At least three property developers have submitted a formal complaint, according to the Evening Standard newspaper. The London newspaper says police have been called to investigate allegations of bribery in applications for property developments. A Slough Borough Council spokesperson said it could not investigate as no individual had been named in the complaint. But said they felt it was best to forward the allegations to the police. The spokesperson said: “The council has received information expressing concern about soliciting money in order to secure approval for planning...…At least three property developers have submitted a formal complaint, according to the Evening Standard newspaper. The London newspaper says police have been called to investigate allegations of bribery in applications for property developments. A Slough Borough Council spokesperson said it could not investigate as no individual had been named in the complaint. But said they felt it was best to forward the allegations to the police. The spokesperson said: “The council has received information expressing concern about soliciting money in order to secure approval for planning...WW…

Gypsy, Roma and TravellerLocal governmentWoodleyShareWoodley is a “hotspot” for unauthorised Traveller encampments – but there are no plans to provide official stopping sites, Wokingham Borough Council has said.The council has praised its anti-social behaviour officers for working to evict Travellers who recently camped in Woodford and Ashenbury parks at the end of August, in a report to councillors.Narinder Brar, the council’s community safety officer, said Woodley had hosted most of the unauthorised encampments in the borough this year, as she presented the report to councillors.She said:...…Gypsy, Roma and TravellerLocal governmentWoodleyShareWoodley is a “hotspot” for unauthorised Traveller encampments – but there are no plans to provide official stopping sites, Wokingham Borough Council has said.The council has praised its anti-social behaviour officers for working to evict Travellers who recently camped in Woodford and Ashenbury parks at the end of August, in a report to councillors.Narinder Brar, the council’s community safety officer, said Woodley had hosted most of the unauthorised encampments in the borough this year, as she presented the report to councillors.She said:...WW…

Local governmentBracknellShareMajor plans for 'The Deck' shopping area which has long stood vacant as an 'eyesore' in Bracknell's town centre have officially been scrapped, it has been confirmed.The area opposite The Bull pub on High Street in Bracknell town centre has been boarded off for years following the demolition of the Bentalls department store.A vision for its replacement with a public space featuring shops, bars and restaurants – known as The Deck – got planning permission in 2019. But very little has happened since to the boarded-up area, with Bracknell Forest Council citing the...…Local governmentBracknellShareMajor plans for 'The Deck' shopping area which has long stood vacant as an 'eyesore' in Bracknell's town centre have officially been scrapped, it has been confirmed.The area opposite The Bull pub on High Street in Bracknell town centre has been boarded off for years following the demolition of the Bentalls department store.A vision for its replacement with a public space featuring shops, bars and restaurants – known as The Deck – got planning permission in 2019. But very little has happened since to the boarded-up area, with Bracknell Forest Council citing the...WW…

Local governmentBracknellShareSilva Homes tenants say delayed repairs have left them with leaky ceilings, freezing homes, and without a shower.Two separate people have come forward with new complaints after one tenant, Jonathan Godsell, said he’d had to build his own shower in his yard amid a dispute with the housing association.Martin Lewis says he spent “nearly three Christmases with a freezing cold flat” – and has had a hole in his bathroom ceiling since April. Meanwhile, 81-year-old Rose Chanel has reported spending six weeks unable to use her shower due to a blocked drain.Ms Chanel...…Local governmentBracknellShareSilva Homes tenants say delayed repairs have left them with leaky ceilings, freezing homes, and without a shower.Two separate people have come forward with new complaints after one tenant, Jonathan Godsell, said he’d had to build his own shower in his yard amid a dispute with the housing association.Martin Lewis says he spent “nearly three Christmases with a freezing cold flat” – and has had a hole in his bathroom ceiling since April. Meanwhile, 81-year-old Rose Chanel has reported spending six weeks unable to use her shower due to a blocked drain.Ms Chanel...WW…

Local governmentBracknellShareLive music venues, children's entertainment or just more affordable shops. These are some of the things visitors to The Lexicon in Bracknell town centre have said they’d like to see in the space left empty after plans to build The Deck were dropped.The area opposite The Bull pub on High Street in Bracknell town centre has been boarded off for years following the demolition of the Bentalls department store.But after years of delays, developer Bracknell Regeneration Partnership has dropped plans to build a new public space featuring shops, bars and restaurants –...…Local governmentBracknellShareLive music venues, children's entertainment or just more affordable shops. These are some of the things visitors to The Lexicon in Bracknell town centre have said they’d like to see in the space left empty after plans to build The Deck were dropped.The area opposite The Bull pub on High Street in Bracknell town centre has been boarded off for years following the demolition of the Bentalls department store.But after years of delays, developer Bracknell Regeneration Partnership has dropped plans to build a new public space featuring shops, bars and restaurants –...WW…

Until Donald Trump took office in the United States, the long, loping stride of John Kerry, President Barack Obama’s secretary of state, was a familiar sight at UN climate conferences, ultimately helping to steer the Paris Agreement home in 2015.Trump’s time in power was four years of trigger-happy environmental reversing, something Kerry now has to help unravel. He is President Joe Biden’s special presidential envoy for climate, a new cabinet-level position.Kerry is a 77-year-old political veteran. He won three Purple Hearts in the Vietnam War and then became an anti-war activist after...…Until Donald Trump took office in the United States, the long, loping stride of John Kerry, President Barack Obama’s secretary of state, was a familiar sight at UN climate conferences, ultimately helping to steer the Paris Agreement home in 2015.Trump’s time in power was four years of trigger-happy environmental reversing, something Kerry now has to help unravel. He is President Joe Biden’s special presidential envoy for climate, a new cabinet-level position.Kerry is a 77-year-old political veteran. He won three Purple Hearts in the Vietnam War and then became an anti-war activist after...WW…