• Archive Index
• Archive Index 2009

News Archive - Week Beginning 18th October 2009

The editors say: A quick straw poll of our team (spread around RG4) confirms we all experience excellent service from all the Post Office workers 'on the ground' that deliver to us (parcels and letters) - and that's where our sympathies lie. We suspect this article tells the reality - worth reading.

Buses

Letters from Professor Paul Bardos of Reading University criticise Reading Transport in relation to the recent announcement that its widely-trumpeted ‘green’ bio-ethanol buses did not run on sugar beet derived fuel (as previously claimed) but ran instead on waste wood from Sweden. He says: “Reading Borough Council were not deceived. They were either incompetent or have been economical with the truth”. He suggests that the ‘whole bio-fuel business’ should now be referred to the Audit Commission for external scrutiny. (Reading Post, 21/10/09 p13, Reading Chronicle 22/10/09 p7, 15)

Caversham People

Labour has selected Bobbie Ahluwalia – a Sikh thought to be the first person to stand in Reading borough – to fight Caversham ward in the 2010 RBC elections. She is from the Woodcote Road and has lived in the area for the last 27 years. (Reading Chronicle 22/10/09 p6)

Public Order

The ‘Reading Chronicle’ reports in an ‘Exclusive’ that the RBC and Thames Valley Police want to merge Reading’s seven long-established Safer Community Forums (SCFs) and the 13 more recent Neighbourhood Action Groups (NAGs). The roles of the groups are said to often overlap, and the intention is to merge them into 12 groups with fewer formal meetings but more instant action on local problems. With regards Caversham, RG4’s three existing NAGs would be replaced with two – Caversham North and West and Lower Caversham. The proposals will now be discussed as a consultation issue at NAG and SCF meetings. (Reading Chronicle 22/10/09 p5, Get Reading 23/10/09 p2)

The RBC and Thames Valley Police have signed a dispersal order for the area around P&A Stores in Nire Road, Lower Caversham, which came into effect last Monday, October 19th. The order lasts for six months, and is aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour, enabling the neighbourhood police team to break up gangs of youths congregating round the shop. (Reading Post 21/10/09 p8, Reading Chronicle 22/10/09 p28)

Services

An unattributed (but excellent) letter in the ‘Chronicle’ comments on the recent closure of the Caversham Road sorting office and the relocation of Royal Mail’s services from there to Gillette Way. The letter points out that the Caversham Road site was relatively central for greater Reading (and Caversham), whereas Gillette Way is ‘anything but’. The new Gillette Way premises are described as barely signposted, badly maintained and litter-strewn. The letter goes on to make several well-targeted criticisms of the reduction in quality of Royal Mail services resulting from the relocation, and contrasts the ‘pleasant and professional’ post staff with their (less than professional) management. The letter receives a reply from Jaquie Stenson of Royal Mail management, who says: “we would like to thank your reader for their comments, we are pleased to learn that they continue to receive a great delivery service. We are aware of some snagging issues at the new site, for which we apologise. We are currently addressing these problems as a matter of urgency…” (Reading Chronicle 22/10/09 p14)