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News Archive - Week Beginning 29th Dec 2008Crime - ToolsThames Valley police are warning RG4 residents not to make life easier for burglars by leaving tools around that can be used to gain entry into properties, following a spate of local thefts. The full text of the police press notice can be read here. Crime - LaptopsAccording to a report on the BBC web site, Thames Valley police are reporting that laptops are on the top of a burglar's hit list. This follows thefts from houses in Woodly, Wargrave and Charvil. They recommend using ultra-violet security pens, to use password protection on laptops, and to back up data too. Education - ConsultationsThe RBC is asking for parents of Year Six or secondary school pupils to share their views on the Council's school transport arrangements as part of a new consultation. The review will assess the current provision of school transport and consider changes for the future. To contribute to the review, write to School Transport Review, Transport Consulting Ltd, The Malthouse, 8 Brewery Court, Theale, Reading RG7 5AJ or visit this site. The deadline for responses is Saturday, January 31st. Environment/HeathrowThe Government is said to be considering switching aircraft landing patterns to "squeeze in" an extra 60,000 flights a year, according to the 'Chronicle'. If extra flights are approved in the context of a Heathrow expansion, the newspaper says that there would be serious noise pollution implications for the Reading area (including Caversham and Emmer Green). Both Reading MPs, Rob Wilson and Martin Salter, are said to oppose the building of a third runway at Heathrow. (Reading Chronicle 08/11/09 p6, Reading Evening Post 08/01/09 p2) History - Stoke RowThe Grade II listed Maharajah's Well in Stoke Row has been re-opened to the public following a restoration programme. The 368ft-deep well was first opened in 1864, and has been restored to its original standards. (Reading Evening Post 07/01/09 p8) HousingThe RBC is said to be demanding that a Caversham landlord, Peter Lewin, evicts 15 tenants from a redundant convent that he bought in South View Avenue in July 2006. The Council says that Mr Lewin has been letting rooms without a change of use permission, and now faces an enforcement notice. The current residents describe the property, next to St Anne's RC Primary School, as decent and affordable - Mr Lewin said "they're all decent professional people, but I can't make them nuns if they're not". (Reading Chronicle 08/01/09 p5) PubsThe Baron Cadogan pub in Prospect Street is selling pints of Greene King IPA beer for 99p as part of long-term promotion organised by the pub chain JD Wetherspoon. The promotion is made in the context of what is said to be a 'miserable period' for the pubs trade in general. (Reading Evening Post 05/01/09 p4, Reading Chronicle 08/01/09 p3) Waste CollectionAccording to a national survey published in the 'Daily Telegraph' on December 20th, 2008, Reading has been named as one of the worst three offenders in the country (alongside Peterborough and Medway) for dumping recyclable waste into landfill and incinerators. The RBC's Liberal Democrats are demanding an investigation into the survey, which has been described as "misleading and inaccurate" by RBC spokesman Oscar Mortali. The 'Post', in commenting on the survey, reports that the RBC has no plans at present to make kerbside collections of glass for recycling purposes - this contradicts an earlier claim made by the newspaper. (Reading Evening Post 06/01/08 p6, Reading Evening Post 07/01/08 p2) Shops / RetailThe long-term involvement of the Cross Lanes Fruit Farm in Mapledurham with the Reading Farmers' Market is described in a feature concerning the market. The farm, which grows rare apple varieties, is open 10am - 6pm every day until the end of January. The Farmers' Market is held in Great Knollys Street in the town centre from 8.30am - 12 noon on the first and third Saturday of the month. (Reading Chronicle Midweek, 07/01/08 pp4,5) A new dancewear shop, Dancia, opened in Prospect Street last Saturday, January 3rd. The shop sells a large variety of dance and ballet wear, and is said to have had "an amazing response" following its opening. (Reading Evening Post 06/01/09 p8, Reading Chronicle 08/01/08 p15) Under the terms of an RBC five-star rating system for standards of retail food hygiene, the Tesco Express in Caversham's Church Street is said to have been awarded just two stars. However, Waitrose, also in Church Street, was awarded the full five stars. (Reading Evening Post 07/01/09 p5) The decision by Marks & Spencer to earmark its 'Simply Food' outlet in St Martin's Precinct for closure receives widespread attention. The store has been open for just 30 months, and is to be shut as part of a wider programme of M&S closures. Other local retailers and shoppers are quoted as worrying that the closure will have a detrimental effect on the Precinct, since the M&S had attracted customers to other local businesses. Local MP Rob Wilson said: "losing it will hurt the smaller retailers. We need a replacement store as soon as possible so that the area thrives". (Reading Evening Post 08/01/09 p4, Reading Chronicle 08/01/09 p4) The 'Post' describes how Laura Devery won a prize to make a 90-second trolley dash round the Church Street Waitrose before Christmas. Ms Devery (who is pictured holding a sizeable chicken) is said to have made "a fantastic job" of packing £250 worth of goods (the prize sadly excluded alcohol) into her trolley - she won the prize as the result of a visit to the Royal Berkshire County Show last year. (Reading Evening Post 08/01/09 p11) Christmas Tree RecyclingThere are two local RBC-organised sites for recycling Christmas trees, which run from Monday, January 5th until Monday, February 2nd. The sites are at:
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