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• Archive Index 2009

News Archive - Week Beginning 24th May 2009

The editors say: It's pleasing to learn that the MP for RG4, Rob Wilson, has proved to be one of the 'saints' in the current MPs' expenses scandal. His website provides full details. There are honest ones amongst 'em, and many work hard for their constituents.

Arts

The ‘Chronicle’ provides a preview of the Caversham Open Studios event that takes place between Friday, June 5th and Sunday, June 7th. The arts event showcases the work of 27 local artists – which is being shown at 15 different venues around Caversham. There’s more detail on our ‘local events’ page (Reading Chronicle 28/05/09 p22)

Crime

A house in Ardler Road, Caversham has been left uninhabitable after a suspected arson attack at around 5am on Sunday, 24th May. The single occupant was not injured in the blaze. (Reading Evening Post 26/05/09 p2)

Environment

The redrafted proposals for the property developer Sackville’s £400m redevelopment of the Station Hill area of Reading are described at its website. The scheme, which has RBC approval, will include ‘offices, shops, cafés, restaurants and apartments’ as well as an arts venue and new public areas. Following public consultation, a new planning application will be submitted in June of this year, and is likely to be put to the Council’s Planning Committee in the Autumn. Enabling works could commence in 2011 and Phase 1 in 2012. Of particular interest to Caversham residents will be the FAQs page, which gives details on the tall buildings at the site (but not their actual heights). The two tallest buildings are an office block (26 storeys) and a residential block (27 storeys). The implications for the Caversham skyline will be considerable.

The controversial decision taken by the RBC to back the Askett Hawk hotel proposals for Kings Meadow are to be re-examined by the RBC Cabinet next Monday evening, June 1st, with the Cabinet being urged to get both Askett Hawk and the King’s Meadow Campaign (KMC) to do more work on their proposals because both schemes had ‘significant flaws’. Separately, the ‘Post’ reveals that Askett Hawk has will not spend any more money on the project unless it is given a period of exclusivity as the preferred developer at the site. The decision to call in the plans was taken by the Council’s Corporate, Community and External Affairs scrutiny panel, chaired by RBC Thames Ward Conservative Councillor David Stevens. (Reading Chronicle 28/05/09 pp1,6 Reading Evening Post 29/05/09 p5)

Parks

Caversham Court is scheduled to re-open during the first week of July – in time for the Caversham Fete, due to take place on Saturday, July 12th.

Politics

RBC Conservative Councillor Fred Pugh (who represents Mapledurham Ward) s interviewed and profiled following his recent election as the Mayor of Reading. He is said to be passionate about railways (he was a former railwayman) and canals. (Reading Post 27/05/09 p17, Reading Chronicle 28/05/09 p9)

Public Safety

The ‘Chronicle’ reports on a new £220m database, ‘ContactPoint’, which is being launched nationwide, and which will contain details on everyone in England under the age of 18, as part of measures to reform child protection. There is concern at the large numbers of Reading individuals (2,000 people) who will be able to access data on children via the database scheme, which is opposed by RBC Conservatives, Libdems, the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, Liberty and others. (Reading Chronicle 28/05/09 p1)

Roads

A letter draws attention to RBC proposals to put double yellow lines on both side of the section of Henley Road east of All Hallows Road (No Waiting 24/7/365). The letter says that the proposals are unwarranted, costly, have been little publicised and have received virtually no public support. Pointing out that there has been no organised consultation by the Council, the letter asks: “Who do these councillors represent? They seem only concerned with a few complainers…” (Reading Chronicle 28/05/09 p14)

Schools

A ‘Post’ exclusive, using data obtained under the Freedom of Information act, says that disruptive pupils, unrealistic targets and changes to the education system caused an ‘exodus’ of teachers from Reading schools last year. One reason for the disruption has been a Government initiative resulting in a diploma system for 14-19 year olds, with Highdown in Emmer Green being amongst the schools having ‘to get up to scratch’ with the new system. (Reading Evening Post 28/05/09 p3)

Micklands Pre-School in Caversham has hosted a ‘Take Your Dad to Nursery Day’, as part of an initiative to raise the importance of male role models. Male family members (including fathers and grandfathers) stayed the whole day there, and were given a chocolate chip cookie and a thank-you card for their efforts. (Reading Evening Post 28/05/09 p14)

Shops

Residents in Grove Road, Emmer Green are reported to be protesting about plans by the True Food Co-op to convert two RBC-owned commercial units in the road into a shop. The protests are based on the RBC telling residents that the Co-op wanted to park two 23-ft lorries and a smaller van in the Grove Road car park, which already struggles to accommodate more than six residents’ cars. In the words of one local resident, “(this) is going to turn a lack of parking for residents into no parking for residents”. The Co-op is trying to liaise with local people to explain its stance. (Reading Chronicle 28/05/09 p22)