Defibrillator donated to California Country Park

Life-saving equipment has been installed at a popular country park as a thank you to South East Water customers.

The water company recently installed three kilometres of brand-new water pipe in Finchampstead as part of a £1.4 million upgrade to the local water network.

Once the 12-month project completed in July, South East Water donated £2,000 to Wokingham Borough Council to purchase a defibrillator for California Country Park.

Mayor of Wokingham Borough, Councillor Malcolm Richards, said: “I’m delighted with this vital equipment which could potentially save a life.

“I’m very grateful to South East Water for such a generous contribution to our community.”

The water company laid new pipe in Finchampstead Road, Billing Avenue, Gorse Ride South and Nine Mile Ride between July 2019 and Summer 2020.

Its project will ensure a steady supply of top quality drinking water for years to come.

Jeremy Dufour, Project Manager, said: “We know this work caused some disruption to the local community and motorists through our road closure.

“Road closures can be frustrating but they are essential in order for us to ensure the safety of the public and our workforce when laying new pipework.

“The customers and communities we serve are important to us so we wanted to make sure we gave something back once the project finished.

“Although I hope it never has to be used, the defibrillator has been installed and is ready to use if needed.”

The defibrillator is based at the cafe within California Country Park.