Crowthorne and Sandhurst

Firework night will be going off with a bang at Edgbarrow Sports Centre, Crowthorne on Sunday November 5.

The traditional fireworks will be set off at 6.30pm with a musical accompaniment; but from 5pm there will also be a bar also serving hot food, trampolining, a judo demonstration and a bouncy castle and soft play for children.

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Crowthorne Leisure and Corporate Services, said: Firework night is a great British tradition and what better way to have fun and enjoy what promises to be a spectacular fireworks display than in the safety of Edgbarrow Sports Centre.

"With so many other activities also going on at the centre there really will be something for all the family to enjoy.”

Prices start at £3.10 for children and £5.20 for adults. Full details can be found at www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/be or call 01344 776211.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council

Police are appealing for witnesses after two men were robbed in separate incidents as they walked in the Bracknell area late on Sunday night (15-16/10).

At about 11.50pm on 15 October, a 33-year-old man was walking along Crowthorne Road in Hanworth, Bracknell, towards the roundabout junction with Nine Mile Ride, when a vehicle pulled up alongside him. A group of men got out and asked him for cigarettes and money.

When he refused, the men punched him in the face, causing facial injuries including a bleeding nose. The robbers grabbed a ring from the man’s finger before driving off.

The second incident occurred about 10 minutes later. At about midnight on 15/16 October, a 31-year-old man was walking along Yorktown Road, Sandhurst, from Sandhurst train station towards Owlsmoor Road. As he approached the Total garage on Yorktown Road, a vehicle pulled up opposite him and a group of men got out. They assaulted the man before stealing his mobile phone and wallet.

The injured man was taken to Frimley Park hospital, where he was detained overnight and treated for cuts and bruises to the face and two broken ribs.

Anyone with information about these incidents, who has not already come forward, is asked to contact Det Con Iain Watkinson of the Priority Crime Team in Bracknell, on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to speak to police and prefer not to give your name, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Sandhurst

Award-winning novelist Lionel Shriver entertained 80 fans of her work at Crowthorne Library last week (October 5).

At Crowthorne Lionel offered background on her writing, read from her book 'Double Fault' and then took questions about her life, writing career and novels.

Lionel's seventh novel, 'We Need to Talk about Kevin', won the prestigious Orange Prize for Fiction in 2005 and she is a regular guest on BBC2's Newsnight Review.

‘We Need to Talk about Kevin’ focuses on a mother's anguish over whether she has failed her child.

Born Margaret Ann Shriver she decided she wanted to become a writer at the age of seven and her first novel was published when she was 29.

A graduate of Columbia University, she has written extensively for the Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Enquirer, Economist and the Guardian.

Now based in London she continues to work as a journalist in spite of the huge impact made by ‘We Need to Talk about Kevin’ which quickly became a best seller that stayed in the book charts for more than a year.

Her new book, 'The Post-Birthday World' is set to be published next year.

Ruth Burgess, Head of Libraries and Information, said: "It was a pleasure to welcome Lionel to our newest library and we were delighted that so many people came along. She offered a fascinating insight to her novels and career as a journalist."

Angie Southern, a fan who came from Reading for the Crowthorne event, said: "It was absolutely brilliant. Whoever thought of this, well done!

"I’ve been raving about Lionel Shriver for months and to meet her was such a privilege. She is quite simply a phenomenal writer."

Visit the Council's website: www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/libraries for more information about Lionel Shriver's visit and for information about the library services and forthcoming events.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council ~ Crowthorne

Breakfast Meeting in Crowthorne.
St John the Baptist Parish Church,
Waterloo Road,
Crowthorne,
Berkshire
21/10/06

Not been to church for a while?
Curious about what's happening at St John's?
Heard we have a new vicar and would like to meet her?
We will be hosting a morning session in St John's Church Hall where you can chat to Revd Lisa Cornwell.

Light refreshments will be served.
Everyone's welcome - hope we'll see you there!

Saturday 21st October

10 am to 12 noon

St John the Baptist Parish Church, Waterloo Road, Crowthorne, Berkshire

Visit our website: www.crowthorneparishchurch.org.uk or email tom@thejasperfamily.co.uk for more details

St John the Baptist Parish Church, Crowthorne

A Government Inspector has upheld the decision by Bracknell Forest Borough Council to refuse planning permission for a development of two-bedroom flats in Duke’s Ride, Crowthorne.

George Wimpey West and Princegate Estates initially applied to build 28 flats, and then two schemes with 27 flats, on land occupied by numbers 125 and 131 Duke’s Ride, Crowthorne - between March and September 2005.

All three planning applications were considered unacceptable and rejected by Crowthorne Council planning officers because the proposed development would:

* Harm the environment for surrounding homes;

* Was not in keeping with the appearance of the surrounding area;

* It did not meet borough planning policies.

In her response Government Inspector Gyllian Grindey agreed with the Crowthorne Council that all schemes would ‘degrade the present pleasant residential area’, were obtrusive and out of keeping with existing developments.

The Inspector also felt the development would harm the living conditions of residents neighbouring the site.

Concerns surrounding the development’s location - within 5km of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA) - were not concluded as the Inspector dismissed the appeal on planning merits and therefore did not need to deal with the SPA issue.

Steve Loudoun, Assistant Director of Environment and Leisure, said: "The Council was always of the opinion that the proposed developments were contrary to its planning policies and if permitted would result in a development which would be too large and out of keeping for this part of Crowthorne. The developer also failed to come forward with mitigation measures to deal with the SPA issues.

"We are delighted the inspector has supported our view and hopefully this will be seen by other developers as a signal that the Council’s planning policies are to be respected."

Cllr Mrs Mary Ballin, Executive Member for Planning and the Environment, said: "The Council is committed to protecting the character and individuality of Crowthorne, and has devoted time and resources to the planning appeal.

"I am glad the inspector has listened to us on this occasion."

Bracknell Forest Borough Council ~ Crowthorne

Bracknell Forest Borough Council is to write a letter of complaint after the Government's Planning Inspectorate allowed a development in Crowthorne to go ahead which is considered contrary to local planning policies and best practice.

Members of the Council's Planning and Highways Committee took the unprecedented step of agreeing to write to the inspectorate after they had visited the site and were shown pictures of the new building being constructed next to Alpha House in Crowthorne High Street.

The Committee turned down the original planning application in October 2004 on the basis that it was an overdevelopment of the site, was too far forward in the street and out of character with Crowthorne High Street.

However the refusal was overturned by a Government Inspector at appeal in October 2005 and building work on the site has now started.

At the Committee meeting on Thursday, September 21, concerned Crowthorne Councillors said they wanted the Planning Inspectorate to know that what they had permitted is not considered acceptable locally and that they needed to learn by their mistake.

Steve Loudoun, Assistant Director of Environment and Leisure, said: "Committee members decided to write to the planning inspectorate to express their concern for what both they and the officers consider a very poor decision.

"Everyone involved in the planning process takes their responsibilities very seriously and it would be wrong not to draw the concerns and the strong sense of disappointment being felt locally to the attention of the Planning Inspectorate based in Bristol.

"This development represents a lost opportunity, it is far too high and by bringing it so far forward creates a narrowing effect on the High Street and the adjoining footpath that was evident when the application was submitted.

"While the application can not be revoked the Council is determined that this decision will not be allowed to be used as a precedent for the future. The development is not in keeping with the character of the High Street or in accordance with our Local Plan policies. We expect planning decisions to have proper regard to such needs regardless of who makes the decision.

A letter of complaint has been drafted and will be sent to the Government's planning inspectorate this week.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council ~ Crowthorne