We are appealing for witnesses following a serious injury collision on New Wokingham Road, Crowthorne.

At around 6.20pm on Saturday (23/9) a blue BMW 320D lost control and has crashed into the embankment hitting a tree.

A 37-year-old man from Wokingham has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving a motor vehicle when alcohol above legal limit, and driving a motor vehicle without insurance.

We are appealing for witnesses following this collision.

We would ask anyone who witnessed the collision, or anyone who has dash-cam or CCTV in the area to check their footage and please provide anything that they think may be of use to our investigation.

We are also keen on obtaining information of any footage or witness information of the BMW prior to the collision.

Witnesses can provide footage and witness information through our online appeal page (link below), or by calling 101, quoting reference 43230427835.

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• Little changes, big impact

A new target to achieve net zero CO2 emissions as close to 2030 as possible, was agreed at Bracknell Forest’s full council meeting last night.

The council has been working towards the government set target of carbon neutrality by 2050. Following a successful year of climate change action in the borough, the council is committing to broaden and accelerate the climate change strategy to meet this target as close to 2030 as possible.

Last night also saw the 2022/2023 climate change progress report be shared with the full council.

Some of the council’s key actions in the report included:

• Energy efficiency improvements were made to many of the council’s buildings through Salix funding and to over 60 vulnerable households through the Warm, Safe and Well and Green Homes Grant schemes.
• An inaugural schools' climate change conference was hosted, accompanied by initial seed funding for in-school projects.
• Food waste collections expanded to an additional 640 flats across the borough.
• 1,300 new trees were planted across the borough.
• 32 new EV charging points were installed in council car parks.

To help achieve the new targets and involve all sectors of the community in the council’s climate change work, a new Joint Community Board has been formed. The board will work together on climate change projects to help the whole of Bracknell Forest reduce its carbon output and will be supported by several working groups representing different sectors of our community, such as schools, local businesses and community groups.

Cllr Mary Temperton, leader of Bracknell Forest Council and executive member for council strategy and climate change, said:

"We recognise that addressing climate change is an emergency, and our commitment to achieving net zero remains steadfast.

“The climate change summit in July reinforced the urgency of this issue, and we are taking concrete steps to accelerate our progress.

“This is everyone’s responsibility, and everyone can help. Please do your bit by recycling what you can, travelling in a greener way and making more sustainable choices."

For more information on the council’s climate change work, visit the council’s climate change page. (Link below)

Following the successful bid for funding to build a new autism spectrum disorder (ASD) school, the council’s executive will be discussing the proposed location for the new school next week.

A number of sites throughout the borough have been considered, taking into account suitability of the site and costs. The preferred location proposed for the new school is the site at Buckler’s Park in Crowthorne, where freehold land would be made available by Cala Homes.

The council’s decision-making executive will be asked to agree the site at its meeting on Tuesday, 19 September.

Other sites considered had previously been used for education, however they required the council to purchase the land at considerable cost. They also required considerable work to clear and ready the land for construction, which would create considerable delay to the opening of the school. The site at Buckler’s Park allows for construction to start as soon as planning and design has been finalised, making it the most time and cost-effective option.

Buckler’s Park has always had an education facility earmarked on the site – this was part of the agreed planning for the development. It was originally expected that a two-form entry primary school would be required. Since work started on the development, primary pupil numbers in mainstream education in the borough have reduced, while the number of children of all ages with SEND requirements has increased over time and is due to continue to rise.

The current special school provision in the borough is at capacity and local mainstream schools have sufficient places to accommodate children from the development. From the current data, the addition of a primary school on the site would have a detrimental impact on other local schools, by further increasing the number of pupil vacancies.

The majority of primary aged children living in Buckler’s Park attend one of two schools within a mile and a half, with others mainly attending one of the other four primary schools within two and a half miles. Families on the development have a choice of well-established and high quality local primary schools.

If a school is not built on the site, the land will go back to the developer.

The new ASD school will accommodate up to 100 pupils from reception to year 13, with the site providing indoor and outdoor teaching spaces.

Cllr Roy Bailey, executive member for children, young people and learning, said: “Improving services and opportunities for children and young people with SEND is a big priority and a new autistic spectrum disorder school will provide much needed provision.

“A number of sites were considered, and the proposed site at Buckler’s Park will be considered by the executive at its meeting next week.”

Grainne Siggins, executive director for people, said: “The Buckler’s Park site offers the best option for both cost and timings in respect of a new autistic spectrum disorder school.

If the executive agrees the location next week, construction work could start as soon as the design and planning stages have been completed with a prospective opening date of September 2026.”

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