Top stories in Bracknell this week

1. Bracknell former kids TV star hit with £100k legal bill

A FORMER children's TV presenter faces a £100,000-plus after losing a court fight with her Bracknell neighbour over a 'property line' disagreement. 

Gertrude Garrow is best known for starring on Ireland's 1980s children's show 'Bosco’, before later becoming an author and screenwriter.

The 77-year-old clashed with her neighbour, Gary Short, 57, after bringing in a mini-digger and a team of workers to uproot a hedgerow next to her £1.3million home - Brockhill Farm Cottages, Warfield.

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2. Wokingham Borough Council lost £729,000 on off-street parking

A loss of £729,000 on off-street parking cost was made by Wokingham Borough Council last year, figures published by the government have revealed.

The figures come after an outcry from some businesses against the council’s decision to increase car park charges earlier this year.

The council’s total income from off-street parking was £115,000 in the financial year running April 2022 to April 2023. But this was offset by a total expenditure of £844,000 – making a loss of £729,000.

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3. Champion rally driver Mark Flaherty's daughter speaks out

THE daughter of a successful championship racing driver who took his life on New Year’s Day has issued a powerful message urging people to talk about their problems before it is too late.

Mark Patrick Flaherty, from Church Lane, Ascot, was a four-time UK champion rally driver in the 90s who enjoyed a flourishing career in rallycross driving.

The 59-year-old father of five died on January 1 after falling from the roof of the Oracle car park in Reading. An inquest recorded a verdict of suicide.

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4. Details of large new countryside park in Warfield approved

Ponds at a planned new country park in Warfield and work to a listed building in Wokingham are in this week’s roundup of planning decisions and applications in Bracknell and Wokingham

You can view each one by going to the relevant council’s planning website and searching for the application number provided.

Bracknell Forest: Ponds at new country park in Warfield (23/00091/COND)

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5. Shopper accuses parking attendant of misconduct after receiving ticket

An electric car owner said that he is outraged after receiving an ‘unjustified' Parking Charge Order at The Avenue car park in Bracknell.

The 51-year-old Windsor man, who does not wish to be named, was visiting the Bracknell car park on September 12 where he planned to use the electric charging bays on the ground floor. 

After connecting the charger to his car, he left for 10 minutes before returning to find a PCN ticket and the car disconnected from the charger.

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