Berkshire weekly round-up: 13 April - 19 April 2024

People passing through the village have been warned of the sewage issues

A story about tongue-in-cheek signs popping up in a village where people have complained about sewage was among our most read stories this week in Berkshire.

A variety of local issues were featured on the BBC News website, BBC Radio Berkshire and South Today.

We have picked five stories to keep you up to date.

Backshall tells people to 'stay out' of polluted Thames

Steve Backshall said the test results were "terrifying"

Television naturalist Steve Backshall has described pollution found in the River Thames as "toxic".

Bangor University analysis found high levels of norovirus and E. coli in water taken near the border between Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

Samples were taken downstream from Little Marlow Sewage Treatment Works.

Thames Water, which operates the works, said all discharges from the site had been fully compliant with environmental law.

Care home given go-ahead despite NHS concerns

The new care home in Woodley will be able to accommodate 68 residents

A new care home has been given the go-ahead despite NHS warnings that it would put added pressure on nearby GP surgeries.

Plans for the 68-bedroom facility on Woodley Green were approved by Wokingham Borough Council.

The government body in charge of the area's healthcare previously said the nearby doctors' surgeries did not have enough capacity for the new residents.

It added Loddon Vale and Woodley Centre GP practices would be most affected.

Park hopes to have UK's first net zero rainforest

The Living Rainforest hosts more than 850 species of animals and plants

An educational visitor centre is hoping to build the UK's first net zero structure housing a tropical rainforest.

The Living Rainforest, in Hampstead Norreys, Berkshire, said it was planning a redesign to become "more climate resilient and adaptive".

It has been visited by more than two million people since it opened 31 years ago, including 500,000 students.

The centre is run by global education charity TSL.

Protesters call golf course homes plan a 'travesty'

Plans to build hundreds of houses on a golf course have been described by protesters as a "travesty".

The application for 1,500 homes on the Maidenhead Golf Club site in Berkshire was submitted in January.

Dozens of campaigners from Maidenhead Great Park group gathered outside the town's train station on Tuesday evening.

Developer Cala Homes said it aimed to retain as many of the land's natural features as possible.

'Russian poolette' road renamed Sewage Street

Residents placed the sign to show their dissatisfaction with the current situation in the village

Tongue-in-cheek signs have popped up in a village where people have complained of playing "Russian poolette" as sewage runs through the streets.

Residents in Hampstead Norreys, Berkshire, have reported cars splashing people with the polluted water as they stand on pavements in Water Street.

One of the road signs has now been renamed "Sewage Street" in an example of "typical British humour".

Thames Water said it had plans to upgrade local treatment works.

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