produced the borough's best ever results which is a great achievement.

"Results this good come after a lot of hard work and effort and that is down to our children and their teachers - I congratulate them on their success.

"We have had GCSEs as a priority for improvement for two or three years now and these results indicate our efforts are paying off.

"I am delighted to see our children continuing to do well at all Key Stage levels and I should like to thank all of our schools staff and also the Council's officers who have supported our schools and made an important contribution to today's success."

Any GCSE student in need of advice or guidance following their examination results should contact their school or call Connexions on 080 800 13 2 19.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Deliveries have started of more than 15,000 new blue wheelie bins to homes across Bracknell borough who have ordered the new container before Alternate Bin Collections (ABC) start on October 2.

They can be used immediately for recycling of plastic bottles and food and drinks cans; and Bracknell residents should leave them with the kerbside boxes on their usual recycling day for emptying.

Residents who have not yet ordered a blue wheelie bin for recyclable waste are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.

Brown wheelie bins for the new garden waste kerbside collection can also be ordered from the Council for a one off payment of £30. These are currently emptied on the alternate week to the recycling collection of blue bins and boxes.

The Council is introducing new collection cycles from October 2. One week recycling and garden waste collections will be made; the following week landfill waste will be collected from the green wheelie bin.

Cllr Peter North, Executive Member for Bracknell Public Protection and Services, said: Once your blue wheelie bin is delivered please mark on your house number on it and you can start using it immediately for all your cans and plastic bottles.

If you start now, by the time ABC starts in October your green wheelie bin should already be half empty. Most people will get the hang of this immediately but for those who need a bit of help, just call the Council who will assist you.”

This should mean that by the time ABC starts in October your green wheelie bin should already be half empty as you will already have got the hang of sorting your waste.”

Bracknell Council is introducing the new scheme to reduce the amount of rubbish we send to landfill and avoid potential fines and charges which could cost council tax payers up to £7.7million over the next five years - just to carry on as we are.

Residents have also ordered 8,000 additional kerbside boxes and 5,000 brown bins.

It is not too late to order the extra containers, call 01344 352000 or visit www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/abc

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

New teams are being invited to join Bracknell Leisure Centre’s Wednesday indoor four-a-side lunchtime football league.

The league will be starting in September, with teams guaranteed one 20-minute game every week between noon and 2pm on Wednesdays and, if demand allows, the league could be extended to other lunchtimes.

Teams need a minimum of four players, but there is no restriction in the number of players in the squad. Two substitutes are allowed per game.

There will be eight teams per league, with each team playing each other twice. It costs £145 per team to enter.

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Bracknell Leisure and Corporate Services, said: "The lunchtime league is an excellent way to take some exercise and make new friends.

"It has been arranged so you can turn up, play a game and return to work and all within your lunch break."

For more details contact Darren Hatch at Bracknell Leisure Centre on 01344 454203 ext 217.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

A seven-year-old school girl has won a trip with her classmates to The Look Out Discovery Centre in Bracknell Council's No More MayBes campaign.

Alice Smith, a pupil from Meadowbrook Montessori School, Warfield, won the schools and groups category. She said they should win because her school community is very kind and thoughtful.

No More MayBes was designed motivate Bracknell residents to start a new leisure activity - whether it is discovering more about the world we live in, going along once a week to an aquarobics session or visiting the gym before work every morning.

Eight other individuals or businesses have also been awarded prizes. The prizes ranged from a three month platinum membership package at Bracknell Leisure Centre and Edgbarrow and Sandhurst’s Body Logic, to a private golf lesson at Downshire Golf Complex and family tickets to Coral Reef Water World.

Kevin Biles, Bracknell Leisure Centre’s Business Development Manager, said: "We had competition entries from mums who have a full time job looking after kids and little time for themselves, to business people with huge time pressures.

"Everyone who entered wanted to find a way to get fitter, healthier and get into shape."

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Leisure and Corporate Services, said: "Even for those who lead very busy lives, our leisure centres with their fully trained staff, are open long hours to give residents and visitors to the borough the maximum opportunity get the most from their services and meet their personal fitness goals.”

For more information about leisure facilities visit your local centre or log onto www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/be

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Students at Bracknell Forest's secondary schools are celebrating success in their A-Levels following the publication of this year’s provisional examination results.

Bracknell Schools have reported a number of outstanding individual performances and several have noted a particular improvement in the performance of boys.

Provisional results indicate an overall pass rate of 94% with the average points score for students taking two or more A-Levels of 244 points.

This year some 284 students sat A-Level examinations in the Council’s schools (compared with 304 in 2005) and many have already secured places to study at university in the autumn term.

Allison Fletcher, Assistant Director of Bracknell Education, Children’s Services and Libraries for Bracknell Forest, said: "Well done to all the young people whose hard work has been rewarded with some good results.

"Although we didn't quite match last year's record peak the results nonetheless include some excellent performances.

"I wish the young people well as they move on to the next stage of their career, whether this is at university or in employment.

"We shall continue to work with our schools and the Berkshire Learning and Skills Council to develop the range of courses available at our schools."

Cllr Alan Ward, Executive Member for Bracknell Education and Libraries, said: "These results show our students continue to perform well at A-Level and I congratulate them on their success.

“We shall work closely with our schools to make sure we are once again pushing for another record pass rate next year."

These results are provisional and may still be subject to appeal. A final analysis of A-Level results from the Council’s schools will be published by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) in the autumn term.

Any young person in need of advice or guidance following their examination results should contact their school or call Connexions on 080 800 13 2 19.

Students with queries about funding for higher education courses can get help from Bracknell Council's Student Services team, tel: 01344 354000.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

The popular sound and rhythm zone is returning to The Bracknell Look Out Discovery Centre from September. It will be part of the hands-on, interactive science and nature exhibition.

Children can play a giant floor piano, different drums from around the world and see how their voice looks on a computer screen.

There are more than 70 exhibits, which are bright and appealing to all ages and are themed in zones: sound and communication, light and colour, forces and movement, body and perception, woodland and water and sound and rhythm.

In September, children can learn about different forces in Pushes and Pulls. The show has fun demonstrations on gravity, friction, balancing and spreading forces and the Bernoulli effect - which is how aeroplanes fly. The Bracknell show runs from September 9 to November 30 at weekends and including October half term.

The Look Out also has a children’s play area, a picnic area and a coffee shop. Mountain bike hire is also available - please check times with the centre.

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Bracknell Leisure and Corporate Services, said: "With The Look Out Discovery Centre there is always something new and exciting to see and experience. With the return of the sound and rhythm zone plus the Pushes and Pulls show there really is something for everyone at The Look Out this autumn.

"For those who haven't yet paid us a visit come and see for yourself what so many regular visitors have discovered, The Look Out is the perfect place and learn more about the world around us in a fun and educational environment."

For more details, call 01344 354400, or visit www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/be

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Around 200 Bracknell Forest children and young people recently celebrated National Play Day with a fun day held at Foxhill Primary School.

The Bracknell children, all aged between two-years old and 14-years old, took part in activities including making giant collages from materials collected during woodland visits, making fruit smoothies by using a modified bicycle called the blendavenda and meeting some unusual creatures like Silk the South American Boa Constrictor. They also took part in some activities aimed at sharing, planned within their groups.

The children taking part in play day included those attending holiday play schemes and the Family Tree Nursery in Bracknell town centre.

The National Play Day events were organised by Bracknell Forest Borough Council's Early Years and Childcare Team and the Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest, Cllr Mrs Gill Birch, also popped in during the day to find out what it was all about.

She said: "It was a delight to see so many enthusiastic children and young people taking part in the National Play Day events and for me to be able to take part in some of them too. I especially enjoyed meeting Silk the snake and to see some of the creative materials the children had created.

"National Play Day is an excellent idea and I would like to congratulate the Early Years team for making the event so successful."

National Play Day is designed to promote the value of unstructured play and encourage children's social and emotional development.

For further information on out of hours school provision available in Bracknell Forest contact the Children's Information Centre on: 0800 328 9148

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Dogs and their walkers are invited to the free Paws in the Bracknell Park event on Saturday, August 19, from 11am to 4pm.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s countryside rangers have organised the event in Westmorland Park. It will feature demonstrations by Oakwood Park Kennels which will include dog handling, agility and training skills.

There will also be a wide range of dog-related charities and local businesses with stalls promoting their work, answering questions, encouraging responsible ownership and advising on good dog health.

Visitors and their dogs can take part in raffles, games, obstacle courses, competitions and gain the bronze award in The Kennel Club’s good citizen dog scheme.

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Bracknell Leisure and Corporate Services, said: As a dog owner I think Paws in the Park is a great idea with its aim of teaching responsible dog ownership and good handling skills with the bonus of it taking place in a fun environment."

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Fiona Seymour-Jesse, who gained a diploma with the Institute of Copywriting in April, has set up her own copywriting business, SJ Copy, in Bracknell.

SJ Copy, Bracknell is aimed at helping small businesses write a variety of promotional literature, including web content, direct mail letters, newsletters, brochures, promotional leaflets, press releases and press advertisements. In addition to writing, SJ Copy also provides a research, editing and proofreading service - which could be anything from assessing existing literature to carrying out Internet research.

Fiona, who is also a qualified researcher, believes that the key to any business’ success lies with clearly written communication with customers.

“Words sell business” says Fiona. “I want to help small firms, be they new or established, to promote themselves successfully. By also offering to carry out research, SJ Copy can help them to find and understand their potential customers and competitors.”

SJ, Bracknell Copy writes for all types of small businesses and all work is priced individually. All new customers will receive a 1/3 off each piece of literature ordered in 2006.

For more information please contact Fiona@sjcopy.co.uk Mobile:079896874429 Post: 5 Burbage Green, Forest Park, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 9YD or visit the website www.sjcopy.co.uk

A new schools and youth liaison officer for Bracknell Forest is to start in his new role on Monday (14/08).

PC Phil Bissell, who has been with Thames Valley Police for 19 years, already knows the Bracknell area well, having worked on the beat in Great Hollands from 1998 to 2004.

“I obviously made a lot of contacts on the beat,” said PC Bissell who, since 2004, has been based in the service delivery unit at Windsor.

But PC Bissell is looking forward to his new challenge, which will see him working alongside PC Jan Collins in the community safety department at Bracknell.

He said: “I’m going to be mainly focusing on secondary schools. I’ll be dealing with schools on a variety of subjects.

“When I was on the beat in Great Hollands, I always had good liaison with headteachers.

“I’ll also be working with a number of our partner agencies, addressing anti-social behaviour and other crime-related issues in and around schools.”

He added: “I’m going to be like a community officer for schools, and not just for Bracknell but for Crowthorne and Sandhurst too.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

Police in Easthampstead, Bracknell are appealing for information as to the whereabouts of a 44-year-old woman, who has been missing since midday yesterday (8/8).

Helen Sadler, who lives in Binfield but was staying at an address in Coningsby, is white with shoulder-length grey hair which she often wears tied back, 5ft 8ins and very slim. It is not known what she was wearing when she disappeared.

Police are growing increasingly concerned for her welfare and would ask anyone who knows where Helen may be, or believes they have seen a woman matching her description, to contact Bracknell Police Station via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

A 32-year-old woman will appear before court next week charged with possession of a class A controlled drug (cocaine) with intent to supply.

Karen Louise Dudek, of Long Moors, Priestwood, will appear before Bracknell Magistrates on 8 August.

The charge relates to an incident on 2 June where a quantity of drugs was discovered by police.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

Three parks in Bracknell Forest have retained their prestigious Green Flags - showing they have met a national standard for quality parks and green spaces.

Pope's Meadow in Binfield has now been flying its Green Flag for five successive years and Westmorland Park has its third flag since 2003.

Sandhurst Memorial Park and Shepherd Meadows - a partnership between the Borough Council and Sandhurst Town Council which was the scheme's first joint winner three years ago - has achieved a Green Flag for a third successive year.

Although this year a record 423 flags have been awarded across the country by the Civic Trust - who run the Green Flag scheme, there were only five awarded in Berkshire.

The judges criteria include making the park a welcoming place; it should be healthy, safe, and secure; and be clean and well maintained. They also look at conservation and heritage, community involvement, marketing and management.

Since last year’s inspections, Bracknell Council’s parks and countryside officers have initiated a number of improvements including new signs and interpretation boards at Sandhurst, amended the management plans at all sites and undertaken ongoing landscape improvements.

Richard Walton, Parks and Countryside Manager, said: We are thrilled the hard work and ongoing improvements to our parks has been recognised by the Green Flag judges once again.

We are constantly looking at how we can continue to improve and enhance our parks and maintain them as places to be enjoyed by everybody.”

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Bracknell Leisure and Corporate Services, said: "The borough has an enviable range of parks, countryside and open spaces, and I am delighted the quality of our management and our parks is recognised by these awards.

"My thanks go to our staff, partners and the public in making these successes possible.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Residents in Bracknell will have the opportunity to discuss any community and police issues with officers when the latest beat surgery is held on Wednesday 23 August.

The Bracknell surgery is to be staged in the foyer of the Wilde Theatre at South Hill Park Arts and Leisure Centre, Birch Hill, from 7pm to 9pm.

PC Michael Foot - of the neighbourhood policing team in Bracknell - is the beat officer for Birch Hill and Hanworth, and he will be in attendance along with Police Community Support Officer Martin Homer, to talk to residents.

PC Foot said: “The surgeries are a chance for residents of Birch Hill and Hanworth to express their views and concerns.

“It is also an opportunity for police to give people advice, information and reassurance.”

He added: “Anyone can visit between these times to meet their local beat officers and discuss any issues.”

If you are unable to attend the forthcoming Bracknell surgery but require advice, you can contact PC Foot and PCSO Homer via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. An alternative appointment can then potentially be arranged.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

Police in Bracknell are once again targeting those people who ride mini-motorbikes in an anti-social manner.

Bracknell Officers are reminding the public that the vehicles - also known as monkey bikes - will be seized if seen being ridden illegally.

It follows an incident on Monday (31/7) when police received several reports of three youths on mini-motorbikes at South Hill Park, Birch Hill, and on footpaths in Hanworth, Bracknell.

The youths – a 12-year-old girl, 12-year-old boy and 13-year-old boy – later admitted to using the bikes when spoken to by police.

PC Michael Foot, beat officer for Birch Hill and Hanworth, said: “The children were all warned that, should they use any bike ever again in an anti-social manner, then that bike will be seized.”

He added: “I am concerned that someone might get injured by what people who ride these motorbikes are doing. In the case of children using them, it’s far better that parents get rid of any mini-motorbikes themselves.”

Bracknell Police are reiterating that if mini-motorbikes are used on the highway or in a public place they must be registered with the DVLA, taxed and insured. Riders must be over 16, have a valid driving licence and

Police are also concerned that people are continuing to ride motorbikes around Caesar’s Camp and along the ramblers’ route which runs parallel with the Nine Mile Ride.

PC Foot said: “They are riding at speeds and could injure someone quite easily. They are riding in an anti-social manner.

“I am looking for any information to help track down the people responsible.”

Anyone with information should get in touch with PC Foot via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. Those who do not want to talk to police or leave their name can phone the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

An initiative which saw the safety of taxis and other private hire vehicles checked has been carried out by police and their partner agencies in Bracknell Forest.

Thames Valley Police’s Roads Policing Unit teamed up with Bracknell Forest Borough Council and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to undertake tests, with 75 vehicles checked on 18 July.

PC Guy Summers, of the Roads Policing Unit based at Taplow, said: “The aim of the operation was to make sure that taxis in the area are safe for members of the public to use.”

A total of 27 taxi drivers at Kennel Lane School, Kennel Lane in Bracknell were requested to take their vehicles to the check site on Market Street.

Many other Bracknell taxi drivers were asked to go along, and consequently visited the test location, while several drivers took their vehicles to the site voluntarily.

Of those 75 vehicles tested, 60 were either Hackney carriages or private hire vehicles.

The testing, which occurred from 8am to noon, found that approximately six drivers of the 60 taxi or private hire vehicles had committed offences ranging from having defective tyres to not possessing the correct safety equipment. Two drivers did not have a license to carry passengers – they were consequently interviewed by officers.

PC Summers said: “I am pleased with the results of this check. They are similar to the results that we collected last year and show that, on average, taxis in Bracknell are safe.

“Both Bracknell Forest Borough Council and the police are interested in any drivers who may be committing an offence and putting the safety of the public at risk.

“We welcome any intelligence that may lead to the prosecution of rogue operators and their drivers, and which may improve safety for the public.”

Robert Sexton, head of trading standards and licensing at Bracknell Forest Borough Council, said: “I am pleased that the general standard of our licensed vehicles remains very high.

“We will continue to work with our local taxi and private hire companies to ensure a safe service is provided to residents of and visitors to Bracknell Forest.”

Anyone who has concerns about taxi safety and standards, and would like to report an issue, should phone police via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. Those who do not want to talk to police or leave their name can call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell

A ford in Watersplash Lane in Warfield has been improved so horses and riders can pass through easily and safely.

The work was first proposed three years ago by local horse-rider and Local Access Forum member Caroline Tomalin, and has involved staff from Bracknell Forest Borough Council's parks and countryside and streetcare departments and the Environment Agency.

The previous asphalt slope to the ford had become eroded, unstable, overgrown and inaccessible. It has now been regraded, vegetation has been cut back and access to the pedestrian bridge has been resurfaced.

Since work was completed in June, it has already become well used by horse riders, walkers and residents.

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Bracknell Leisure and Corporate Services, said: "The Council's Rights of Way Improvement Plan is our commitment to ensuring all residents have access to the countryside for their enjoyment.

"The improvement of the Watersplash Lane ford is an example of different organisations working together to improve the borough's rights of way network for our residents."

Bracknell Forest Borough Council