Latest news with #ForestCouncil
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Burials for Bracknell Forest pitch and putt course given go-ahead
A council's plan to use a pitch and putt area at a golf course for burial spaces has been given the final Forest Council's cabinet again approved using the area at Downshire Golf Complex to expand Easthampstead Park Crematorium and Cemetery for more than 1,000 burial spaces on leader Mary Temperton said that using the land was "not an easy decision" but it was found to be the only viable site of people opposed the scheme, arguing that the loss of the playing space would hinder sporting opportunities. The council's cabinet agreed to use the land last year but it was subject to a three-month holding period pending a potential legal Jefferies, the council's cabinet member for leisure, culture, public protection and democracy, said by current projections the authority would run out of burial space by next two-hectare (4.9-acre) plot could provide up to 1,138 full plots, 150 Muslim burial plots and 1,168 cremated remains plots and is expected to provide enough space for the borough for about 25 council will need to carry out an archaeological dig at the site, but that will take place over the winter so players can still use the course over the coming months. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
07-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bracknell Forest Council joins scheme helping Afghan residents
A Berkshire town will welcome 300 Afghan residents who have fled their home country in the coming Forest Council is participating in the government's Afghan Resettlement Programme, which offers relocation to its 300 Afghans will be supported, with additional residents expected in the future. The authority said the programme would start in the spring and it does not yet know how many more residents will arrive, or when. Those being resettled worked for, or with, the UK government to support its mission in Afghanistan - or are considered vulnerable or in danger from the Taliban, which took control of the country in Afghans who worked to help the UK mission in Afghanistan, including in specialist units, have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the are also not classed as illegal immigrants, asylum seekers or refugees, the council programme comes after the defence secretary, John Healey, said local authorities were "essential to make this vision a reality". 'Play our part' Families will arrive in three groups and can stay up to nine months in their transitional accommodation, while searching for a permanent of Bracknell Forest Council Mary Temperton said: "We have a long history of being kind, supportive and caring to people who have experienced trauma and turbulence in their lives, meaning they can no longer stay safely in their home country."Funding for the national scheme has come from the government and does not impact local council authority is also working with NHS Frimley to offer support to new patients in the area and explained the location of transitional accommodation would not be Temperton added Bracknell Forest needed "to play our part" by offering "safe and secure" homes to the new residents. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
06-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Forest Hill school for children with autism put on hold
A planned new school for autistic children has been put on hold by the Department for Education (DfE), a council has as Forest Hill, the school was set to be opened in Buckler's Park in Crowthorne, Berkshire, in March 2027, after originally being planned to open in late Forest Council officer Duane Chappell told a meeting of education leaders: "Everything has been frozen until the government looks at the places across boroughs."The DfE, which is due to make a decision in due course, said it was reforming the national special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, which would "take time". As part of a government funding agreement, the council is working to reduce its million pounds of overspend on SEND in return for a £16m investment in two specialist provisions and two special Chappell told a schools forum the news in March."[Forest Hill] has been on hold for a while from the DfE's perspective," she said."We are trying to find out from the DfE what's going on."If we go ahead with that school and the DfE signs off that bill for that school, then [it's] for us to ensure that we can open so we can take the pressure off schools."Ms Chappell said she was looking at what else was available for the authority if the school did not Propeller Trust has been appointed to run the school, which could accommodate about 100 autistic a statement, a DfE spokesperson said: "The evidence is clear that the SEND system has been on its knees for years, with too many children not having their needs met and parents forced to fight for support."It said part of its Plan for Change meant thinking differently about what the SEND system should look like, "to spread opportunity, restore the confidence of families up and down the country and deliver the improvement they are crying out for".The DfE said progress was being made by investing £1bn into SEND and £740m to encourage councils to create more specialist places in mainstream schools. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
01-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Bracknell Forest SEND service found to have 'widespread failings'
Bracknell Forest has "widespread and systematic failings" in its special educational needs and disabilities services which need to be addressed "urgently", an inspection has Forest Council and Frimley Integrated Care Board were subject to a joint Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection in member for children's services Roy Bailey apologised "unreservedly" on the council's behalf.A report found "too many children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) do not have their needs swiftly identified and met", with many missing "a substantial amount of their schooling" as a result. The report found weaknesses in the current system mean there are delays in assessment, diagnosis, treatment and support and that families "report their frustrations at the inconsistent support" their children the inspection also found examples where services provided effective support, often when children's needs are identified and met report outlines three areas for priority action and seven areas for improvement. Last year, nearly 150 parents wrote to the council saying they were "deeply dissatisfied" with the management of SEND said: "We want the best possible start to life for all our children and young people and so we know we must continue with our improvement plans so they get the right, education, health and care support. "We are absolutely determined in our commitment to improve."Bracknell MP Peter Swallow said the report "has put in black and white what parents have been saying for too long".The Labour MP said: "Steps in the right direction have been made, but change must be deep and lasting – and this report gives all partners a pathway to success."A monitoring inspection will be carried out in 18 months and the local area partnership is required to prepare and submit an action plan to address the identified areas for priority action. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, and X.
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bracknell: Huawei 5G masts to be replaced on tower block
Chinese-owned telecommunications masts will be replaced on the roof of an 18-storey tower Forest Council has approved plans for Cellnex UK to replace its 5G masts on the roof of the Point Royal tower on Rectory Lane, Grade II listed building already has equipment on the roof – but it must be replaced after the government ordered all Huawei equipment to be removed from the UK's kit from the Chinese firm in the UK must be taken down by 2027 following a technical review by the National Cyber Security Centre in 2020. Three of the masts will be replaced with six new antenna on the roof of Point Cellnex UK said the works would be the "least visually intrusive solution" rather than introducing a new ground-based or rooftop installation were approved last year to upgrade other equipment on the rooftop, which will be used by Vodafone and 2023, Bracknell Forest Council refused permission for another telecoms company, Cignal infrastructure, to build a ground-level phone mast in Great said that mast would have been an "eyesore" and the council said the equipment would damage a nearby Forest Council has approved the latest plans for Point Royal. It is not know when work will begin. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
