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• Archive Index 2009

News Archive - Week Beginning 22nd Feb 2009

Environment - Caversham

The 'Evening Post' reports that NATS, the air traffic management company that dictates UK flight paths, is to hold another public consultation on revised proposals to redraw the aircraft route map in the South East, following on from hostile feedback to an earlier consultation exercise last year. The new consultation will be held later in 2009 - with the intention of presenting alternative routes for consideration. (Reading Evening Post (25/02/09 p7)

Charity

The assistance given to local charities by the Waitrose supermarket in Church Street is profiled in a feature that describes how the supermarket enables customers to support the charity of their choice via a token scheme. A donation of £272 given by the supermarket to the 3rd Reading Scout Group, based at St Peter's Church, is described in particular. (Reading Chronicle 26/02/09 p13)

Consultations

The RBC has launched a consultation exercise for residents of the Amersham Road estate, to find out what improvements they would like to see made to the local area. The information gathered will help to set up a Neighbourhood Plan at a later date. Questionnaires can be completed online here, and should be completed by Tuesday, March 31st. Completed surveys will be entered into a prize draw for Tesco vouchers - extra copies of the survey can be obtained by calling 0118 937 2098.

Council Tax

Disagreement between the three main political parties on the RBC has led to an agreement on the levels of Reading's Council Tax for 2009-10 being delayed until next week. A feature by Caversham councillor Andrew Cumpsty (leader of Reading's Conservative councillors) explains why his party wants to freeze council tax bills in the town for the forthcoming financial year. (Reading Evening Post 25/02/09 p7)

Crime

The theft last Monday, 23rd February, of copper communication cabling by two bogus workmen in Emmer Green led to over 450 phone customers being left without BT line services. Residents in Peppard Road, Buckingham Drive and Evesham Road were particularly badly affected. Witnesses to the cable theft, which took place in the early morning, can call investigating officer Inspector Rod Howell on 08458 505 505. (Reading Evening Post 26/02/09 p13)

King's Meadow Swimming Baths

There are separate letters from Caversham's Bob O'Neill in the 'Evening Post' and the 'Chronicle' - both on the subject of the King's Meadow Swimming Baths. Mr O'Neill proposes the secondment of skilled staff from business and commerce into projects such as the restoration of the Baths, with the intention of using their specialities and training abilities to benefit the greater community - this being of particular relevance during the current recession. Mr O'Neill is campaigning for the King's Meadow Baths to be refurbished into a pool facility for summer use and as a 'dry' arena for use during the winter months. (Reading Evening Post 26/02/09 p6, Reading Chronicle 26/02/09 p12)

Police

A press notice from the Caversham neighbourhood policing team comments on local police work during February. A particular priority has been to focus on and combat local burglaries.

Pubs

The annual Reading 'Pubwatch' awards have included a prize for the 'Crown on the Bridge' pub on Bridge Street as the best traditional pub north of the river. The Baron Cadogan pub in Church Road has won a separate 4-star 'Safer Bar' award. (Reading Evening Post 27/02/09 pp8-11)

Restaurants - Caversham

The new Alto Lounge restaurant in Church Street is to create about 20 new jobs, half of them full time. The Alto Lounge is due to open in April - for further details, contact them by email, or call 07792412665.

Shops

A letter from an Emmer Green resident thanks the various parties (including Caversham councillors and the 'Reading Chronicle') who were involved in trying to reverse the decision to close the Marks & Spencer in Caversham. Although the campign failed, the writer says "not to have attempted to do so would have been an admission of immediate defeat". (Reading Chronicle 26/02/09 p13)