A new scheme designed to get first-time buyers onto the housing ladder is being launched in Bracknell; the first of its kind in the UK.

BFC My Home Buy goes live this autumn and will enable first-time buyers, who have lived in the borough for at least five years, the chance to buy their home.

All those who apply will have to show their ability to raise the mortgage on the share they want to buy.

The homes can be old or new but may only have one bedroom more than the applicant needs – for example a married couple could look at one and two bedroom homes but a family consisting of a mum, dad and one child could look at two and three bedroom homes.

Once the first time buyers have found their home, the council will purchase the property, subject to the usual checks associated with home-buying, and will sell the applicant a percentage of the home based on what they can afford.

The council will charge a rent on the share it keeps which will increase up to a maximum of 5 per cent five years after purchase.

Simon Hendey, chief officer for housing said: “There are lots of people in the borough who are earning good salaries but because banks are demanding such huge deposits they are struggling to get a foot on the ladder. This new scheme will help first time buyers get their own home without having to save for years and years for a ridiculously high deposit.”

Cllr Dale Birch, executive member for adult social care, health and housing, said: “The new scheme also has the added bonus of the council being able to invest in property and getting a return on this investment in years to come. Plus it provides first time buyers with a bit more protection should the worst come and they lose their job or can’t pay their mortgage as the council will be able to immediately intervene and point them in the right direction of the relevant financial help schemes.”

Thames Valley Police are appealing for information after a fail to stop collision in Bracknell on Wednesday 4 August which left a cyclist with minor injuries.

A number of drivers simply drove round the stricken cyclist as he lay on the road.

The collision, between the cyclist and a large silver Mercedes, happened on the roundabout at the Broad Lane junction with Blenheim Drive at about 9.10am.
The cyclist, who did not require hospital treatment and was treated at the scene by paramedics, said several drivers drove around him as he was lying in the road.

Witnesses to the collision or anyone with any information about the incident can call PC Steve Mitchell at Bracknell police station via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505 or if you don’t want to leave a name, call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Work to create a direct link to the A329 Berkshire Way from Peacock Lane, along with associated roundabout and slip roads started earlier this summer.

The road works are currently taking place ‘offline’ to the south of the existing A329 carriageway but will move onto the carriageway in late summer. Once the roadworks reach the carriageway, there will be some disruption to traffic flows and a 50mph speed limit will be enforced for safety reasons.

The new link is scheduled for completion in Winter 2010/2011 and will provide a connection to the main route into Bracknell and onto the M4.

“It will be of significant benefit to people who use Peacock Lane – who currently have to go through the Southern Industrial Estate to reach the A329 – and to the growing residential community of Jennett’s Park and people who work at the adjacent Southern Industrial area,” said a spokesman for Bracknell Forest Council.

The roadworks will consist of the construction of a short length of access road from an existing stub in Peacock Lane to a new roundabout on the A329. Vehicles travelling eastbound into Bracknell will however be able to use a through-lane rather than the roundabout in order to maintain traffic flow from the M4 towards Bracknell.

The programme of work is being carried out by contractors working on behalf of the Jennett’s Park Consortium – Persimmon Homes and Redrow Homes. Information and weekly updates for road users about the improvements are available at www.a329roadworks.co.uk.

Additionally a freephone information line with a recorded weekly update message is available by calling 0800 028 8332.

Thames Valley Police are appealing for witnesses following a robbery at a jewellery shop in Ascot on Tuesday 27 July.

The incident happened at Ascot Goldsmiths, Course Road, at approximately 11.17am, when a man entered the shop posing as a customer.

Moments later, the man assaulted a member of staff and stole items of jewellery before running off.

The victim sustained an injury to his head and was taken to Wexham Park Hospital. He was discharged later the same day.

The offender is described as being of smart appearance and was wearing a dark coloured suit. He wore dark coloured sunglasses and had ‘big’ black hair.

Inquiries suggest that the offender arrived at the shop on a motorbike, possibly with another man who remained outside near to the shop. Once the offender exited the shop with the stolen goods, it is believed that he was picked baRobbery at jewellers – Ascotck up by his accomplice on the motorbike. The pair are through to have driven off along the High Street, towards Winkfield Road.

Shortly afterwards, a motorbike believed to have been used by the offenders, was found abandoned near Cheapside Road, Ascot.

Further inquiries suggest that the pair then made off in a silver coloured van with writing on the side.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Det Con Iain Watkinson via the 24 hour police enquiry centre on 0845 8 505 505. Those who do not wish to speak to police or leave their name should call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A 17-year-old boy has been given a custodial sentence for possession of crack cocaine and heroin with intent to supply, possession of a stun gun and assaulting a police officer.

The teenager, who is from London and cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday (16/3), having pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

He received an 18-month detention and training order for the drugs offences, 12 months for possession of the stun gun and three months for assaulting a police officer. The four months he has already spent on remand will not count towards his sentence, and he will serve a minimum of nine months in prison. The judge said that the only reason he was not facing a lengthier sentence was due to his age.

The teenager was arrested by neighbourhood officers as a result of a drugs warrant in Mount Pleasant, Bullbrook, on 25 November 2009.

As officers were going into the property, PC Richard Peek, a neighbourhood officer in Bracknell town centre, was guarding the rear of the property in an unmarked vehicle. He spotted the teenager talking on his mobile phone and approached him. The 17-year-old tried to run off, tripping as he did so. As PC Peek went to detain him, the boy threw his mobile phone into the officer’s face, causing minor swelling. Despite this, PC Peek managed to detain him until support arrived.

The teenager was found to be in possession of 49 wraps of cocaine and 26 wraps of heroin. He also had a stun gun in his jacket pocket, as well as a stolen Oyster Card.

Det Con Jon Cairns, who carried out the investigation, said: “This was an excellent piece of proactive policing, which has hopefully sent out a message to drug dealers coming in from London that drug dealing will not be tolerated in Bracknell.

“PC Peek did extremely well in spotting the teenager, acting quickly and detaining him before he was able to dispose of the drugs or stun gun. In the end, it made my job as a detective very easy, and left the teenager little alternative but to plead guilty at the first opportunity.”