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• Archive Index 2009

News Archive - Fortnight Beginning 25th October 2009

Please Note: This was a two-week edition of the 'current news'.

The editors say: In a week starting with Remembrance Sunday and including Armistice Day, it is fitting to learn that local Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher's death in Afghanistan has been marked on our local war memorial. We offer our respect.

Caversham People

19-year old Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher, who was killed in a bomb blast in Afghanistan's Helmand Province on June 2nd, has had his name engraved on the war memorial in Christchurch Meadows. Cyrus was a Caversham resident all his life, and his family lives on the Henley Road. (Reading Post 04/11/09 p3, Reading Chronicle 05/11/09 pp1, 4-5)

A feature on 75-year old Caversham author John Madeley reports that he has just had his tenth book published. 'Beyond Reach' tells the story of the 2005 Make Poverty History campaign, and it was launched at Wordplay bookshop on Prospect Street on Monday, November 2nd. (Reading Post 04/11/09 p9)

Caversham's Councillor Tom Stanway is one of three RBC councillors to volunteer to take part in a health and fitness challenge by wearing an electronic personal trainer on his wrist. The MiLife health education programme works by monitoring and measuring a user's daily activity levels, and then works out recommended activity to increase fitness. (Reading Post 04/11/09 p28)

Buses

The troubled bus company Reading Buses is proposing to make further cuts to services, including cuts to Caversham bus services, in the New Year. A full summary of the proposed changes can be seen on their web site - n.b. the changes are open to consultation, but the bus company wants responses (via email) by Wednesday, November 4th. In Caversham, the Number 24 route between Caversham Park Village and Central Reading faces a cut in the frequency of services. (Reading Chronicle 29/10/09 p7)

Reading Buses is looking to boost passenger numbers by introducing a £1 maximum fare for a three-month period on two selected routes from Monday, November 2nd. One of these routes is the Number 27 route between Central Reading and Amersham Road. (Reading Chronicle 29/10/09 p7)

The RBC minority Labour administration and members of the board for Reading Transport, which runs Reading Buses, have commissioned an investigation concerning the bus service. It will be carried out by SOLACE (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives) and refers to the RBC being ‘deceived’ with regards the source of fuel that its fleet of 14 bio-ethanol buses were using. The outcome of the investigations will be brought to the RBC cabinet before the end of the year. A separate investigation, called for by RBC Chief Executive Michael Coughlin and director of resources David Peasley (to be carried out by the Council’s internal audit team) will look back at what investigations into the cost and benefit of the eco-fuel project were carried out before the new bio-ethanol buses were bought. (Reading Post 28/10/09 p4)

Crime

The Safer Reading Campaign (SRC) agreed at its latest meeting on October 19th to gate several narrow paths and alleyways in the Caversham area in a bid to stop anti-social behaviour and other crime. An alley behind St John’s Road and an alley between the Henley Road and Anglefield Road will be gated, giving access to residents only. Separately, gates are due to be installed around the ‘troubled’ P&A Stores in Nire Road, in the Amersham Road estate, after the SRC agreed to pay 50% of the cost to Catalyst Housing Association, which owns many of the areas’ homes. Other alleys along Henley Road are also being considered for gating. (Reading Chronicle 29/10/09 p27)

With an exciting opening paragraph, ‘they are the statistics everyone in Reading will want to read’, the ‘Reading Post’ summarises Home Office crime statistics for the 34 police-designated ‘neighbourhood’ areas of Reading. These show that every Reading neighbourhood now has an ‘average’ crime ranking – but there is an exception with regards burglary rates, with Lower Caversham having a higher than average ranking. (Reading Post 28/10/09 p6)

‘Reading Post’ prints a long list of crimes (supplied by the police) committed in the Caversham area during the month of October. The list doesn’t frankly show very much other than that there seems to be a lot of criminal activity about. The police would like you to call their premium-rate number 08458 505 505 if you have any information- we’d suggest calling the alternative (non premium-rate) number: 01865 841148. (Reading Post 28/10/09 p7)

Police

Local police are urging Caversham residents to create more Neighbourhood Watch groups. In connection with this, police are holding an event in Amersham Road Community Centre on Wednesday, November 4th between 10am nad 1pm to raise awareness on Neighbourhood Watch and measures to keep homes safe. (Get Reading 30/10/09 p5)

Roads

The ‘Chronicle’ reports that Reading faces competition with regards its Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) bid, with Cambridgeshire County Council having recently approved its own £500m bid. Like Reading, Cambridgeshire wants the commitment of government transport investment first before considering imposing road charging. The ‘Chronicle’ says that because the TIF is not a bottomless pot of money, Reading and Cambridgeshire could harm each other’s chances if they both bid. (Reading Chronicle 29/10/09 pp6-7)

Schools

Six RBC-run primary schools, including Caversham Primary in Hemdean Road and Emmer Green Primary in Grove Road are amongst 37 schools nationally that have been chose to take part in a trial scheme run by the government whereby pupils will be given careers advice. The intention is ‘to introduce children to the wide variety of jobs that are out there… ‘ (Reading Post 28/10/09 p10)

Services

A letter from a Caversham resident follows up last week’s letter to the ‘Chronicle’ that heavily criticised the Royal Mail decision to relocate its local depot from the accessible Caversham Road to Gillette Way – which has much poorer facilities. The latest letter in particular picks up on remarks made by Post Office External Relations Manager Jacquie Stenson following on from the earlier correspondence. The writer asks “am I alone in noticing that Ms Stenson barely addressed any of the issues raised? I doubt it”. The letter goes on to say: “I don’t want my relationship with the PO ‘managed’ I just want them to get on and do what anyone would reasonably expect of them. If they do that, then ‘external relations managers’ won’t be necessary”. The ‘Chronicle’ seems to agree with the writer, since the (well-argued) letter is awarded the week’s star prize. Excellent. (Reading Chronicle 29/10/09 p14)