Crowthorne and Sandhurst

A woman appeared in Slough Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (20/11) charged with attempted murder following an incident in Sandhurst.

Nainakala Pariyar, aged 42, of Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, was remanded in custody and will next appear before Reading Crown Court on Monday 1 December.

The charge relates to an incident which occurred at the Royal Military Academy during the early hours of Monday 26 May 2008, during which a 41-year-old man was allegedly assaulted with a bladed instrument.

Thames Valley Police ~ Sandhurst

37 drivers were stopped as part of two speed checks in Sandhurst and Bracknell on Monday (17/11).

PC Bob Wade, from the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership (TVSRP), teamed up with officers from the Roads Policing Department to carry out the checks on the Crowthorne Road, Sandhurst and Birch Hill, Bracknell.

The checks were arranged after local residents raised concerns about speeding at their Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) meetings.

The check at Sandhurst saw 22 motorists stopped in two hours for travelling at 35mph or over in a 30mph zone. The Bracknell check saw 15 drivers stopped in under an hour for the same offence. All the drivers were issued Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) of £60 with three penalty points. One driver also had his vehicle seized for driving with a provisional licence while unsupervised.

All drivers travelling within 35-39mph will be offered the chance to attend a speed awareness course, at a cost of £79.50 place of the £60 fine and points.

PC Bob Wade said: “These checks were arranged in response to residents concerns and the TVSRP will continue to work with neighbourhood colleagues and roads policing to tackle road safety.

“Those caught speeding only have themselves to blame. It is surprising and disappointing that so many were caught in just three hours. Hopefully they will take up the speed awareness course and this will make them think about the dangers of speeding.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Sandhurst

Wokingham Borough Council’s new neighbourhood team has had an immediate impact for residents living near Bigshotte Park in Crowthorne.

People living near the Crowthorne park have had to put up with the noise from rowdy youths who have congregated there and have been repeatedly kicking footballs against metal shutters that cover the windows of a sports pavilion on site.

The police have been called to the park on several occasions and have attempted to stop the problem, but troublemakers have always returned and the noise has continued, provoking one Crowthorne resident to call his local ward councillor Pauline Helliar-Symons, who brought the issue to the attention of the new neighbourhood team.

Action soon followed and now, thanks to a team effort between the council and police a fence has been put up to stop balls being kicked against the shutters and goalposts installed in the Crowthorne park away from homes.

Area manager for Wokingham and the south of the borough Wendy Crosson-Smith said: “Residents living next to the pavilion have had a dreadful time with this problem and I am delighted the council and police have been able to help alleviate it. This is a good example of different teams working together for the benefit of residents.”

Cllr Helliar-Symons said: “I like to see the council and partners responding in this way to residents’ concerns. We have taken a carrot and stick-type approach to stop the young people causing annoyance to residents with wardens and police patrols but also with a new goalpost for them to use. I very much hope they take advantage of the goals in a positive way rather than cause people misery as they have done in the past.”

The council has appointed three area managers to work with residents and partners, such as the police, town and parish councils and health services, to resolve issues and identify local priorities. They will be available every week in Lower Earley, Wokingham and Woodley libraries to discuss any concerns residents wish to raise and will be able to ensure the issues are addressed and the relevant service providers are involved. Residents will be able to make appointments by contacting staff in the libraries.

Thames Valley Police will ensure a PCSO is available at each of the surgeries to respond to any policing matters. They will be able to provide advice on home and car security and respond to concerns about local policing and will pass these on the relevant teams.

The area managers are:

• Nick Christo: Woodley and the north of the borough. Contact: (0118) 974 6341 or email: nick.christo@wokingham.gov.uk.

• Wendy Crosson-Smith: Wokingham and south east of the borough. Contact (0118) 974 6261 or email: wendy.crosson-smith@wokingham.gov.uk.

• Allan Tiplady: Earley and the south west of the borough. Contact: (0118) 974 6319 or email: allan.tiplady@wokingham.gov.uk.

Appointments to speak to them can be booked from the libraries:

• Lower Earley Library: (0118) 974 6341

•Wokingham Library: (0118) 978 1368

• Woodley Library: (0118) 969 0304

Wokingham Borough Council ~ Crowthorne

Crowthorne Amateur Theatrical Society finishes its 30th Anniversary year with the pantomime “Dick Turpin Rides Again!”, by Richard Hills. Loosely based on the famous tale of Dick Turpin, this is a fresh and happy pantomime set in the 1730s, and is a show that is suitable for all the family.

Dick is pursued all over York, and with the evil Mayor’s reward to be had, he is worth capturing. Will Dick escape the clutches of the Mayor and marry his beloved Cindy? A host of characters including Dame Perrie Winkle (Mark Hill), her hapless son Wee Willie (Luke Burton), and daughter Cindy (Emily Austin), join Dick Turpin (Sarah Webb) in delighting the audience with their antics. Also involved are various characters including the Mayor of York (Simon Heffer), the henchmen Hinch & Cliff (David Rhodes and Chris Devereux), and the famous London detective Peter Dimwit (Chris Beesley) joining in the chase, ably assisted by the traditional pantomime horse Dobbin.

Director Angie Chitty is looking forward to combining the modern with the 1700s. “We have a great mix of songs in the show and I am confident the audience will go home singing them. I am please with the way the cast are working, and there are some superb characters, with many sub-plots and stories alongside the main theme to interest all ages.”

Tickets can be bought from Playhouse Cleaners, Dukes Ride; Whimsical, High Street; and Bewitched, Dukes Ride. They are also available from the CATS Box Office on 01344 752117.

The pantomime will be performed at the Parish Hall, Heath Hill Road South, Crowthorne on Thursday 27th November to Saturday 29th November at 19.45, with a matinee on Saturday at 14.00.