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News Archive - Week Beginning 8th Mar 2009
Buses
A major overhaul of Reading Buses' routes and services is briefly described in relation to the public consultation exercise recently conducted by the bus company. There is comment on the new Route 2 route to Sonning Comon and Peppard Common (which omits Tower Close, Marchwood Avenue and Kiln Road in Emmer Green), and on the changes to the Premier Route 9 service - from Caversham Heights into the town centre. For full details, check out http://www.reading-buses.co.uk or call Reading Buses on (0118) 959 4000. (Reading Evening Post 09/03/09 p4,Caversham Bridge, March 2009)
Caversham Court Gardens
Two major features describe the latest progress of the restoration work at Caversham Court Gardens - due to reopen in the summer. Work at the site has been accompanied by a Living History Project to discover memories of the Gardens - those wanting to contribute should call the Project on (0118) 947 8930. (Reading Evening Post, 11/03/09 p15, Caversham Bridge, March 2009 p3)
Crime
The 'Chronicle' provides further report on the conviction of three Caversham-based Vietnamese individuals for creating and maintaining local cannabis factories and for subsequent money laundering. The convictions follow on from a police raid in Donkin Hill, with two of those arrested having claimed to work in a Prospect Street nail bar. (Reading Chronicle 12/03/09 p10)
Festivals
The fate of the proposed 'Heavenly Planet' community festival that is to be held in July on the riverside side close to Caversham Bridge is said to be "on the line". The RBC had already said that the festival would be without charge, but a Council cabinet meeting next Monday is to discuss cancelling the festival altogether. (Reading Chronicle 12/03/09 p2, Reading Evening Post 13/03/09 p3)
Planning
The 'Chronicle' reports on last week's decision by the RBC Planning Committee to refuse an application by Caversham Lawn Tennis Club to install lighting on courts three and four and to build a new boundary fence there. Local residents had opposed the Club's plans - it now intends to appeal to a Government planning inspector. (Reading Chronicle 12/03/09 p16)
Local residents and the environmental group Caversham Globe have protested at the decision by the RBC to cut down a mature sycamore tree last Friday, 6th March at the Henley Road / Rectory Road junction. It was felled owing to complaints from the Council "that the tree was causing a nuisance to a resident's ability to watch television". The felling of the sycamore is said to have led to local upset, with the Council saying that the final decision lay with the owner of the private land on which the tree stood. (Reading Evening Post 10/03/09 p4
Police
The 'Chronicle' describes Caversham police activity in connection with 'Operation Overpass' during February. The police operation focused on targeting burglars and the handling of stolen goods, and was described by Area Sergeant Rob Pitman as a great success - "burglary remains our number one priority". (Reading Chronicle 12/03/09 p16)
Reading Council
The 'Evening Post' provides further comment on the Audit Commission report into the RBC's services - the Commission gave the Council three stars (out of a possible four) but said that the RBC's "direction of travel" had slipped from improving well in 2007 to improving "adequately" in 2008. In particular, cultural, children's and adult social care services were only graded as adequate two star services. (Reading Evening Post 09/03/09 p9)
Shops
The Marks & Spencer 'Simply Food' store in St Martin's Precinct finally closed on Thursday, March 12th, with staff either being moved to other M&S branches or being made redundant. A "top retailer" is said to have earmarked the now-vacant site. (Reading Evening Post 13/03/09 p3)
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