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News Archive - Week Beginning 5th July 2009
The editors say: The Council screws up and allows Vodafone to build a mast (see below). The Council pays out compensation - it won't say how much. That it's happened is only briefly noted in a local paper. Hang on. This is OUR money they're wasting, making up for THEIR incompetence. Something's very wrong.
Caversham People
Gail Ray, the new head teacher of Caversham Park Primary School is
profiled in the ‘Chronicle’. She was the acting headteacher at
the school, and will officially take on the role in a permanent capacity on
September 1st. Parent governor Hazel Wright said “Miss Ray has been
an excellent acting headteacher and has made some fantastic improvements to
the school…” (Reading Chronicle 09/07/09 p22)
Two Caversham residents, Luc Jolly and James Davies, set off next
Saturday, July 18 th on a 10,000-mile one-month road trip to Mongolia as
part of the Mongol Rally – a major fundraising expedition that
involves thousands of people. Their team, ‘Bravo Two Mongolia’,
will be driving an old 1.2 litre Fiat Bravo for the trip, which cost just
£200. (Get Reading 10/07/09 p19)
Crime
A map of the incidence of crime in Reading, based on Thames Valley Police
statistics, shows that the Lower Caversham area is “above
average” for crime. (Reading Post 08/07/09 p20)
Festivals
The first Royal County Game Fair took place at Mapledurham House over the
weekend of July 4th-5th, attracting 9,000 people to enjoy a variety of
attractions – including falconry displays and dog shows. Game fair
chairman David Rad said “we are really pleased with the
turnout”. (Reading Chronicle 09/07/09 pp12-13)
Planning
The RBC has admitted liability and has agreed to pay compensation to
Westdene Crescent residents affected by the Council’s failure last
March to prevent Vodafone from winning planning permission to build a 10m
phone mast there. RBC Labour lead member for planning and transport
Councillor Tony Page said: “where appropriate the complainants have
been offered a one-off ex-gratia payment for the distress and uncertainty
suffered, and / or for the time and trouble taken in pursuing the complaint.
Details of payments are confidential”. An RBC planning officer had
failed to send out a notice of refusal of planning permission for the mast
within a statutory 56-day period. (The news item is a small one, and is
buried on an inside page of the ‘Post’). (Reading Post 08/07/09
p33)
Roads
A letter from a Kidmore Road resident provides a detailed set of
criticisms concerning the RBC decision to close Gravel Hill until December.
The writer says that he is ’concerned about the increased level of
traffic outside my house as a result of the closure which makes the road
more dangerous, more difficult to access when leaving my property and also
more difficult to cross… …does a resident of Gravel Hill have
more right to have public traffic re-routed than a resident of Kidmore road
which has a far higher number of residents?’ (Reading Chronicle
09/07/09 p15)
Schools
Swine flu has affected a further six schools in Reading this week,
including the Hill Primary school in Caversham, where the sibling of a Year
Two pupil is thought to be ill. (Reading Post 08/07/09 pp1,7)
The RBC cabinet at its meeting on Monday, July 6th gave its approval to
put forward a £4.26m bid to the Learning and Skills Council to build a
new Sixth Form block at Highdown School in Emmer Green. The Council will
hear if it has been successful in October, and if granted, the building
could be completed by next summer, offering the school an additional 150
places. (Reading Post 08/07/09 p9)
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