1. Lib Dem bid to reverse parking hike

Get Wokingham, Wednesday 11 October 2006

WOKINGHAM district’s scrutiny committee will place rising car park charges under the magnifying glass next Monday, writes Victoria Corbett.
The decision by the authority to increase costs in all Wokingham and Woodley town centre car parks was blocked by opposition Liberal Democrat councillors, who called the matter to the scrutiny committee.
The Lib Dems wanted the plan reversed because they believe holding the consultation in the summer holidays denied many residents the chance to respond and some responses sent directly to Cllr Frank Browne, leader of the council, had not been considered.
They also say the justification for the rise is to generate more revenue for the council, but by increasing charges residents will be put off coming to the town centre and this could lead to
businesses suffering.
Councillors also believe the decision to increase the costs had been made in February but this was not revealed until a special executive meeting in August, and there is a lack of clarity of aims and desired outcomes.

2. COUNCIL TAX RISE IS ONE OF LOWEST IN UK By Victoria Corbett

Get Wokingham, Wednesday 1 March 2006
WOKINGHAM has set one of the lowest Council Tax increases in the country.

3. DISTRICT FALLS 20 PLACES IN GCSE LEAGUE by Alana Razzell

Get Wokingham, Wednesday 25 January 2006
WOKINGHAM schools are no longer top of the class after tumbling 20 places in new league tables – exactly a year after education leaders warned crumbling buildings would hold back pupil progress.

4. GROUPS ARE QUIDS IN WITH EXTRA GRANTS by Victoria Corbett

Get Wokingham, Wednesday 11 January 2006
VOLUNTEER transport organisations have been handed extra cash to keep the wheels turning to help elderly and disabled people.

5. FREE PARKING TO HELP SAVE SHOPS

Get Wokingham, Wednesday 19 April 2006
PARKING in Wokingham town centre is set to become free all day Thursday and Friday for shoppers in a bid to stop struggling traders from going under.

6. TORIES TIGHTEN THEIR GRIP AS LIB DEM CHIEF OUSTED

Get Wokingham, Wednesday 10 May 2006
THE Tories strengthened their grip on Wokingham in last week’s district council elections.

7. TORIES TIGHTEN THEIR GRIP AS LIB DEM CHIEF OUSTED

Get Wokingham, Wednesday 10 May 2006
THE Tories strengthened their grip on Wokingham in last week’s district council elections.

8. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD IN BATTLE TO HALT HOUSING BLIGHT

Get Wokingham, Friday 2 June 2006
HOMEOWNERS in the district are being urged to add their voice to a campaign to cut forced development in the town.

9. PARENTS JOIN FORCES TO FIGHT FOR A SCHOOL IN THE SOUTH

Get Wokingham, Thursday 9 March 2006
CAMPAIGNING parents have formed an action group to get a school built in the south of the district after plans to move The Emmbrook were dropped.

10. BROWNE LOSES HIS BATTLE TO REDUCE HOUSING NUMBERS

Get Wokingham, Wednesday 8 March 2006
MORE than a house a day every day for 20 years could be built in Wokingham – and the first attempt to cut the number has failed.