Berkshire weekly round-up: 4 May - 10 May 2024

The event marks the important Sikh festival of Vaisakhi

A story about an annual street procession returning after five years was among our most read 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.

Footbridge reopens ahead of schedule

Work to clean, repaint and add new lights to the bridge has seen it fully closed since January

A footbridge used by thousands of residents and tourists visiting Windsor has reopened after refurbishment work.

Windsor Coach Park footbridge, which connects the parking area to the town centre, was wrapped in scaffolding for 17 weeks during its overhaul.

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council said the work had been completed quicker than planned and it was reopened on Friday.

It said the work would "enhance the sense of welcome" to the town.

Music education gets £1.7m boost

The project in Berkshire will be supported by £1.7m in arts funding

A new music hub for children and young people to provide quality education will open after it secured funding.

The Berkshire Music Hub secured £1.7m from Arts Council England.

It will be led by the Berkshire Music Trust but will be delivered in partnership with the Slough Music Service.

A total of 43 music hubs will be set up across England to support children and young people in and out of school.

Sikh street parade returns after five years

The Nagar Kirtan parade has been staged in Reading since 2002

An annual Sikh street procession has been staged in a town for the first time in five years.

The Nagar Kirtan parade was held in Reading from 2002 until 2019 before stopping because of the Covid pandemic.

About 2,000 priests and worshippers joined the procession from Cumberland Road to London Road earlier.

The event celebrates the festival of Vaisakhi, which marks the founding of the Sikh community, the Khalsa, in 1699.

Air ambulance reveals state-of-the-art facility

The new facility has purpose built mannequins, a lounge area and a mocked up trauma ward ready for paramedics to prepare for real life emergencies

Thames Valley Air Ambulance has unveiled its state-of-the-art training and operations facility.

Paramedics now have access to an immersive suite, purpose built mannequins and wellbeing room for training.

The service previously used a space at RAF Benson, near Wallingford, but has moved to the headquarters in Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire.

The facility brings together critical care paramedics and fundraising teams.

Villagers ask for feedback on 20mph plans

Motorists in Theale would be restricted to 20mph under the plans

Roads in a village could soon have 20mph speed limits imposed as part of a pilot.

Under the proposals all residential streets in Theale, Berkshire, will have their speed limits assessed, rather than just some of its individual roads.

Similar changes could be implemented in other parts of the county in the coming years if the trial was successful, West Berkshire Council said.

Residents are being asked for their thoughts on the proposal.

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