Parish Council News

Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS)

The Parish Council is very concerned about speeding traffic through our village. Back in December last year the Highways Board agreed to assess Broadwater Lane, A321 Wokingham Road, Davis Street, Hinton Road, Lodge Road and School Road.

At the Highways Board meeting on 5th July, Kate Fuller the Traffic Management Team Leader at Wokingham District Council put forward their recommendations for VAS in the Wokingham District. In her report it was recommended that Davis Street should be monitored for future consideration. At the meeting Councillor Paul Martin made the case for Vehicle Activated Signs in Hurst. Although, thankfully, Hurst does not meet the main criteria, which is a history of personal injury accidents, we do have a proven speeding problem as shown by recent speed surveys.

The Chairman of the Highways Board (Mr David Choppin) has been very supportive of our case and, with the help of District Councillor Annette Drake and the HVS Committee, WDC have agreed to assess Broadwater Lane, A321 Wokingham Road, Davis Street and Lodge Road.

Maintenance Work

Work on tidying up the playing field in Davis Street is near completion. A number of dead elms have been removed, along with a conifer near the entrance. Now that the vegetation has been cut back, the state of the fencing can be assessed and appropriate action taken.

A contract to paint and tidy up round Townsend Pond has been placed. We hope the work will be completed by the Autumn.

At the Parish Council meeting on 6th September the options to remove the graffiti from the Youth Shelter and reduce further vandalism were discussed.

Local Nature Reserve

Unfortunately progress on this issue is very slow. The Clerk has sent several letters to the landowner of the main site under consideration, but as yet has not been able to move this project forward.

The Parish Council has been in discussions with the landowner of one of the secondary sites, but it was mutually agreed that this site was not suitable.

Your New Council

Following the elections in June, your new council is as follows:

The Parish Council says farewell to both Ian McMinn and David Boulton and would like to record their thanks for the many years they have represented Hurst as Councillors and their contribution in this time.

The Parish Council is pleased to welcome Wayne Smith to fill one of these vacancies which leave one vacancy.

If you are interested in joining the Council, please contact Bob Wardle.

Visit the Parish Council web site for full contact details of Parish Councillors and information about the activities of the Council.